Windows 11 working OK for you?
daveso
Posts: 7,141
in The Commons
I'm getting the urge to move on to Windows 11. I'm not sure compatibility with DAZ Studio and Nvidia GPUs. I've not heard any real horror stories, but installing a new OS can be a frustrating and sometimes even devastating event.
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Comments
Why? If it ain't broke..........
Windows 11 is hands down one of my favorite versions of Windows. Yea, there are some things that are different but it's laid out better in allot of ways. There are things that are changed that might annoy you but it's about changing how it's recorded in your brain to the new way, sort of like 3D stuff, constantly changing. Not buggy either. I've not had a blue screens, as I was having with Windows 10 here and there.
Been using Windows 11 for almost a year now. No problems so far with it.
Go to Windows 11.
Recovery after a failed upgrade is so much better than in the past. eg, the latest Windows 11 upgrade from my already Windows 11 PC keeps failing but it rolls back with no intervention on my part after 2 failed attempts to boot. I'm not going to figure out why, I think it's because I've enabled a bunch of Windows 11 security features that deal in OS / app sandboxes and vitualization but since I'm going to clean install as soon as I get me a couple of 1050Mbps 2TB USB SSDs for my DAZ Library next year I'm not too worried about it. That will be a pretty easy system to maintain, as I'm going to set it up to where all my content is on those USB SSDs and I can automate weekly clean installs of Windows 11 to the newest version (which I wouldn't bother doing had my connection speed have been upgrade to fibreoptic speeds). Gone will be the drudgery of those long re-installs that are a colossal timesink.
There are other features for sure, and they are all improvements, but the list is too long to go through. You can look them up yourself. I do hate searching for the recycle bin in order to empty it.
The improved robust ability to roll back from a failed upgrade is worth it for that reason alone. I also like the Chrome-based Edge, it's improved features, and it's integration with the Windows Notification subsystem.
I've been reading about better security, and a lot of other enhancements. better display utilization, stuff like that. Yeah, my current set up is trucking along fine overall.
You all probably already know this info about the newish USB SSDs and it doesn't have a lot to do with Windows 11 specifically, but, for example, I have nearly 2TB of DAZ 3D purchased content when the DIM downloads and Content Library are on the same SSD, so any that keep your DAZ content on external USBs, (SSD, HDD, whatever)) will probably want one to keep the DIM downloads on one 2TB SSD, and the actual content once installed on another 2TB SSD to have a backup should one fail. Of course you should have a weekly backup onto another used (set of) SSDs but that costs money and you may need to wait a while to buy all four 2TB SSDs. Or you can buy 2 4TB SSDs. I was learning towwards the Samsung ruggedised 2TB SSDs though because they are cheaper but don't come in 4TB sizes. There is a 4TB Sandisk USB SSD though that is somewhat ruggedized (IP55), though not to the degree of the Samsung USB SSDs (IP65).
No issues with my new Win 11 laptop, DS 4.21 and RTX3070
I've been using Windows 11 for over half a year now, and there were issues with some users concerning diminishing gaming performances on Nvidia cards after an update this summer, that however has been patched since this week. I ilke Windows 11, no issues. But if you don't miss any features is provides additionally I wouldn't go through the hassle, unless the timing is right because it's a slow period and you can afford the time it takes now better than in other tiime frames in the future. I don't know your set-up and if it works for me, it doesn't nessecarily work for you.
...so some questions. I was looking at driectly moving from 7 to 11 until I read an article on a tech journal site that MS changed their feature update policy to "whenever" they want rather than once per year.
There is also the matter with MS rying to force users onto their Edge browser by making it difficult to choose a different browser as the default. As I understand Edge is integrated into other OS functions (like IE was in older versions).
So is Cortana finally gone? Somewhere I read it still exists (and like Edge, is also integrated into basic OS functions).
Is there any way to permanently disable or reject feature updates as previous versions (before 10) allowed? I don't need the cloud stuff (I do manual backups) and all the "fluff".
Can 11 be made to function (and look) like 7 without having to resort to 3rd party hacks? I love my W7 as it's much leaner along with having been so reliable and stable since I first started using it a dozen years ago (8 was a train wreck), The issue is it already has little support and what is left is dwindling away as well (Google/Gmail is planning to drop ongoing support beginning next month which means no more security updates).
