Microsoft revives aggressive Windows 11 upgrade campaign with intrusive popups for Windows...

Easy way around this but not all would want to do this. I was getting these pop ups to upgrade until I went into my bios and disabled FTPM bios setting and once I booted to my windows 10 and went to windows update it told me my PC was not able to run Windows 11 and I have not had the pop ups since.
Agreed! Disabling this on my system a long time ago has stopped all Windows 11 nags.

NOTE: This feature is simply labeled TPM (no "F") on many BIOS's.
 
LOL Public schools are now faced with disaster with their crap Chrome Books that are no longer supported and piling up in the millions.
IDK what public schools you have, but ours dont have that issue. The inner city schools destroy 95% of the chromebooks before their end of use date, and the nicer suburban schools love the chromebooks because for $300 you get a device usable for a decade. In case you didnt know, businesses usually run on 3-5 year replacement cycles. Compared to ipads, or windows machines, chromebooks are an economical and easy to manage alternative for digital education.
 
I have a Win10 PC without a key (so it has that activate windows watermark) that I cobled together with old parts as a sort of steam box.

If I upgrade that PC to Windows 11, will it still give me the "activate windows" message or will it be a fully licensed copy of windows?
 
I have a Win10 PC without a key (so it has that activate windows watermark) that I cobled together with old parts as a sort of steam box.

If I upgrade that PC to Windows 11, will it still give me the "activate windows" message or will it be a fully licensed copy of windows?
No. You will still need a key for Windows 11 to get rid of the watermark.
 
Easy way around this but not all would want to do this. I was getting these pop ups to upgrade until I went into my bios and disabled FTPM bios setting and once I booted to my windows 10 and went to windows update it told me my PC was not able to run Windows 11 and I have not had the pop ups since.
Hey Hey. Great minds think a like. My gaming PC which isn't too shoddy, is also, "Unable to run W11 at this time."

As an extra bit of fun my very same PC has already been upgraded twice to W11. Once a month aft launch, second time around six months ago. Both times reverted, I could almost feel MS recording my every key stroke.

Oh, and I am on a local account with plenty of juicy Group Policy blocks for, Customer "improvement" programs, too many to count.

But being realistic, the misleading presentation for all these wonderful "improvements," is getting really masterfully presented. And that's not a joke.

But it's now actually educational to look into what really these improvements do. Takes time, but improved my computer skills, and as a by product of that, how to hide in the open what's really happening.

Have to laugh really. They will win in the end. Don't have the time, and even if I did, I have no hope of matching the incredible advancements in intelligence of the MS collective.

And that's just mostly windows 10 as of Jan 2024.

They've come along way.
 
Microsoft’s value has increased 10x in 10 years so there is no incentive to do anything different. They can afford any fines, plead ignorance, then try something else.

Windows 10 is relegated to a virtual box on Linux Mint for the one windows only app I still need. Humorously the bulk of cpu time used by my Windows VM is collecting telemetry, antivirus - even though I turned it OFF, and updates - even though I turned it OFF. Turning things OFF appears to be more a misdirection ploy than actually stopping the activity.

Learning Linux Mint was no different to me than learning a new version of windows or a new version of other upgraded major programs.
 
Say that to anyone who owns a steam deck
People buy hardware with software that is doing what they want (play games) and are totally happy.
But if they would know that it will be with Linux onboard, then they freak out.
Linux out of the box is far more usable than windows.
 
Honestly, the only thing keeping me from switching to Ubuntu or Mint at this point is that Photoshop, Lightroom, and Fusion 360 (nor Alibre) support Linux. Before anyone asks: yes, I've tries Gimp, Darktable, and FreeCad; No, I don't like them. I've debating trying to figure out some kind of docker/VM arrangement to make these programs work, but its needless complications and just one more thing to maintain or it breaks.

Maybe Adobe & Autodesk will see the light and begin to include support for 'basic' Linux like Ubuntu or Mint. But I am not holding my breath here. So, for now, I am going to hold onto Windows 10 and hope that 12 isn't a dumpster fire.

Keep hoping. I heard MS is thinking of replacing the start button in favor of that Copilot BS in Windows 12. Another round of Windows 8 with a ton more ads anyone? lol

It's like this; start adapting to other apps so that you can ditch Windows, or suffer. It's really up to you. Because those companies you get your crap subscription apps from (Adobe is perhaps the most horrible of them all) ain't going to help you get out of that Windows hellhole. Only you can choose to do it yourself.

Now I find I am very fortunate that I chose open source apps over anything commercial from those big tech companies long before I ever switched to Linux.
 
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This is a really ignorant comment. Anyone who has used WINE and linux for any length of time knows that adobe software specifically is a royal PITA to run in WINE, and the new stuff is a total no go.

