Microsoft broke my computer

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Working fine last night, when I went to switch it off it offered to update and close down, so I accepted. This morning it would only open with low resolution screen. Local computer man says this is happening a lot, try a system restore to last working version, which I did, now it won’t start at all. Local man reckons this is Microsoft bullying people into buying new computer with W11.</p>
Fortunately I’ve backed up recently so won’t lose too much.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, Microsoft will stop supporting windows 10 security in October, which I get a reminder about every now and again. No surprise there, I suppose.

Regards Nick.

[Chris KaminskiParticipant @chriskaminski64716]

Nothing that move to Linux wouldn’t sort out 🙂

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

It might be worth following the progress of this discussion:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/jan-2025-latest-windows-update-has-created-havoc/f304e89d-b01d-4b8e-8c56-a16aab431b4b

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ See also

https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/06/microsoft_2025_windows_refresh/

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

How can I get to Linux when the PC won’t fire up? I think I might have a very old version of Linux on a memory stick. Will I then be able to access files created under W10? I don’t think NanoCad will work under Linux,

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Following Michael’s link to MS answers took me to a page with no return to the forum.  Expletive deleted!

I shall avoid Windows for a while in hope this is a temporary problem.

Be interesting to see how W11 progresses.   Once upon a time Windows dominated the computer market, but it’s lost some important battles.  Beaten by Linux on supercomputers, and, far more seriously, by Android in the huge smart phone market.  MS are losing ground because the market has changed. Their main hope appears to be getting everyone to buy new PCs fitted with AI hardware, not the old stuff I’m using.

Interesting times.  Annoying customers from a position of strength is one thing, annoying them when there are alternatives is asking for trouble!

Dave

 

 

[duncan webster 1]

On duncan webster 1 Said:

How can I get to Linux when the PC won’t fire up? I think I might have a very old version of Linux on a memory stick. Will I then be able to access files created under W10? I don’t think NanoCad will work under Linux,

Yes, you can run Linux from bootable USB stick even if your WIN(whatever version) is dead.

Yes, you can access files created in WIN.

As for NanoCAD – it might be possible to run it in Linux using (for example) bottles

Can’t guarantee (never had a need to try)

but I run many other odd Windows programes in Linux this way.

 

BTW – might consider moving to https://qcad.org/en/ (runs happily in both Linux and Windows)

[duncan webster 1]

On duncan webster 1 Said:

How can I get to Linux when the PC won’t fire up? I think I might have a very old version of Linux on a memory stick. Will I then be able to access files created under W10? I don’t think NanoCad will work under Linux,

Using another computer, download a recent linux image on to a USB stick.  Follow instructions to make the stick bootable.  If the machine is an old banger consider a lightweight distro.  Then boot with the image stick plugged in.

If the computer doesn’t see the stick, reboot and immediately start tapping whatever function key gets into the BIOS, often F12.  Once in the BIOS find the menus that control boot order and what’s recognised as a boot device.   Tell the BIOS the USB stick is first choice, and try another boot.

Linux should start, but run slowly because it’s not installed. This allows the user to test what works, or not!  Also allows networking, mouse, and other hardware to be tested before committing. It should allow access to the Windows file system, which is good for recovering files., and there’s a lot of information on the web about using Linux to repair Windows,

If you decide to install Linux it should partition the disc and insert a dual boot menu.  Be aware that Linux isn’t a Microsoft clone, the organisation and look and feel are different and it can’t run all Microsoft software.  Some folk suffer severe culture shock!   NanoCAD might be OK – try it and see.

Dave

 

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Tried Qcad, couldn’t get on with it. Nothing wrong with it, just too different to what I was used to, Autocad lookalikes

My next big buy was going to be alibre, I suppose that won’t work under Linux either

I tried another system restore, it claimed to be successful and asked for a restart, I now have a black screen with just the cursor, good news is I can move it around!

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

There as been plenty of warning in the press and even from MS that the latest update of windows was ‘breaking’ PC’s. I agree that a move to Linux should be considered.

H

[SillyOldDuffer]

On SillyOldDuffer Said:

If you decide to install Linux it should partition the disc and insert a dual boot menu.

Dave

 

Personally I recommend to avoid “software” dual boot.

