The Spam Thread!

cpd2009 · (This post was last modified: 05-01-2018, 09:39 PM by cpd2009.)

Windows 10 April Update completed. So far, it's running about the same as Greta's relatively fresh Windows 10 install. The April update was immediately available for download from Windows Update..

One thing I must make note of is that the browser default is no longer reset. Having app defaults reset is one issue that plagued initial Windows 10 updates IIRC. Though after the update was complete, Edge was open showing the customary new features page along with a message pushing you to change the default browser back to Edge. I ignored it of course. Smile

The settings for Tips also remained disabled.

Microsoft is listening to public feedback in some ways, though they still need to stop being so pushy in regards to using the default Windows 10 apps. Even Apple doesn't bombard you with promotional popups in macOS, despite attempting to lock you down to the Mac App Store.

***huckleberrypie*** · 05-02-2018, 09:25 AM

(05-01-2018, 09:38 PM)cpd2009 Wrote: Windows 10 April Update completed. So far, it's running about the same as Greta's relatively fresh Windows 10 install. The April update was immediately available for download from Windows Update..

One thing I must make note of is that the browser default is no longer reset. Having app defaults reset is one issue that plagued initial Windows 10 updates IIRC. Though after the update was complete, Edge was open showing the customary new features page along with a message pushing you to change the default browser back to Edge. I ignored it of course.

The settings for Tips also remained disabled.

Microsoft is listening to public feedback in some ways, though they still need to stop being so pushy in regards to using the default Windows 10 apps. Even Apple doesn't bombard you with promotional popups in macOS, despite attempting to lock you down to the Mac App Store.

Still thinking about getting the April update atm, but I'm glad they did improve upon W10 in some ways.

And they do need to stop shoving things up people's throats like Candy Crush and whatnot. That's basically the reason why people held on to Windows 7 or 8 on top of the already overblown privacy paranoia courtesy of Snowden.

cpd2009 · 05-05-2018, 08:49 AM

https://mspoweruser.com/more-windows-10-...e-crashes/

More Windows 10 April Update issues, and a rather serious one.

Unless this issue is sorted out, you might want to hold off on updating.

I haven't encountered any issues with Greta + Windows 10 April Update, but I haven't really used her much. I'm on a trip over the weekend, so I will see if these issues turn up or not.

***huckleberrypie*** · 05-05-2018, 10:53 AM

(05-05-2018, 08:49 AM)cpd2009 Wrote: https://mspoweruser.com/more-windows-10-...e-crashes/

More Windows 10 April Update issues, and a rather serious one.

Unless this issue is sorted out, you might want to hold off on updating.

I haven't encountered any issues with Greta + Windows 10 April Update, but I haven't really used her much. I'm on a trip over the weekend, so I will see if these issues turn up or not.

I presume this would lead to either a hotfix or an amended ISO then?

cpd2009 · 05-13-2018, 10:20 AM

My AVG trial expired, and didn't feel like buying the full version, so I switched to Avast. It's working good so far, though Avast really wants you to use Google Chrome. Not only do you get the usual offer during install, but it's also offered in their little program updater tool, and it blends in with the other items as well.

If Avast wants people to browse the web safely, shouldn't they be promoting Firefox instead? Tongue

***huckleberrypie*** · 05-13-2018, 11:10 AM

(05-13-2018, 10:20 AM)cpd2009 Wrote: My AVG trial expired, and didn't feel like buying the full version, so I switched to Avast. It's working good so far, though Avast really wants you to use Google Chrome. Not only do you get the usual offer during install, but it's also offered in their little program updater tool, and it blends in with the other items as well.

If Avast wants people to browse the web safely, shouldn't they be promoting Firefox instead?

Makes me wonder if Google really is guilty of the same atrocity Microsoft did with Internet Explorer. Tongue

cpd2009 · 05-13-2018, 12:48 PM

May as well provide some other tech goodies to keep the forum busy. Smile

I went back to my small hometown on a trip last weekend, and I managed to bring some more stuff back that I forgot about. That included some USB flash drives that I missed along with my Windows XP product key. I have wanted to set up some sort of psuedo "retro" gaming rig for games that don't run properly on Windows 10, and I do have an older Pentium III PC to run them. I still have to lug the Pentium III up to my apartment and do some maintenance work on it. After that's done, I will acquire a second computer desk and set up my retro XP PC.

