Just when you think Microsoft couldn't do worse, well, new low

Curious to see what Windows 11 looks like, I created another boot partition, installed second Windows 10, and did the upgrade to Windows 11. Wow, what crappy operating system - Yuck!!!!

Microsoft screws up every other operating system roll outs, and this is one of the worst. If I can get rid of that "widget" menu, and replace it with the old version of Start Menu, Windows 11 may be tolerable.

You know it is really bad when some of the contributors on the geek websites that cater Windows, are now talking about going to Linux.

Here is a list of Microsoft Winners...
Windows ME
Windows Vista
Windows 8
(Windows 9 that never made it out of the drawing room)
Windows 11 Updated - (Can be tweaked)

When will Windows 12 roll out (to fix Windows 11)???

tbh, the only problem I have with win 11 is thst it's festooned with Spyware from msft.

The company I work for finally moved over to Linux after years of suffering through a horrible Windows-based Point of Sale system. Since the inventory system has always run under Unix and I use a Mac at home, my life is now blessedly Microsoft-free.

After getting over the initial shock of Windows 11, I can deal with it only for Internet functions. I avoided the microsoft account nonsense by first creating another partition on the hard drive, installed Windows 10, activate it, then proceed with Windows 11 upgrade of that partition only. Essentially, I will be multibooting all of my Windows 11 compatible systems this way. I use a batch file to disable the network connection so I can keep Windows 10 partition hidden away and continue working with it, and keep it safe when Microsoft ends support to Windows 10. At that point, Windows 11 will be used for internet access only.

Today I found the option to turn off widgets. In Windows 10 and earlier, I use classic shell using the XP menu option, so I can go to my programs quickly (using start menu folders). Once I find a solution for recreating the start menu so I can access my programs, most of the pain will be 'healed'.

Don't know why Microcrap couldn't provide an option to change the user interface, allow customization of the user interface, instead of a one panel concept.

Problem with Linux is program compatibility, and where wine could not help with it.

It is not because the Windows operating system is so bad, it is because Microsoft likes to give the middle finger to their customers - Why is that? Current battle, the desire to have the Start Menu restored in Windows 11. Every time someone finds a way to restore the Start Button, Microsoft sabotages their customers.

So far, Windows 11 is a loser!

Oh yeah, Windows 11 enables bitlocker without any warnings and prompts, for now, it is reversible.

Windows 11 is also looking more like a Mac, if I wanted a Mac, I would by one. We don't need a mac clone

My laptop at work has Windows 11. To remain in a familiar work environment, I have installed the Chrome browser. We have Office 365. which allows me an up to date version of Excel, and I do most of my work in an RDP session in order to run an older and highly proprietary piece of software (a custom database of our members).

I seldom venture outside of my routine to 'explore' Windows 11... primarily because I have plenty to do during my 3 day work week (Tue-Thu), and I'm just not interested in Windows any more. Problems are referred to the IT team, and I'm strictly an end user.

I've grown used to this arrangement, and find it to be quite productive and relaxing.

At home, I use only Linux, mainly Linux Mint (Cinnamon Desktop), and run Windows 10 only to amuse myself with Flight Simulator X.

After spending a couple days with Windows 11, found a number of solutions and work-arounds, but it still a crummy OS. Fortunately, I didn't trash Windows 10, I just made another partition, installed Windows 10 on the new partition, activate it, then did the Windows 11 update. I now dual boot between Windows 10 and Windows 11. Windows 11 will be used exclusively for internet access, and Windows 10 for everything else. When Windows 10 support ends, I will close the network shielding it from the internet.

Most of the problems with Windows 11 is program access (I use Classic Shell/XP menu option on my Windows 10 partitions, and I still have access to the Windows 10 menu. I did 'fix' the context menu on Windows 11, all on one menu list now. Windows 11 will stop the use of Classic Shell, and have a workable method of pinning the 'Start Folder' to the File Manager, not perfect, but it works.

I don't understand the fascination with tweaking the UI to look like a past version of the os. Just learn a few things and move on.

The annoying thing about win11 is that it has one foot in the old world and one foot in the new...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by n6hcm

I don't understand the fascination with tweaking the UI to look like a past version of the os. Just learn a few things and move on.

The annoying thing about win11 is that it has one foot in the old world and one foot in the new...

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Because, for me, it is easier and faster to access applications with the old XP menu. I don't have to scroll through a huge scrolling menu. Also I can group my applications (Engineering, Office, Multimedia, Utilities, etc...) which the new UI does not support. It is not the matter of 'Looking' like a previous version, it is that previous version functionality was better, such as one context menu, not split in two, grouping my programs the way I want to, not forced to a single long scroll menu. I can get used to not having a custom toolbar, but how about allowing resizing of taskbar?

This Start Menu is a large area of contention (via internet search). Classic Shell allowed access to both Classic Shell menu and The default Microsoft Menu, which to me is the best for both worlds. Classic Shell successor, Open Shell, creates a method for use on Windows 11. Question is - why is Microsoft fighting their customers so hard on this issue? Is it about control? Loss of AD revenue? Why? Classic Shell worked fine with Windows 10.

