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Time, perhaps, to re-evaluate the ubiquity of Google and the devious role it plays in the life of the web?

The header is indeed clickbait. The solution to Mr. Souchon’s complaint is to discontinue use of Gmail. Google is a reprehensible, Orwellian presence on the web. One would hope that after a deconstruction of Facebook, Congress would begin to examine the devious practices and colossal ubiquity of Google (Alphabet), AWS and other juggernauts of data capitalism.

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HiFlyer

Hello Susan: Approached the “Tasks” video with apprehension, as Ask Woody speaks to so many different uses for Windows–from IT professionals to elderly dweebs, like me, at home. But then I remembered a friend who just spoke of a pop-up issue on his PC. He uses Chrome. (Why does anyone use Chrome?) Txtd him and he solved the matter going into permissions/notifications. So, thank-you. The screen shot component of “Tasks” is helpful. And, BTW, the sound of your voice is pleasantly reassuring, in and of itself. Be well.

Well, in the first instance, I accomplished the upgrade with the help of staff at a Microsoft store (when they existed). And, at the time, I enquired regarding the propriety of the action. The current Dell laptop has been interacting with Microsoft with updates/upgrades for a year and there has been no apparent consequence.

[formack]

This is anecdotal; I do not know if this will work in every instance. I used the Windows 7 Pro license from a renewed ThinkPad L412 to upgrade a Dell Inspiron 7000 with Win 10 Home using the “About” page in settings, pressing “Change product key or upgrade your edition of Windows” and entering the license from the sticker on the bottom of the old laptop.

When this device was replaced under warranty with a unit that also came with Windows 10 Home, I used the Windows 7 Pro key from a spare ASUS laptop (Its “Pro” license had been purchased on line through Amazon some years earlier.) to upgrade the new Dell 7573.

In both cases each change worked fine. Don’t know if this method with “hand-me-down” product keys will work with licenses that are internalized.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by formack.

Thx. Just noticed that Update History has disappeared. Just a blank space. Nothing else at the moment.

With advice to install October fixes, and Susan’s info that she had installed v2004, I went ahead in my clumsy way and wound up with v2009. MSoft a tad aggressive. As a result, maybe a few squirrely issues in the past two days–like creating PDFs and some wifi connection interruptions. However, restarting, and restarting again, resolved these and this device (Dell 7573 2in1; i7-8550U; 24GB) seems faster and Windows update works again, as well as my access to Microsoft Store, for what that’s worth. Is the 2004/2009 relationship like that of 1903/1909? Last, will I regret doing this?

[formack]

It was awkward, but I managed to engage Update Troubleshooter. At first, didn’t respond. But I persisted and darn if it didn’t correct whatever the issue was. In addition, didn’t force 2004 on me, or the new Edge transition. Outlook will work in an Admin mode, but not otherwise. For the time being, this will be an adequate solution. It reminded me of all the treachery Google employs to force its services on Android users. Many thanks.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by formack.

Hey Paul: Event log reports no critical matters, two error event ID #s–2 and 3.

I have used Mark Kaelin’s (Tech Republic) solution to disable Bing results from searches in Win10, and apparently may have applied two means of blocking the conversion of Edge to Chromium. One method was via Msoft Blocker Toolkit; another was a regedit hack from Windows Central. In addition, I use the last date available to block Windows Updates. However, I sometimes consult Belarc, obtain the KBs and go to the Msoft Update Catalog and d/l and install from there. I am running 18363.1139.

 

Paul T wrote:

You haven’t had an update check for 6 weeks so something is wrong.

Is there anything in Windows Event Log showing errors on your system?

cheers, Paul

Thx. Will check for this and hopefully can make sense of the info in the event log. Best, F

Have been following, as a rule, Woody’s and Susan’s recommendations re: updates, etc. In addition, blocked the Chromium Edge change. Discovered, in addition, no access to Msoft Store, and get an error when, out of curiosity, I pressed the “resume updates” button. I operate this device with a local account. Wonder if Msoft, like Google, is punishing users for non-compliance. Hate to remove the new Edge blocking modification; just don’t want to deal with anything but Firefox right now.

[formack]

See Jack Wallen’s piece in Tech Republic this morning (Could Microsoft Be En Route To Dumping Windows?), Friday October 9th. Still wonder about MS’s motives.

 

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by formack.

[formack]

I’m stuck with W10Pro. Four years ago, my two W7Pro devices would no longer update; each stopped functioning; thus MS forced me to replace them with one new laptop.

BobT’s reply (“The biggest issue is Microsoft’s overall attitude with it. That it’s THEIR machine, and you will use what THEY say, and like it.”) also describes the attitude Apple has had since its inception and, as well, the business orientation of much of modern technology.

Maybe give MS a little credit? The rickety Rube Goldberg phenomena one experiences with updates and “improvements” to W10 are due, in part, (correct me if I’m wrong) to its universality and, at the same time, to MS’s questionable business plans?

As other replies mentioned, I agree the incessant telemetry and the increasing lack of personal control over one’s PC are loathsome. Who does MS aim to please–the citizens at keyboards and touchscreens, or the relentlessly intrusive data manipulators and profiteers who want to control our lives?

Last, am I right to worry about MS’s slick integration of Linux distros into the Windowsphere? Is Linux a commercial threat to Window’s universality; therefore does MS aim to corrupt it? It’s been recently reported that an ultimate Windows OS may be built on top of Linux, relieving MS of the cost of future development, focusing on its current moneymaker,  Azure Cloud Services.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by formack.

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Ascaris

[formack]

Allow for the fact that I am an old man, and technically maladroit. However, with updates paused,  and system (10 Pro 1909) set to “metered,” I have noticed that Defender updates are not installing. Belarc advisor seems to confirm this. Just looked at Update and Security. Last Defender update 5 days ago, 16 Aug. Pressed “check for updates” button. Endless circling, no change. This, perhaps, due to metered setting.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by formack.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by formack.

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rc primak

Again, thanks. My concern was that Windows Search froze, yet WIZfile indicated the presence of the four items. Could those “hidden?” files be addressed somehow, having been left behind?