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Microsoft takes us to 2004 with new Windows 10 so you don't mistake it for Server 2003 (WTF)
The Register ^ | Nov 27, 2019 | Richard Speed

Posted on 11/27/2019 6:47:34 AM PST by dayglored

Spices up your life with change to naming conventions

Microsoft crossed the streams last night as both the Fast and Slow Rings of the Windows Insider Program synchronised ahead of the final fit and finish of next year's Windows 10.

While build 19033 was light on features, as is depressingly the norm with 20H1 these days, that watermark remained absent and, more importantly, the release hit the cautious Slow Ringers as well as the brave folk on the bleeding edge of Fast.

And because it wouldn't be Windows without a good few ways of referring to it, 20H1 will also now be known as "2004" rather than "2003" as one might have expected, based on the previous numbering convention (1909, 1903, 1809 etc).

The reason, according to the gang, was to "eliminate confusion with any past product names" such as Windows Server 2003. Presumably Microsoft Money 2004 was not deemed risky enough.

The synchronisation also opens a brief window for Fast Ring Insiders to take a breath and spend some quality time on the Slow Ring instead of being flung further into the future by the Insider team. Teasingly, Microsoft would only say that Fast Ring fans would soon be getting builds from the RS_PRERELEASE branch of Windows 10 rather than using terms such as "20H2" or even "21H1" to give people a clue with regard to when the code would show up in the Windows Update of the general public.

As a reminder, the next version of Windows 10 is known as "20H1". Or "2004". Or "that thing Santa left on the lounge carpet". We made that last one up, but you get the idea.

As has been the norm of late, the release was light on features to enliven a keynote, but heavy on fixes. We've been told by more than one MVP (on condition of anonymity, in order to avoid a short, sharp, defrocking) that the bulk of the changes have been "under the hood" ahead of what should be an interesting 2020 for Windows fans.

The fixes themselves included dealing with the Start Code 38 issue that had cropped up with some USB 3.0 devices, although the Start Code 10 problem still remains, as well as the Start Menu crashing if a Windows Update was pending.

Those pesky compatibility problems with anti-cheat software continue to linger, as well as the Update process occasionally hanging and optional printer drivers reappearing in Windows Update after an install.

And, of course, while it looks like Microsoft is almost finished with this release, this does remain very much preview code and should be treated with caution lest something explode messily in your face. ®


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: windows; windows10; windowspinglist; windowsupdate
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Really? Is there anyone who would read:
Windows 10 2003
and think that it means a release of Windows Server made in the year "2003"?

Oh, wait.... Of course they will.

After all, that's why there was no "Windows 9", because it would get confused with "Windows 95" and "Windows 98". I remember now.

Okay, then, "Windows 10 2004" it is. Anyway, here's what it's got...

1 posted on 11/27/2019 6:47:34 AM PST by dayglored
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To: Abby4116; afraidfortherepublic; aft_lizard; AF_Blue; AppyPappy; arnoldc1; ATOMIC_PUNK; bajabaja; ...
Windows 10 Update "2004"... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

2 posted on 11/27/2019 6:48:14 AM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored
> As a reminder, the next version of Windows 10 is known as "20H1". Or "2004". Or "that thing Santa left on the lounge carpet". We made that last one up, but you get the idea.

Man, The Register can be brutal. :-)

3 posted on 11/27/2019 6:50:19 AM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored
I'm beginning to appreciate Apple's use of simple names for OS releases. ;-)

Seriously though, Linux is no better, in fact we're worse. Every major distro has their own numbering scheme. Generally they follow the "major.minor" convention. But then you can add in all kinds of craziness with specific or special kernel versions swapped in underneath. Then for more fun you can swap window managers on top - ending up with 3 different numbers/versions before you've even touched applications...

4 posted on 11/27/2019 6:59:20 AM PST by ThunderSleeps ( Be ready!)
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To: dayglored

More vaporware and now even language versions of it.


5 posted on 11/27/2019 7:04:33 AM PST by Wuli
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To: dayglored

Switch to Win-10?
Not at gunpoint.


6 posted on 11/27/2019 7:06:52 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: dayglored

Switch to Win-10 from stable and wonderful 2009 Win-7 Pro 64x?
Not at gunpoint.


7 posted on 11/27/2019 7:07:51 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: carriage_hill
> Switch to Win-10 from stable and wonderful 2009 Win-7 Pro 64x? Not at gunpoint.

