Windows 11: I just upgraded and I hate it

I'm a Mac, so I'm sorry but I can't relate.

I also hate it. It seems Apple-fied it for some reason. Why do I have a dock-like bar in bottom-middle of my screen?

Also, I find that the icons are tough on my eyes for some reason.

I like it.

Upgraded seamlessly. Love it.

Can I find some way to avoid it? I already have my Windows 10 set up so it looks and operates almost exactly like my Windows 7 did. Perhaps it's possible to do that with 11 as well.

I would wait R5 until Win10 reaches it's end of life (which I think is still a fair way off). Hopefully by that time people will have recommendations on how to get Win11 looking and feeling exactly how you want.

That's what I'm intending to do.

Just looked it up and apparently Win10 EOL is 2025.

I can't be bothered, as long as Windows 7 is still doing the job on my desktop I'm good

It's super retarded. I hate it.

Microsoft and the makers of Android should be very careful about moving their products closer to Apple's. There are an awful lot of their customers who are with them because they hate the way Apple's systems operate and don't GAF (or give a much-reduced one compared with Apple users) about whether their laptop or phone looks stylish.

I'm definitely one of those customers R10. I don't like the feel of Apple products so I avoid them. Really hoping Microsoft and Android aren't heading in that direction.

They are. Big changes are afoot for Android phone users. They’re going full Apple. Google will be controlling all of your card transactions, etc., charging surcharges. Sooner than you think.

My Windows 10 on my laptop tried to upgrade itself to Windows 11 today. I called it a troll and told it to fuck right off.

It is faster

As a programmer, I can tell you the next generation of programmers always changes things to put their brand on the product..

There is no hope of anything staying the same.

Hate it too and I would roll it back but my new computer ,11 came pre-installed so it wasn't a simple upgrade. And the programs I've used for years are either buggy or won't install property.

R1, MAC has been around since 1984 .

Windows 3.1 started in 1992.

Ya got it backwards

The cycle of planned obsolescence in software and hardware and technology is pretty intimidating. I almost resist buying and upgrading personal tablets, phones and computers because I feel “played”. Everything ages out so fast, and that feels like scam, or at least an aggressive way to commit me financially to tools and tech before I need or want them. Fine, I have a big job and a tech team that helps me adapt.

I hope I can stay technologically fluent when I am older, though. I feel so bad for elderly people who don’t use computers and depend on others to do that for them. That’s a vulnerability I don’t want for myself. I already see this in my siblings. They’re still young, but don’t work, and access the net basically on phones and tablets, but can’t use laptops anymore, even create or import documents or prepare a spreadsheet. It’s kind of sad. One of them needed to prepare minutes for a volunteer organization, and could not manage that.

R18, agreed. I'm part of the generation that is full of computer illiterates.

It has always pissed me off that some won't even touch a computer. They make me do it.

It’s hard when you need to access material, and learn that you cannot do that anymore without a software upgrade, and the features of the upgrade won’t run on your device…so you need to upgrade the device. You did that already? Ah, ok. They can sell you a new device. I don’t want to sound like The Unibomber, but this feels like a boa constrictor.

Do I need these artificially intelligent features to choose a picture of a new canyon each time I log into my computer? A friendly little chat function called Cortina or something like that to pop up and say “do you want to use that word form here?” I don’t think so, but maybe won’t have that choice for long. It’s hard to say this without looking old or uncool.

I did it this week. Seems fine to me, but my needs are pretty simple. I don't really care what it looks like, although I hate the scenic background pictures. That's not new, though, and I try to get rid of them where I can, preferring blank monochrome backgrounds, which are easier on my eyes. The start menu is a bit different, but I don't have a problem with it.

Did you take it out of S mode? I haven't done that but am thinking about it, so I'm not forced to select apps from the Microsoft Store. The selection there doesn't look too great for what I want.

And here I was jealous that my laptop isn’t Windows 11 compatible. Guess I’m not missing anything after all!

One thing I’m sick of with Windows is the constant updates that take like 2 hours to install. It’s ridiculous. That’s the one way I wish they were like Apple - only do updates once a month or so instead of updates once or twice a week. It’s ridiculous.

Windows 11 updates are pretty invisible to me r22.

