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Well, Microsoft has Done It Again. Converted my browser to New Edge.

Captain Adverse

Classical Liberal Sage
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I don't know about anyone else, but I am heartily sick of Microsoft's constant drive to take over my personal computer.

Once upon a time (maybe some members remember) Microsoft offered OS which was user friendly and not controlling.

The system allowed you to add software to play games, view videos, set-up and check email, and otherwise conduct your business on the computer you spent so much money on.

Back then when they developed something new, they OFFERED it to you.

Moreover, when they wanted to add OS options, you could accept those you wanted, and reject those you didn't.

Essentially, decide how much memory you wanted to commit to their Operating System.

Gradually, after insidiously establishing themselves as the premier (in the USA at least) OS, they began to show their true colors.

Adding more and more "stuff", taking more and more space. At first up to at least Windows 7 if I recall correctly but maybe 8, you could still say yes or no to what they wanted to add.

Sometime between Windows 7 and 9 they got rid of that capability, as well as the ability to completely reject updates. But you could still follow "geek instructions" on how to go in and get rid of things.

With Windows 10 we got screwed majorly, and now the most recent update is designed to so restrict your "control" that one may as well consider they own your system unless you purge them completely.

What's all this leading up to? A cry for HELP!

Look; I mostly use my computer for four activities:

1. Playing strategy wargames,

2. Watching YouTube,

3. Participating in Forums,

4. Occasional document production.

So, what is/are the best alternative OS which can support those four while being relatively safe from hacker/viruses?

I'm tired of being a slave to Microsoft
 
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I don't know about anyone else, but I am heartily sick of Microsoft's constant drive to take over my personal computer.

Once upon a time (maybe some members remember) Microsoft offered OS which was user friendly and not controlling.

The system allowed you to add software to play games, view videos, set-up and check email, and otherwise conduct your business on the computer you spent so much money on.

Back then when they developed something new, they OFFERED it to you.

You could accept or reject it, piecemeal.

Moreover, when they wanted to add OS options, you could accept those you wanted, and reject those you didn't.

Essentially, decide how much memory you wanted to commit to their Operating System.

Gradually, after insidiously establishing themselves as the premier (in the USA at least) OS, they began to show their true colors.

Adding more and more "stuff", taking more and more space. At first up to at least Windows 7 if I recall correctly but maybe 8, you could still say yes or no to what you wanted to add.

Sometime between Windows 7 and 9 they got rid of that capability, as well as the ability to completely reject updates. But you could still follow "geek instructions" on how to go in and get rid of things.

With Windows 10 we got screwed majorly, and now the most recent update is designed to so restrict your "control" that one may as well consider they own your system unless you purge them completely.

What's all this leading up to? A cry for HELP!

Look I mostly use my computer for four activities:

1. Playing strategy wargames,

2. Watching YouTube,

3. Participating in Forums,

4. Occasional document production.

So, what is/are the best alternative OS which can support those four while being relative safe from hacker/viruses?

I'm tired of being a slave to Microsoft

Main Page - Linux Mint

Linux takes some getting used to, but this version is pretty automagic

for strategy wargames, it may not be compatible with anything aside windows.
 
I don't know about anyone else, but I am heartily sick of Microsoft's constant drive to take over my personal computer.

Once upon a time (maybe some members remember) Microsoft offered OS which was user friendly and not controlling.

The system allowed you to add software to play games, view videos, set-up and check email, and otherwise conduct your business on the computer you spent so much money on.

Back then when they developed something new, the OFFERED it to you.

You could accept or reject it.

Moreover, when they wanted to add OS options, you could accept those you wanted, and reject those you didn't.

Essentially, decide how much memory you wanted to commit to their Operating System.

Gradually, after insidiously establishing themselves as the premier (in the USA at least) OS, they began to show their true colors.

Adding more and more "stuff", taking more and more space. At first up to at least Windows 7 if I recall correctly but maybe 8, you could still say yes or no to what you wanted to add.

Sometime between Windows 7 and 9 they got rid of that capability, as well as the ability to completely reject updates. But you could still follow "geek instructions" on how to go in and get rid of things.

With Windows 10 we got screwed majorly, and now the most recent update is designed to so restrict your "control" that one may as well consider they own your system unless you purge them completely.

What's all this leading up to? A cry for HELP!

Look I mostly use my computer for four activities:

1. Playing strategy wargames,

2. Watching YouTube,

3. Participating in Forums,

4. Occasional document production.

So, what is/are the best alternative OS which can support those four while being relative safe from hacker/viruses?

I'm tired of being a slave to Microsoft

Honestly, you've got nothing but bad options.

The only real alternatives are throwing out your PC and buying a Mac - which is expensive and also annoying, because macOS is as bad as Windows in a lot of ways, or building a linux machine, which is difficult to set up and maintain.
 
