I have accounting software that won't work past W10 (Quickbooks and maybe MS Office) unless I change to a subscription version so I'm stuck there for now.

I've never had any real problems with a newer Windows version if it came installed on the machine, but when I "upgraded" sometime a year or two after buying, it could be a problem.

For TurboTax users I believe it will not be compatible with win10 when it comes time to do your 2025 tax return.

I had to reinstall from scratch after upgrading from Home to Pro. Wouldn't update correctly. The only reason I have it is for gaming, although I've found I actually have higher framerates in Steam on Ubuntu.

I am less than impressed. I have been team Linux in one form or another for decades at this point.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

I'm a longtime Win10 user and so is the wife. I keep hearing that Win11 blows.

Same here. I'll stick with Win10 for as long as I can.

That's my plan, but it looks like time is getting short.

My PC experience pre-dates Winows and I have used every version since it was released. My home office has two PCs running the latest version of Windows 11. I had to upgrade the motherboard in both to gain compatibility with Windows 11. I went with Windows 11 to gain the memory protection features that limit the damage malicious software can do to my system. These features are not in Windows 10 which is about to go out of maintenance. That means that the Windows Defender features will not be updated to keep pace with new threats. So those who wish to stay with Windows 10 should consider adding anti-virus/malware protection if they currently rely on Defender. As longs as the PC hardware is without memory errors/ bad disk sectors etc. I found all Windows versions to be stable and generally trouble free. There will be the occasional glitch in an update release, but they are quickly corrected. I do dislike how the interface is changed with each new version. There appears to be no real purpose to it other than to be "new." I use a lot of Adobe applications and Adobe has been very good over the years in preserving a consistent interface in which the addition of new features does not change how to use those unchanged.

I still use Quickbooks 2017 and it runs fine with Windows II. Since the tax programs are updated annually I would not expect problems there.

This thread is of interest to me. I have a desktop Dell circa 2009 and a Toshiba laptop from about 2016. Microsoft has informed me that I will not be able to upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware issues with my current computers. So....how long can I run stuff on my current Windows 10 without issues? I don't know, but this sucks! I suppose at some point in the near future I will have to purchase a new computer or two. This also annoys me and I really don't know what to buy. A Mac? I've never had one. Will it run all the stuff I have on my current computers? Anyway, that's my rant on Windows 11. It might be fine, but not for me.

The way it insists on putting the start menu which also kind of sucks now compared to Win 10 and before, in the middle of the taskbar is REALLY stupid and annoying but fortunately you can put it back where it has belonged since 1995; the lower left corner.

The new right-click context menus where there is an additional click now to get to what you want is also stupid and infuriating but this can be turned off with a simple Registry hack but really ought to be a control panel setting.

Unless I am mistaken, you need a Microsoft account in order to use.

You know what I like about Windows 11? This is the version that I've had to think about the least. It has never come up with any problems for me and I've used it ever since Windows 11 was available.

I remember being hesitant with the new interface in that it's not in the lower left corner to get to the programs but, instead, in the middle, but I got over that pretty quickly.

They call the programs apps now. You made me realize, we've reached the computer age where it's just like turning on the tv.

I have 4 displays including the laptop screen running. no glitching. I have a 1.8 TB SSD hard drive, 6 GB Graphics Card (I make sure it's not just an onboard graphics card), 32 GB RAM, and a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H.

I don't even know what the CPU is about; I remember studying CPU specs before to decide which laptop to get.

The best thing I can say is I don't have to think about problems with Windows 11 because I haven't had any in the last 3 years at least.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:


I remember being hesitant with the new interface in that it's not in the lower left corner to get to the programs but, instead, in the middle, but I got over that pretty quickly.

You can change it back in 20 seconds:

Right-click on any empty space on the taskbar, select "Taskbar settings", then navigate to "Taskbar behaviors". Under "Taskbar alignment", choose "Left". This will move the Start button, along with all other taskbar icons, to the left side of the screen, restoring the more traditional Windows layout.

I have been using 11 for almost 2 years at this point. Let’s not kid ourselves MS tends to shoot themselves in the foot often on various things, and 11 is no different. Overall I don’t have a lot of complaints. The biggest reason to move to 11 is for security updates. Windows 10 will stop receiving security patches on October 25th of this year.

Here are my steps to setup a new install of Windows 11. These are my preferences so use the ones that make sense for you.

If you do a in place upgrade to 11, i.e. you were on 10 and did the upgrade to 11 through Windows update, you can skip this step. For those that either have a new Windows 11 computer or do a clean install of 11, enter this command to bypass creating a MS account.
• “The command "start ms-cxh:localonly" is used during the Windows 11 installation process to create a local user account, bypassing the requirement for a Microsoft account. This can be done by pressing Shift + F10 to open the command prompt at the network connection screen and entering the command.”



Immediately run windows updates to get everything up to date.

