mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Windows media player will play CDs and allow you to view data DVDs. To the best of my knowledge it will not play commercial DVD movies. To do that on Windows 8.1, you had to update your operating system to Windows 8.1 Professional edition with Windows Media Center at a small cost. However, Windows 10 does not support Windows Media Center. During the update to Windows 10 it clearly warns you that Media Center is not supported and will be removed. In order to play commercial DVD movies on Windows 10 you can download a very basic DVD player from the Windows Store. Or you can go to the Internet and download the feature rich VLC media player for free. A more basic version of VLC is also available on the Windows store, but there is no advantage to using that version. With Windows 10, Microsoft has decided, by default, that no one using it will want to use disc based movies anymore. While 100% streaming may be the way of the fixture, we're not there yet.

Jack Mac Loc: Suwanee, GA

Mark,

I read your post with great interest. Seems you share my thoughts about technology too. I love to keep everything to the latest updates and upgrades....well, I do have some software that I haven't upgraded but they're not programs that I use frequently but still use occasionally.
I believe my biggest disappointment with Windows was Vista.
Since I made my original post on this Subject, I've been thinking of individuals and their reluctance to update, not only here but friends as well. I doubt if any individual owner's computer is organized or used in the same way or for the same reason... I'm speaking personal computers.
That to me is the beauty of them. They are a wonderful tool and now days almost a necessity.
If a person's computer does everything they expect to get out it, status quo is ok but they don't know what they are missing. Old age will do that to one but in that regard some get to be "old age" before they actually are! Flexibility, that's a key word to me.
I've gotten off the subject so it's time to shut up!

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

You are absolutely correct!!
Thanks,
Mark

Kuzano

Clean install is great.
Upgrade is good.

Buying a laptop from certain vendors with Windows 10 already installed. ---- Poor, at best and occasionally bad.

The crapware and proprietary software that come with most laptops and many desktops is not playing well with Windows 10, in some cases.

The best of all options, have a clean computer built, and do a clean install of Windows 10.

I have some clients having problems on pre-installed Windows 10 on OEM laptops and a desktop or two.

I have found a culprit to be OEM utility software and crapware (royalty trials) which the mfrs need to install to make black ink on the financial reports.

In a couple of cases, I have formatted the pre-installed software off the computer, and not reloaded it, using a clean install. Then, I only install necessary drivers for unique hardware.

NOW, remember and consider that Windows 7 is long in the tooth, but similar problems occurred when it first came out.

Furthermore, many of the problems with pre-installed new computers is not the fault of Windows 10, but rather the fault of OEM proprietary utilities, and crapware. REASON: Their licensing for the O/S allows them to make small tweaks and revisions in Windows, and their own utilities are sometimes poorly written. The Crapware royalty software.. nuff said.

The time has come for more care in purchase and configuration than one can get from Big Box Store Boxes, cheap as they often are. Surely you know someone knowledgeable who can help you configure and build a system.

Hence, a clean install is better than a new computer with Windows already installed.... 7, 8.1, and 10.

My choices... Toshiba and Lenovo... Some Dell.

HP .... sorry, but please don't ask?

All that said... my verdict on Windows 10 after teaching the O/S for 22 years and using every Windows version from Windows 3.0, is that Windows 10 is the best thing Microsoft has put out in all that time, bar none.

And I have been using Windows 10 since March 2015 on the Insider program, and have been upgrading and clean installing it on numerous machines over that time period. No fails except one non authenticated Windows 7 machine.

I have also installed the GWX console from Unlimited Downloads a couple of times for hard headed nay sayers, and configured that to avoid the W10 nags and auto upgrades. It works well.

But bottom line, Windows 10 is Superb, for open mined people willing to spend a bit of time with it.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

:thumbup: :thumbup:
Glad you did not "shut up" too soon.
Mark,



:thumbup: :thumbup:

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
I love Cortana!! So handy! And, you don't have to open a browser to use. It defaults to Microsoft's search, Bing, but can be defaulted to any preferred search tool. It even searches your PC. I defaulted mine to Google Search.

Mark

crbuckjr Loc: Naples FL

not sure I understand the pros and cons of an upgrade and a clean install.....thanks

Kuzano

Upgrade .... if your computer software, prior to upgrading is corrupt (crapped up!) and your apps or data are compromised it simply rolls over into the new operating system. But easier to do, except for cleaning up what you should have done BEFORE upgrading.

Clean install ... means "wipe the drive clean" and install a clean new Windows 10 onto your computer. Then load drivers, and all your applications and data into the new Operating System.
Downside .... a lot of work and presumes you have all your data backed up (twice), and all your program disks or files to reload them fresh.
Upside.... your computer running at it's best capability for the hardware you have in the computer.

Clean install eliminates the possibility of your current OS, Applications and compromised data giving you problems you will most certainly blame on Microsoft and Windows 10. That last part is a given for most who experience problems.

See my last large post just above these for the third alternative. Buying a computer with Windows 10 already installed. I'm getting plenty of those in my Windows classes now, and there is a slight risk in that method, explained in that last post of mine.

crbuckjr Loc: Naples FL

thanks....I have a fairly new computer with no apparent problems....thinking that upgrade approach make most sense for me...thanks

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

First try the upgrade. If that causes complications, you can then do the clean install. If you want to expedite, go to MS website and download Win 10 upgrade files. Burn a disc or put on a flash drive and do the upgrade from there. It will save the downloading later if you have to do a clean install. If your PC is fairly new, just do a manual update of your current Windows, then do the update to Win 10. The time it takes is dependent on:
1. internet speed (for the download) - determined by your ISP (internet service provider)
2. processor speed (for the installation). Most people seem to be able to complete the entire update in less than two hours.

Mark

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

As Kuzano points out a clean install is a great way to upgrade, but that's only IF you have all the install disc's, or the install downloads for all your software backed up, all the licensing information and activation codes for all your software, have all your data backed up, preferably at least on two backup drives, and don't mind the many hours it will take to restore all your data, reinstall all your software, configuate it, and make sure your reinstalled software can see your data. Depending on the number of applications you have, the amount of data, and the degree of customization you have, it can take from several hours to a couple of days to get everything back to the way you originally had it. For most people that is simply not an acceptable option.

crbuckjr Loc: Naples FL

thanks....more reasons for me to upgrade........very helpful..

alandg46 Loc: Boerne, Texas

I personally believe that you should have all your data on at least a partition of your HDD and if a desktop on a separate HDD. Then, if you need to format and reinstall your OS, your data is out of the way of the format.

Also, your setup files, for your other software and your device drivers should be located there. You can put them on a flash drive but having them on a HDD is more convenient. Actually store them on both. Do not forget your Photoshop and Lightroom plugins.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

But bottom line, Windows 10 is Superb, for open mined people willing to spend a bit of time with it.

As usual, the "dude" knows what he is talking about!!
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Mark

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

Every Desktop I've had or built in the Windows era has had two HDDs, One for the OS and Software and another for my files. Makes backing up easier and most HDD failures (physical) I've had have been on the "OS" drive. Good advice, But then, anyone with a Pentax K3 is someone of good taste and superior intelligence!
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