Things that annoy me – Windows 11 edition

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You can tell that Microsoft is starting to react to some of the feedback on Windows 11, well at least their Enterprise customers.  In the Insider rele
[See the full post at: Things that annoy me – Windows 11 edition]

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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AlexEiffel, abbodi86, OldMainframeGuy, GreatAndPowerfulTech, Alex5723, lmacri

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To revert the right click context menu behavior in Windows 11 back to Win 10 style, copy this into a text reg file and import:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32]
@=””

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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GreatAndPowerfulTech, teuhasn2, Cybertooth

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Not sure why, but the forum is converting the quotes “” to the wrong character set. Fix those in notepad I guess?

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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The forum always converts standard quotes to proper quotes (they have a real name, I can’t remember it).
To retain the characters as typed you have to put the text into a CODE tag – available via the Text tab in the edit window.

cheers, Paul

1 user thanked author for this post.

NetDef

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Paul T wrote:

The forum always converts standard quotes to proper quotes (they have a real name, I can’t remember it).

The ones used here are called curly quotes (because they point toward the text they enclose.)

Some forum’s convert straight quotes (the ones used in programing code) into smart quotes that look like doubled up commas.

Typically there’ll be a setting in the forum software that controls whether straight quotes get changed and whether they’re changed to curly quotes or smart quotes.

As Paul T pointed out, to keep the straight quotes needed for copy/paste of programing code to work on this particular forum, change the text style from Paragraph to Preformatted in the drop-box above your text.

Paragraph = “curly quotes”

Preformatted = "straight quotes"

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NetDef wrote:

@=””

I’m confused after reading the comments to this post. Should these quotes be ‘straight quotes’ (i.e., what you see above)? Or should they be ‘curly quotes’ (i.e, angled toward the text)?

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Straight quotes. Let me try again with the new instructions from Paul above.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32]
@=""

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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. . . and that’s worse. Now it’s dropping the required live feeds. Trying to edit and redo line feeds results in . . . no improvement.

Bah. Some days I wish I didn’t feel the need to help.

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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It’s a visual thing, not a format problem. If you copy your code and paste it the line feeds are correct.

cheers, Paul

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NetDef

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Susan Bradley wrote:

You know what slows me down in Windows 11 the most? The Cut and paste function in the File explorer. It’s now hidden in the “show more options” section of the right mouse click

With StartAllBack that can be easily configured to reveal the entire right-click context menu every time.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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teuhasn2

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When I right-click, I see the attachment either at the top or bottom of the context menu. Placement depends on where I am vertically on the display. The icons are cut, copy, rename, share, and delete from left to right. A paste icon appears appropriately after something is copied.

--Joe

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I believe this will “fix” the file explorer menu:
reg add “HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32” /f /ve​

It’s one of the first things I did.

- Thinkpad P15s Gen1 20T4-002KUS, i7-10510U, UEFI/GPT, 16GB, Sammy 500GB M.2.
others...
- Mint Cinnamon 21 current, Win 10 22H2. WuMgr. HP laserjets M254dw & P1606dn, Epson 2480 scanner.

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teuhasn2

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I’m still on Win10, but I use File Explorer a lot and cut and paste from the right mouse button countless times a year. I would be furious if I had to go through a flyout menu to get to copy, cut, or paste, so I appreciate the workarounds given above to revert Win11’s Explorer back to the traditional way on this. I thought they were making File Explorer better. This is not better.

I’ve been exploring alternative apps to File Explorer lately, paid and free. The one I like best is One Commander. None of the ones I’ve tried make it harder to get to Cut or Paste.

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The icons are part of the context menu you get when you right-click. It is not a flyout menu.

--Joe

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Microsoft is doing exactly what they need to do…  Ruin Windows so it becomes unusable and everyone shifts to Microsoft’s cloud based solution that still runs Office and line of business software.  Create the even more dubious “lock-in” than we currently have with Windows/Office, and trap/control the entire client base for the foreseeable future.

