• Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    From MummyChunk@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 21, 2026 14:03:25
    ? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years in Windows 11 with a single update.

    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in previous versions of Windows.

    What else is planned to be fixed??
    --
    [via JLA Forums] alt.comp.os.windows-11 on the web: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewforum.php?f=659

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Alan K.@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 21, 2026 14:55:54
    On 3/21/26 2:03 PM, MummyChunk wrote:
    ? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years in Windows 11 with a single update.

    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in previous versions of Windows.

    What else is planned to be fixed??
    I saw an article about some of those and more changes, but I wonder about the "listen to
    all the users' opinions" idea. The article said it was going to show up in the insider
    version. Of course those changes do eventually show up in the mainstream.

    It could be new management somewhere but I'll wait and see. Gladly see, but still wait.

    --
    Linux Mint 22.3, Mozilla Thunderbird 140.8.1esr, Mozilla Firefox 148.0.2
    Alan K.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From John Hall@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 21, 2026 19:00:50
    On 21/03/2026 18:03, MummyChunk wrote:
    ? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans
    to implement everything that has been requested for many years in
    Windows 11 with a single update.

    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in previous versions of Windows.

    What else is planned to be fixed??

    Are we sure it's not a premature April Fool?

    --
    John Hall

    You can divide people into two categories:
    those who divide people into two categories and those who don't

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From micky@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 21, 2026 16:13:11
    In alt.comp.os.windows-11, on Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:03:25 -0400, mummycullen@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (MummyChunk) wrote:

    ? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years in Windows 11 with a single update.

    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in previous versions of Windows.

    I got the taskbar to be more than one row by using Explorer Patcher, but
    I'd rather it was built-in. a) The 2024H2 update required uninstalilng
    EP first (although the 2025H2 did not). b) after every MS update I get a message in the bottom right that it's downloading labels to go with
    something that was in the MS update. It says some features won't work
    until the labels are all downloade, and one time or more it suggested
    that only some of them were being provided (although maybe that meant at first). Despite all this, I haven't seen anything not work with EP.

    Why they took out multiple lines in the first place, once they went to
    the trouble of writing it, I can't imainge.

    What else is planned to be fixed??

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Alan K.@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 21, 2026 16:21:56
    On 3/21/26 4:13 PM, micky wrote:
    In alt.comp.os.windows-11, on Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:03:25 -0400, mummycullen@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (MummyChunk) wrote:

    ? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years in Windows 11 with a single update.

    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in previous versions of Windows.

    I got the taskbar to be more than one row by using Explorer Patcher, but
    I'd rather it was built-in. a) The 2024H2 update required uninstalilng
    EP first (although the 2025H2 did not). b) after every MS update I get a message in the bottom right that it's downloading labels to go with
    something that was in the MS update. It says some features won't work
    until the labels are all downloade, and one time or more it suggested
    that only some of them were being provided (although maybe that meant at first). Despite all this, I haven't seen anything not work with EP.

    Why they took out multiple lines in the first place, once they went to
    the trouble of writing it, I can't imainge.

    What else is planned to be fixed??
    What amazes me more than anything is with all the things that MS takes out, there seems to
    be ways that 3rd parties add them back or better yet turn them on. Seems so many of them
    are there but just not enabled. Why is my question.

    --
    Linux Mint 22.3, Mozilla Thunderbird 140.8.1esr, Mozilla Firefox 148.0.2
    Alan K.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 21, 2026 17:43:46
    On Sat, 3/21/2026 3:00 PM, John Hall wrote:
    On 21/03/2026 18:03, MummyChunk wrote:
    ? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years in Windows 11 with a single update.

    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in previous versions of Windows.

    What else is planned to be fixed??

    Are we sure it's not a premature April Fool?

    I think this is a leg pull.

    Here, Microsoft (in the blue dress), holds
    a football for the users to kick (we're
    that kid on the right).

    https://static0.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/charlie-brown-lucy-football.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1008&h=693&dpr=1.5

    It's not in evidence that Microsoft has any "senses" :-)

    Paul


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Boris@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 01:51:42
    Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> wrote in news:10pn3ej$2pttr$1@dont-email.me:

    On Sat, 3/21/2026 3:00 PM, John Hall wrote:
    On 21/03/2026 18:03, MummyChunk wrote:
    ? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans
    to implement everything that has been requested for many years in Windows
    11 with a single update.