I woke up one morning this week and the temperature and forecast magically appeared at the left of my taskbar.

This had been promised late last year and was a pleasant surprise.

To add to it, i moved my old version of Photoshop to the new computer and it wouldn't activate and called Adobe and they said, Oh we aren't supporting any old versions and unless you subscribe to our new monthly service you are shit out of luck. I rue the day!

I've played around with it on a friend's computer. Much ado about nothing IMO. I do not plan to upgrade any of my machines from W10. I know at some point as I replace these units I'll have no choice but to use W11, but I'm certainly not going to any trouble for it now.

It changes my doc defaults and seems very insistent on removing my pdf default for Adobe Acrobat. Adobe and some other things don’t work as well. I see no significant improvement overall.

Microsoft's long-standing business plan is to check out what's doing in Cupertino and emulate just this side of patent infringement.

Cripes. I never fully learned 10.

@r28, I cut off MS when they tried to force Windows 10 onto my desktop. Once blocked my computer suddenly started working flawlessly with zero issues. I update each program as needed, it's been years of problem free computing with all my programs happily co-existing. I'm not giving this up willingly

It said my laptop was too old too although apparently there is some way around that. It works fine as is; I did a lot of configuring in 10. My biggest fear is that my software won’t transfer.

R24, there is probably a way to get PS to install but you have to turn off some stuff in the Task Manager? I don’t remember the details because I did it several years ago but I blocked Adobe from communicating with my laptop.

Our department tech guy warned us against it, at least for now

I love it

I was ready to do it but THANK GOD Gary talked me out of it.

There are a lot of benefits to Windows 11, but also a lot of things that are worse than Windows 10. Many of THOSE things can be rectified with a 3rd party utility though.

For example, Windows 11 removes the ability to move the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen, removes the ability to "never combine" task bar icons removes the ability to get to Task Manager by right-clicking the task bar, removes the ability to have folders on the Start menu for organizing apps there (though that feature is coming back this fall), removes the ability to group and name the groups of apps on the Start menu, etc.

If any of that bothers you, you can download an app for $6 called "Start11" from Stardock.com. They offer a bunch of utilities to make the Windows UI more productive and to allow you to configure things just the way you want.

That said there are many benefits to Windows 11 including, but not limited to, better emoji support, easier "snapping" of multiple apps on your display(s), MUCH better handling of apps when docking and undocking with external displays, better virtual desktop support, a much more consistent and better organized "Settings" app, better support of Dark Mode across the system (though it's still inconsistent), more consistent graphical look-and-feel, more secure, faster, battery lasts longer, you can run Android apps on it as well as Windows apps, better Android phone integration, etc.

Even if you don't want to pay six bucks for a utility to fix the task bar and start menu, there's a setting in Taskbar Settings that lets you move the app icons and start button back over to the left instead of being centered.

Info on Start11:

My IT guy said to stick with 10, as there are compatibility issues with other programs that 11 hasn’t worked out yet.

[quote] better emoji support

Uhhh, what?!

Another thing about W11 I hate is my online porn is glitchy. Do NOT stand between me and Joe Sarge!

What's the problem? Microsoft NEVER gets it right the first time, it's always a screw up. Simply wait until you have to upgrade in a few years, it'll be much better by then.

[quote]That said there are many benefits to Windows 11 including, but not limited to, better emoji support

Suddenly life is worth living again!

I HATE I have to use a pin number everytime I want to use it. Some YouTubers claim you get around it but it doesn't seem to work for me.

2021 called.

They want their outrage back.

Linux can be your friend, if you let it.

[quote] I would wait [R5] until Win10 reaches it's end of life (which I think is still a fair way off). Hopefully by that time people will have recommendations on how to get Win11 looking and feeling exactly how you want. That's what I'm intending to do.

Excellent advice

No, R43. Just ... no. Linux dorks need to realize that Linux is never going to happen and it's a niche OS for total dorks and developers who live in their mom's basements.

That said, Windows 10 and Windows 11 have linux subsystems where you can run most of your linux apps, utilities, and command lines. Windows 11 even supports linux gui apps. And it's integrated with Windows so you can get the best of both worlds.

