Anyone using anything older than Windows 10 these days?

[dchammonds]

I really prefer Windows 10, to be honest. I have a couple newer machines that run Windows 11, and every time there is an update, I have to go back in and turn off a bunch of crap.

But once support dies for Windows 10, I'm going to have to switch to Windows 11 whether I like it or not. (Damnit...)

Adam

As far as I'm concerned, the end of Win10 support can't come soon enough- I'm sick and tired of having to restart the processes on my W10 music server every time a cat pisses in the road because of some frivolous furniture rearranging update that causes an auto reboot of the system. Windows Defender will continue to get updates for some time to come without the spontaneous reboots, so I'm OK with that.

Dean

[lasermaster1977]

Dean makes an important point, which leads me to wonder if it is mere coincidence that an odd number of Windows is far, far more common...if you stop and think about it, how could this be shear coincidence?

[TheHermit]

I'm sick and tired of having to restart the processes on my W10 music server

Just in case you're not aware, Mr A.I. Google says"

You can control which programs start automatically by accessing the Startup tab in Task Manager or through the Services app. Here's how to manage startup services:
1. Using Task Manager's Startup Tab:
Open Task Manager: Right-click the taskbar and select "Task Manager" or press Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
Navigate to Startup: Click on the "Startup" tab.
Disable unwanted programs: Right-click on a program and select "Disable" to prevent it from starting automatically.
2. Using the Services App:
Open Services: Press the Windows key + R, type "services.msc", and press Enter.
Locate Services: Find the service you want to manage in the list.
Change Startup Type: Double-click the service, go to the "Startup type" dropdown, and choose "Automatic", "Manual", or "Disabled".
3. Other Methods:
System Configuration (msconfig):
.
You can also access startup settings through msconfig by pressing Windows key + R, typing "msconfig", and going to the "Startup" tab.
Startup Folder:
.
You can add or remove shortcuts from the Startup folder (C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Win dows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup).

Hope it doesn't piss off your cat.
😎
After considering the info from Explaining Computers, I'm leaning toward keeping Win 10, just for retaining the ability to use PicEdit for offline plotting 3D ILD frames and storing the files on my NAS for access via my laser control PC. But, I'll install Mint onto a VM or dual boot for daily online activities. Seems like the best of both worlds, in my situation to avoid purchasing new TPM2 compliant hardware + Win 11 license, which I don't really want.
As Adam says, MS updates usually screw up scaling, text size, etc. I don't want my data duplicated/backed up onto MS cloud. I just want MS to leave me alone and out of my life.
Hopefully, my existing online accounts for banking, Amazon, YT, PayPal, & PLF won't balk at Linux.
Perhaps others have already been down this road to confirm either way.
Thanks
Roj

[dchammonds]

Hope it doesn't piss off your cat.
😎

Roj

After an unsolicited reboot, my cat expects the system to return to EXACTLY as it was last left.

[TheHermit]

After an unsolicited reboot, my cat expects the system to return to EXACTLY as it was last left.

Ok Dean, let's try to make your cat happy. You've provided the following info:

I'm sick and tired of having to restart the processes on my W10 music server

Sounds like your W10 music server is running 24/7, until MS forces an update reboot and the music server's 'process' doesn't automatically restart.
I assume that:
a) the 'music server' must be a legacy app that doesn't comply with MS installation protocols and that its 'process' is a service.
and/or
b) that it wasn't installed with admin permissions to provide write access to:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Win dows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup)
If so, then I believe you will need to log into your W10 PC with admin rights, then copy & paste the shortcut to your music server's process into that path, as Mr Google previously mentioned, so that it will automagically restart after a forced MS update reboot.
If so, then your cat could enjoy living in purrific bliss.
Hope this helps.
Roj

[dchammonds]

Ok Dean, let's try to make your cat happy. You've provided the following info:

Sounds like your W10 music server is running 24/7, until MS forces an update reboot and the music server's 'process' doesn't automatically restart.
I assume that:
a) the 'music server' must be a legacy app that doesn't comply with MS installation protocols and that its 'process' is a service.
and/or
b) that it wasn't installed with admin permissions to provide write access to:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Win dows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup)
If so, then I believe you will need to log into your W10 PC with admin rights, then copy & paste the shortcut to your music server's process into that path, as Mr Google previously mentioned, so that it will automagically restart after a forced MS update reboot.
If so, then your cat could enjoy living in purrific bliss.
Hope this helps.
Roj

Thanks for the tip, Roj!

The 'music server' is a jukebox/multi-channel audio processor app that I wrote called Parametric5 (I've yet to post the current version). The app now starts on reboot and the playlist saves to a file dynamically, so it always comes up as last left. One of the problems that remain is that I haven't gotten around to is saving the dozens of audio settings so that they come up as last left (not looking forward to that). The other problem is that my machine is a 08 Dell that has been brought back from the dead more than once, and sometimes it throws out a CMOS checksum error during a reboot and I have to fix a couple BIOS settings to bring it back up. Spontaneous reboots are a PITA!

Dean

[TheHermit]

Thanks for the tip, Roj!

You're very welcome, Dean.
Glad to hear that your puddie-cat is happy.🤗

The 'music server' is a jukebox/multi-channel audio processor app that I wrote called Parametric5 (I've yet to post the current version). The app now starts on reboot and the playlist saves to a file dynamically, so it always comes up as last left.

Cool! 😎

One of the problems that remain is that I haven't gotten around to is saving the dozens of audio settings so that they come up as last left (not looking forward to that).

🤔 Hmm... 🙄
💡 Perhaps a default 'config.ini' text file with the settings could be edited, saved, and parsed upon launch of Parametric5, similar to a Raspberry Pi's OS config? Just a thought. There it goes. . , ; ~ ' *

The other problem is that my machine is a 08 Dell that has been brought back from the dead more than once, and sometimes it throws out a CMOS checksum error during a reboot and I have to fix a couple BIOS settings to bring it back up. Spontaneous reboots are a PITA!

Rut-roh! 🥴
BR
Roj