    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made
    less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in previous versions of Windows.

    What else is planned to be fixed??

    Are we sure it's not a premature April Fool?

    I think this is a leg pull.

    Here, Microsoft (in the blue dress), holds
    a football for the users to kick (we're
    that kid on the right).

    https://static0.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-
    content/uploads/2024/03/charlie-brown-lucy-football.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w= 1008&h=693&dpr=1.5

    It's not in evidence that Microsoft has any "senses" :-)

    Paul


    NIce, very nice.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From micky@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 00:17:35
    In alt.comp.os.windows-11, on Sat, 21 Mar 2026 16:21:56 -0400, "Alan K." <alan@invalid.com> wrote:

    On 3/21/26 4:13 PM, micky wrote:
    In alt.comp.os.windows-11, on Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:03:25 -0400,
    mummycullen@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (MummyChunk) wrote:

    ? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years in Windows 11 with a single update.

    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in previous versions of Windows.

    I got the taskbar to be more than one row by using Explorer Patcher, but
    I'd rather it was built-in. a) The 2024H2 update required uninstalilng
    EP first (although the 2025H2 did not). b) after every MS update I get a
    message in the bottom right that it's downloading labels to go with
    something that was in the MS update. It says some features won't work
    until the labels are all downloade, and one time or more it suggested
    that only some of them were being provided (although maybe that meant at
    first). Despite all this, I haven't seen anything not work with EP.

    Why they took out multiple lines in the first place, once they went to
    the trouble of writing it, I can't imainge.

    What else is planned to be fixed??
    What amazes me more than anything is with all the things that MS takes out, there seems to
    be ways that 3rd parties add them back or better yet turn them on. Seems so many of them
    are there but just not enabled. Why is my question.

    I think they are still there too, just bypassed. Although it could also
    be that they are deleted and the 3rd parties copy the code out of
    previous versions.
    I wonder if these 3rd parties are MS employees who wrote or checked
    the code in the first place and maybe they work under a pseudonym.
    Because it seems like it would take even longer if they had to figure
    out what each line is doing.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 02:07:23
    On Sun, 3/22/2026 12:17 AM, micky wrote:
    In alt.comp.os.windows-11, on Sat, 21 Mar 2026 16:21:56 -0400, "Alan K." <alan@invalid.com> wrote:

    On 3/21/26 4:13 PM, micky wrote:
    In alt.comp.os.windows-11, on Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:03:25 -0400,
    mummycullen@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (MummyChunk) wrote:

    ? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years in Windows 11 with a single update.

    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in previous versions of Windows.

    I got the taskbar to be more than one row by using Explorer Patcher, but >>> I'd rather it was built-in. a) The 2024H2 update required uninstalilng
    EP first (although the 2025H2 did not). b) after every MS update I get a >>> message in the bottom right that it's downloading labels to go with
    something that was in the MS update. It says some features won't work
    until the labels are all downloade, and one time or more it suggested
    that only some of them were being provided (although maybe that meant at >>> first). Despite all this, I haven't seen anything not work with EP.

    Why they took out multiple lines in the first place, once they went to
    the trouble of writing it, I can't imainge.

    What else is planned to be fixed??
    What amazes me more than anything is with all the things that MS takes out, there seems to
    be ways that 3rd parties add them back or better yet turn them on. Seems so many of them
    are there but just not enabled. Why is my question.

    I think they are still there too, just bypassed. Although it could also
    be that they are deleted and the 3rd parties copy the code out of
    previous versions.
    I wonder if these 3rd parties are MS employees who wrote or checked
    the code in the first place and maybe they work under a pseudonym.
    Because it seems like it would take even longer if they had to figure
    out what each line is doing.


    Legacy code has been left in the OSes on purpose.
    Calling into them, may give the appearance of old menu structures.

    There would also be the opportunity for Microsoft to remove
    those, on a whim.