R41 you can get a "Windows Hello" device, so you can log in with your face (as I do on this laptop, I just open the lid, it sees me and logs me in... takes only a second, it's super fast). Or you can get a finger print reader. Either one can connect to USB and will prevent you from having to enter a PIN every time, while still maintaining security.

I moved to Linux after Vista (and my "preview" of 7 expired) and have not looked back. I only had a few programs that didn't have an equivalent (but gnucash really is better than quicken). Ubuntu or Mint will ease you into linux world.

[quote]That said there are many benefits to Windows 11 including, but not limited to, better emoji support

DEFCON 1 as an emoji.

Everything about microsoft sucks. Excel is a problem. Outlook is a problem. Internet Explorer is a problem. Our office has had so many problems in the past month.

It's like a car they're always recalling.

R41, I can paste the instructions to sign on without a pin if you want me to. It's possible and not complicated but you have to follow certain steps.

I like that my Windows 10 theme colors match whatever wallpaper I'm using, and Windows 11 doesn't have that feature. That's what's keeping me from updating, believe it or not.

R41, here you go:

To set up auto login in Windows 11, follow the steps below. 1. On the Start menu, search for and open “netplwiz” – an advanced user account management tool in Windows. 2. In the User Accounts window, uncheck the checkbox “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer“. 3. Next, click on Apply 4. A new window called “Automatically sign in” will then prompt you to enter a user name and password. Type in the user name and password you used to login to Windows. Windows will use this saved login credentials to automatically sign into Windows on startup without you having to manually input the username and password again. 6. Click OK to save the changes. 7. Restart your PC and see that Windows auto login to the desktop screen without any action from your side.

8. If these instructions do not work, take an elevator to the 70th floor or higher. Find a location with floor to ceiling windows. Check to see if there is grass below. Hold your laptop as though it were a Frisbee. Take ten deep breaths. After the final breath focus on the middle part of the window, standing approx five feet from it. Let out a guttural sound, using your lungs, ending on a primal scream. With controlled force, throw the laptop the same way you would throw a Frisbee. Stand back as it shatters the glass, gains a small amount of lift, then spins downward, hopefully slicing the skull in half of one of the software engineers who designed this shower of torturous shite.

Really, if you can navigate to netplwiz, you should be able to fix the requirement to sign in w/a pin or password. Good luck.

[quote]Internet Explorer is a problem

Internet Explorer hasn't been a thing for years.

Does anyone know a good Ad-Blocker for Edge? Even though I have it set to pop-up ads off, they are still really bad on certain sites (like the Daily Fail).

Pretty much all Chrome browser extensions work in EDGE.

I haven't had too much of an issue with pop-ups... the blocker works fine for me most of the time.

Never upgrade until you have to. Avoids issues with earlier micro versions.

At the very least, wait until this coming fall's update. It looks like they're adding a bunch of polish and making it significantly better than the initial (imho, unfinished) release.

If you upgrade a full year out as an early adopter, you are actually just a beta user. Wait...they will work out the major issues. Likely too late for you, but remember this for next time!

R56 That didn’t answer my question. I asked for recommendations.

It's sad that you need to buy this plus some more tweaks to get your computer back to working order. If I wanted to buy a Mac I would have bought a fucking Mac.

Microsoft Surface 5th generation, and it's not compatible. So I'll just wait til my Surface dies, I guess.

I'm procrastinating.

My Surface is not compatible w Win 11. So...ok.that's 2k down the drain...

That's not 2K down the drain. Windows 10 is still perfectly usable, and will be for at least 3 more years. At LEAST.

Maybe if bill gates wasn't so busy fucking children, they would have a better program

Anything that can run Windows 10 can run 11 if you tweak the registry and disconnect from your network after you've downloaded it.

I have it running on a 13 year old HP G70 (which I upgraded to an SSD years ago). It took a few tries using different guides and then a day to clear the shit out of 11, but it's running great now.

Windows has been copying Apple OS since day one.

Quote from digital trends..

“And if you can’t upgrade to Windows 11, don’t worry. Windows 10 will be supported through 2025. Windows 11 features like the redesigned Microsoft Store are even trickling down to Windows 10.”

The only real reason that Apple haters refuse to buy an iPhone or a MacBook is because they’re too damn cheap to buy those items. They would rather complain that Apple is “behind,” buy a $300 piece of crap from Walmart that breaks down after a year, and then brag about how smart they are for saving money.

