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Author Topic: New laptop  (Read 677 times)

AI5BC

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Re: New laptop
« Reply #15 on: December 28, 2022, 08:35:05 AM »

Anyone care to elaborate on what the supposed problems are with Windows 11?

You do know you are talking to old men stuck in the 60's right? They are still trying to figure out why their VCR's flash 12:00
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K7MEM

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Re: New laptop
« Reply #16 on: December 28, 2022, 11:26:47 AM »

Anyone care to elaborate on what the supposed problems are with Windows 11?

I updated from W10 to W11 last December. I'm now running 22H2, build 22621.963 and I can pretty much run whatever I want, but there are a few things that are mostly an annoyance in W11. I will just list a few.

I found out very quickly after I updated to W11 that, W11 no longer supports USB to Serial Port "Prolific" cables. The FTDI cables work fine. It is possible to make the Prolific cables work, but it's more trouble than it is worth. I just bought new FTDI cables ($13 each). I've had the Prolific cables for 15-20 years, so it was time for new ones.

Then there is the crashing of Windows Explorer. It seems to be connected to the search feature in Windows Explorer. If you disable the file indexer, Windows Explorer will crash during a search. When that happens, your current application still operates, but everything else on the screen and taskbar goes blank. After about 20-30 seconds, the screen and taskbar recover, but Windows Explorer needs to be restarted and setup. Sometimes it restarts with a really odd size. However, I do love the new "tabbed" Windows Explorer. One window open to multiple file systems.

Associated with the above problem is the indexer. I found that the file indexer runs by itself. During indexing, it runs the disk at 100% and causes lagging in the response of all other apps. It can be easily disabled, so I did.

Another annoyance is what they did to the Notification area above the Calendar. Prior to one of the recent updates, if there were no notifications, there was no Notification window. Now, you always have a Notification window even when it is empty. They also modified the Calendar. They changed how the months are highlighted and added Focus. I have no need for Focus, but it can't be removed, only disabled.

The Start menu was changed to include a area at the bottom that displays recent files and new apps. It can disabled, but still shows empty space and displays an annoying message telling you to turn everything on again. I would rather the whole Start menu be shrunk down when you disable that area.

I also check the Process Manager several times a day. I find that there are some programs that get started without your knowledge or some things that I just don't want running. As an example Edge, and Widgets. I don't use either of them, but they regularly pop up in the Process Manager.

Many will complain about "bloatware". To me, that is a don't care. Almost anything that you don't want can be removed. Other than that, the extra programs just take up space on a disk. On my laptop, I have a 930 GB disk that is 75% free. I do not care if there is some wasted space. We are a long way from the 40 MB disk drives. I still have a laptop running Windows 3.1 with a 40 MB hard drive.

You do know you are talking to old men stuck in the 60's right? They are still trying to figure out why their VCR's flash 12:00

I'm an old man (73) and started with computers in the 60's, but I'm certainly not stuck in the 60's. All my computers are as up to date as they can be. And, a piece of electrical tape is all you need to fix that flashing number problem.

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Martin - K7MEM
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VA3VF

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Re: New laptop
« Reply #17 on: December 28, 2022, 11:49:12 AM »

Quote
Quote
They are still trying to figure out why their VCR's flash 12:00
And, a piece of electrical tape is all you need to fix that flashing number problem.

Thank you for the laugh, well played.

I use electrical tape to cover the camera on my laptops. I don't think I ever used them. My brand new laptop has a sliding cover built-in, that is a nice touch.
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G4AON

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Re: New laptop
« Reply #18 on: December 28, 2022, 12:28:55 PM »

Martin, Prolific USB to serial chips were fraudulently copied and incorporated into many adapters, which apparently caused the issue with genuine Prolific driver software. It was also a problem with Windows 10 prior to Windows 11.

73 Dave

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VA3VF

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Re: New laptop
« Reply #19 on: December 28, 2022, 12:42:39 PM »

Quote
Prolific USB to serial chips were fraudulently copied and incorporated into many adapters, which apparently caused the issue with genuine Prolific driver software. It was also a problem with Windows 10 prior to Windows 11.

Indeed, the yellow triangle error. My recollection of the time is that the newer driver detects counterfeit chips.

I also remember mention of a workaround but my suggestion is to purchase an FTDI based adapter, it's what I use, never a problem. Yes, it's a couple of dollars more expensive but well worth it IMHO.
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K7MEM

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Re: New laptop
« Reply #20 on: December 29, 2022, 05:11:18 AM »

Martin, Prolific USB to serial chips were fraudulently copied and incorporated into many adapters, which apparently caused the issue with genuine Prolific driver software. It was also a problem with Windows 10 prior to Windows 11.

Yes, there has been a problem with the Prolific cables for a long time. The issue goes back further than Windows 10. I think I first encountered it with a XP system.
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Martin - K7MEM
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