What needs to be done is entirely different.  Start with the Windows 10 core, add the Windows XP file manager updated with only the required security changes, add the Windows 7 Start Menu and right-click context menu behavior, and then stop because you’re done.  Everything else should be a removable option.  If you want IE or Edge (why?), install them.  Everything else should be third party.  I might allow for Windows Defender with all the “microsoft account” stuff removed.  Do not include telemetry, Cortana, “helpers”, autoruns, or anything that “tries” to help the user who knows nothing use a computer.

Then we can rely on well made third party applications to provide the functionality we need.  And if a particular piece of software starts to be less desirable as it ages, uninstall it and install something better.

Microsoft will never do that though.

 

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JPMedia, GeeBeeDee

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anonymous wrote:

Ruin Windows so it becomes unusable and everyone shifts to Microsoft’s cloud based solution that still runs Office and line of business software

Which runs on Windows!?
I think you are confusing Office / business software with the operating system.

cheers, Paul

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Is Windows 11 worth downloading & installing, yet ?

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Windows 11 is still considered wait and see (unless you like being a guinea pig).

Carpe Diem {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1778 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox114.0b8 MicrosoftDefender

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[BobbyB]

@anonymous Well it’ll install and run and install without too much fuss on a wide variety of unsupported Hardware (Microsoft’s definition: Secure Boot, TPM etc) and it’ll install and run on MacOS, again without much fuss (couple of REG tweaks) but not the Bootcamp utility you’ll need to transport the install.wim file into a Win10 media (not as hard as it sounds). Although not specifically supported by Apple the existing Win10 Drivers will suffice just as well. Although you’ll need to download them with a 3rd Party utility “Brigadier” from GitHub.

That’s the good news, however to be honest, its probably the most confusing, messy offering from Micro$oft since Windows ME and the initial Windows 8.0 before the 8.1 upgrade, I myself would give it a miss and I have another 3 1/2 years before decision time so that’s a “No” from me alas.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by BobbyB. Reason: Details
• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by BobbyB. Reason: more details

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Cybertooth

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Hide ‘All apps’ in Start.

Still have apps ‘suggested’ and ‘top apps’ listings in Win 10 Pro.
It wasn’t there before April updates.

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Susan – Microsoft fixed the context menu so copy and paste and everything else is in it. You just need to update.

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I don’t consider it released until it’s in the normal released channels, not insider. And it never should have been removed in the first place.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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Ricard, Alex5723, Cybertooth

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Exactly! Why would ANYONE think that cut and paste should not be as accessible as possible. Does no one at Microsoft even use their software any more?

Win 7 Pro, 64-Bit, Group B ESU,Ivy Bridge i3-3110M, 2.4GHz, 4GB, XP Mode VM, WordPerfect

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Cybertooth

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Ricard wrote:

Exactly! Why would ANYONE think that cut and paste should not be as accessible as possible. Does no one at Microsoft even use their software any more?

I’ve been under the impression for quite some time that everyone involved with Windows UI/UX development at Microsoft uses Macs, thus their seemingly unending quest to make Windows look and act like MacOS.

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Cybertooth

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Susan, it’s not for Insiders, it’s literally the latest normal Windows 11 update. You’re misrepresenting Windows 11 for all of your users by saying things are not there when they clearly are.

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This is my Windows 11 device that I got this screen shot from.  Where are you getting a version that exposes cut and paste without having to do two clicks? And without adding anything third party?  I have a bog standard Surface pro 7 plus with Windows 11 on the April cumulative update and the menu system is what you see in my post.  I am not misrepresenting what I see with my very own eyeballs on my own device.

Where are you seeing that it’s different?

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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Susan Bradley wrote:

This is my Windows 11 device that I got this screen shot from.

Did you intend to post a screenshot? I don’t see any (and I am logged in).