Get a Mac.

A bit OT, I need a suggestion for a new printer. I have an Epson less than year, it no longer prints. Over the years I've had a Canon and an HP.

I print a few times a month, I mostly use my printer to scan, but I also need to make prints occasionally. I don't need photo printer.

^ The problem is probably that your ink is drying out, you need to print something more often and it would probably work better. Hp used to be the best, but I have a cheap Cannon now that works really well

[quote]^ The problem is probably that your ink is drying out, you need to print something more often and it would probably work better. Hp used to be the best, but I have a cheap Cannon now that works really well.

Think you mean the print heads are clogged? I cleaned the print heads and the nozzle, twice. I then put in 4 new Epson ink cartridges, thinking that would help.

I did the two tests again, with the fresh ink, to check the heads & nozzle, nothing printed on the test sheets. Then I checked the ink level, the brand new ink cartridges showed each cartridge was half empty! Where the hell did the ink go if nothing printed on the test sheets? Before I did the second round of test sheets, the new ink level was full.

What's your Canon model number. I refuse to pay more than $150-$200 for a printer. TIA.

I've noticed, most of the reviews for any low priced printer are usually negative. Then again, so were the reviews for the expensive Epson EcoTank line.

^ It's a Cannon TS3322, believe it or not I paid $29 for it on a Black Friday deal, but I think they're normally $49-$59 at Walmart. I had an Epson prior and had the the same problem you describe. So far the Cannon has been problem free

Thanks R75, I'll go read the reviews and check the specs.

I had a Canon many years ago. I also heard from a techie friend, to never use the fax option on printers. He said the fax always seems to somehow screw up the printer and that, of course, the printer companies would never tell the consumers that.

R75, are you sure about the style number, that printer is $162.00 at Walmart!

Yikes! I don't know what happened at Walmart, but it's $49.99 MSRP on the Cannon website, but that's the one I have

[quote]The only real reason that Apple haters refuse to buy an iPhone or a MacBook is because they’re too damn cheap to buy those items.

No.

We just don't like the lock-in closed-ecosystem and proprietary everything, and "one size fits all", and waiting years to get features other systems get first. We also like to customize any way we want, not just the way that The Apple Over-Lords allow. We like choice, we like not being beholden to just one company for everything... and we like the UI better. We prefer form over function, and we like getting our money's worth. And we hate the "cult of smug" that comes with Apple. Their users are just so damn obnoxious.

R71 being a perfect example.

R70 actually it's the other way around. Let me guess, you're a fucking superficial frau that needs to be seen at all times carrying the latest iPhone as a fashion accessory.

I have both Windows 7 and Windows 10 on my monstah gaming laptop. I only ever use Windows 7. Windows 10 seems very invasive and I would 11 is the same or worse.

R80 All of you complaining about iPhones not being customizable enough. What the fuck do you all do on your phones besides text, watch porn, post on DL, and look for blow jobs on gay apps? What exactly are these customizable options that are so Important? Making the app title text pink?

Regarding versions of Windows....I don't really specifically use Windows for anything other than launching apps and file navigation. It's just the operating system that runs in the background and as long as it's stable and I can get to my stuff who cares?

Why should a user have to "learn" an upgrade? Why should new software versions of the same thing require any work on the part of users - beyond learning (or not) added features and a few organizational simplifications?

Windows always purports to be giving more when it adds layers of complication and process. It's as though they don't understand the value of simplicity. And the constant hijacking of a system for upgrades and fixes...just fucking do it without there being a big chance of stealing my time every time I log on.

^ Well said

I've been called a boomer Luddite for sticking with Windows 7, but it's simply, all my programs work and MS doesn't bother me with updates that crash my desktop. Why on earth should I upgrade?

R85, you are indeed a luddite. SO damn stupid.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 are FAR more secure. And the update processes on those two OSes are FAR less intrusive and time-consuming than what happened on Windows 7. LOTS more convenient hot-keys and other features to make life easier.

Just as an example: in Windows 10, I just leave my desktop on all the time. It updates overnight once or twice a month, and reboots while I'm asleep. I come in the next day and all my apps are open right where I left them. It's completely painless. The last full system update (happens once or twice a year) took 3 minutes to apply.

