Windows Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service

[Judge]

Anyone decide to disable this privacy-tracking service?

I know some consider it just another invasive part of Microsoft relative to their operating systems. On the surface it's designed for feedback regarding system problems. But it inherently takes a lot of resources- the kind that may momentarily take up 100% of your cpu usage and slow down your computer.

How to Disable Windows 10 Diagnostics and Feedback, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry

 

[Ken]

I found a totally different solution: I ditched windows all together and am very happily running Linux. Just wished I had done so a long time ago.

 

[Judge]

I found a totally different solution: I ditched windows all together and am very happily running Linux. Just wished I had done so a long time ago.

Good point.

LOL...yeah right now those videos on Linux "Zorin OS16" look pretty good right now. Especially if it really can run certain Windows apps within its OS. Still considering Mac as well. If Microsoft wants to push me into yet a new version of an old problem (Windows) this time around they may well push me out the door.

Like most Microsoft Windows inaugurals, Windows 11 has come out the door as a hot mess. But in the meantime I'm content to continue tweaking Windows 10 which runs quite well on this computer, unsuitable for Windows 11. But I suspect it would run like a champ on any Linux distro.

I'm still waiting to see if Microsoft relents and does an update of Windows 11 allowing so many millions of computer users with earlier generations of Intel processors to use this OS. Otherwise I might just leave them once and for all. Though at times I ponder just how much this old dog can learn some new, but profound tricks. Weighing having to apply brainpower to either a totally new OS or a totally new PC build.

 

[Ken]

I am running 64 bit Linux Mint Cinnamon and WINE.
So far, I have not found any windows programs it will not run.
I like that it is open sourced. I got fed up with all the commercial restrictions and obese code. It is a bit different in operation, but I find it a breath of fresh air.
I run some fairly heavy electronic design software, written only for windows and it runs just fine. Actually better than in Windows.
Couldn't be happier!
Didn't know about Zorin??

 

[Judge]

I am running 64 bit Linux Mint Cinnamon and WINE.
So far, I have not found any windows programs it will not run.
I like that it is open sourced. I got fed up with all the commercial restrictions and obese code. It is a bit different in operation, but I find it a breath of fresh air.
I run some fairly heavy electronic design software, written only for windows and it runs just fine. Actually better than in Windows.
Couldn't be happier!
Didn't know about Zorin??

Very cool to hear about it running Windows apps. Makes me wonder if an older program like Photoshop 5.5 would run under Linux. I have it running in Windows 10, but it ain't pretty at times. Crashes if I use various marquee functions beyond a certain point. I'm guessing that Microsoft doesn't want to even bother with the expense of locking me completely out of using such software because it's so old.

Does this come with its own proprietary firewall? Do you run a third-party anti-virus/malware program? Protections concerns are usually my greatest concerns. Though I'm also guessing hackers are less prone to write malware to invade Linux systems. Less perhaps even than the Mac OS. Wondering too how Linux handles so many invasive Internet trackers I have to routinely purge in Windows.

One thing that I'd love to find is if there is a Linux brand of "Open-Shell" that would allow me to customize the menu system far beyond what the OS may offer. On my Windows 10 computer my menu system looks like something right out of Windows 98.

 

[Ken]

Very cool to hear about it running Windows apps. Makes me wonder if an older program like Photoshop 5.5 would run under Linux. I have it running in Windows 10, but it ain't pretty at times. Crashes if I use various marquee functions beyond a certain point. I'm guessing that Microsoft doesn't want to even bother with the expense of locking me completely out of using such software because it's so old.

Does this come with its own proprietary firewall? Do you run a third-party anti-virus/malware program? Protections concerns are usually my greatest concerns. Though I'm also guessing hackers are less prone to write malware to invade Linux systems. Less perhaps even than the Mac OS. Wondering too how Linux handles so many invasive Internet trackers I have to routinely purge in Windows.

One thing that I'd love to find is if there is a Linux brand of "Open-Shell" that would allow me to customize the menu system far beyond what the OS may offer. On my Windows 10 computer my menu system looks like something right out of Windows 98.

Yes, it has it's own firewall.
Not sure about Photoshop, but I would be surprised if it would not run. I'm even running an old version of AutoCAD.
I'm not running any third party anti-virus anything. It is said that is built-in. Besides, as you mentioned, Linux is not as popular and widespread as either Windows or Apple. As yet, I haven't experienced any invasive internet trackers, etc.
Not sure about an "Open-Shell" option, but I do know there are a lot of options I am not yet aware of. I consider myself a newbie. Only installed it a little over a month ago. I was prepared and willing to loose some functionality because of my disgust of the monopolistic status of both Microsoft and Apple, thus becoming very attracted to something open-sourced. I have to say, I'm very surprised at how little, if any, functionality loss. So far much of what I'm experiencing is working better than it did with Windows. Well see what the future holds...



