From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10
machines - one laptop and one tower unit.

My main concern was that enrolling might change my local
account to my MS one and then be forced to use my MS
account on a routine basis. I needn't have worried.

When I kicked the process off, I had to use my MS account
which was reasonable. After it had finished, I looked at my
account settings and it showed that I *was* using my MS one.

However, underneath the email address for that account, it
gave the option use that account for all access to MS
services; or some such. I clicked to decline at which point
the account details reverted to my local account.

Whether or not I'll have to use the MS account to get
updates remains uncertain. Only the next Patch Tuesday will
tell but that would be a small price to pay for another
year of ignoring the inevitable.

John
--
John
newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk
j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>,
John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10
machines - one laptop and one tower unit.

There is an alternative to Microsoft. 0Patch is offering support for W10
for 5 years at less cost than MS. Check it out at:

https://0patch.com/Win10.html

Richard.
--

Richard Darby.
website: http://www.rjdarby.co.uk
Do not reply to this address all mail is deleted.
Reply to: <my first name> at <my domain>
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In message <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>
John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10 machines - one laptop
and one tower unit.

Is there any reason why you can't upgrade to Linux?

David
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

On 18 Oct, David Higton <dave@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10 machines - one laptop
and one tower unit.

Is there any reason why you can't upgrade to Linux?

Is there any reason why this is not in a relevant MS newsgroup?
--
Brian Howlett - Email to From: address deleted unseen -----------------------------------------------------
"What's the matter Colonel Sanders? Chicken?"
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <211deb6d5c.BrianNews@brianhowlett.me.uk>,
Brian Howlett <news-spamtrap@brianhowlett.me.uk> wrote:

On 18 Oct, David Higton <dave@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10 machines - one
laptop and one tower unit.

Is there any reason why you can't upgrade to Linux?

Is there any reason why this is not in a relevant MS newsgroup?

1) Because it is ...misc and quite a number of *Us* are RISC OS users who
(Have to) also use the Windows OS as well.

2) In my many years (43) as a user of Acorn/RISC OS, RISC OS users tend to
be more inclined to help others if they can. :-)

Dave

Nb: We love RISC OS, but have to use the other side for things that RISC
OS is not capable of doing.
--

Dave Triffid
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <14c6e76d5c.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>,
David Higton <dave@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>
John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10 machines - one
laptop and one tower unit.

Is there any reason why you can't upgrade to Linux?

David

I'm not John, but here, yes there are reasons...

Dave
--

Dave Triffid
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <5c6e27e03fdave@triffid.co.uk>,
Dave <dave@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

In article <14c6e76d5c.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>,
David Higton <dave@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>
John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10 machines - one
laptop and one tower unit.

Is there any reason why you can't upgrade to Linux?

David

I'm not John, but here, yes there are reasons...

Dave

Sorry to be previously curt... :-/

Here for both of us, it's a case of No MS Windows, No RISC OS as we both
use Virtual RISC OS now, her 4.39 and me 6.20 (Sometimes RPCEmu 5.31)

Acorn/RISC OS has been an important feature in our private and business
lives since 1982... (43 years) so we don't want to lose it.

We've both had many hardware Acorn/RISC OS machines over the years
starting with the BBC-B and ending up on SARPCs which were used as aforementioned for both private and business purposes...

On the other side, we also have a number of (Important for us) MS-Win
based apps, some of which cover the lack of, or shortcomings of RISC OS
stuff.

Dave
--

Dave Triffid
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <5c6de32537news@rjdarby.co.uk>, Richard Darby
(news) <news@rjdarby.co.uk> wrote:

In article <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>, John
<newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10
machines - one laptop and one tower unit.

There is an alternative to Microsoft. 0Patch is offering
support for W10 for 5 years at less cost than MS. Check
it out at:

https://0patch.com/Win10.html

Thanks for that Richard. I'm surprised I haven't heard of
0patch before. I hadn't come across it on The Register, Ars
Technica or Wired at all.

I'm impressed that their sight shows up with NetSurf -
that's a good start!

John
--
John
newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk
j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <211deb6d5c.BrianNews@brianhowlett.me.uk>, Brian
Howlett <news-spamtrap@brianhowlett.me.uk> wrote:

Is there any reason why this is not in a relevant MS
newsgroup?

Yes. There are many RISC OS users on Windows 10, especially
those running VRPC.

John
--
John
newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk
j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <14c6e76d5c.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>, David
Higton <dave@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> John
<newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10
machines - one laptop and one tower unit.