Compare that to the nightmare of Windows 7. ugh.

Hate it! Nothing but glitches since I upgraded. I'm a Chrome user.

@r86, I think you're nothing but a brainless sheep. Why do you sheep get so upset when I say Windows 7 is working just fine for me? Why does it bother you that I don't conform? I'm really curious as to what's in it for you?

Oooh, R88, did someone touch a nerve? Jesus.

You sound like an anti-vaxxer. For many of the same reasons. What's "in it for me" is that if you're on Windows 7 and your computer is connected to the internet, then your VERY likely to get hacked, infected, and spread viruses, worms, trojans, etc. Windows 7 is NOT secure, and is NOT updated to protect against recent attacks.

You're a selfish irresponsible luddite, no different from anti-vaxxer assholes.

^ God, you're dumb 😒

I've been using Windows 7 for years problem free and if you haven't heard there are very good virus and internet security platforms available for purchase. You strike me as a huffy little princess who is always so sure she's right, except you rarely are and often fuck up. Do the world a favor and keep your tedious thoughts to your useless self

"You sound like an anti-vaxxer."

And you, Miss Prissy Pot, sound fat and unfuckable

R90 DOS 3.3 is great.

^ Really? Before my time. Do tell us all about it 😏

On second thought, better not, Miss Prissy Pot will have a meltdown and spill her ice cream all down the front of her lovely new caftan 😂

It's just weird that you're denying being a luddite, and taking offense to being called a luddite, when that's exactly what you are... terrified of anything new or better, unwilling to update or change with the times, thinking the old ways "work fine for you" without ever learning what benefits the new ways could offer you. Stuck in the past. Taking a perverse pride in being backwards. Much like any random "conservative" I guess. Whatever, your choice, but don't pretend it's somehow noble.

^ It's weirder that you're stalking me, creep 😒

I hate the emoji troll.

Would that the alleged stalking somehow were connected to the infamous Smiley Face gang.

Except they go after in-shape, college-age/early-20s guys. So that M.O. really has to have changed to be involved with the OP's stalker.

Apple products are by design, non repairable, unless you deal with Apple directly. They are constantly pushing you to just buy a new product. To make things worse, they are now considering making their phones part of a "subscription service", so you would perpetually be making payments on their newest phones at all times.

No thanks. I used my Galaxy Note 3 from 2013 all the way up until 2019 when I bought my Pixel 4XL. If I'm paying $1000+ for a phone, I'm not buying a new one every freaking year. If at any point, something like my screen was broken, it would have been relatively easy and inexpensive to get repaired. Not so with Apple.

More information on this. I would highly recommend checking out this guys' channel why many of us hate Apple.

i do not like that side screen the pops up. I think you should have to click on it, instead it just pops up when it wants too. I do not even use that screen overlay. I have no idea what it is for and why it is associated with the weather icon.

If they keep improving it we won't be able to use it at all.

If you know how to use Windows PowerShell you can clean the crap out of Win 11 pretty quickly.

Why did you upgrade? I keep telling my Surface: FUCK NO! r100, do you have a link to the best scripts to run to clean it up?

R101 This guide is OK, but I tend to find you need to go through a few different ones.

What is PowerShell? PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation solution made up of a command-line shell, a scripting language, and a configuration management framework. PowerShell runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

What The Fuck?

It's basically MS-DOS with bells on, speeds things up though.

I've been using PC's since 1985 and nothing Microsoft has ever sold has EVER worked correctly, NOTHING. I used to ask doctors and lawyers office managers how the hell they coud ever depend on a MS product for actual client and patient records etc. THEY DON'T. They have to buy an additional package that "makes" Windows work on a more dependable level. Fuck Microsoft and Especially FUCK Gates and his EX.

R105 I know, I've made a tonne of money tidying up MS crap over the past 30 years.

Don't care now, I retired at 50 (thank you Bill Gates and your fucking terrible development team)..

R105, you sound like a frustrated elderly frau.

R98, you can remove it from the taskbar in Taskbar Settings.

It's the "widgets" screen. It shows the current weather on the taskbar, and if you hover over it, it displays widgets of your choice. You can configure what is there... news, weather, traffic, stocks, whatever.