The bottom line is I don't need all the flashy bells & whistles I'd never use, I just need a basic solid OS to support software.
Don't forget that there is a tool you are suppose to run to ensure that your PC meets the requirements. I have a PC that is 4 years old and it fails because it is an i7 and the minimum is an i8. There is also some other hardware feature that is required but I don't recall what it is. And don't forget they will update your drivers and the BIOS (sort of) along with the windows updates. I say the BIOS sort of because it seems to update in two parts. At least for me. I have to update the BIOS myself, but that will not update the FIRMWARE in Device Manager. Microsoft does that part and they will update it whenever they want. And Microsoft will update the FIRMWARE even if you haven't updated the BIOS already. That has caused a few boot issues for me, so I try to update it when I find it in the Windows updates to keep Microsoft from doing it. They will also update your graphics driver too. They do the updates at least once a month. And drive updates are required....as far as I know. They claim it is necessary for you to take full advantage of their feature update (or whatever they call it.)
I did not see a setting to delay Windows or drive updates. Maybe there's a way, but I don't know it.
I did not have any problem setting my default browser to firefox. When they have a big enough update, they always greet you with a "Let's set things up". They urge you to let them make Edge your default browser. But you can say keep what I have. They they want you to link your phone. You can skip and they they want you to buy Microsoft 360 but you can say no.
I have not seen Contana since I've been using windows 11 on a machine that came with it pre-installed.
The interface isn't too bad. Works pretty much like 10. The menu is in the middle of the taks bar and the window that opens is smaller. You have to click on the OPEN link to see a list of your installed programs. I don't know if you can make it look like Windows 7, but I doubt it. Heck, I don't even remember what Windows 7 looks like.
All in all, windows 11 runs fine. Have not had any issues with any of the programs I could to run.
The other hardware requiremnt I was thinking was the Trusted Platfrom Module.
...I am working on an upgrade that would be W11 compliant but would also support W7 64 Pro:. Ryzen 5950X, MSI 570 MB with two PCI3 4.0 x 16 slots, 128GB DDR4 3200 (I already have a 12 GB RTX 3060 in the box as it wasn't recognised by my current system's BIOS) This upgrade also includes a BeQuiet Dark Rock Black CPU cooler.
With the way MS is handling feature updates, it sounds like that "set things up" screen wil be a frequent occurrence. As to drivers, once I stopped letting MS install drivers, I ceased experiencing BSODs. I was also able to read reviews of individual security updates to check for bugs. This is what I liked about 7 as I could just ignore updates I didn't want, need, or were reported to have bugs every Patch Tuesday. I never had to be concerned about them being installed without my permission when the deferral expired.
The major reasons I turned down the "free upgrade" to 10 was I didn't want MS doing things to my system behind my back, the UI was horrible with that ugly tiled interface that came from W8, a ridiculous digital assistant you couldn't totally get rid of, and the "force fed" updating.
I had maintained my W7 system all these years with little if any trouble and never found it an "inconvenience". Spending about an hour or so once a month fto have a clean, stable, and worry free system was worth it. I didn't and don't need MS to hold my hand every inch of the way
I read that Contana is still there but it is no longer pinned to the task bar.
There was a utility that Microsft provided that would allow you to hide updates, but Microsoft no longer offers it on their site. You can still find it on other sites. Whether you should download it and use it is another question.
I think I've had that "Let's set things up" about 3 or 4 times in a year. I think you can delay it, but not cancel it.
I've had at least 10 or 12 updates to my BIOS in the past year. Not sure why it gets updated so much. But that's Dell doing that.
...the BIOS updates bother me. One buggy one and your system is toast. Is there any way to avoid them or are they in the security rollups (that was another stupid
idea as the one could no longer review the individual update files for bugs which is why I stopped accepting them after Sept 30th 2016 when they foisted the W10 rollup format on W7/8.1 users)?
Regarding set up matter that's what I thought with the feature updates at any time approach.
Can you totally uninstall Cortana without hamstringing OS operations?
Why they moved away from something that worked and was pretty much bullet proof is a mystery. W7 wasn't broke but they decided to try and fix it with 8 which as I mentioned was a train wreck and then kept moving it down the track with 10.