Prone to problems particularly when running next to any WIN

I use Linux on separate drive and select what to boot at boot – never failed

or…

truly mechanical dual boot – I have a PC with externally accessible docking stations for hard drives

easy to control which one is operating

(all my data is on NAS – easily accessible by any OS I care to run at the moment)

hard drives are only for OS

 

[duncan webster 1]

On duncan webster 1 Said:

Tried Qcad, couldn’t get on with it. Nothing wrong with it, just too different to what I was used to

All change, involves (often considerable) initial conversion effort.

Got to think long term…

Unless you got paid version, NanoCAD is not really supported (not to mention that it comes from the Dark Empire)

There are 3D CAD solutions that work equally well in Linux and Windows, but judging by your issues with QCAD you might have equally strong reaction 🙂 so I will not mention it.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I’m not really used to any 3D CAD system, I’ve dabbled in alibre and SE, but what works in Linux, I might get on just as well.

[duncan webster 1]

On duncan webster 1 Said:

I’m not really used to any 3D CAD system, I’ve dabbled in alibre and SE, but what works in Linux, I might get on just as well.

You not having used one before is actually an advantage…

Too many users coming from other system never stop bitching 🙂

Try this – works in Windows and Linux as well as MAC:

https://www.freecad.org/downloads.php

 

[Chris Kaminski]

On Chris Kaminski Said:

On SillyOldDuffer Said:

If you decide to install Linux it should partition the disc and insert a dual boot menu.

Dave

 

Personally I recommend to avoid “software” dual boot.

Prone to problems particularly when running next to any WIN

I use Linux on separate drive and select what to boot at boot – never failed

or…

truly mechanical dual boot – I have a PC with externally accessible docking stations for hard drives

easy to control which one is operating

(all my data is on NAS – easily accessible by any OS I care to run at the moment)

hard drives are only for OS

 

Very professional, except of course a fusspot would say NAS aren’t reliable enough!  Sell everything you own and buy a SAN; money is no object!

The dual boot objection is sensible.  I’ve never had any trouble with dual boot provided you start with Windows on a clean machine and then let Linux organise the pair.  This on many different installs.   Windows assumes it’s the only OS in the world and walks all over everything else.  But once a disc is partitioned, Windows should behave itself and not damage Linux.  I’m not sure a separate disc would protect Linux if a rogue Windows went for it, but we have to trust the programmers!

🙂

Dave

 

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Hmmm… Worried now. My PC uses WIN-11 after Mickeysoft moved it from W10 without asking me. The little curly arrows sign in the corner has an orange dot signifying “up-dates” waiting.

I wonder if Microsoft has lost its way, For some time now all it’s done is take what had been a good system and tinker with it. One effect is that it is very hard to construct your own filing system properly as in all previous Windows since WIN-5. If you keep a lot of photographs on the PC (or as MS wants, on its OneDrive which you can “uninstall”), MS cannot resist digging around among them without your authority. Perhaps it hopes you have lovely scenery images it can use as Home Page decoration without permission, credit and royalties.

If so many people have trouble with Windows that it is Mentioned In The Press and even Microsoft admits it, one has to wonder if it no longer employs any really good programmers.

The problem with someone like me, is having no choice. Linux is all very well if you really understand computers and operating-systems, and all your third-party software, data and Internet services will operate on it. If not you are lumbered with the Seattle mob’s increasingly down-market stuff.

[Mike HurleyParticipant @mikehurley60381]

I run Windows 11 on my laptop, have little choice due to certain application software constraints. And yes the recent ‘ major’ upgrade (which took over 12 hours), totally killed it. Checking analysis indicated constant 100% disk access & processor saturated. Took 1/2 HR to log on, then every keystroke was painfully slow to respond.

Microsoft would not officially admit there was a problem (probably for legal reasons) but rumours in the it world indicated there might be.

Yesterday, I bit the bullet and installed the next monthly cumulative update, and funnily enough it now all seems to work properly – strange that.

By the way, I also have Linux on an ancient Acer laptop in the workshop, and it’s fast & reliable.

Happy days

[Nigel Graham 2]

On Nigel Graham 2 Said:

Linux is all very well if you really understand computers and operating-systems,

Have you actually tried it?

or…. do you just believe it?

