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Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

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Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#451

Post by whyoh »

jpk2f2 wrote: post #449
whyoh wrote: post #399

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Neither Home nor Pro really require a MS account. You can skip that during setup (for example with "bypassNRO"). This might change in the future, but as of 25H2 the workarounds still work.

bypassnro no longer works for Windows 11 Home, unfortunately. If you're using an ISO built prior to the change (a few weeks ago?), you'll be fine.

This is the ISO I used, which, according to the MS website[1], is still the latest right now: Win11_25H2_English_x64.iso (SHA256: D141F6030FED50F75E2B03E1EB2E53646C4B21E5386047CB860AF5223F102A32)

I installed it offline in a VM, Home edition, US region. Shift+F10, oobe\bypassnro worked (with a warning/error at some step, but the local account was created fine). I read somewhere that it doesn't work if you connect to the internet during setup (which is always a bad idea IMO).

[1] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#452

Post by npteljes »

gethly wrote: post #264

I have been using windows since version 95. I even liked the Millennium version, that was most hated before Vista. I tried Linux several times, but Windows just always worked and Linux usually had always some issues(mostly drivers, lack of good programs and no gaming). But now, after more than two decades, I am certain Windows 10 is my last Windows. Nothing lasts for ever, not even Microsoft's domination on personal…

Stop daydreaming and just make the jump. The possibility of things being different down the road, and the fantasy you acting on it properly just serves to make you feel better, without needing actual action, or commitment on your part. Do something now, and get a taste of the real thing.

My way of switching over was to set up my system as a dual-boot, and then to set up my Linux in a way that enabled as much of my needs as possible. I got overwhelmed at first multiple times, but realized later that I'm just resistant to change. After a few tries, it stuck, and instead of feeling overwhelmed with change, I felt relief that I don't have to deal with Windows, and all the corporate bullshit that comes with it. Instead I have the vibrant culture of free software, and all the bullshit that comes with that, hehe. And I take that anytime over the former.

I'm also using KDE btw. I think it's by far the best DE, for me anyways. Fun fact, Valve's Steam Deck also uses it.

Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#453

Post by npteljes »

trinsic2 wrote: post #2

I am a IT solutions provider for the public and small business. I think the changes to Windows 11 is gearing up to work with organizations to create a surveillance state. So I have to decided to promote Linux over Windows for computers I build for customers. If you have any suggestions on how I can make this promotion, better let me know.

For office software, consider ONLYOFFICE. Free software, and it uses Microsoft file formats by default, and has a pretty good compatibility with it.

Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#454

Post by npteljes »

spaghetti_king wrote: post #436
m463 wrote: post #153

I should mention that ubuntu phones home a lot. I like the fact that it has done a lot for the linux ecosystem, but there are a few things: - it has a privacy policy - it forces updates - their hardwired package ubuntu-advantage-tools cannot be uninstalled without breaking the os - motd has telemetry and nags - can't disable snaps - whoopsie uploads crashes to canonical now, this is different from windows because the…

I'm curious what you recommend? I've used Ubuntu mostly because of it's larger community and assumed it was less painful then others but am open to switching. I have to say the endless amount of distros and small differences between them has always been daunting and something I think holds some non-technical people back.

I started with Ubuntu back in the day, and later distro-hopped a lot, but honestly, I find the apt package manager the nicest. So I went back to Ubuntu's source: Debian. I use it with KDE.

I also have a good out of the box experience with Zorin (an Ubuntu-based distro). Their goal is to be an alternative to Windows, to make the transition smoother for people coming from Windows. I wanted to test that and just installed it, never used the command line, etc. It feels nice and did everything via a graphical interface I wanted out of a desktop system.

>I think holds some non-technical people back.

That might seem like an issue, but what matters for adoption is what is packaged with hardware, and what gets support later. Microsoft realized this and capitalized on it big time, and that's why the de facto default PC is Windows. Microsoft took care that governments, schools use Windows and Office, that Windows comes bundled with PCs and laptops, meanwhile they took care that it all interacts at least on a basic level, but at least somewhat reliably.

Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#455

Post by npteljes »

apple4ever wrote: post #9

I think it's a good plan, though there might be some pain. I have a bog standard AMD graphics card that does not work in Linux. I've tried multiple distributions and version in those distributions and both the Linux and AMD drivers. It just randomly flashes. Where do I go to get help? Who knows?

Where would you get help with Microsoft Windows? Same support story as Linux, in my experience. If it's a PC, I'd consider selling the card and getting a different one that looks good from a cursory research, if it's a laptop, similar story, but I'd get a 2-3 year old one so that the drivers etc situation is sorted.

Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#457

Post by npteljes »

dcanelhas wrote: post #267

I wish there was an active dev community that could patch win10 going forward, but without access to source code for the kernel, perhaps that isn't really viable. Ideally I would want to use Linux but I also want to play games that are only supported on windows. Does using WSL help or is an outdated windows base still going to be the weakest link in the security onion?

In case you want to hold on to Win 10, you can use their LTSC version + validate with massgrave / your own activation emulator. Win 10 21H2 IoT (LTS) end of life is 13 Jan 2032. You would have 7 years to figure out where to go from there, maybe straight to Windows 12.

Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#458

Post by account42 »

realusername wrote: post #392
account42 wrote: post #365

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure some jackass is going to suggest cryptographically verifying that you are using peripherals from trusted manufacturers soon.

That's physically not possible though, you could always have a device which pushes through the buttons on a genuine controller.

Of course, but the analog hole never stopped DRM aficionados from trying either. Who cares if the "solution" mainly ends up hurting legitimate users.

Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#459

Post by 4ggr0 »

tom_alexander wrote: post #376
4ggr0 wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

+1, switched to Bazzite about three weeks ago. I did have to dualboot a Windows after a couple of days, unfortunately. Mostly related to Anti-Cheat and other shitty measures. Dark Souls II did not want to recognize my Controller, even though it works fine in every other game. Skate can't be played on Linux because of Anti-Cheat, but fuck EA anyways. Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, Dishonored 2 and Death to the Outsider a…

> Dark Souls II did not want to recognize my Controller I ran into that problem on DS2 also. It seems that game picks the first input device it finds, so I was able to force it to use the controller by unplugging my keyboard (or maybe it was the mouse? It was one of those).

i remember reading this tip on the steam community or reddit or wherever, unfortunately didn't work for me. i started Steam Big Picture Mode, unplugged mouse and keyboard, started the game with only the controller connected and it still didn't recognize it, no idea what went wrong. thinking about it now it maybe interpreted my DAC as an input device or whatever.

in the end i didn't care that much, as i only installed DS2 because my SO was playing it. apparently she didn't like the game anyways, so i just uninstalled it and that was it :D

Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#460

Post by 4ggr0 »

alias_neo wrote: post #318
4ggr0 wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

+1, switched to Bazzite about three weeks ago. I did have to dualboot a Windows after a couple of days, unfortunately. Mostly related to Anti-Cheat and other shitty measures. Dark Souls II did not want to recognize my Controller, even though it works fine in every other game. Skate can't be played on Linux because of Anti-Cheat, but fuck EA anyways. Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, Dishonored 2 and Death to the Outsider a…

I've been gaming on Linux for about a decade, it has improved massively since Proton, and I'm at the point where I'm able to play Helldivers 2 with its anti-cheat with my buddies and get great performance (the game's performance/bug issues aside). I tried Bazzite for a while on my desktop, it's fantastic for gaming, but I'm also a dev and a Linux user since I was a teen (almost all of the years of Linux) so I found i…

for me Bazzite is perfect, as my Home-PC really is 99% used for gaming. every couple of years i want to edit a video, guess i'll need to search for another software, or just install Davinci Resolve on the dualbooted Windows :D

don't have as much Proton experience as you, but i also feel like it's gotten way better compared to 4-5 years ago when i first tried it.

i'm always very mindful when suggesting people to use Linux, as like you i work with Linux daily, so of course i'm going to have less trouble using it compared to Joe Schmoe who exclusively uses Windows and never installed an OS himself. but for people who aren't afraid of tinkering a bit, sure.

now at the point where i'm considering switching to AMD from NVIDIA, just because it seems way better for Linux.

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