Abandoning Windows for Dummies

[PapawBrett]

I really don't know where to start a thread about this subject, so let's try here.....

First, I am a career Trucker. Gears and Asphalt I understand. Programs and Acronyms are outside my area of expertise. But I have been reading some disturbing information about Microsoft and Windows 10. I basically read the ECF, NFL.com and a few selected sites. Not much of a tech guy at all, but when a system tries to automatically load itself into my laptop, I automatically force shutdown (hold the power button), unplug and removed the battery.
Now I am reading that Windows 10 is all about "data mining". I really don't want any part of Windows anymore. But I don't know how to drop the program and install a new one. I have Google Chrome on my laptop and my Smart(er than me) Phone, and that is what I am using currently.
A friend on another thread recommended "Linux" (which I mistakenly called 'Linus' ) but I am not sure what he meant. He claims all I need is a disk burner. OK, so I open the burner, insert the disk, close the burner...... then what ?
Again , I'm not a tech guy. If you throw a bunch of acronyms at me, I am probably going to have to ask what they mean.
So this thread really is entitled "Abandoning Windows for Dummies", and hopefully people who are stuck with Windows can find a few answers here.

 

[retic1959]

I really don't know where to start a thread about this subject, so let's try here.....

First, I am a career Trucker. Gears and Asphalt I understand. Programs and Acronyms are outside my area of expertise. But I have been reading some disturbing information about Microsoft and Windows 10. I basically read the ECF, NFL.com and a few selected sites. Not much of a tech guy at all, but when a system tries to automatically load itself into my laptop, I automatically force shutdown (hold the power button), unplug and removed the battery.
Now I am reading that Windows 10 is all about "data mining". I really don't want any part of Windows anymore. But I don't know how to drop the program and install a new one. I have Google Chrome on my laptop and my Smart(er than me) Phone, and that is what I am using currently.
A friend on another thread recommended "Linux" (which I mistakenly called 'Linus' ) but I am not sure what he meant. He claims all I need is a disk burner. OK, so I open the burner, insert the disk, close the burner...... then what ?
Again , I'm not a tech guy. If you throw a bunch of acronyms at me, I am probably going to have to ask what they mean.
So this thread really is entitled "Abandoning Windows for Dummies", and hopefully people who are stuck with Windows can find a few answers here.

You were closer to the truth than you knew Papaw the man that invented Linux was named Linus . As far as then what , I've had a few too many beers to answer that right now but I will later .

 

[r77r7r]

Good Morning. I'm not a techie either, so I'm taking a pass on Linux myself. If you're like me and have Windows 7, it's supported until 2020 or so, so we don't have to do win10 if we don't want.

I'll post a link for you to a small program that'll stop win10 from annoying you with trying to convert you. I've had it on my PC for a few mths now and works fine in the background.

I did find a program to convert a PC over into a Chromebook, but I might need a touchscreen for that. Seemed rather easy to do.

Actually, I find Google/Chrome/Android on my devices to be more intrusive than windows ever was.

OT- Funny, I was thinking just last nite about asking a question of one of you truckers on here. I was telling my young son about the days of short wave radio, and was wondering if truckers still used CB's?

Have a safe journey....

 

[Foggy Road]

Well I converted my antiquated PC to and laptop to Linux a few years back when MS decided to shaft all of us XP diehards.. It was not easy. Even once installed there are hoops to jump thru to get everything working.
The most popular Linux version,at that time, was Ubuntu. The installation program was too big to download onto any blank disc I had at the time so I went with Lubuntu on the PC and Linux Lite on the laptop for various reason to do with download size and installation method (disc vs. SD card).
Now I'm a tad bit of a geek but not full blown. And Linux was a real PITA get functional. Everything seemed to need another download. Browser, wifi and such. Using the command line (think DOS) to install things and setup. Had to install a thpethial (phoney) version of chrome browser. Getting the wifi working on my laptop was a nightmare. Graphics and browser video sucked.

Keep in mind that my devices were both obsolete and under spec. That MAY have been some of my issue. Bought the wife a Chromebox

To get a taste of Linux you don't actually need to install it. The installation programs that I used both offered the option to run it directly from the disc without installing. Never tried it tho.

I have since replaced the PC with a $29 7" Windows 8.1 tablet connected to a mouse, keyboard and 22" flat screen TV. I won't accept the win 10 download. Whenever I replace that tablet it will be with an Android tablet or another Chromebox.