    Paul


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Ant@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 06:47:52
    I will believe it when I see it. How about not spying on its users?


    MummyChunk <mummycullen@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid> wrote:
    ? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years in Windows 11 with a single update.

    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in previous versions of Windows.

    What else is planned to be fixed??

    --
    "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." ?Ephesians 6:10-11. Ant is naked. :(
    Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
    /\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
    / /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
    | |o o| |
    \ _ /
    ( )

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 03:57:20
    On Sun, 3/22/2026 2:47 AM, Ant wrote:
    I will believe it when I see it. How about not spying on its users?

    They're willing to move the deck-chairs around for you.

    Remember, that this is "not an admission that we were wrong".

    It is recognition of year 2026 business conditions and
    what the MBA told them about their business plan.
    (The "rental OS" on a "$3000 surface machine".)

    If you're in a business this year, the sign over
    your head in the office says:

    "Brace for impact"

    I can see businesses going bankrupt.

    Conditions will not improve either. It's
    going to take years to fix. Years we don't have.

    And in the larger picture (current affairs), this is all irrelevant.
    World events will dwarf whatever is going on in the computer business.

    Paul

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Bill Bradshaw@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 09:41:49
    MummyChunk wrote:
    ?? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and
    plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years
    in Windows 11 with a single update.
    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made
    less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in
    previous versions of Windows.
    What else is planned to be fixed??

    I saw an article yesterday that they are going to offer different interfaces in including Windows 7and fix the taskbar. Maybe we will be able to give up Open-Shell and Explorer Patcher. I do not like my computer looking like and working like a cellphone.

    <Bill>




    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Nick@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 19:00:25
    On 22.03.2026 18:41, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
    MummyChunk wrote:
    ?? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and
    plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years
    in Windows 11 with a single update.
    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made
    less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in
    previous versions of Windows.
    What else is planned to be fixed??

    I saw an article yesterday that they are going to offer different interfaces in including Windows 7and fix the taskbar. Maybe we will be able to give up Open-Shell and Explorer Patcher. I do not like my computer looking like and working like a cellphone.

    <Bill>



    I hope you are right Bill. Though, I can't allow myself to hope that
    it's true, only to get disappointed once again.

    As someone already stated, for now, I'll just keep my eye on the whole situation as it unfolds. Something tells me that the whole "Microslop" situation really hurt them, and they are trying their best to get back
    into peoples good graces. And once they do, they'll try to push their
    luck once again.

    One more thing, someone else mentioned that, despite everything, they
    aren't removing any of their telemetry tendrils, nor are they mentioning
    that. That might be a sign that this is all just performative

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Mark Lloyd@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 20:15:49
    On Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:41:49 -0800, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

    MummyChunk wrote:
    ?? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans
    to implement everything that has been requested for many years in
    Windows 11 with a single update.
    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made
    less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in
    previous versions of Windows.
    What else is planned to be fixed??

    I saw an article yesterday that they are going to offer different
    interfaces in including Windows 7and fix the taskbar. Maybe we will be
    able to give up Open-Shell and Explorer Patcher. I do not like my
    computer looking like and working like a cellphone.

    <Bill>

    I still remember when I got the preview of Windows 8, and it made my
    computer look like an iPhone. I really don't want that, and didn't use W8. Later Windows got SOMEWHAT better (before W11 got worse, but still not as
    bad as 8).

    --
    Mark Lloyd
    http://notstupid.us/

    "Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty"

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 16:21:33
    On Sun, 3/22/2026 2:07 PM, Andy Burns wrote:
    Bill Bradshaw wrote:

    I saw an article yesterday that they are going to offer different interfaces >> in including Windows 7

    This sounds more like April 1st the longer it goes on ...



    "What can we do for amusement ?"

    "I know. Let's troll the users."

    <giggling>

    "ATTENTION. ATTENTION. We're bringing back the Control Panels."