Honestly, you've got nothing but bad options.

The only real alternatives are throwing out your PC and buying a Mac - which is expensive and also annoying, because macOS is as bad as Windows in a lot of ways, or building a linux machine, which is difficult to set up and maintain.

Yeah, I was afraid that's what it might come to. :(

I've got an Alienware...which used to be a stand-up company...until it got bought out by Dell.
 
Yeah, I was afraid that's what it might come to. :(

I've got an Alienware...which used to be a stand-up company...until it got bought out by Dell.
You could run linux on that - but it would take a very long time and a very large amount of work to set up - as well as additional work to maintain.
 
No idea what update you are talking about giving them ownership of your computer. The relocated the fresh start option and some people got the tablet defaults that can be fixed. The goal has always been more stable operations however. No more blue Screens of death since windows 7 was replaced, no more unfixable errors since XP. Isn't the end of the world. Sometimes updates screw up your printers, etc for a day or week or whatever, but they usually get fixed unless your equipment is last century stuff.
 
You could run linux on that - but it would take a very long time and a very large amount of work to set up - as well as additional work to maintain.

balderdash, i use linux regularly and it takes just as much work as windows (I am an professional in both). This isn't 2005 and linux is much better.
 
I switch to linux for six months or so but always wind up returning to windows. There's always going to be something you can't do on linux that you can do on windows.
 
You could run linux on that - but it would take a very long time and a very large amount of work to set up - as well as additional work to maintain.

Problem is, I may have many skills learned over a lifetime...but computer "geek" isn't one of them. ;)

I guess it's time to learn...but damn as you get older you get lazier. LOL
 
I switch to linux for six months or so but always wind up returning to windows. There's always going to be something you can't do on linux that you can do on windows.

What are some of the recurring problems?
 
I don't know about anyone else, but I am heartily sick of Microsoft's constant drive to take over my personal computer.

Once upon a time (maybe some members remember) Microsoft offered OS which was user friendly and not controlling.

The system allowed you to add software to play games, view videos, set-up and check email, and otherwise conduct your business on the computer you spent so much money on.

Back then when they developed something new, they OFFERED it to you.

Moreover, when they wanted to add OS options, you could accept those you wanted, and reject those you didn't.

Essentially, decide how much memory you wanted to commit to their Operating System.

Gradually, after insidiously establishing themselves as the premier (in the USA at least) OS, they began to show their true colors.

Adding more and more "stuff", taking more and more space. At first up to at least Windows 7 if I recall correctly but maybe 8, you could still say yes or no to what they wanted to add.

Sometime between Windows 7 and 9 they got rid of that capability, as well as the ability to completely reject updates. But you could still follow "geek instructions" on how to go in and get rid of things.

With Windows 10 we got screwed majorly, and now the most recent update is designed to so restrict your "control" that one may as well consider they own your system unless you purge them completely.

What's all this leading up to? A cry for HELP!

Look; I mostly use my computer for four activities:

1. Playing strategy wargames,

2. Watching YouTube,

3. Participating in Forums,

4. Occasional document production.

So, what is/are the best alternative OS which can support those four while being relatively safe from hacker/viruses?

I'm tired of being a slave to Microsoft

I use MacOS. TheDoctorWasIn is right. It is overpriced, but it is kinder than the nonsense that Microsoft keeps churning out to make their system ever-more impenetrable and user-unfriendly. I haven't looked at the games available on it currently, but since my main form of gaming is live table-top games, I am not missing much.
 
I am not even sure what Adverse means by "converted my browser to Edge".

Using Chrome and it just went away altogether? Doubtful.

Went to get on the internet and default browser is now Edge? Go to Settings and pick your old browser as default again, and next time check your prefs so it can't be switched back, even on Win Update.

Browsers don't get "converted"...it sounds like your default applications got messed with and that might be because you don't have Administrator rights on your own box. Fix that.

The switch might have even been done by a PuP (Potentially unwanted Program) so it might not have even been Microsnot's fault at all.
The PuP might have switched your browser and maybe even your home page, and maybe even added a toolbar or two.

PuP's are usually a very pointed manifestation of "there is no free lunch".
Usually YOU got something and so did they. They "got" to exert control over your box in exchange for something they gave away to you for free, except as it turned out it wasn't really free.
 
What are some of the recurring problems?


A lot of it is you can't get newer games to run. You run them on wine but wine is always a little behind windows.

Sometimes your browser or another program will start erring out and you can't fix it. Or a piece of hardware you use, like a usb mic won't work because there are no drivers for it on linux.

Or you'll update the system and something will break.
 
balderdash, i use linux regularly and it takes just as much work as windows (I am an professional in both). This isn't 2005 and linux is much better.
From my experience - and I will admit its been a while since I spent much time using a linux machine, although not so long ago as 2005 - the issues would come up when significant changes needed to be made on the system - hardware upgrades, installation of peripheral drivers, etc.
 