 

[r77r7r]

Wow, I thought I got a good deal @ $50 for an android tablet! Wondering if Linux Wine is all-around easier?

 

[Foggy Road]

OT- Funny, I was thinking just last nite about asking a question of one of you truckers on here. I was telling my young son about the days of short wave radio, and was wondering if truckers still used CB's?

Have a safe journey....

I rarely turn mine on anymore unless I need to listen for a receiver to assign me to a dock door or come up on a traffic backup, Too much 'CB Rambo' stuff going on with all the 'man sized 6 years olds' cussin and hollerin at each other. Or 'old woman' type truckers riding down the road for hours complaining about all their aches and pains to each other and just gabbin away in general. And of course they've got their hugely powerful $5000 radios to make sure they're heard and anyone trying to send a traffic or accident warning can't get thru. The CB is almost worthless anymore.

 

[PapawBrett]

Foggy Road is right about the CB radio. It started when the Gub'ment deregulated the airwaves, and the FCC did away with the personal license . A few old-timers, like me, leave it on, down low and squelch up, just out of habit. But it is nowhere near what it used to be.

 

[PaulBHC]

I have Windows 10 since the early launch and don't see any problems. I don't do much anymore beyond internet surfing. I use Firefox with Adblock.

I also have Ubuntu installed as a dual boot on this PC. Past problems included video drivers that don't work, mouse problems, video that wont play, etc. It is some work / learning curve / to get it working. You can put the install download on a usb thumb drive instead of a DVD disc.

I would advise to stay with W7 as long as you can or take the plunge into 10 if you can reverse it later.

 

[Foggy Road]

. You can put the install download on a usb thumb drive instead of a DVD disc.
.

Only if your device has the option (in BIOS) to boot from USB.

 

[PapawBrett]

Here is a Link that I've read that truly concerns me, and I am not even a 'Teckkie'

Microsoft's Deceptive Tactics Push Customers to Mac, Linux

Maybe some of you more knowledgeable people can tell me if this is as bad as the article represents Windows.

 

[retic1959]

Well I converted my antiquated PC to and laptop to Linux a few years back when MS decided to shaft all of us XP diehards.. It was not easy. Even once installed there are hoops to jump thru to get everything working.
The most popular Linux version,at that time, was Ubuntu. The installation program was too big to download onto any blank disc I had at the time so I went with Lubuntu on the PC and Linux Lite on the laptop for various reason to do with download size and installation method (disc vs. SD card).
Now I'm a tad bit of a geek but not full blown. And Linux was a real PITA get functional. Everything seemed to need another download. Browser, wifi and such. Using the command line (think DOS) to install things and setup. Had to install a thpethial (phoney) version of chrome browser. Getting the wifi working on my laptop was a nightmare. Graphics and browser video sucked.

Keep in mind that my devices were both obsolete and under spec. That MAY have been some of my issue. Bought the wife a Chromebox

To get a taste of Linux you don't actually need to install it. The installation programs that I used both offered the option to run it directly from the disc without installing. Never tried it tho.

I have since replaced the PC with a $29 7" Windows 8.1 tablet connected to a mouse, keyboard and 22" flat screen TV. I won't accept the win 10 download. Whenever I replace that tablet it will be with an Android tablet or another Chromebox.

A lot has changed in some versions of Linux , I run Linux Mint xfce on an older PC and the only thing I had to do to get it working was install it . It recognised all my gear without a hitch , including my wireless keyboard and trackball , it even recognised my 4 year old Sharp tv that I use as a monitor and it's hooked up thru a Divx to HDMI adapter . It comes with a full office suite and Firefox as a browser . As in Windows if you want a different browser you have to download one but not by command line , Mint has a software manager with over 70,000 apps on it divided into categories and pretested for safety and compatibility , point and click to download and install in one operation . I have Chrome and Opera installed alongside of Firefox and I run two browsers ar a time alongside a game with no issues . Operating it is the same as Windows 7 except I don't need Antivirus , Antimalware , Antispyware , Root cleaning or defragging software, I'm free of that crap and Bill Gate's hand is no longer in my wallet or spying on me .

 

[retic1959]

I really don't know where to start a thread about this subject, so let's try here.....