Linux desktop for masses have made a lot of progress since the days it was black art 😛

and there are some versions that cater for reluctant Windows refugees

[Dod MoleParticipant @georgeclarihew]

Linux Mint (cinnamon version) works a treat on my 10 year old laptop.    I converted to Linux when discs, not disks, were attached to the covers of magazines after dabbling with all varieties that came along and enabled me to drift away from windoze.

My use for a computer is mainly E-mails, home office work, music  and surfing t’interweb with the occasional use of QCAD, all self taught so my advice is to try Linux

Dave ,SOD has the right idea but one step further is if you can lay hands on an old computer, beg, borrow or have someone else download a version of Linux, boot the old thing up and just follow the setup screens ( pretty much clicking  “next”  “next ” “next” ) and it will get you up and running without complication nor signing you life away and you don’t need to give your inside leg measurement nor subscribe to anything.     Best done with a wire plugged in to the interweb and it will automatically update itself.

Then your life will improve, mine did.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Chris,

No I’ve not tried using Linux and don’t want to risk it.  I have used computers since the last year or so of MS-DOS but do not have the IT knowledge to play around with operating-systems, and I very much doubt any of my non-MS software, written for Windows, will run on anything but Windows.

Someone once gave me an early version of Open Office, probably in WIN-5 days, and although this was a set of application programmes, not an operating-system, it totally ruined my PC, irretrievably. I found another PC, also second-hand and tried again but it soon crashed the thing. Luckily at that time you could go behind the Windows and use DOS to manipulate files, so I was able to remove the OO files.. Took ages, one long “del/dir…./…/..”  command-line at a time for well over a hundred of them. (You could not delete a directory while it still contained even one file.)

So I’m afraid like so many other people I am very much at the mercy of Mr. Gates’ goons.

[Nigel Graham 2]

On Nigel Graham 2 Said:

Chris,

No I’ve not tried using Linux and don’t want to risk it.

fair enough, each to his own…

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I have an old laptop somewhere, but it appears to have been ‘tidied away’ by domestic authorities. Even better, it has Linux mint on it, an old version, but no doubt easier to update than start again. I’ll send out a search party tomorrow. I also know a Linux guru who lives far side of town, so if all else fails I’ll recruit him. The reason I stopped using mint on it was that it stopped the sound working, so when a Windows update got the sound back I stopped using mint. It was notably faster than W10 for sending stuff to Arduino, and very easy to use, not as easy downloading programs as you had to type various mantras into a command line.

Nigel, I use libre office a lot, never had an issue with it. All the same features (or at least all the ones you need) as MSOffice and free.

[Chris KaminskiParticipant @chriskaminski64716]

Duncan, you are really better off installing the latest version…

It is really easy 👍😛

and, if you encounter a problem, there is usually excellent support on linux **** forum

BTW when choosing which distro to use, good support forum is No 1 for me

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

It is a long time since I looked at Linux (Free CD with magazine days!) but I think it might now be time for me to make the change (from Windows).

Which (if any) version of Linux has something of the look and feel of Windows?

I’m not so much asking for myself but more to limit the culture shock if I convert the PC my wife uses!

Ian P

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

Just to add to the good advice already given…

Is the fear of Linux the fear of the new, or the result of previous experience? I have used Linux exclusively for >25 years. In that time, Widoesn’t has morphed from XP to 11 – it’s completely different, and scares the hell out of me – unashamed fear of the new, at each version change. However, the more user-friendly flavours of Linux have grown up to be well-behaved adults, which just work, are simple to install, and offer intuitive user interfaces, quite different from later Windoesn’t versions, but easy to learn, and without the need to type arcane stuff into the ‘terminal’. So, ignore previous bad experience.

As others have said, you can try Linux by booting the PC from a USB stick or a DVD. Doing that doesn’t damage the computer, doesn’t install anything, and lets you access anything on the machine – useful for rescuing a box on which Windoesn’t caused a snafu. The appropriate version will also run on old PCs that are incapable of running the latest incarnation of bloated Windoesn’t.

Of the many available versions, MX Linux and Linux Mint are well-behaved, with good support, and are available in versions to suit almost any likely hardware.

Linux is free, updates frequently, quickly, and without drama, is relatively secure, and offers a wealth of free software, installable by a few mouse-clicks. Also, many Windoesn’t applications can be made to run under Linux. There’s no need to be afraid, and there’s no real need to be a Microsnot prisoner any longer.

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