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Thermal cycling damage from turning things on and off use to be a significant risk in electronics decades ago – I won’t argue with that. Damage from current surge can still be a major risk factor. That’s why I have and highly recommend a good quality UPS with good surge protection built in.
As an E.E., I’m convinced that normal daily on/off cycles of most electronics are not the bugaboo they use to be. Modern electronics are built to withstand the stresses quite well – laptops possibly being more susceptible. Here is the question as I put it to Perplexity with it’s answer and links to references. Basically, decent computer hardware will become obsolete, software and OS wise, long before daily on/off cycling will cause it to fail.
Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.
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I have always prefered to turn my computers off at the end of every day to save electricity and to prevent attacks by hackers or updates being pushed by MS or other vendors without my being present to chose for myself. The risks may be minimal, but I still enjoy ‘flying my own plane’ rather than trusting things to an ‘autopilot’. Old school, I guess.
I do set auto-updates on my browsers (and other programs I trust to auto-update). Otherwise, I use a hands-on approach. I appreciate that it may not fit for everyone.
Run Windows Update MiniTool at startup and shutdown – to keep Windows Security definitions updated at least twice a day and to check for any Windows Updates I wish to hide or install.
Run PrivaZer at the end of the day to keep my system clean and running smoothly.
Run WinGet (UniGetUI) several times a week to check which programs aren’t up to date – then update them manually or with WinGet.
Restart (reboot) my computer several times a week to keep the OS flushed of any dross.
Use FreeFileSynch on the weekend to backup selected files, folders and drives to external drives that are then kept offline and turned off.
Run Macrium Reflect before any major installs/uninstalls and always before any Windows Updates, keeping those external drives offine and turned off.
Use RevoUninstaller for nearly all uninstalls as it does a much better job cleaning what most uninstallers leave behind.
Run system wide virus checks monthly. Run manual virus checks of any downloaded .exe or .zip files before installing.
Cross my fingers.
Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.
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No thanks! And still, Microsoft seems to have no clue. Is it incompetence, a generational lack of belief in privacy or just downright willful creation of surveillance tools? Face-palm worthy, IMHO.
Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.
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I have depended on Microsoft Windows Security for real-time protection since I first moved to Win 10. I also use additional manual scanners for any “questionable” downloaded programs before I install them.
If I get a potential false positive, another useful resource is Virus Total: https://www.virustotal.com/
Usually, looking at the results there can help evaluate whether it’s a false positive or not. I always apply the old rule about mushroom identification: “If in doubt, throw it out!”
Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.
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I use NordVPN and have been happy with it for several years. I sometimes find that websites will block me but I believe it has to do with some sites keeping a “blacklist” of IP addresses that have been linked to denial of service attacks, spamming abuse, etc. Remember that VPNs are often abused by nefarious users.
Whenever this happens to me, I simply select a different VPN server which often fixes the problem. In NordVPN there are two options: clicking on “quick connect” or selecting a different city. You might give similar selections in your VPN a try.
Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.
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Brinkmann at ghacks reported on this as well. His comment:
“Note: The command given by Beaumont on the website seems wrong as mklink /j is used to create junction links that link to a directory and not a file. Unless I’m missing something, it needs to either do away with /j to create a symbolic link or /h to create a hard link. Whether that is also going to block Windows updates is unclear though.”
Junction vs symlink, directory vs file? Further clarification needed?
Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.
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Windows was originally an OS that could be installed on one’s PC – which meant a Personal Computer. Other choices were OS2, DOS, CPM, etc.
If I can’t install an OS on my computer without a connection to the web nor without an account with the maker of that OS, then it is no longer my Personal Computer. It becomes, in effect, the OS maker’s computer.
Google, Apple and now Microsoft (post-Windows 7) have all usurped foundational control of our personal tech. I believe it is less about “security and user experience” and more about the surveillance economy and increased revenue streams.
Hopefully, Linux (and maybe some other fringe OS’s) will keep some semblance of the Personal Computer a reality.
Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.
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My condolences to his family and all his friends. You did good works, Woody. Thank you.
Woody’s knowledge, vision, integrity and community building have been an integral part of my Windows journey for many, many years – going back to the days of his early books and newsletters. The AskWoody site has been my primary tech side-kick since it began. The community here is diverse, civil, genuinely helpful and has a ‘deep bench’ of technical expertise. Thank you Woody for all you created for our benefit. Farewell and rest in peace..
Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.
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I know this is an older thread but noticed it because I just got hearing aids. I wanted to pair them to my desktop Bluetooth for streaming, music etc.. I discussed this with the audiologist where I bought them and she told me I couldn’t do that unless I purchased an intermediary piece of hardware at an additional cost of around $200.
I asked her why and she said their Bluetooth capabilities are proprietary. As for pairing to smartphones, she said iPhones are compatible but only some Android phones are.
I asked her if that had to do with whether or not the phone manufacturers had licensing agreements for the proprietary software and she said “yes”. Seems the hearing aid companies are protecting revenue streams: hardware sales and/or licensing fees — while the consumers get the short end of the stick plus all the frustrations? This should all be standardized, imho.
Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.
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