First, I am a career Trucker. Gears and Asphalt I understand. Programs and Acronyms are outside my area of expertise. But I have been reading some disturbing information about Microsoft and Windows 10. I basically read the ECF, NFL.com and a few selected sites. Not much of a tech guy at all, but when a system tries to automatically load itself into my laptop, I automatically force shutdown (hold the power button), unplug and removed the battery.
Now I am reading that Windows 10 is all about "data mining". I really don't want any part of Windows anymore. But I don't know how to drop the program and install a new one. I have Google Chrome on my laptop and my Smart(er than me) Phone, and that is what I am using currently.
A friend on another thread recommended "Linux" (which I mistakenly called 'Linus' ) but I am not sure what he meant. He claims all I need is a disk burner. OK, so I open the burner, insert the disk, close the burner...... then what ?
Again , I'm not a tech guy. If you throw a bunch of acronyms at me, I am probably going to have to ask what they mean.
So this thread really is entitled "Abandoning Windows for Dummies", and hopefully people who are stuck with Windows can find a few answers here.

The then what for you Papaw would be me burning the DVD , sending it to you and spending some time on the phone with you talking you through it , the then what for others would begin with downloading a Linux ISO file and then burning the image to disk .


The ISO files are here .
Releases - Linux Mint

 

[dave51]

Here is a Link that I've read that truly concerns me, and I am not even a 'Teckkie'

Microsoft's Deceptive Tactics Push Customers to Mac, Linux

Maybe some of you more knowledgeable people can tell me if this is as bad as the article represents Windows.

the message there should concern everyone
Im one of micky soft insider testers
There is no way to make windows 10 secure if you want to use the programs included
Many of the programs need access to your microphone and camera to work

A techy can go into the registry and make it secure but it messes up a lot of other programs

I have been running linux for almost 10 years and the only semi problems are many programs are not the newest updateable and many games wont play on linux

Other than that even a newbie linux user can have an easy time switching over

Linux Mint is one of the easies there are others more complicated but but with more advanced programs for use

 

[Chakris]

I believe I used Linux for a short time just before I bought my MacBook in 2006 and a year later my iMac. Have never regretted that move. I can still play all the games I want by running Windows in a virtual machine.

 

[Chakris]

Morning Army.
What's up?

Mama Chak is still recouping, but now she's talking suicidal saying, "I want to just die and get it over with!"

I keep telling her not till she sees her grand kids.

 

[r77r7r]

Oops?

 

[DancingHeretik]

I bought a new computer that came with Win 10 on it. So, I didn't have a choice. After a few weeks (and an automatic/forced upgrade), I decided I'd had it.

I downloaded Linux Mint and wiped out Win 10. Very easy. Linux nowadays is really easy.

 

[PapawBrett]

Morning Army.
What's up?

Mama Chak is still recouping, but now she's talking suicidal saying, "I want to just die and get it over with!"

I keep telling her not till she sees her grand kids.

Chak has been known to have as many as five different ECF pages at one time working...
Hey Chak, the HHV Army is on another thread.

 

[Vaslovik]

Back when Windows XP Pro was supported I loved it. Then, they "improved" it and named it Vista, then they started calling Windows other things, and it took on a totally foreign look I didn't like at all and it didn't work the same at all, and all the hackers cut their teeth on it. I can't tell you how many times I got hacked and had my system crashed with Windows by malicious script-kiddies.

I just got a Mac, and left all that behind. Years later I'm still happy with my Mac and on my 3rd one. No hackers, no self-fouling registry, no viruses... yet. I have Malwarebytes and so far the only malware I've gotten was some cloud utility that somehow was snuck onto my system while I was watching a YouTube video. I got rid of it quick. With Windows it was a whole lot worse, really vicious malware and constant hackers.

Yes, abandon Windows, especially if it's part of data mining.

 

[umanbean]

Windows XP Pro - Great OS for its day, just not very LAN/internet savvy.
Windows Vista - A real DAWG of an OS... nobody liked it! Thankfully didn't last long.
Windows 7 Pro - Best OS Microsoft ever released... ever. Esp if you know how to edit the Registry and Group Policy.
Windows 8 & 8.1 - Almost as bad as Vista, just in different ways.
Windows 10 - Big Brother incarnate... watch yourself, because MS will be!

IMO... MS, Facebook, Google, et al have all gotten too big for their britches. I could smell it coming since 1995, when I first learned what a "cookie" was...

If moving to Linux, Mint is the distro you want.