    "There will be a picture of rolling hills, where cows could graze"

    https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/spiceworks/optimized/4X/4/8/8/4889fc7dcdcd2bff9f3987cd462b28786fe307a6_2_621x499.jpeg

    Paul

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From pyotr filipivich@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 14:17:05
    Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid> on 22 Mar 2026 20:15:49 GMT typed
    in alt.comp.os.windows-11 the following:
    On Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:41:49 -0800, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

    I saw an article yesterday that they are going to offer different
    interfaces in including Windows 7and fix the taskbar. Maybe we will be
    able to give up Open-Shell and Explorer Patcher. I do not like my
    computer looking like and working like a cellphone.

    <Bill>

    I still remember when I got the preview of Windows 8, and it made my >computer look like an iPhone. I really don't want that, and didn't use W8. >Later Windows got SOMEWHAT better (before W11 got worse, but still not as >bad as 8).

    All I can say is that Windows 11 is a great recommendation for switching to Linux.

    Which I really do not want to do, but until MicroSloth, or Firefox
    buys me a new computer to run the software, what are my options?
    --
    pyotr filipivich
    This Week's Panel: Us & Them - Eliminating Them.
    Next Month's Panel: Having eliminated the old Them(tm)
    Selecting who insufficiently Woke(tm) as to serve as the new Them(tm)

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 17:54:51
    On Sun, 3/22/2026 4:15 PM, Mark Lloyd wrote:
    On Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:41:49 -0800, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

    MummyChunk wrote:
    ?? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans
    to implement everything that has been requested for many years in
    Windows 11 with a single update.
    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made
    less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in
    previous versions of Windows.
    What else is planned to be fixed??

    I saw an article yesterday that they are going to offer different
    interfaces in including Windows 7and fix the taskbar. Maybe we will be
    able to give up Open-Shell and Explorer Patcher. I do not like my
    computer looking like and working like a cellphone.

    <Bill>

    I still remember when I got the preview of Windows 8, and it made my computer look like an iPhone. I really don't want that, and didn't use W8. Later Windows got SOMEWHAT better (before W11 got worse, but still not as bad as 8).


    You know, it was only recently, that I changed the background on
    my copy of Windows 8/8.1 :-) When something is so perfect... you
    tend to leave it in the corner. To its credit, I never did erase
    the Windows 8 drive. When I use it, I can get things done, so
    it isn't a total loss.

    Paul


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Gordon@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 22, 2026 22:48:27
    On 2026-03-22, Nick <nick@koohii.invalid> wrote:
    On 22.03.2026 18:41, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
    MummyChunk wrote:
    ?? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and
    plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years
    in Windows 11 with a single update.
    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made
    less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in
    previous versions of Windows.
    What else is planned to be fixed??

    I saw an article yesterday that they are going to offer different interfaces >> in including Windows 7and fix the taskbar. Maybe we will be able to give up >> Open-Shell and Explorer Patcher. I do not like my computer looking like and >> working like a cellphone.

    <Bill>



    I hope you are right Bill. Though, I can't allow myself to hope that
    it's true, only to get disappointed once again.

    As someone already stated, for now, I'll just keep my eye on the whole situation as it unfolds. Something tells me that the whole "Microslop" situation really hurt them, and they are trying their best to get back
    into peoples good graces. And once they do, they'll try to push their
    luck once again.

    Penny to a pound this will happen.


    One more thing, someone else mentioned that, despite everything, they
    aren't removing any of their telemetry tendrils, nor are they mentioning that. That might be a sign that this is all just performative

    Also a very important point. How every as it workd in the background if will not affect the users experience. Win Win.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Mr. Man-wai Chang@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 13:28:06
    On 3/22/2026 2:03 AM, MummyChunk wrote:

    What else is planned to be fixed??


    Employees' attitude? Priority for stupid but rich customers? :)

    --
    @~@ Simplicity is Beauty! Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch!
    / v \ May the Force and farces be with you! Live long and prosper!!
    /( _ )\ https://sites.google.com/site/changmw/
    ^ ^ https://github.com/changmw/changmw

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 01:47:39
    On Mon, 3/23/2026 1:28 AM, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
    On 3/22/2026 2:03 AM, MummyChunk wrote:

    What else is planned to be fixed??


    Employees' attitude? Priority for stupid but rich customers? :)


    Their primary customer is enterprise, which come with IT departments.