A lot of it is you can't get newer games to run. You run them on wine but wine is always a little behind windows.

Sometimes your browser or another program will start erring out and you can't fix it.

Or you'll update the system and something will break.

Hmmm, I like games like Total War (I have several of the series); Europa Universalis, Stellaris, Hearts of Iron among Paradox games, and some other types. So I need a system that can handle that usage. Alienware is a good game computer still IMHO.
 
I don't know about anyone else, but I am heartily sick of Microsoft's constant drive to take over my personal computer.

Once upon a time (maybe some members remember) Microsoft offered OS which was user friendly and not controlling.

The system allowed you to add software to play games, view videos, set-up and check email, and otherwise conduct your business on the computer you spent so much money on.

Back then when they developed something new, they OFFERED it to you.

Moreover, when they wanted to add OS options, you could accept those you wanted, and reject those you didn't.

Essentially, decide how much memory you wanted to commit to their Operating System.

Gradually, after insidiously establishing themselves as the premier (in the USA at least) OS, they began to show their true colors.

Adding more and more "stuff", taking more and more space. At first up to at least Windows 7 if I recall correctly but maybe 8, you could still say yes or no to what they wanted to add.

Sometime between Windows 7 and 9 they got rid of that capability, as well as the ability to completely reject updates. But you could still follow "geek instructions" on how to go in and get rid of things.

With Windows 10 we got screwed majorly, and now the most recent update is designed to so restrict your "control" that one may as well consider they own your system unless you purge them completely.

What's all this leading up to? A cry for HELP!

Look; I mostly use my computer for four activities:

1. Playing strategy wargames,

2. Watching YouTube,

3. Participating in Forums,

4. Occasional document production.

So, what is/are the best alternative OS which can support those four while being relatively safe from hacker/viruses?

I'm tired of being a slave to Microsoft

I'm not clear on what your beef is.

1. You don't HAVE to use Edge. (But you should give it a try. It's a pretty good browser.) I, myself, use five different browsers...Edge being one of them...for different purposes.

2. I've been using Windows since Win95. I don't ever remember having the option to only install specific items when a major update came out. For example, IE was always a part of every new Win OS (until Edge came along)...you just never had to use it if you didn't want to.

3. btw, there was no Win9.

4. If available memory or storage space is your problem, you should probably think about upgrading your computer (if possible). It's getting long in the tooth.
 
From my experience - and I will admit its been a while since I spent much time using a linux machine, although not so long ago as 2005 - the issues would come up when significant changes needed to be made on the system - hardware upgrades, installation of peripheral drivers, etc.

Adding them to the platform? Stability? What?
 
Adding them to the platform? Stability? What?

My linux experience came from working on a poorly-built local network, in a school.

We had a lot of cheap computers, and a lot of donated parts - like RAM sticks, hard drives, etc. Getting everything to work together was a nightmare.
 
I'm not clear on what your beef is.

1. You don't HAVE to use Edge. (But you should give it a try. It's a pretty good browser.) I, myself, use five different browsers...Edge being one of them...for different purposes.

I don't know about that, I seem to recall trying to use a different browser back in the day and one of Microsoft's updates just wrote over it.

2. I've been using Windows since Win95. I don't ever remember having the option to only install specific items when a major update came out. For example, IE was always a part of every new Win OS (until Edge came along)...you just never had to use it if you didn't want to.

Well I do. When an upgrade alert came in you could go to see what the upgrade contained, and aside from security add-ons you could accept or reject things.

My beef is, I want to use a browser like DuckDuckGo, which I did prior to this "update."

The update gives you an option to "select it" but then uses some other setup with a weird symbol like a Celtic lower case "b."

Now the duckduckgo window is not the main screen, and you have to go up and type in the (whatever that https bar is).

3. btw, there was no Win9.

4. If available memory or storage space is your problem, you should probably think about upgrading your computer (if possible). It's getting long in the tooth.

As to item #4, part of the problem has been that Microsoft seems to just add on more data for their OS...without housecleaning. Like building on prior foundations.

I have over 9 gigs of memory. But I've had to upgrade several times to this point, and it isn't because of things I am loading onto my system.
 
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I'm not clear on what your beef is.

1. You don't HAVE to use Edge. (But you should give it a try. It's a pretty good browser.) I, myself, use five different browsers...Edge being one of them...for different purposes.

2. I've been using Windows since Win95. I don't ever remember having the option to only install specific items when a major update came out. For example, IE was always a part of every new Win OS (until Edge came along)...you just never had to use it if you didn't want to.

3. btw, there was no Win9.

4. If available memory or storage space is your problem, you should probably think about upgrading your computer (if possible). It's getting long in the tooth.