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In the original post.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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If you right click any file, you will see five symbols at the top:

Scissors: cut
Double box: copy
Funny looking box with line: rename
Box with line: share
Waste can: delete

If you hover over each symbol, you will see what it does.

Left click on the symbol to perform the action.

Carpe Diem {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1778 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox114.0b8 MicrosoftDefender

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That was not obvious to me one bit. It’s like the save icon that the youngsters call the coke machine.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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Cybertooth

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Hieroglyphics are back — expect to see more of them — with and without translation.

Carpe Diem {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1778 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox114.0b8 MicrosoftDefender

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Cybertooth

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Hi Susan,

 

Yes – see Geekdom’s post. They are the new age icons.

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Clearly I have old age eyes.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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Charlie, Cybertooth

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Alex5723 wrote:

Still have apps ‘suggested’ and ‘top apps’ listings in Win 10 Pro.
It wasn’t there before April updates.

Tried every solution found. Can’t remove ‘suggested’

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Alex5723 wrote:

Tried every solution found. Can’t remove ‘suggested’

StartIsBack for Windows 10.

StartAllBack for Windows 11.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Alex5723

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I want a clean start menu (had it before April updates) not revert to Windows 7 menu.

I use portable apps and avoid installing software as much as I can.

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I have always turned off all of Windows 10 advertising with Winaero Tweaker. I have the April updates, and I did not see Sponsored posts come back. Nor have I ever seen “Top apps.” (I did manually enable Recently Added and most used in the normal Windows Start Menu options.)

https://winaerotweaker.com

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BobbyB, WCHS

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I’ve noticed that Microsoft’s TV ads always show Win 11 being run on a touchscreen. Maybe they think this solves mouse control and context menu problems.  Touchscreen controlled computers may appeal to 18 to 49 year old “mainstream Americans”, but does not show a very well suited operating system for serious work or business use IMHO.

Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you recognize a mistake as soon as you make it again.

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But it would make a whole lot more sense to hide the options people don’t tend to use. I’ll agree that the menu is too long (especially with all the apps that can add to it), and that a lot of options could be collapsed. But not the most basic functions of copy and paste, even if they do try to include it in the ribbon or something.

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Charlie

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turkeypedal wrote:

(I did manually enable Recently Added and most used in the normal Windows Start Menu options.)

Did you do that with WinAero Tweaker? Or did you do that in some Win10 menu somewhere somehow? If the latter, where and how? I’ve got Top Apps and Recent when I click on the Search box in the Taskbar. I’d like to get rid of Top Apps.

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That stuff was all in Settings > Personalization > Start. However, that’s for the Start Menu, not search.

I always have just started typing my searches after clicking the Start Menu. That way I never see that opening screen. Just click start and start typing, and search automatically pops up.

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WCHS

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turkeypedal wrote:

(I did manually enable Recently Added and most used in the normal Windows Start Menu options.)

I went over all options in WinAero Tweaker and haven’t seen any reference to ‘suggested’ or ‘frequent’..

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It should be under “Ads and Unwanted Apps” under “Behavior.” I just enable all of the options there. I also make sure to Disable Web Search, under Desktop and Taskbar.

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Screenshot of those settings

Like turkeypedal, I disabled them all (i.e. check the 1st box.)

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Alex5723, Cybertooth

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I have never seen any ads, I don’t have any Microsoft pre-installed store aps and no updates.
I don’t think that any of these setting will remove ‘suggested’ apps under ‘All’ or ‘recent’, ‘Top apps’..

Found this entry in GPEdit.

Went over all the settings, nothing changed.

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Alex5723 wrote:

I don’t think that any of these setting will remove ‘suggested’ apps under ‘All’ or ‘recent’, ‘Top apps’..

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This has already set Settings – Start with no effect the same results as WinAero Tweaker.

In previous versions you could right-click an app and select ‘turn off suggestions’. This option is no more.

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