    They get more money from that, than from consumer installations.

    You might not see double-height TaskBars on the enterprise SKU.
    At one time, they weren't even allowed to have MSEdge.

    Paul


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Mr. Man-wai Chang@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 18:45:57
    On 3/23/2026 1:47 PM, Paul wrote:
    On Mon, 3/23/2026 1:28 AM, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:

    Employees' attitude? Priority for stupid but rich customers? :)

    Their primary customer is enterprise, which come with IT departments.
    They get more money from that, than from consumer installations.

    You might not see double-height TaskBars on the enterprise SKU.
    At one time, they weren't even allowed to have MSEdge.

    GUI changes can affect security, but is it really necessary to deny new
    ideas and drop old features? :)

    --
    @~@ Simplicity is Beauty! Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch!
    / v \ May the Force and farces be with you! Live long and prosper!!
    /( _ )\ https://sites.google.com/site/changmw/
    ^ ^ https://github.com/changmw/changmw

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Frank Slootweg@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 14:58:13
    Nick <nick@koohii.invalid> wrote:
    [...]
    One more thing, someone else mentioned that, despite everything, they
    aren't removing any of their telemetry tendrils, nor are they mentioning that. That might be a sign that this is all just performative

    You can limit the 'telemetry' ('Diagnostic data'), view what you send
    ('View diagnostic data'), 'Delete diagnostic data' if you want and, last
    but not least, use a local account, so Microsoft does not get any
    personal information.

    FWIW, I get zero 'spam' from Microsoft, let alone any personalized
    content. My 'problem' is the exact opposite, Microsoft doesn't inform
    the user, for example not about what is in a Windows Update update. You
    have to search with the KB number (if any) and hope you find something
    useful there.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Frank Slootweg@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 15:03:08
    Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid> wrote:
    [...]
    I still remember when I got the preview of Windows 8, and it made my computer look like an iPhone. I really don't want that, and didn't use W8. Later Windows got SOMEWHAT better (before W11 got worse, but still not as bad as 8).

    Yes, Windows 8 was bad, but Windows 8.1 was quite usable once you put
    the Fisher Price UI to the side and added Classic Start Menu. IMO,
    Windows 10 was actually worse than Windows 8.1 (but could also be beaten
    into submission, like Windows 11 can).

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Bill Bradshaw@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 08:37:19
    Bill Bradshaw wrote:
    MummyChunk wrote:
    ?? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and
    plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years
    in Windows 11 with a single update.
    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made
    less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in
    previous versions of Windows.
    What else is planned to be fixed??

    I saw an article yesterday that they are going to offer different
    interfaces in including Windows 7and fix the taskbar. Maybe we will
    be able to give up Open-Shell and Explorer Patcher. I do not like my computer looking like and working like a cellphone.

    <Bill>

    This was not spam and I read it in one of PC Magazine's or PCWorld's news letters I subscribe to. They also had a image of the screen where you would make the interface selection. Now they may be spreading spam and fooling
    me.

    <Bill>



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Mark Lloyd@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 16:45:08
    On 23 Mar 2026 14:58:13 GMT, Frank Slootweg wrote:

    Nick <nick@koohii.invalid> wrote:
    [...]
    One more thing, someone else mentioned that, despite everything, they
    aren't removing any of their telemetry tendrils, nor are they
    mentioning that. That might be a sign that this is all just
    performative

    You can limit the 'telemetry' ('Diagnostic data'), view what you send ('View diagnostic data'), 'Delete diagnostic data' if you want and, last
    but not least, use a local account, so Microsoft does not get any
    personal information.

    FWIW, I get zero 'spam' from Microsoft, let alone any personalized
    content. My 'problem' is the exact opposite, Microsoft doesn't inform
    the user, for example not about what is in a Windows Update update. You
    have to search with the KB number (if any) and hope you find something
    useful there.

    I have never used a Microsoft account, either on 10 or 11. I don't get ads
    in Windows (except once when I tried Solitaire, which had ads).

