Windows 10 preview — little change but some requested.

www.peacebyjesus.com ^ | 10-11-14 | daniel1212

[daniel1212]

Windows 10 preview — little change but some requested.

I have been trying out the Windows 10 Technical Preview, Build 9841, which is a free download here or here after you register.

Note that as explained in “Windows 10: You've got questions, I've got answers,” “The Windows 10 Technical Preview is an instrumented version. It collects information about your use of the product, including some text and voice input, and returns some of that data to Microsoft for use in tuning performance and improving voice recognition and spell-checking.”

Note that this is not a professional review, but it may be of help for some and be a forum for others to thoughtfully express likes and dislikes (and yes, I have tried about ever major Linux distro!). I thank God for the good that computers enable, and I like to tweak and customize things to enable doing tasks quicker (like shortcut keys*) and or increase function (thus I appreciate Firefox/Palm Moon browser extensions), and which desire will be reflected in this review.

I used the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool to install the Windows Technical Preview (henceforth WTP) on a USB Flash drive (see here if you need help), and then installed it on a partition of a second Hard drive, leaving the HD with my Window 8.1 (henceforth W/8) OS unplugged until after the Technical Preview was full installed. Thus the boot menu was not disturbed on the W/8 HD, and I was then able to choose to boot from the HD with W/8 on it by tapping the F11 key after starting the PC, which results in a boot menu. Other PCs may have a different key that allow this, if at all.

All hardware was recognized/installed except an old modem I use for PhoneTrayFree (very helpful) that worked under W/8, and it loaded the same desktop wallpaper as I had before, rather than the so-called “Metro” (Modern) default interface in W/8. The interface is not very different to Windows 8.1 for me in functionality since I have been using Classic Shell, and which is still superior for me, and which is a must for me under W/8. But you can apparently choose to boot into the W/8 default interface. Right click on “All apps” in the Start menu and choose Properties. You van also hold the Windows and the c key down (and let go) to see Search, Settings, etc. options. Changing icon sizes on the desktop is easily done by holding down the ctrl key and using the scroll wheel on your mouse. .,

WTP provides a Start menu, but wastes space with some large (as if we were children) and smaller icons of what MS presumes you should often see in a Start menu (People, Windows Feedback, Store,etc.). However, just right click on them and you can choose to uninstall. To change to small icons as here, hit the Start button and right click on all apps and then Properties. A shutdown icon is at the top of the Start menu to the right of your user name, or just right click on the Start menu icon, or use the Windows and x key combo (see further below).

Access to programs (All apps) is at the bottom of the Start menu, and by default All apps shows things like alarms, maps, games, and MS default folders (video, etc.), which I do not use, while only showing installed programs by scrolling halfway down. Again, just right click on unwanted items and you can choose to uninstall or remove.

However, MS does not enable removing OneDrive from your system, even though the language in the MS Code of Conduct (see this thread) basically makes conservative posters into violators, and thus I disable to. See here on how.

As in W/8, WTP, the Windows key and x key combo still pops up a menu for options, and this shows such utilities as Programs and Features, Power Options, Shutdown, etc. which is a definite improvement, and which would have been nice all along.

There were no updates for the Technical Preview ready for download, but I installed a few key programs like Firefox and Pale Moon, Open Office, etc, and can run some other apps that are installed under W/8 HD.

I have created my own default folders on a separate partition, and do things like using the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -no-remote -p script (create shortcut) to run multiple profiles of Firefox (and which enables me to do much more than Chrome, and far more than IE), and which I place in a separate partition. This, and migrating user settings for apps like OpenOffice (LibreOffice made some changes I did not like, but I use that as well), means quick navigation is very important to me.

However, File (Windows) Explorer opens up to “Home,” and insists on placing One Drive and Microsoft's default folders on top of list, and places drives on bottom of left navigation pane. Moreover, you cannot eliminate the left navigation pane by a simple X as in windows, and eliminating it so as to have a compact single pane means losing the view of drives, and a normal means to navigate to them.

Also, since like W/8, WTP does not provide a Quick Launch tool bar, and which I like, I created one. Just right click on the Task Bar and go to Toolbars>New Toolbar and paste C:\Users\TypeYourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch, except that TypeYourUserName must be replaced with be you user name.

I also create a shortcut in the Send to folder to the Send to folder and place it within it, and then I can send shortcuts to any program or folder I want, like the Quick Launch tool bar. The Send to folder location is C:\Users\TypeYourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo

► Other things I would think we would see by now (or fixed), or restored:

• There is yet no ability to enable tabbed browsing in File Explorer, without which multiple windows are open for multiple locations. A couple free utilities enable this but are flaky. Tabbed browsing would make it like modern Internet browsers in this regard. Restoring the Favorites bookmarks would also be better than “include in library” I think. I place a shortcut to Favorites (C:\Users\Daniel\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Favorites) in the Send to folder for that purpose.