Win7 Pro x64 was the best Windows release ever. I don't think they can possibly surpass the combination of useful power, speed, ease of use, intuitive GUI, and the ability to customize the interface back to something even simpler (I personally prefer the Win2000 look+feel).

Win10 is arguably faster -- under the hood. But at the GUI level it's considerably worse, at least for the work I do.

Just remember, if you stick with Win7, security updates stop in two months, and you will be VERY VULNERABLE if you go out on the internet with it.

8 posted on 11/27/2019 7:16:09 AM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: carriage_hill

W7 support ends in January.


9 posted on 11/27/2019 7:21:10 AM PST by gibsonguy
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To: dayglored; gibsonguy

I know. I will be using updated Norton 360 and paid subs to MalwareBytes Premium, CCleaner Pro, as I use now, and whatever else I can cobble together.

Any other suggestions for protection?


10 posted on 11/27/2019 7:38:37 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: carriage_hill
> Any other suggestions for protection?

"Practice safe computing. Always wear a write-protect tab."

11 posted on 11/27/2019 7:42:15 AM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored

I tried Win8 and 8.1 on my sister’s laptop; just awful. I had a local computer shop rip it out and install Win-7 Pro x64, and have it updated by that shop, every couple of months.

I tried Win-10 on a unit at Staples, and it was awful, too. I know that the Classic Win-7 Shell can be applied, but underneath the hood, it’s crappy at the GUI level.

What to do?


12 posted on 11/27/2019 7:43:01 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: dayglored

“...write-protect tab.”

Pray tell, what is that?


13 posted on 11/27/2019 7:43:51 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: carriage_hill

The old-fashioned way to keep your floppy from catching a virus. :-)


14 posted on 11/27/2019 7:53:56 AM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored

I found “how to install w-p tab” and “how to remove w-p tab” on Google.


15 posted on 11/27/2019 8:01:17 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: dayglored

I don’t have a floppy drive on this 2009 HP unit.
I found the “install/remove w-p tab” on google.
Thanks.


16 posted on 11/27/2019 8:02:44 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: carriage_hill

I have been liking Linux Mint more and more for home computing.

Mostly, I use it to check FR occasionally and to stream videos — primarily sports. There, it has problems. My ISP (COX) apparently does not like/support Linux.

ESPN sports and CBS sports streams work. NBC sports used to work but no longer. Fox and Fox sports work, but Fox sports southwest doesn’t.

COX cable has its own streaming of most cable channels, but that feature will not work on Linux.

Maybe, after Abode Flash finally dies, they — the various content providers — will settle on one delivery method and all will support it.

I still rely on Win7 laptop and desktop for most of my computing. I have a Win10 tablet, but primarily use it only to stream radio and occasional video.


17 posted on 11/27/2019 8:20:39 AM PST by TomGuy
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To: TomGuy

I’ve got Commiecast/xfinity here, so no problems streaming or reception.

Never found anyone locally who uses Linux, so I could try it. My local computer shop doesn’t like it.


18 posted on 11/27/2019 8:27:58 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: carriage_hill

A physical indicator on a floppy disk that could change it from “read-write” access to “read-only” access. On a 5 1/4” floppy, it was a notch cut into the side of the disk in a specific location, while the 3 1/5” floppies usually had a built in toggle switch in the corner that allowed you to change modes back and forth.

VHS and audio cassettes had similar mechanisms too, two little tabs on the back of the cassettes that you could remove to stop them from being recorded over again.


19 posted on 11/27/2019 8:33:07 AM PST by Boogieman
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To: dayglored

[[Just remember, if you stick with Win7, security updates stop in two months, and you will be VERY VULNERABLE if you go out on the internet with it]]

Nuh Uh :_ I run a linux VM to go online (Except when i play my racing game online- that’s the only site i go online with win 7 for- of course that site could get hacked, but not likely- if it does, my Macrium Reflect backup will come to the rescue-

Not sure if running windows 7 i na sandbox would be fast enough to play the online racing multiplayer game- but if so, that would be an ideal way to do it EXCEPT that the game usually needs updates, so I’d lose the updates when i delete the online session unless there would be a way to keep he updates while deleting everything else-

Bah why are computers and online activity so confusing?


20 posted on 11/27/2019 10:15:12 AM PST by Bob434
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