    --
    Mark Lloyd
    http://notstupid.us/

    "The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the
    way of women's emancipation." -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Mark Lloyd@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 16:57:30
    On Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:17:05 -0700, pyotr filipivich wrote:

    [snip]

    All I can say is that Windows 11 is a great recommendation for switching to Linux.

    I actually started using Linux when Windows XP came out. "product
    activation" (weak link) caused a lot of problems (IIRC mostly with
    updates), although that has improved. I now use Linux for a lot of things,
    but still keep Windows for things that need it. I actually have 2000, XP,
    7, 10, and 11. All except 7 are on virtual machines.

    Which I really do not want to do, but until MicroSloth, or Firefox
    buys me a new computer to run the software, what are my options?

    --
    Mark Lloyd
    http://notstupid.us/

    "The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the
    way of women's emancipation." -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Mark Lloyd@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 16:59:47
    On Sun, 22 Mar 2026 17:54:51 -0400, Paul wrote:

    [snip]

    You know, it was only recently, that I changed the background on my copy
    of Windows 8/8.1 :-) When something is so perfect... you tend to leave
    it in the corner. To its credit, I never did erase the Windows 8 drive.
    When I use it, I can get things done, so it isn't a total loss.

    Paul

    Most of my objections to Win8 applied to the original version. 8.1 was an improvement.

    --
    Mark Lloyd
    http://notstupid.us/

    "The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the
    way of women's emancipation." -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Mark Lloyd@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 17:01:39
    On Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:45:14 +1100, Daniel70 wrote:

    [snip]

    Sorry!! WHAT?? Windows looking like Apple?? That can't be right, can
    it?? ;-)

    That's what the original Win 8 did. I remembering some people calling it
    "tile world".

    I really don't want that, and didn't use W8. Later Windows got SOMEWHAT
    better (before W11 got worse, but still not as bad as 8).

    --
    Mark Lloyd
    http://notstupid.us/

    "The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the
    way of women's emancipation." -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From ...w¡ñ?±?ñ@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 12:18:57
    On 3/23/2026 10:01 AM, Mark Lloyd wrote:
    On Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:45:14 +1100, Daniel70 wrote:

    [snip]

    Sorry!! WHAT?? Windows looking like Apple?? That can't be right, can
    it?? ;-)

    That's what the original Win 8 did. I remembering some people calling it "tile world".



    Maybe even something just as familiar. <g> <https://i.postimg.cc/PqvJTwpm/History101.jpg>




    --
    ...w­¤?ñ?¤

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Kerr-Mudd, John@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 20:15:11
    On 23 Mar 2026 16:45:08 GMT
    Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid> wrote:


    []

    I have never used a Microsoft account, either on 10 or 11. I don't get ads in Windows (except once when I tried Solitaire, which had ads).

    I'm pretty sure the old card game didn't have ads. ah, sorry I'm in a w-11
    ng. IGMC.

    --
    Bah, and indeed Humbug.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul@3:633/10 to All on Monday, March 23, 2026 20:35:37
    On Mon, 3/23/2026 4:15 PM, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
    On 23 Mar 2026 16:45:08 GMT
    Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid> wrote:


    []

    I have never used a Microsoft account, either on 10 or 11. I don't get ads >> in Windows (except once when I tried Solitaire, which had ads).

    I'm pretty sure the old card game didn't have ads. ah, sorry I'm in a w-11 ng. IGMC.


    And you'd know there is a ZIP kicking around with old games
    in it, hand-hacked to run in newer OSes. You can still play WinXP Solitaire... without ads.

    There are a few bytes in those files, the executables, that indicate
    what OS release is the limit for them, and there were people in the
    past, who had figured out the encoding and could use a hex editor
    so that the old solitaire would run on a newer machine. You might find
    four particular bytes difference, between the executable you can see
    on your old WinXP machine, and the same executable (hacked) running
    on a newer system.

    Paul


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Peter Jason@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 12:36:18
    On Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:03:25 -0400,
    mummycullen@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (MummyChunk) wrote:

    ? Microsoft has finally come to its senses

    The company has suddenly started listening to users' opinions and plans to implement everything that has been requested for many years in Windows 11 with a single update.