Is there any reason why you can't upgrade to Linux?

Indeed there is. I'm already on Mint. ;-)

John
--
John
newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk
j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <14c6e76d5c.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>,
David Higton <dave@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>
John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10 machines -
one laptop and one tower unit.

Is there any reason why you can't upgrade to Linux?

The primary problem for me (but there are others) is that as far as I
know, UniLaunch cannot launch websites on a Linux browser.

Now if UniLaunch got that ability.....

I've not engaged well with RiscOS browsers over the years, I found
they either fall very short on what websites they can render or are
painfully slow to start up and open up sites.

Cheers,

Bob.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <5c6de32537news@rjdarby.co.uk>, Richard Darby (news) <news@rjdarby.co.uk> wrote:

In article <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>, John
<newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10 machines - one
laptop and one tower unit.

There is an alternative to Microsoft. 0Patch is offering support for
W10 for 5 years at less cost than MS. Check it out at:

https://0patch.com/Win10.html

I was going to use Opatch on one m/c and the free year from MS if I used OneDrive. Then I could compare.

When I clicked the link in MS updates it told me I was already using
OneDrive and had uploaded my settings (the minimum requirement). As far
as I know I didn't do that so MS must have done it for me or in the past
I inadvertently clicked something by mistake.
However, the "bonus" is that I have the year's support for up to ten
machines so Opatch is in abeyance for the present. I just hope they have
a big uptake and thus the business model is viable and they are still
around when the year is up and I need them.
--
Chris
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In message <5c6e434c8cbob@sick-of-spam.invalid>
Bob Latham <bob@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

In article <14c6e76d5c.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>,
David Higton <dave@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>
John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10 machines -
one laptop and one tower unit.

Is there any reason why you can't upgrade to Linux?

The primary problem for me (but there are others) is that as far as I
know, UniLaunch cannot launch websites on a Linux browser.

Now if UniLaunch got that ability.....

Well there is RISC OS on Linux on Pi5 available via a friend supplier with certain new machines, so both on the same deveice.

I've not engaged well with RiscOS browsers over the years, I found
they either fall very short on what websites they can render or are
painfully slow to start up and open up sites.

The current version of Iris, which will be available via Packman as a
packaged download is basically now free and pretty good at many sites, it
even has a built in PDF reader which miles better then !PDF, or !PDFTest.

It can't do YouTube of course!
--
Chris Hughes
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In message <5c6e434c8cbob@sick-of-spam.invalid>
Bob Latham <bob@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

In article <14c6e76d5c.DaveMeUK@BeagleBoard-xM>,
David Higton <dave@davehigton.me.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>
John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10 machines -
one laptop and one tower unit.

Is there any reason why you can't upgrade to Linux?

The primary problem for me (but there are others) is that as far as I
know, UniLaunch cannot launch websites on a Linux browser.

Now if UniLaunch got that ability.....

Hi Bob,

Well the good news is.

I run ZorinOs, a Ubuntu variant, and Unilaunch works fine (It runs under
the Linux Wine Compatibility tool).

The only thing I haven't as yet worked out is how to get Uniserver on the
PC end running at boot. So I have to run Uniserver manually each time.
This loads the link into Firefox without issues.

John

[snip]


--
_________________________________________
| University of Glos. Blighting Longlevens.
| mailto:john@jpeachey.co.uk
_______________________| http://www.jpeachey.co.uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <70645a6f5c.john@user.orpheusmail.co.uk>,
J Peachey <john@jpeachey.co.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6e434c8cbob@sick-of-spam.invalid>
Bob Latham <bob@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

Now if UniLaunch got that ability.....

Well the good news is.

I run ZorinOs, a Ubuntu variant, and Unilaunch works fine (It runs
under the Linux Wine Compatibility tool).

The only thing I haven't as yet worked out is how to get Uniserver
on the PC end running at boot. So I have to run Uniserver manually
each time. This loads the link into Firefox without issues.

Oh wow! Thanks for telling me that, I'll take a look.

Cheers,

Thanks again.

Bob.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <70645a6f5c.john@user.orpheusmail.co.uk>,
J Peachey <john@jpeachey.co.uk> wrote:

[Snip]

Hi Bob,

Well the good news is.

I run ZorinOs, a Ubuntu variant, and Unilaunch works fine (It runs under
the Linux Wine Compatibility tool).

The only thing I haven't as yet worked out is how to get Uniserver on
the PC end running at boot. So I have to run Uniserver manually each
time. This loads the link into Firefox without issues.