.

 

[Judge]

Yes, it has it's own firewall.
Not sure about Photoshop, but I would be surprised if it would not run. I'm even running an old version of AutoCAD.
I'm not running any third party anti-virus anything. It is said that is built-in. Besides, as you mentioned, Linux is not as popular and widespread as either Windows or Apple. As yet, I haven't experienced any invasive internet trackers, etc.
Not sure about an "Open-Shell" option, but I do know there are a lot of options I am not yet aware of. I consider myself a newbie. Only installed it a little over a month ago. I was prepared and willing to loose some functionality because of my disgust of the monopolistic status of both Microsoft and Apple, thus becoming very attracted to something open-sourced. I have to say, I'm very surprised at how little, if any, functionality loss. So far much of what I'm experiencing is working better than it did with Windows. Well see what the future holds...
.

I was shocked to come across articles like this one, citing that one can even run a 16-bit Windows application on a 64-bit platform using Wine. Whoa....

16 bit windows under Win64 using Wine?

 

[Ken]

@Judge, As a test, I just dug out and installed an old Photoshop 6.0 and an even older Scrapbook Factory software my wife got back in the Win 95 days. Both installed in Mint without a hitch and runs perfectly.
I don't know how different Photoshop 5.5 is from 6.0, but at least I know 6.0 works just fine. Both of these programs went in the archive box when Win 7 came about.

I haven't installed Mint on my wife's computer yet, but I think she will be thrilled to get her old Scrapbook software running again. She was very disappointed when it wouldn't install in Win 7. She just loved that old version and hated the new Win 7 compatible version so much she uninstalled it.

 

[Judge]

I took the plunge and installed Zorin OS16 on my spare SSD. The OS itself installed just fine and I loaded all the pertinent software and codecs. Can't say I was really enthusiastic about their GUI though. Seemed a bit crude compared to Windows. However two things really put a damper on it all.

First, while the sound to my headphones worked properly, the audio output to my external speakers did not work at all. Found a workaround for it called HDAJackRetask, but while it gave me my two-channel stereo sound, it switched the left and right channels. Never did find a fix for it that worked, short of physically moving my speakers. Maybe Zorin or Ubuntu just doesn't like my Realtek sound hardware...I dunno.

Second and of much greater concern, Zorin OS16 came with Wine preloaded. I set it up using Winecfg and then went to install Photoshop 5.5. The install seemed to work fine, however when I launched the executable in the Photoshop subdirectory, the program simply hanged and went nowhere. Never opening. Eventually the OS gave me the option of shutting it down and I did. Seriously big bummer not being able to run Photoshop. The Zorin distro comes with Gimp 2.0, but it just ain't Photoshop.

Between the two problems, I figure about all I can so is consider installing another distro like Linux Mint, one of the few other Ubuntu distros considered to be helpful to Windows expatriots. Doesn't look good... But I still have four years left of Windows 10. One thing for sure, it's quite a matter of culture shock to go from Windows to Linux. I mean EVERYTHING was different. Really slowed me down just trying to configure basic applications. Despite some 31 years of experience in another OS.

 

[Ken]

I took the plunge and installed Zorin OS16 on my spare SSD. The OS itself installed just fine and I loaded all the pertinent software and codecs. Can't say I was really enthusiastic about their GUI though. Seemed a bit crude compared to Windows. However two things really put a damper on it all.

First, while the sound to my headphones worked properly, the audio output to my external speakers did not work at all. Found a workaround for it called HDAJackRetask, but while it gave me my two-channel stereo sound, it switched the left and right channels. Never did find a fix for it that worked, short of physically moving my speakers. Maybe Zorin or Ubuntu just doesn't like my Realtek sound hardware...I dunno.

Second and of much greater concern, Zorin OS16 came with Wine preloaded. I set it up using Winecfg and then went to install Photoshop 5.5. The install seemed to work fine, however when I launched the executable in the Photoshop subdirectory, the program simply hanged and went nowhere. Never opening. Eventually the OS gave me the option of shutting it down and I did. Seriously big bummer not being able to run Photoshop. The Zorin distro comes with Gimp 2.0, but it just ain't Photoshop.

Between the two problems, I figure about all I can so is consider installing another distro like Linux Mint, one of the few other Ubuntu distros considered to be helpful to Windows expatriots. Doesn't look good... But I still have four years left of Windows 10. One thing for sure, it's quite a matter of culture shock to go from Windows to Linux. I mean EVERYTHING was different. Really slowed me down just trying to configure basic applications. Despite some 31 years of experience in another OS.