• A “copy to” and “move to” feature should also be standard in the right click menu of File Explorer. You can get a reg. Script to do that here.

• Internet Explorer overall has minimal customization ability and remains out of the running for power users, lacking even the ability to choose multiple tab rows, save multiple sessions, choose from a multiplicity of themes. See my favorite Firefox/Pale Moon extensions below.

• Better personalization options. As with W/8, there is no way to change colors for aspects of applications and menus as enabled under XP and 9x OS versions, and W/8 and WTP has no color wheel for the little color that you can change. Except for High Contrast themes, which is more like XP capabilities, but is problematic in High Contrast themes, due to color conflicts.

As with the Colorful tabs browser extension, an ability to change the color of taskbar items could also help when you have a lot of apps running.

• As with W/8, text from a windows sometimes shows through Task bar, with no way to adjust opacity.

A solution is here.

• As with W/8, WTP still shows shortcuts to folders that are not accessible or do not exist. Also, shortcuts should just show a simple arrow versus “shortcut to.”

• Unlike under XP and 9x OS versions, W/8 and WTP cannot change the icons for different file types, though you can for normal folders.

• Windows default images viewer has minimal capabilities, not even able to provide a slide show.

• You still cannot get seconds shown on the clock. T-Clock 2010 does this and more.

• There should also be a simple meter showing the CPU cycles and available RAM in the system try. A consistently high number (over 20%) of CPU cycles can explain why a PC is slow, and often can be an indicator of virus activity, while low available RAM will also be a cause for slow PC. The simple SysTrayMeter (freeware) here (freewaregenius) does both, with minimal resources and with “no strings” attached.

• As with W/8, the mouse hover over shortcuts does not always show the size or location pop up.

• Right click>Open file location no longer allows browsing to find a missing location.

• Windows should have have a session manager in to save sessions, like the Firefox session manager for browsing sessions.

• Windows Media player automatically makes itself the default player for most formats, even those it will not play, and even though you chose to select them yourself. Then the next window would not allow deselecting.

• Create more restore points, and be able to choose where they will be stored.

Alt and Tab does not work to show open windows in such places as C:\Users\Daniel\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

► Technical problems:

Windows 10 had the same problem as Windows 8 did in awaking from sleep by itself. The solution was to go to Network connections (Windows key and X) and right click on the Network icon> Properties>Configure>Power Management and deselect “Allow this device to wake up the computer.” Also check the box “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” if it is not. And under Advanced, deselect anything under Wake-on.

"

Or go to Device Manager via Windows key and Pause/Break and look left, then Network Adapter>Properties and follow the above.

WTP also had the “Windows 8 freezes on black screen after the computer resumes from sleep mode” error on my PC. This was solved by going to advanced settings in Power Options (Windows key and x) and disabling allow hybrid sleep. I also disabled FastBoot in the BIOS.

"

Like Windows 8, Windows 10 still results in the unsolved the error message (error ID 137)that “The system firmware has changed the processor's memory type range registers (MTRRs) across a sleep state transition (S4). This can result in reduced resume performance” when returning from Sleep.

There are also other error messages, but also under W.8.1. Ms tech has looked at them and his response marginalized them.

*And as I want to enable functions to be quickly executed, or locations found, one of my first apps to install is AutoHotKey, which enables you to do many things via scripts for shortcut keys. And as my fingers are increasingly arthritic (so I must lift up my hands to type each letter), one of these is remapping the Caps key to ctrl+c, and Esc to ctrl+v, with NumLock becoming Esc. (CapsLock::^c, Esc::^v, NumLock::Esc)

Favorite Firefox Pale Moon (less political) browser extensions (ad ons):

Tab Mix Plus 0.3.8.6 https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tab-mix-plus

Session Manager 0.7.5 https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/session-manager/

savewithurl - 0.2.11 version for Firefox 2.0 - 5 https://nic-nac-project.org/~kaosmos/savewithurl-FF5-0.2.11.xpi

Menu Editor http://menueditor.mozdev.org/

Googlebarlite https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/downloads/latest/492/addon-492-latest.xpi?src=search

FindBar Tweak https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/findbar-tweak/

ColorfulTabs https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/colorfultabs/?src=search/

Send Tab URLs https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/send-tab-urls/?src=ss

Copy as HTML Link https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/copy-as-html-link/?src=search

Google/Yandex search link fix https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/google-search-link-fix/

Xmarks Sync https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/xmarks-sync/?src=search

BBCodeXtra is an extension, which adds to the context menu new commands to insert BBCode/Html/XHtml codes in an easy and fast way... https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/bbcodextra/

Converter https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/converter/

FlashGot https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/flashgot/?src=search

Count Word Professional https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/count-word-professional/contribute/roadblock/?src=dp-btn-primary&version=v1.4.rev342

Stay-Open Bookmarks Menu https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/stay-open-menu/

Profile should be in /home/your-user-name/.mozilla/firefox

In Linux Ubuntu, Firefox program should be in /usr/lib/firefox

To add another profile under some Linux distros, drag icon from Applications launcher (Start Menu,) to Desktop, r. clk and hit Launcher and change to firefox %u --Profilemanager and click close. Then launch and choose Create new profile.