Also, why not have different user interfaces, giving the user choice in what interface to use? Update - Same functions in different locations, not hard to do. It is the obnoxious attitude from Microsoft that is driving some users away. Do a search on Windows 11, there is a lot of complaints about Windows 11, it is up there with Windows 8, Windows ME, and Windows Vista.

Another annoyance from me, the removal of custom toolbar for the task bar - yeah, Microsoft removed that from Windows 11 too.

Update - On the up side, putting tabs on Windows Explorer is a plus, and I can still have more than one explorer window. Elimination of the default 'multiple folders' on Windows Explorer another plus.

Update - Fixed the Open Shell problem with Classic Shell residue removed, have the older start menu operational. Set middle mouse button for new menu, so I have quick access to both menus. I can easily live with this. Also fixed the context menu, all options on one menu. Windows 11 is now less awful.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by N1LAF

< snip >
Here is a list of Microsoft Winners...
Windows ME
Windows Vista
Windows 8
(Windows 9 that never made it out of the drawing room)
Windows 11 (worst yet)

When will Windows 12 roll out (to fix Windows 11)???

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Strictly speaking, there was no Windows 9 and never would be. They deliberately skipped #9 because of old software (etc) still floating around that was designed for the various flavors of Windows 95 & Windows 98, software that identified those OS's as "Windows 9"

The biggest issues besides the crappy interface with Win X1?
...if you're running Win 7 or Win X 32 bit on hardware that won't support a 64 Bit OS, you're hosed. No Win X1 for you!
...Copilot. They really are aggressively pushing out this AI add on. Every major upgrade, one of the first things I have to do at work is remove Copilot. For what we're using these workstations for, we don't need it. (Win 7 32 bit was more than adequate, but you can't get it anymore)

Oh, almost forgot. If you have an older version of M$ Office and want to install it on Win X1? Fuggedaboudit. It will install. But you can't activate the license key. Servers to do so are no longer available, and if you try to do it the manual way, you eventually get shunted off into oblivion. No help for you. All those shekels you paid? Too bad, so sad, buy an upgrade to M$ 365 and start paying a subscription fee.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by N1LAF

After getting over the initial shock of Windows 11, I can deal with it only for Internet functions. I avoided the microsoft account nonsense by first creating another partition on the hard drive, installed Windows 10, activate it, then proceed with Windows 11 upgrade of that partition only. Essentially, I will be multibooting all of my Windows 11 compatible systems this way. I use a batch file to disable the network connection so I can keep Windows 10 partition hidden away and continue working with it, and keep it safe when Microsoft ends support to Windows 10. At that point, Windows 11 will be used for internet access only.

Today I found the option to turn off widgets. In Windows 10 and earlier, I use classic shell using the XP menu option, so I can go to my programs quickly (using start menu folders). Once I find a solution for recreating the start menu so I can access my programs, most of the pain will be 'healed'.

Don't know why Microcrap couldn't provide an option to change the user interface, allow customization of the user interface, instead of a one panel concept.

Problem with Linux is program compatibility, and where wine could not help with it.

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During initial system startup:

Select Work or School option. Select Domain Account option. Then you can create a local account without being forced into a Micro$oft online user account.

Learned another new "trick" at work the other day, while powering up a Dell 3000 Thin Client for the first time. You now MUST be connected to the internet to startup the machine. No connection? Tough. No OS for you.

I will be very happy when (if) the developers setup our company DDS app for Linux and we can start ditching Win X and Win X1. Heck, we might be able to put a whole pile of older machines back into service!

Thanks Ron, great information. Open Office for Windows 11 then. Then you can run an older version of Office in a virtual machine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by N1LAF

Thanks Ron, great information. Open Office for Windows 11 then. Then you can run an older version of Office in a virtual machine.

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The problem remains that you can't register the older versions any longer, so they won't work properly.

And Open Office and it's derivatives lack a good equivalent to M$ Publisher. Which is reportedly being retired in a few years and will no longer be available. I have to find an alternative for editing my club newsletter.

lol... I gotta figure out how to upgrade my Microsoft 11 pro to... Microsoft 11 Pro.

If tuis requires more than 20 mins of time it's gonna become Linux.

My employer uses W11 Enterprise in the LTSC license. As does my wife's. I've tweaked her personal laptop's W11 Pro installation to be as free of M$ B$ as possible.

Next system I'm building for myself is a 10 core CPU (W-1290), 128GB RAM equipped workstation with big enterprise class SSDs and even bigger enterprise-class spinning rust HDs in a RAID0 config. W11 Pro gets a 4 core, 32GB sandbox to live in. If there are applications which absolutely require native MSFT I'll spin that system up or steal the wife's lappy. Otherwise It's Mint/Cinnamon - including hypervisor duties.