Bummer. Sorry to hear that. As I mentioned, I have no experience with Zorin. I have been running Mint for a few months so far. I have never seen it freeze with anything. My wife's old copy of photoshop 6.0 installed an runs fine as well as my old AutoCad 14. The only software I am having trouble with is Tektronix's Instrument Manager and National Instrument's LabView. LabView is available for Linux - written specifically for Linux. The downloaded version is being very problematic. Upon perusing the NI forum, I found that the only functional version is the purchased one for $500.00. I'll pass on that. There are other instrument management software out there yet to be tried, but even if not, I have other workarounds. I still like Mint enough to sacrifice Tektronix instrument manager and LabView. It is interesting that the Tektronix Instrument Desktop installs and works fine, but the Instrument Manager is required for streaming the data.
Yep, Linux Mint is quite different from windows, but as I'm learning it, I find it fits my "mentality" much better than windows. I really don't ever want to go back.

 

[Judge]

Yep, Linux Mint is quite different from windows, but as I'm learning it, I find it fits my "mentality" much better than windows. I really don't ever want to go back.

LOL...I'm getting there. Finally got everything working the way I want with Linux Mint 20.2.

It's pretty neat...but definitely not anything like Windows. But hey...I can not only run a 20-year old version of Photoshop 5.5, but an even older version of Illustrator 8.0. I couldn't Illustrator to even run in Windows 7, let alone later versions. And Mint 20.2 is so much more visually elegant than Zorin OS16.

Though the way I see it, one has to gravitate towards Linux carefully. To be fully aware that whatever you know about Windows won't be much of any help to you. That it's all quite different with Linux. But smarter, even more intuitive in many cases.

I've already found any number or advantages using the command line to install programs. In some cases like "font manager" downloading from the command line gave me a better version of this program than using the software manager which is admittedly much easier to use. But it's good for any noob to get their feet wet using the Terminal program. You don't have to learn the language...but simply to copy whatever instructions you seek.

Looks like I'll need to get that removable hard drive device, so I can swap Windows or Linux by simply replacing either SSD. Right now I have to literally take off the computer case and remove the SSD drive from a stationary mounting. Takes a few minutes...but it's not the sort of thing I want to continue doing just to switch between Linux and Windows.

 

[Ken]

Though the way I see it, one has to gravitate towards Linux carefully. To be fully aware that whatever you know about Windows won't be much of any help to you. That it's all quite different with Linux. But smarter, even more intuitive in many cases.

Absolutely true and that is what I like about it. In the early1980s' and throughout the 90's I was completely fascinated with computers. There wasn't any Microsoft Windows at that time - or at least to my knowledge. I did end up with a Commodore 64 and a TI99, but my fascination was with the Intel 8085 processor chip. My "education" was entirely trial an error and library books. I built an 8085 microcomputer on a breadboard along with a programmer. I studied and programmed it with machine language. Eventually, it actually worked. I was thrilled beyond containment. My place of work purchased two Eagle PC's and I begged my boss to let me come in at night to learn it. After about a month of begging he let me. It was a DOS and Basic machine. I was more interested in DOS because it was open as far as programming was concerned. it was not limited to just a few commands, compared to Basic. Unfortunately, DOS started going away in the mid 90's.
With Linux, however, I'm feeling that thrill again. The "Terminal" in Mint is very DOS like. I never looked into Linux until Windows started becoming unbearable. I didn't know Linux was what it was. My first experience with Mint was thrilling in that it looks to me like DOS never actually went away and that Linux Mint is the modern result of DOS advancing through the years.
Indeed, it is not like Windows. But, I came to despise Windows and Mint was a thrilling reminder of my love of DOS. Like an old dear friend has come back! I have forgotten so much that Mint is totally new to me, but I welcome that with eager open arms. I am now aware that if it is not working as intended, I am assured it is simply because I don't know what I'm doing..... yet!
I think that Linux is what it is because it is not a commercial product. A huge percentage of Windows code is devoted to the commercial element; ensuring the code - and computer is an authorized purchase and code used to tie users to buy products and ties the user to have to keep using their products - monopolistic.
I have a neighbor that works for Dell as a BIOS programmer. He tells me that Windows and Dell work together to force the public to by windows on new computers, because the BIOS is written for Windows X. That's why "older" software doesn't run well or at all on Windows 10 computers. Has nothing to do with the number of bits. It is code written specifically for that intended limitation.
Well, thanks for letting me get that rant off my chest. I really wish you well with your Linux Mint!

 

[Judge]

Yep. Windows amounts to a conspiracy. Linux is simply a community of like-minded developers serving the public without the usual corporate greed factor.

OMG I think we've joined a cult!

Point taken about the bios. My UEFI and Secure Boot function is clearly designed for Microsoft- not Linux.

I made a minor boot issue go away sticking with the nouveau video driver, but it looks like I may have to change it to Nvidia 470 to get better looking fonts.

I can definitely understand now why Linus Torvald hates Nvidia. Conversely though Linux Mint found my two printers and scanner and installed them instantly. In Windows it can be a much longer and unpleasant process in comparison. Love the idea of drivers being built into the OS instead of having to forage for them.