In Windows 10, there's an option to make it only pop up if you click. Windows 11 doesn't have that option (yet). So since you don't want it, just go to taskbar settings (right click on the taskbar) and turn it off.

You can remove widgets with PowerShell.

1. Press win key and type Powershell, click Run as administrator.

2. Copy and paste this command and press enter [bold] winget uninstall "Windows web experience Pack" [/bold]

Windows 11 uninstalls Windows Web Experience Package [[MicrosoftWindows. Client.

That's a bit over-kill when you can just turn off the widget icon in your task bar by flipping a single toggle in taskbar settings.

It also removes a lot of other crap.

Yeah, but maybe you want the other "crap"... like PWAs and UWP support and Edge browser (which I happen to like better than Chrome now)... it's an awfully big hammer when the complaint was only about the widgets on the taskbar.

Most people won't use PWA, Microsoft have abandoned UWP and. Edge is the worst version of Chrome out there (big and clunky).

I was only offering a more permanent option.

EDGE is better than Chrome, PWAs are great (especially with EDGE), and there are several UWP apps shipped in-box that are useful.

Don't use a big hammer if you don't need one. This should be pretty obvious. Clearly you have biases, but don't assume everyone has those. The problem reported was that they didn't like the widgets expanding on hover over the corner, which is very reasonable (it sucks that Windows 11 doesn't have an option to require a click to expand the widgets like Windows 10 does). The solution is a simple toggle in Taskbar settings to eliminate the widget button.

Suggesting they gut the functionality of their OS entirely when you have no idea how they use their PC or might use it in the future just isn't appropriate.

The PowerShell command to uninstall "Windows web experience Pack" doesn't remove Edge in any case.

Much to my disappointment.

I have Windows 11 with my new computer I don't use Edge I use Firefox but every time I turn it on or reboot a giant panel on the right side comes up with the weather etc and I have to X it out from Edge.

Use the PowerShell command above, it gets rid of all of the widgets.

Run the free version of Glary Utilities after to tidy up the registry.

Just. Go. To. Taskbar. Settings. And. Switch. Off. The. Widgets.

No need for powershell. No need for anything extreme. Or arcane. It's fucking right there. Right-click the task bar, "Taskbar settings", click the "Widgets" toggle to "off".

It couldn't be more simple. Jesus.

That would be hiding Widgets then, not removing them.

What the hell are widgets?

A new Windows 11 feature (or a resurrection of a Windows Vista feature depending on how you look at it). Since Windows 11 does away with "Live Tiles", Widgets are the replacement... a place for things like stocks, weather, traffic, or other "glanceable" info panels, news, current events, etc. You can customize the panel any way you want, except Windows 11 did away with the Windows 10 option to require clicking on the toolbar button rather than just hovering over it to show the widgets.

it is so stupid, if i want android os, i would fire up my tablet, if i want mac os, i would use my iphone. i like the windows classic appearance, so i use windows, not this frankenstein. this is just like that dumpster fire windows 8, remember that microsoft? you have all these engineers, why don't u figure out a way to boot up the photo app faster, instead of making me wait forever just to view a simple jpeg? now i have to press the windows button whenever i want to see the time, instead of instantly checking it like before. if if ain't broke, ppl.

Absolutely not upgrading until it's been out a couple of years and the kinks have been ironed out. There's nothing radically new there to be worth the headache, anyway.

Widgets he he he....

r122 here, the wacky thing is after my complaining my windows 11 do not have disappearing taskbar anymore

the taskbar with time and notification just stay there all the time now and i do not have to wave my mouse down there for it to show up

microsoft, hello, if you are listening, i would like to ungroup all my windows of the same application, please

it is just not working

R1 That Mac dude was cute. Whatever happened to him?

I have it - don't hate and don't love it. It does seem to slow down my laptop but have not had the time to dig into it. I'll get there and it will ultimately be fine. Some good suggestions upthread.

my malfunctioned and all my word documents are read only. Also, how does one fix this?

[quote]microsoft, hello, if you are listening, i would like to ungroup all my windows of the same application, please

Glad you finally figured out how to turn the auto-hide feature off, but you can't ungroup in Windows 11... unless you install "Start11" from StarDock, which does have that feature. It's like $6, and totally worth it to make Windows 11 usable again.