Funny dot on Windows 10 user icon

[mbond]

The home version of Windows 11 is free and can be downloaded from the Microsoft website.

 

[slow-poke]

I'm so done with Windows, on my short list is to replace my one remaining Windows based PC with Linux ( leaning towards Mint, comments welcome), and then use a virtual machine on that PC to run Windows for the one program I can't live without. I envision migrating one program at a time to a Linux based alternative.

 

[MrWhoopee]

The home version of Windows 11 is free and can be downloaded from the Microsoft website.

All versions can be freely downloaded and installed. It's when it comes time to activate that the truth becomes revealed.
Microsoft's current activation scheme (at least I think it's current) is based on Hardware ID (HWID) of the system. It has been a real boon from my perspective. Once a machine has been activated, it remains that way even if you reinstall Windows, as long as you reinstall the same version. Since nearly all consumer machines are sold with the Home version, I can safely reinstall and it will activate automatically.
If not, we have our ways.

 

[PeterT]

I'm so done with Windows

I have zero Linux experience beyond a few YouTube videos. What do you do when you buy pretty much any current hardware device - printer, keyboard, scanner, mouse, bluetooth device.... Seems like their application software (drivers?) only recognize Win or Mac & that's it? My hardware requests updates, enhancements etc. years later after initial installation. Same goes for many apps. Some I have only run on Win to the best of my knowledge. Or from what I've read, compatibility or version capabilities on Linux is not guaranteed. So that's kind of where the 'choose your poison' kind of comes up. I might look into Linux one day maybe related to CNC, but i was imagining it to be for more or less standalone PC's dedicated to these kinds of apps.

 

[Susquatch]

I'm so done with all desktop laptop computers.

Not much I can't do on my android phone and what I really can't do, I really don't miss.

Just in the process of doing backups of my desktop and laptop...... AGAIN! Why why why why why?

I used to think Raid was the cats meow. Until the raid controller itself crashed. You ever try to rebuild an NTFS backup from a proprietary Linux format? What a royal PIA! Never did get a full recovery. So much for that solution!

Can't rely on anything anymore. It all used to be sooo easy.......

 

[jcdammeyer]

The best software Microsoft ever created was Windows Home Server (WHS). You could even buy an HP Computer Server box at London Drugs all set to go. Automatic night time backups of changed files on each system on the network.

And here's the best thing about it. If your PC hard drive crashes, which mine did in the middle of developing the software and hardware for the Olympic Rings back in 2009 it's easy to recover.
1. Buy new hard drive.
2. Install new hard drive and boot off a recovery CD.
3. Software on recovery CD goes looking for WHS and then
a) asks which computer you want to restore.
b) which backup date you want to restore from.
4. Entire hard drive is recovered.
a) OS
b) all the registry files and hidden serial #'s for software licenses.
c) all software.

In my case the only thing I lost was 2 hours work done in the morning before the PC crashed.
In addition you can use it as a file repository if you want and then periodically back that up to an external hard drive.

 

[gerritv]

Whs was great, still running Server 2012 R2 Essentials. Using Drive Ender for file duplication. All in an Acer WHS box for 2009. 4 6 Tb drives, 1600 movies plus photos and pdf files. No raid for me, too risky.