These are registry hacks you can find on the internet. YMMV, do at your own risk. I highlighted the 2 that I think most people would appreciate.
• Remove show all options – Probably one of my worst complaints about 11 was their decision to add icons to the right click event for cut/copy/paste, and forces another click to get to most things you want.
• Turn off sign in reminders – For local account users that will never sign in. It doesn’t remove them all but a few anyway.
• Add take ownership to context menu – Take control of a file/folder that is locked down.
• Disable Start Search – I don’t want internet results mixed in with my computer files.
• Drag Drop Move – Drag and drop should never copy, IMO.
• Restore Windows Photo Viewer – The old photo viewer from 7 still works best for me.

Right click the taskbar, then click taskbar settings to modify your taskbar for a cleaner more 7/10 vibe.


Search icon only, turn off task view, turn off widgets, click task behaviors to open the menu and select left to move the icons to the left.



I like to be able to see all my tray icons.


You can either drag and drop them to the taskbar



or manually change them in the “Other system tray icons” menu by turning them on/off.


To remove all that nonsense from your lock screen, change “Lock screen status”. Right click your desktop and select personalize then lock screen. Set the status to none.


I like more pins on my start menu and don’t need all the other clutter. Right click your desktop and select personalize then start. Select more pins, turn all that junk off.


I don’t want any notifications. Right click the taskbar, then click taskbar settings, then notifications. Turn off notifications and turn on do not disturb.


The most tedious and cumbersome settings are the privacy settings. I shut everything off that I can here. If you use a mic and camera, you will have to fine tune them to your specific needs. Right click the taskbar, and then click taskbar settings, then privacy and security.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
You know what I like about Windows 11? This is the version that I've had to think about the least. It has never come up with any problems for me and I've used it ever since Windows 11 was available.

The best thing I can say is I don't have to think about problems with Windows 11 because I haven't had any in the last 3 years at least.

Word for word: Me too. No issues.

I have a second laptop with Windows 11; it's not bad.
My problem is that I use the old MS Office 2010 I bought way back when on my primary laptop running Windows 10.

It does what I need, but to my knowledge Office 2010 won't run on Windows 11.
I don't want to pay for a subscription version of Office; for the amount I use it, it's not worth it.

Guess I'll have to see about running Open Office.

I did the registry change that PASig mentioned in his post that changes the context (right click) menu to Win 10 style. I actually didn't mind Win 8 at all but I learned it on a Microsoft Surface (tablet / laptop). After the context menu fix no complaints. I do like the search on Win 11 a lot. Much faster than finding an app in a tree menu. Honestly I'm on a Win machine at least 40 hours a week. Typically takes about to days to familiarize myself with a new OS.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:


I remember being hesitant with the new interface in that it's not in the lower left corner to get to the programs but, instead, in the middle, but I got over that pretty quickly.

You can change it back in 20 seconds:

Right-click on any empty space on the taskbar, select "Taskbar settings", then navigate to "Taskbar behaviors". Under "Taskbar alignment", choose "Left". This will move the Start button, along with all other taskbar icons, to the left side of the screen, restoring the more traditional Windows layout.

Forget that. After getting used to the latest interface, I'm not going back.

The difference I see, is that in the old way, you'll have to go through all the programs you have installed. in this latest one, you can pin your main programs and arrange them how you like. You also have the option of pinning programs to the task bar.

The one "setback" is that since you don't have to scroll through all your apps, you forget what you have. I have to go to Apps installed to see the programs installed.

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
Unless I am mistaken, you need a Microsoft account in order to use.

Not with Win11Pro.
Might take some effort, but with Pro just do it as Domain Join on setup & you can skip the Microsoft account part.

For people who need a new stand alone version of Microsoft Office, Not Office365, you can buy it from StackSocial for $39.97.

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License

I bought this last year, it works perfectly on Windows 11 and is a legal licensed copy. It is a digital download after purchase, no box or CD/DVD.

quote:

Originally posted by Paten:
For people who need a new stand alone version of Microsoft Office, Not Office365, you can buy it from StackSocial for $39.97.

I use Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007. I can't use that on Win 11?

I'm on Win 10 now but get prompts that my computers will handle 11. Thing is, I downloaded 11 onto one of them (my newest one, a notebook) and I could no longer get sound. I uninstalled and sound came back.

But, I won't be able to use my Excel program w/11? Cause, that's a huge negative for me.

I am still using office 2007 on one of my 11 machines. I use a product key to activate mine, and sometimes when I am reinstalling it, I have to call the MS automated number to get it to activate.

I preferred the aesthetic of Windows 7 and the old style Start Menu. Settings are a bit of a hodgepodge of old style control panel and new style tablet-ish settings, and things aren't always organized very well. Too much "let me try to help you with what I think you want" instead of just what I ask for in File Explorer. A bit of a PITA to stop it from automatically updating whenever it wants.

The Start Menu thing can be fixed with StartAllBack or OpenShell. OpenShell is free, StartAllBack is $5 and can put the task bar at the top of the screen.

The rest is mostly minor inconvenience. Mostly it works just fine. 7->10 was a much bigger change than 10->11.