The only "toxic" thing Im seeing here is people claiming that linux is perfect and you just have to learn how to use it. It's great, but it isnt perfect.

Adobe is a huge scam. And I am glad I never fell for their trap when I was a Windows user. lol
 
People will use what is convenient, Linux for most people just offers a headache and no real upside.

You are numb to your headaches with Windows. Aren't ya? I think you need more forced updates and more ads that nag you to use Edge as a reminder.

I'll stick to where it's sane; on Linux. With Windows, you choose insanity.
 
Microsoft’s value has increased 10x in 10 years so there is no incentive to do anything different. They can afford any fines, plead ignorance, then try something else.

Windows 10 is relegated to a virtual box on Linux Mint for the one windows only app I still need. Humorously the bulk of cpu time used by my Windows VM is collecting telemetry, antivirus - even though I turned it OFF, and updates - even though I turned it OFF. Turning things OFF appears to be more a misdirection ploy than actually stopping the activity.

Learning Linux Mint was no different to me than learning a new version of windows or a new version of other upgraded major programs.

Here's a thought. Just keep the virtual machine disconnected from the Internet? No more telemetry. Also, better yet, use a mod of Windows with all the crap removed. Like WindowsXLite and keep the VM forever offline. This is the only way to remain in control when you run your Windows VM. Nothing else will do. Windows is like malware today. Therefore, you have to go out of your way to treat it as such.
 
At this point the only thing that keeps me on Windows is the lack of a proper OneDrive client. The constant nagging about switching to Edge, linking my non-existent Android phone, app suggestions, etc. are insufferable.

You disable some of them, then another one pops up, it just never ends.

Many OneDrive clients exist on Linux. You need to look. Insync is one.
 
You are numb to your headaches with Windows. Aren't ya? I think you need more forced updates and more ads that nag you to use Edge as a reminder.

I'll stick to where it's sane; on Linux. With Windows, you choose insanity.
Don't have those issues with Enterprise ;)
 
Keep hoping. I heard MS is thinking of replacing the start button in favor of that Copilot BS in Windows 12. Another round of Windows 8 with a ton more ads anyone? lol

It's like this; start adapting to other apps so that you can ditch Windows, or suffer. It's really up to you. Because those companies you get your crap subscription apps from (Adobe is perhaps the most horrible of them all) ain't going to help you get out of that Windows hellhole. Only you can choose to do it yourself.

Now I find I am very fortunate that I chose open source apps over anything commercial from those big tech companies long before I ever switched to Linux.
Adobe is a huge scam. And I am glad I never fell for their trap when I was a Windows user. lol
You are numb to your headaches with Windows. Aren't ya? I think you need more forced updates and more ads that nag you to use Edge as a reminder.

I'll stick to where it's sane; on Linux. With Windows, you choose insanity.
Here's a thought. Just keep the virtual machine disconnected from the Internet? No more telemetry. Also, better yet, use a mod of Windows with all the crap removed. Like WindowsXLite and keep the VM forever offline. This is the only way to remain in control when you run your Windows VM. Nothing else will do. Windows is like malware today. Therefore, you have to go out of your way to treat it as such.
Many OneDrive clients exist on Linux. You need to look. Insync is one.
You're in sufferable, you know that, right?
Like, pretty much everyone you replied to said 'I want to use Linux, but the apps I like are not available on Linux, and the alternatives are trash', and you're response was the Linux nerd equivalent of "git gud scrub". This is why normal people don't like Linux, because when they try to re-learn the new OS or run into some incompatibility with their usual workflow, the people who should help respond with a superiority complex on full display.
 
This is why normal people don't like Linux, because when they try to re-learn the new OS or run into some incompatibility with their usual workflow, the people who should help respond with a superiority complex on full display.
Bingo.
 
Here's a thought. Just keep the virtual machine disconnected from the Internet? No more telemetry. Also, better yet, use a mod of Windows with all the crap removed. Like WindowsXLite and keep the VM forever offline. This is the only way to remain in control when you run your Windows VM. Nothing else will do. Windows is like malware today. Therefore, you have to go out of your way to treat it as such.
Unfortunately it is my finance program and it needs the internet access to update all my accounts.

I do agree that treating Microsoft (and other mega businesses) as having adversarial habits is necessary. If someone creates a hack to get around one or more dark patterns these players attempt to impose upon customers, I’ve no qualms at making use of them. They do the same.
 
I don't get why people are complaining. Support is ending pretty soon. And the Pop ups are not forcing you to update. And overall windows 11 works fine.
Exactly my point, upgraded day one to Windows 11 never had any problems, Windows 10 made me insane with constant reinstalling of bloatware and user settings reseting
 
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