Technically either 8 was 9 or 9 was 95/98 collectively depending on which way you want to look at it. 8 was the 9th version of windows and 95/98 were collectively coded as 9X in its version recognition routines.
 
I don't know about that, I seem to recall trying to use a different browser back in the day and one of Microsoft's updates just wrote over it.



Well I do. When an upgrade alert came in you could go to see what the upgrade contained, and aside from security add-ons you could accept or reject things.

My beef is, I want to use a browser like DuckDuckGo, which I did prior to this "update."

The update gives you an option to "select it" but then uses some other setup with a weird symbol like a Celtic lower case "b."

Now the duckduckgo window is not the main screen, and you have to go up and type in the (whatever that https bar is).



As to item #4, part of the problem has been that Microsoft seems to just add on more data for their OS...without housecleaning. Like building on prior foundations.

I have over 9 gigs of memory. But I've had to upgrade several times to this point, and it isn't because of things I am loading onto my system.

You should try using the DuckDuckGo search engine in your choice of browser (Opera, Chrome, Firefox, etc.) instead of trying to use a "DuckDuckGo" browser.

It's interesting to me that you refer to a DDG "browser". I wasn't aware that there was one for Win10. I knew about their browser for Android and iOS, but not Windows. After looking into it, it seems there was a DDG browser for Win10, but it's been discontinued. In fact, I couldn't even find a link to download it that has been available since 2018 and none of those previous links work anymore.

Anyway, I use DDG search engine on every browser I use...except Edge. I kept the Bing search engine on Edge. And no Win10 update has ever screwed with that choice.

Oh...and maybe it's just me, but I use the address bar for ALL of my searches. I've never liked a redundant search window like Chrome wants to put on their home page.
 
I don't know about anyone else, but I am heartily sick of Microsoft's constant drive to take over my personal computer.

Once upon a time (maybe some members remember) Microsoft offered OS which was user friendly and not controlling.

The system allowed you to add software to play games, view videos, set-up and check email, and otherwise conduct your business on the computer you spent so much money on.

Back then when they developed something new, they OFFERED it to you.

Moreover, when they wanted to add OS options, you could accept those you wanted, and reject those you didn't.

Essentially, decide how much memory you wanted to commit to their Operating System.

Gradually, after insidiously establishing themselves as the premier (in the USA at least) OS, they began to show their true colors.

Adding more and more "stuff", taking more and more space. At first up to at least Windows 7 if I recall correctly but maybe 8, you could still say yes or no to what they wanted to add.

Sometime between Windows 7 and 9 they got rid of that capability, as well as the ability to completely reject updates. But you could still follow "geek instructions" on how to go in and get rid of things.

With Windows 10 we got screwed majorly, and now the most recent update is designed to so restrict your "control" that one may as well consider they own your system unless you purge them completely.

What's all this leading up to? A cry for HELP!

Look; I mostly use my computer for four activities:

1. Playing strategy wargames,

2. Watching YouTube,

3. Participating in Forums,

4. Occasional document production.

So, what is/are the best alternative OS which can support those four while being relatively safe from hacker/viruses?

I'm tired of being a slave to Microsoft

Follow the instructions at How to remove Microsoft Edge on a Windows computer.
 
From my experience - and I will admit its been a while since I spent much time using a linux machine, although not so long ago as 2005 - the issues would come up when significant changes needed to be made on the system - hardware upgrades, installation of peripheral drivers, etc.

Almost all the major installers do that on their own now.
 
My beef is, I want to use a browser like DuckDuckGo, which I did prior to this "update."

The update gives you an option to "select it" but then uses some other setup with a weird symbol like a Celtic lower case "b."

Now the duckduckgo window is not the main screen, and you have to go up and type in the (whatever that https bar is).



As to item #4, part of the problem has been that Microsoft seems to just add on more data for their OS...without housecleaning. Like building on prior foundations.

I have over 9 gigs of memory. But I've had to upgrade several times to this point, and it isn't because of things I am loading onto my system.

Duck Duck Go is NOT a browser.
And 9GB of memory is pathetic. A Win10 machine might claim it's enough in the so called "minimum system requirements" but it's not.
For Win10 you need to have AT LEAST 16GB or more, sorry.

Again Duck Duck Go is a website, a search engine.
If you don't know the difference between a browser and a website, consult a professional for help in learning to navigate your machine.
A couple of short night classes or basic tutorials on YouTube, maybe.
 
Agree with you 100% about Microsoft. I started to give up on maintaining a computer about the time they replaced the search engine they had for years with the one that runs forever in the background and can't seem to find half the files I know are there. I got rid of my desktop and was using an old laptop for a while, but windows eventually refused to load and none of their fixes worked. I've been computerless for about a year now and don't miss it at all.
 
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