The most important files to migrate are cert8.db

formhistory.sqlite

key3.db

persdict.dat

places.sqlite

signons.sqlite

Do all to the glory of God. Hope this helps.

11

[daniel1212]

For those interested in computing for Christ

[gop4lyf]

What happened to Windows 9?

[illiac]

They by-passed that name and went straight to Win 10....whatever....thinking about gong to an IMac just to get away from windows....

[IMR 4350]

Sadly Windows 9 followed Windows 8, and since Windows 8 couldn’t find it’s butt with both hands, both got lost.

[bubbacluck]

The joke going around was that 7 8(ate) 9. Hence, Windows 10.

[Scrambler Bob]

M4L

[Dalberg-Acton]

The desktop computer I have is only about two years old and works fine. It has Windows 7 and I suspect my next OS on this hardware will be Linux Mint. I’ve been running it in a Virtual Machine and it seems to work just fine.

[rockrr]

10 is a welcome improvement over 8 (or 8.1).

[Carriage Hill]

Thanks for the review, but I’m staying with Win-7 Pro x64.

[daniel1212]

Microsoft decided to name its upcoming operating system Windows 10 and thus skip Windows 9, despite the buzz that was created in the last few months and pointing to this particular designation for Redmond’s next OS version.

The company, however, never provided a reason for its decision to skip Windows 9 and go directly to Windows 10

Evidence of Windows 8.1 Update 2 was found in some Windows 10 files, so it appears that Microsoft initially designed it to be just a new update for Windows 8.1, but in the end decided to provide it to users under a completely new name and as a stand-alone release.
. http://www.extremetech.com/computing/191279-why-is-it-called-windows-10-not-windows-9

There’s also the odd fact that the name of each Windows release doesn’t actually match the real version number; for example, Windows 8.1 is actually version 6.3 of Windows. Windows 10 is version 6.4. The last time the release name actually matched the version number was Windows NT 4.0, which was released back in 1996. Windows 2000, which was called NT 5.0 during development, was actually version 5.0. Windows XP was version 5.1. Windows Vista was 6.0, Windows 7 was 6.1, Windows 8 was 6.2, and Windows 8.1 is version 6.3. (WinRT, which powers Metro, is a new and separate beast, but it still sits on top of the core Windows kernel.)
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-s-CEO-Explains-What-Happened-with-Windows-9-461421.shtml

[VeniVidiVici]

Is this your review? If so, very well done!

I’m convinced MS skipped Windows 9 in order to be “equal” to OSX. So that the masses won’t think the Mac more advanced because of its higher release number

[daniel1212]

10 is a welcome improvement over 8 (or 8.1).

Actually, I see hardy any improvement, and far more things that could be improved. Classic Shell is still a better Start Menu. But thank God for all they can do. Imagine it was a government project all the way thru.

[daniel1212]

Thanks for the review, but I’m staying with Win-7 Pro x64.

As most should i think unless a cheap cheap upgrade is offered, as the support life will be longer.

[daniel1212]

Edit. WTP did installed the modem. The problem must be with Phone Tray Free (discontinued).

[daniel1212]

The joke going around was that 7 8(ate) 9. Hence, Windows 10.

Very good. Must have been the bytes due under a Fat32 system.

[daniel1212]

Is this your review? If so, very well done!

Not very profession, but thank God if it helps.

I’m convinced MS skipped Windows 9 in order to be “equal” to OSX. So that the masses won’t think the Mac more advanced because of its higher release number

Plausible. And where would be without competition?

[bytesmith]

Agreed. I have purchased my last Windows machine. My wife loves her recently acquired MacBook Air. I am ancient and started with Win 1.0 after DOS. We also currently have running Win 7, 8 & 8.1 machines. Classic Shell makes the Win 8 machines bearable.

[illiac]

I was working for HP when the first desktop came out running native DOS.

Bill Gates was one of my clients at the time and I must say his head and company have self destructed as he became richer and the company grew.

I also became a CIO for a large bank and later a large group of hospitals and have run HP Unix servers connected via fibre optics to all hospital campuses. UNIX was nice, but not foe everyone.

My PC running WIN 8.1 works fine. I am just tired of Microsoft’s upgrade policies, amount of CPU overhead, and their lack of support.

I must also mention I am part of their consumer technical advisory group and have filled out several surveys, etc. with them - only to have my advice ignored as have others who have the same relationship with them.

[catnipman]

No one in industry, manufacturing, government, military, business, or the enterprise will care one whit about Windows 10 unless it’s a more productive operating system for the vast majority of their PC users. That really will be the sole metric of the success of Windows 10: is it compatible with the hundreds of millions of current PC applications and their users and is it substantially BETTER than Windows 7.