John

[snip]

In my Win 10 install I have a Uniserver shortcut inside the Startup
directory. (Folder if you must.)

Whenever Windows is booted, UniServer arrives on the Task bar ready for
action.

C:\Users\Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup


Dave
--

Dave Triffid
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In message <5c6f7082fcdave@triffid.co.uk>
Dave <dave@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

In article <70645a6f5c.john@user.orpheusmail.co.uk>,
J Peachey <john@jpeachey.co.uk> wrote:

[Snip]

Hi Bob,

Well the good news is.

I run ZorinOs, a Ubuntu variant, and Unilaunch works fine (It runs under
the Linux Wine Compatibility tool).

The only thing I haven't as yet worked out is how to get Uniserver on
the PC end running at boot. So I have to run Uniserver manually each
time. This loads the link into Firefox without issues.

John

[snip]

In my Win 10 install I have a Uniserver shortcut inside the Startup directory. (Folder if you must.)

Whenever Windows is booted, UniServer arrives on the Task bar ready for action.

C:\Users\Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

It's the same for Win11.

Note that AppData directory is normally a hidden folder
--
Chris Hughes
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In message <5c6f67fd7ebob@sick-of-spam.invalid>
Bob Latham <bob@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

In article <70645a6f5c.john@user.orpheusmail.co.uk>,
J Peachey <john@jpeachey.co.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6e434c8cbob@sick-of-spam.invalid>
Bob Latham <bob@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

Now if UniLaunch got that ability.....

Well the good news is.

I run ZorinOs, a Ubuntu variant, and Unilaunch works fine (It runs
under the Linux Wine Compatibility tool).

The only thing I haven't as yet worked out is how to get Uniserver
on the PC end running at boot. So I have to run Uniserver manually
each time. This loads the link into Firefox without issues.

Oh wow! Thanks for telling me that, I'll take a look.

Cheers,

Thanks again.

Bob.

I forgot to mention although I run ZorinOs, it should work under any
flavour of Linux. I just chose Zorin, as they configure it to look Windows
ish to help the transition. Zorin may well appear on the Raspberry Pi in
the next couple of years.

I have to say that Linux has moved on since my articles on how to install Linux way back in 2005.

Whereas my instructions were all around the command line, you can now do
it all from the comfort of windowed environment. You can now try it live without installing before deciding to install.

Some areas of Linux are still not quite as polished as Windows, but it is
nice to be in control of your computer, something I have never felt with
the MS effort.

John
--
_________________________________________
| University of Glos. Blighting Longlevens.
| mailto:john@jpeachey.co.uk
_______________________| http://www.jpeachey.co.uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In message <5c6f7082fcdave@triffid.co.uk>
Dave <dave@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

In article <70645a6f5c.john@user.orpheusmail.co.uk>,
J Peachey <john@jpeachey.co.uk> wrote:

[Snip]

Hi Bob,

Well the good news is.

I run ZorinOs, a Ubuntu variant, and Unilaunch works fine (It runs under
the Linux Wine Compatibility tool).

The only thing I haven't as yet worked out is how to get Uniserver on
the PC end running at boot. So I have to run Uniserver manually each
time. This loads the link into Firefox without issues.

John

[snip]

In my Win 10 install I have a Uniserver shortcut inside the Startup directory. (Folder if you must.)

Whenever Windows is booted, UniServer arrives on the Task bar ready for action.

C:\Users\Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Dave

Hi Dave,

When talking about the PC end I meant the Linux end of the chain. Linux doesn't have quite the same structure as Windows, or even the same
shortcut type link.

Uniserver running under Wine (which is effectively a type of emulator) is quite complicated. When (if I get some spare time I might have a look at trying to get it to auto run.

John
--
_________________________________________
| University of Glos. Blighting Longlevens.
| mailto:john@jpeachey.co.uk
_______________________| http://www.jpeachey.co.uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <77acc16f5c.john@user.orpheusmail.co.uk>, J
Peachey <john@jpeachey.co.uk> wrote:

Wine (which is effectively a type of emulator)

Oh, Mr Peachy!

<smug>
You do know that WINE is an acronym for 'Wine Is Not an
Emulator, don't you? ;-)
<smug\>

John
--
John
newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk
j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In message <5c6fdca6f8newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>
John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

In article <77acc16f5c.john@user.orpheusmail.co.uk>, J
Peachey <john@jpeachey.co.uk> wrote:

Wine (which is effectively a type of emulator)

Oh, Mr Peachy!