    Updates can now be completely disabled, the AI Copilot will be made less intrusive, and even the taskbar can be moved up, just like in previous versions of Windows.

    What else is planned to be fixed??

    Better the devil you know.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Alan K.@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 08:20:01
    On 3/24/26 5:42 AM, Daniel70 wrote:
    (When did Solitaire start have multiple versions?) ?

    Splitting hairs, but solitaire only refers to a game played alone. Thus there are way to
    many to count. I have about 20 I play, and I'm skipping a bunch I don't know the rules
    enough to be able to play.

    --
    Linux Mint 22.3, Mozilla Thunderbird 140.8.1esr, Mozilla Firefox 148.0.2
    Alan K.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Frank Slootweg@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 18:47:09
    Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> wrote:
    On Mon, 3/23/2026 4:15 PM, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
    On 23 Mar 2026 16:45:08 GMT
    Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid> wrote:

    []

    I have never used a Microsoft account, either on 10 or 11. I don't get ads
    in Windows (except once when I tried Solitaire, which had ads).

    I'm pretty sure the old card game didn't have ads. ah, sorry I'm in a w-11 ng. IGMC.

    And you'd know there is a ZIP kicking around with old games
    in it, hand-hacked to run in newer OSes. You can still play WinXP Solitaire...
    without ads.

    You're probably referring to:

    'Windows 7 Games for Windows 11 and Windows 10' (and Windows 8.1) <https://win7games.com/#games>

    I installed these on my wife's Windows 8.1, 10 and now 11 systems.
    They work perfectly fine and she plays them often. (N.B. The pre-11
    version 2 works fine on Windows 11. I didn't check for a newer version
    and just used the 'old' ZIP file on the new Windows 11 box.)

    [...]

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Mark Lloyd@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 20:18:49
    On Mon, 23 Mar 2026 20:15:11 +0000, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:

    On 23 Mar 2026 16:45:08 GMT Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid> wrote:


    []

    I have never used a Microsoft account, either on 10 or 11. I don't get
    ads in Windows (except once when I tried Solitaire, which had ads).

    I'm pretty sure the old card game didn't have ads. ah, sorry I'm in a
    w-11 ng. IGMC.

    It didn't. I like the one from XP (especially when I found a way to
    disable the "machine gun" sound when dealing), and have copied it to other versions of Windows (2000 and later). The one that had ads came with
    Windows 10.

    --
    Mark Lloyd
    http://notstupid.us/

    "You can't kill the truth...Actually you can kill the truth, but it
    always comes back to haunt you" Sheridan, Babylon 5. Contributed by
    Larry Reyka.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Mark Lloyd@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 20:23:11
    On Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:18:57 -0700, ...w­¤?ñ?¤ wrote:

    [snip]

    That's what the original Win 8 did. I remembering some people calling
    it "tile world".



    Maybe even something just as familiar. <g> <https://i.postimg.cc/PqvJTwpm/History101.jpg>

    I used AOL around then, before finding something better. I had forgotten
    how it looked.

    --
    Mark Lloyd
    http://notstupid.us/

    "You can't kill the truth...Actually you can kill the truth, but it
    always comes back to haunt you" Sheridan, Babylon 5. Contributed by
    Larry Reyka.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Alan K.@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 23:20:06
    On 3/24/26 1:26 PM, rbowman wrote:
    On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:20:01 -0400, Alan K. wrote:

    On 3/24/26 5:42 AM, Daniel70 wrote:
    (When did Solitaire start have multiple versions?) ?

    Splitting hairs, but solitaire only refers to a game played alone. Thus
    there are way to many to count. I have about 20 I play, and I'm
    skipping a bunch I don't know the rules enough to be able to play.

    KPatience (KDE application on Linux) has 14 versions, but the only one I understand is Klondike. It's an ego thing but I like a game where I win
    every now and then.

    KPatience does not phone home.
    kmahjongg has a bunch of board layouts, some are relatively easy. Shisen-sho is another.

    --
    Linux Mint 22.3, Mozilla Thunderbird 140.8.1esr, Mozilla Firefox 148.0.2
    Alan K.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)