I use Opera browser as my default browser and didn't have too much trouble setting as my default. Same with Irfanview as my default image opener. MS is always going to push for there home grown software to be the king of the hill but in my opinion setting defaults is a bit easier in Win 11. I was always cussing at Windows 10 after every major upgrade the defaults had been reset to the MS preferred. Not so with Win 11 so far. Cotana is not pinned to the task bar by default either so that's busy body is out of sight, out of mind!
...thank you for that information. I thought originally MS said they were going to dump Cortana in 11
Can Cortana be uninstalled without affecting performance?
As I recall non critical (feature/driver) updates could be deferred for up to two years, or did they change that?
But the new axe has a refrigerator, microwave oven and a 50" smart tv integrated into the handle (with cup holders). It looks pretty and does everything but chop wood - Why would you still need your grandpa's old axe that has to be wielded manually?
..yes, but does it also make coffee?
..and the obligatory, can it play Crysis4 at 8K?
Nope, just veggie latte.
I am wavering about a new Win11 machine.
Can I ask how big a boot drive do I need? I'd have almost nothing on it, with all my data and everything else on a 3Tb RAID 1 (mirrored pair) of HDD drives. The default for the setup I'm looking at is a 128Gb M.2 drive, but that seems too small to me. I'm happier with a 256Gb, but would I need more? My 3yo work Win10 machine has a 1Tb SSD and it looks as if 278Gb is used - but about 70Gb is accounted for by programs and data. Still feels as if 256Gb would be too small. May have to go for 512Gb boot drive. Any thoughts?
Regards,
Richard
I would go with 500GB or 1TB boot drive (drive space is cheap at the moment), less than 500GB's may become a problem at some point.
Thanks.
I must admit I rather agree with you. Will see how that'll affect the machine. It's already a bit pricy, having a strong emphasis on single thread performance and loads of RAM.
Regards,
Richard
I found a setting in Windows 11 professional where you can delay updates for up to 5 weeks.
Not sure if this is true for all PCs, but Dell has a setting in the BIOS called UEFI Capsule Firmware Updates, If you disable this, that is suppose to stop automatic BIOS updates. But people on the Dell forum say that it doesn't always work. They say their PCs still updated even with the setting turned off.
How To Uninstall & Remove Cortana From Windows 11 (intowindows.com)
Yea, I always go for the pro version of any OS so I have those extra fine controls for things like update delays and what not.
I've got a couple of desktops and a laptop all with Nvidia gpus, not had any issues with Windows 11. Can't remember the last time any of them crashed.
I upgraded the laptop to be nosey.
I upgraded the desktops for better HDR support including auto HDR for gaming.
Use edge occasionally but mostly still use firefox.
Don't know about tracking within the OS and the like, honestly don't care.
..same here. With W7 it was also a matter of how much memory it would address (Home edition only handled up to 16 GB) while W/11 home will support up to 128 GB. However as I understand you need to open an MS account to install and use the Home Edition so one more reason to go with the Pro one.
I heard the pro version of 11 allows delay on updates. W10 updates at least once a month anyway, so nothing changing there really, although I have it set to no auto updates.
As far as Edge, it is way better than ot used to be. I like it overall. Its based on Chrome so is more compatible. I do use Opera as my default browser though.
...as I understand, originally one of the points made was that updates for W11 Pro Edition were supposed to be on a 12 instead of 6 month schedule and could be deferred for up to two years which at least minimised the risk of interrupting and killing a large render job because of an auto reboot. I would think BIOS updates would require a reboot, so every 5 weeks would be extremely inconvenient. Hopefully there is a way of disabling that.
Just like with device drivers, i go directly to the manufacturer's site for updates instead of trusting MS to do it (that was an issue with 10 in the early days as they kept auto replacing current Nvidia drivers with buggy ones resulting in BSODs and other issues).
MS doesn't make the motherboards so they shouldn't be the ones issuing somethign as important as a BIOS update. Unless I actually need to update the BIOS for some reason (like maybe if an RTX L6000 with 64GB of VRAM is released) I prefer not having to mess with it as long as what I have supports the other hardware just fine.
But no option to deny any and all updates for ever.
I've had an account with MS for years now but decided to one up and now I have Word on my system as they have improved it beyond measure so it's a very likable and useful program for my needs these days. I also got like 1 or 2 terabytes of on line space to upload and backup, which I'm getting more into doing since physical drive space gets a bit sketchy these days. I mean our content takes up allot of room so on line back up looked more reasonable as time went on. I think I pay them like 7 bucks a month for all that!