<smug>
You do know that WINE is an acronym for 'Wine Is Not an
Emulator, don't you? ;-)
<smug\>

John

<Smug>
Not sure who this peachy guy is</smug>

I'm aware of the acronym, but when talking to non Linux people, I think it simpler, as people get the drift, rather describing it as rather than a compatibility layer. The getting into bottles and all the other linked
stuff it can make your head spin.

Still using/playing with Linux has re-awoken my interest in computing. It
is much more fun than messing with the MS offering.

John
--
_________________________________________
| University of Glos. Blighting Longlevens.
| mailto:john@jpeachey.co.uk
_______________________| http://www.jpeachey.co.uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <13d9df6f5c.john@user.orpheusmail.co.uk>,
J Peachey <john@jpeachey.co.uk> wrote:

Not sure who this peachy guy is

Sorry John. It's been a hectic day and we've had the
decorators in until late this afternoon. We only got the
internet back after they'd gone. As a result, I was in a
bit of a rush to post before the grandchildren came round
for tea.

I'll try to do better next time.

John
--
John
newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk
j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <70645a6f5c.john@user.orpheusmail.co.uk>,
J Peachey <john@jpeachey.co.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6e434c8cbob@sick-of-spam.invalid>
Bob Latham <bob@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

Well the good news is.

I run ZorinOs, a Ubuntu variant, and Unilaunch works fine (It runs
under the Linux Wine Compatibility tool).

I don't suppose you can share the mouse clipboard can you?

Cheers,

Bob.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In message <5c70458e98bob@sick-of-spam.invalid>
Bob Latham <bob@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

In article <70645a6f5c.john@user.orpheusmail.co.uk>,
J Peachey <john@jpeachey.co.uk> wrote:

In message <5c6e434c8cbob@sick-of-spam.invalid>
Bob Latham <bob@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

Well the good news is.

I run ZorinOs, a Ubuntu variant, and Unilaunch works fine (It runs
under the Linux Wine Compatibility tool).

I don't suppose you can share the mouse clipboard can you?

Cheers,

Bob.

Not Sure what you mean, but I have found that Uniclip sometimes works
often doesn't for me, so rarely use it. I use Uniserver many for the
Unilaunch functionality.

Kind regards
John
--
_________________________________________
| University of Glos. Blighting Longlevens.
| mailto:john@jpeachey.co.uk
_______________________| http://www.jpeachey.co.uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>, I
<newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10
machines - one laptop and one tower unit...

As a rider to this, there is a very useful article in
today's Ars Technica about coping with a necessary upgrade
from 10 to 11.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/what-i-do-to-clean-up-a-clean-install-of-windows-11-23h2-and-edge/

John
--
John
newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk
j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In message <5c7778bac8newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>
John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

In article <5c6dc0e57enewsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>, I
<newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

I've been thinking about what to do about my Win 10
machines - one laptop and one tower unit...

As a rider to this, there is a very useful article in
today's Ars Technica about coping with a necessary upgrade
from 10 to 11.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/what-i-do-to-clean-up-a-clean-inst all-of-windows-11-23h2-and-edge/

I have had a read, and most of it is still valid, although I believe
Microsoft have now closed the loophole of getting round not having a
Microsoft account.

I did the in place 'upgrade' to Windows 11 from Windows 10 a while ago and that worked fine as long as your computer/laptop meets the requirements of
a suitable processor and the TPM 2.0.

One tip was not mentioned in the article was you can move the start menu
back to the left hand side of the screen from its default in the middle.
That was the first thing I did !
--
Chris Hughes
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <052980775c.chris@mytardis>, Chris Hughes

One tip was not mentioned in the article was you can move the start
menu back to the left hand side of the screen from its default in
the middle. That was the first thing I did !

Same here - old habits die hard!!

Richard

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.acorn.misc

In article <5c778de912basura@invalid.addr.uk>,
Richard Ashbery <basura@invalid.addr.uk> wrote:

In article <052980775c.chris@mytardis>, Chris Hughes

One tip was not mentioned in the article was you can move the start
menu back to the left hand side of the screen from its default in
the middle. That was the first thing I did !

Same here - old habits die hard!!

I use an app to put the task bar up the side so I can utilize the whole
depth of the screen. Much better for docs in portrait orientation.

www.startallback.com

https://open-shell.github.io/Open-Shell-Menu/

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/classic_start.html


There are several websites where Open Shell is available.

It's also worth exploring these if you prefer look and feel from previous versions of Windows.
--
Chris
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2