For better compatibility though, would it be wiser to use Windows 98 SE instead? My PIII PC does have a compatible motherboard (ASUS TUV4x). The issue is acquiring Windows 98, which means looking on eBay for a copy. Most are upgrade only copies, but I recall in earlier versions of Windows, there was a way to do a full clean install from upgrade-only media.

Another thing I brought back is my GBA SP charger, which I realized that I forgot during my initial move. I was wanting to test an official GBA battery in that knockoff "FC Mobile" console to see how it compares to it's own aftermarket GBA battery. The aftermarket battery can only power the FC Mobile for around 2 1/2 hours before going kaput. I find that to be strange since an official GBA battery can run a GBA console for upwards to 10 hours or more on a single charge. This means that either the aftermarket battery is crap, or the FC Mobile isn't energy efficient. I could go with the latter since NOACs on their own draw little power, but the FC Mobile adds in LED backlighting, LCD, and a loud speaker.

Finally, I have decided to switch Pearl back to Windows 10. While at home, I had Greta with me, who runs Windows 10. I initially installed the Fall update, but immediately upgraded to the April update as soon as I could. Though MSPowerUser seemed to label the upgrade as problematic (based on their recent stories of people having issues after upgrading), Greta ran just fine. I didn't run into any serious issues. I also took notice of one major point during upgrade. If you change settings in Windows before upgrading, those settings remain the same afterwards. I recall during the early days of Windows 10 where the annual updates would change your program defaults back to their MS preferred defaults. The April update doesn't do that at all. I'm also keen on the idea of playing recent Xbox One exclusives on PC, and there is one game called "Super Lucky's Tale" that I'm interested in playing. I have no plans of acquiring an Xbox One, so having more Xbox games on PC will allow me to enjoy exclusives that I otherwise wouldn't get to play.

cpd2009 · 05-14-2018, 04:13 AM

I may get nostalgic for the Windows XP days, but I certainly don't miss the lengthy install process. No longer do you have to deal with downtime of an hour or more. Windows 10 installs in less than 30 minutes... not counting post-install drivers or software. Backup has also changed. No longer do I have to use 5 to 10 DVD-Rs to back up my data before reinstalling Windows. I can just move them to my external hard disk and save time. Smile

Windows 10 is installed on Pearl once again, and it's running quite well. Though I do love the new Firefox, I am giving Edge a try for a few hours since it's supposed to have improvements in the April update. It does have the Fluent Design motif, which I'm starting to appreciate for obvious reasons. *cough*Windows Aero*cough*

I also found some rather surprising driver and app updates. Gigabyte published Windows Redstone 3/4 drivers for Pearl's motherboard. The new Realtek audio drivers come with a Modern "Realtek Audio Console" settings panel and it blends in with the system perfectly. I also found out IrfanView is officially on the Microsoft Store via something called "Windows Desktop Bridge".

***huckleberrypie*** · 05-14-2018, 04:55 PM

What happens when you have a character model or two lying around and you have practically nothing else to do:

cpd2009 · (This post was last modified: 05-15-2018, 11:41 AM by cpd2009.)

(05-14-2018, 04:55 PM)huckleberrypie Wrote: What happens when you have a character model or two lying around and you have practically nothing else to do:

For some reason, the video doesn't play when I view the post itself, but it shows up properly in edit mode? And I'm using Firefox again because Edge still sucks at rendering endless pages, like YouTube comments. Sad

The only real difference I noticed was the UI. Focus on browser performance before making the UI good. No wonder people consider Edge as the browser you use to download Chrome/Firefox. Tongue

I also took note of various popups that appear when you attempt to play videos with WMP. Here is a reddit thread showing it off...
https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comme...ows_media/

MS wants to put WMP out to pasture next. While it's still needed to rip music CDs, it's somewhat lacking as a music player. Winamp or foobar2000 are better alternatives. The built in Groove Music app is even worse than WMP. And strangely, Movies & TV is decent enough for basic video playback.

I do have VLC, but it's used only for very old legacy formats or screencapping DVDs. Other users swear by Media Player Classic HC. Never really tried that.