and a lot of my customers 'new' computers that have window 8/8.1 on them have NEVER received installed an update as the makers just push a hdd image onto the drive then box it up and ship it to the shops where it is sold and it is then up to the end customer to download the 2-3GB of updates(per attempt to install) and many reboots before the computer is useable (all asuming the 'updates do NOT fail to install and force a restore to before the updates installation, then install updates fail to install, reboot, restore to before install etc....

 

harpo, the ghost NON-subscriber

Yeah, it's damned frustrating that I cannot change various BIOS settings with this machine... that it keeps reverting back to factory settings after rebooting.  I have 3 other machines with UEFI BIOS' that give me access to all BIOS settings [a Gigabyte & 2 ASUS boards], but then they aren't proprietary machines and have no such restrictions.

When I tried and failed to disable SecureBoot, I went to the HP forums and one poster there suggested that HP had disabled certain BIOS features on Win 8 machines in accordance with MS wishes to prevent dual booting with other OSes such as Linux. How much truth there is to this I'm not sure, but the fact that SecureBoot on my HP tablet/laptop cannot be disabled would suggest that it could very well be.  Anyway, it's not an issue for me now.  I neither want or need to dual boot on it in any case.

Yeah, I have to agree.  It stinks alright.  I though MS was arrogant when it forced certain files and folders to be located in Public Documents.  That was bad enough, given that I wanted to store skin libraries on a separate drive, but this idea is considerably worse and MS will lose a shipload of customers.  I don't care how uniformed they think it will make thinks across the board, the idea is flawed and will create issues for millions of users.... of all editions.  Not everybody has the same hardware and software combinations, and a one size fits all approach does not cut it, regardless of how well MS thinks it has this issue covered

It so reminds me of the school bully who turns up at school with shit sandwiches. Instead of bullying other kids for their lunch, he finds more amusing to force others to eat his.  Okay, this might not be quite as unsanitary, but it's equally disgusting, given the harm it can and will do to end users machines.

I rethunk it....

IF users manage to get back online the guaranteed most-common search string in Google will be 'Join class-action suit against MS for system failure'.

Be warned, MS ...no amount of EULA will allay the storm.  Consumer protection rights will make sure of that...

"A product must be fit for its use"...... always, not sometimes.

And to think I was once looking forward to Windows 10.

I'd read about under-the-hood improvements and added features, but the run of calamitous events of late, none of those enhancement seem worth the bother.

What with butt ugly icons and GUI, then enforced updates and potential exclusions for necessary rollbacks [not to mention those gaudy looking tiles on the start menu, we can well do without those] Windows 10 appears to be a far worse disaster than Win 8/8.1 was ever accused of being. 

I happen to like Windows 8.1 and use it as my primary OS, but the more I read about Win 10 the more disappointed I become.  In fact, the likelihood that I stick with 8.1 and pass on 10 grows daily.  True, there are things I don't like about Win 8/8.1, and some of those were introduced in Win 7 [mandatory placements in Public Documents for certain files and folders etc], but Win 10 seems to be heralding in a dictatorial era that I'm finding difficult to abide by. 

There appears to be little to no respect for users/users rights... co consideration towards individual needs/circumstances.  It's like MS has thrown an blanket over everyone and said: "Like it or lump it, but this is what you're getting.... and stop yer bitching cos we're ain't listening."

Never mind, Win 7/8/8.1 still haven't reached their use-by dates, and I do have OS-X Yosemite on my miniMac.  There's also Linux, of which there are some distros I've enjoyed using in the past.

 

what? i think it'll just auto update. also don't understand why you would have to buy a copy to do a reinstall. i think you can just d/l an iso off ms, as long as you have the key somewhere... (for the activation, that is) or for that matter, what difference a reinstall will make as it'll just have the same updates waiting to flood through...

alaknebs, it might even be WORSE if ms for some STUPID reason decides to remove old patches, then with the patches NOT available, BUT NEEDED for updating, then the customer is STUFFED

harpo, the ghost NON-subscriber

More karma for Paul......

The need would arise if prior updates were either missed due to long term inactivity, or if rolled back, and the machine becomes ineligible for future update and Store purchases/downloads as a result.  If this occurs the product key attached would then become invalid and a new one would needed to be purchased in order to qualify for updates/Store access.  In other words, this 'free' upgrade could end up costing users the price of a new license anyhow.

Yeah, it all sounded to good to be true, and with various caveats attached for the lifetime of the upgrade, it is... too good to be true.  In fact, the caveats apply to purchased copies as well - with "cop this update, like it or not" - so there is an arrogance about MS attitude towards consumers that hopefully results in class action suits against it.

Put bluntly, MS has gotten too fechen big for its fechen boots and NEEDS knocking down a peg or three.

 Now this is another point that hasn't been clarified.   The MS download pages have long hosted patches and other updated that seemingly will transition to the Store, meaning that users who somehow become ineligible to access the store may not have an alternative means to safeguard their machines.  It is increasingly looking like the Win 10 caveats are in fact designed to make 'free' copies redundant/obsolete to boost sales.

Nope, there's no gift horse here, just an Indian Giver company giving with one hand and taking with the other.

Agree. They have some work to do on this ridiculous policy. Also, buyers will have one more thing to add to their checklists.

 

I was seriously thinking of a Surface Pro 3 as my next purchase.  Now not so sure.

Ya if there were ever a version of Windows that encouraged the "Wait and see" approach, I'd think this would be it.

Most of you need to take a few hours and read "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson.  

Im just guessing here but once you exeed those 8 months you will be using the Long Term servicing branch and once your LTSB update will come, MS might allow a switch to to run CB again?
Again just guessing, and i agree its frustrating that MS cant be clear about this.
Its critical information that should have been out to public early enough to ask questions about it, not just before release...


 

benmanns, from the tiny amount that I have seen and read regarding the issue, the ONLY licences that can get the LONG TERM service branch are the ENTERPRISE licences, all other licenses are either the 'get it NOW and suffer the problems'(home) or the 'get it within 8 months or LOSE the licence'(pro) branches

harpo the ghost NON-subscriber

I see they're shamelessly using MSN to push its release as a 'news' story today.  Lead panel.