microsoft Which Way With Windows? Here Are Your Options

[vissha]

Which Way With Windows? Here Are Your Options

 

 

Among Windows' bewildering array of versions, builds, rings, updates, branches, and editions, here's what you should consider

 

The Windows landscape has never been so complex. At this point, we have four editions of Windows 10 (Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education) and three current versions of each (1607, 1511, RTM/1507). There are Insider Previews for beta testing wannabes, and Insider Previews for those who have to keep their domains and products working. Then there's the Current Branch, the Current Branch for Business, and the Long Term Servicing Branch, each with a different mix of versions. Not to mention Server, the struggling Windows Mobile, Xbox, HoloLens, IoT Core on Things, and uh, other things. And let's not forget Windows 7 and 8.1, both of which will be going through major changes in October.

 

The playing field is so vast I put together an overview on AskWoody.com.

 

With all of those options available, what's a normal person (or organization) to do? Here are a few points to keep in mind:

 

Don't be embarrassed to stick with Windows 7. It isn't going away. You can decide for yourself if the Win10 siren appeals to you. But be aware that Microsoft has designs on Win7's (and 8.1's) future. Starting in October, Win7/8.1 users need to choose between two options -- I call them Group A and Group B. The folks in Group A are willing to take any and all Microsoft patches, including the ones that care for the new Diagnostic and Telemetry tracking service and others that install poorly described telemetry points/snooping stations. Folks in Group B only want the security patches. I'll be talking more about Group A and Group B in coming months, as we get more details.

 

If you have Windows 10, go with the Fall Update, version 1511. The problems with the newer Anniversary Update still make me leery of installing it. If you find that you're running the Anniversary Update, version 1607 (type winver in the Cortana search box), you have 10 days to roll back. Once rolled back, there's a straightforward way to keep the Anniversary Update at bay until Microsoft fixes it.

 

If you run a company network or peddle products that have to run on Windows 10, devote at least one machine to the Release Preview. While there are frustrating limitations to the Release Preview (which I discuss on AskWoody), the ability to test new cumulative updates for Windows 10 before they're released is a godsend.

 

Only sign up for the Insider Fast or Slow rings if you want to beta test the next version of Windows. It's unfortunate that the Release Preview is called an Insider program. The Release Preview revolves around the current, shipping version of Windows, whereas the Insider Program Fast and Slow rings deal with the next version of Windows. Those are two completely different audiences. Make sure you understand the difference -- and are willing to put up with the pain of raw beta testing -- before you venture into the Fast or Slow rings.

 

Note that Windows 10 is not the same as Windows 10 Mobile. The Win10 Mobile beta has been rocky at best, with voluminous complaints. The overlap in version numbering between Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile has driven many a hardened industry observer to drink. When you read something about Windows 10 make sure you distinguish between the two. In spite of the marketing, they're entirely different breeds of cat.

 

Remember that Current Branch for Business and Long Term Servicing Branch both get (potentially bad) security patches.  Last month, MS16-098 had a bug, and those in the "stable" CBB and LTSB branches got bit the same as everyone else. Microsoft fixed the version 1607 bug in a couple of weeks, while leaving CBB and LTSB to stew for a month. That's probably not what you expect from a "stable" branch. See AskWoody.com for details.

 

Of course there are lots of nuances and plenty of gotchas, but by and large if you stick to those guidelines -- and heed the warnings -- you should be in good shape.

 

Source

[Holmes]

Im going to be using enterprise or education Im currently using windows seven professional sixty four bit education.

[steven36]

If someone never installed something they never know will it work for them are not .. If they  are scared to get there  hands dirty  and test to see if something works or not for the should just shut up and use what they going to use Windows 7 is good tell 2020  and Windows 8.1 tell 2023  and if you cant deal with that there's Linux or you can buy a MAC if you can afford one. .

 

Ive  used Windows RS 1  every since a week before it was released without any problems  on 2 PCs .. I beta test all the time but just not on Windows. I test unstable Arch updates  in Manjaro Linux all the time because i like beta testing Linux and being on the bleeding edge

 

.But windows I will  just wait tell tell RS2 is released to upgrade  and I can live with  bugs and them fixing them  . After all I  been dealing with bugs in Windows since windows me in 2001 . There's never been no O/S that was bug free and  being bitter and bitching all the time is not going to fix something .  And if you dont try something you dont know if it works for you are not.  RS 1 has been sold as a rock for me so far  and I cant say that about threshold versions of windows 10 really.  If you never tested something its contempt before investigation and  you need to just  shut up about it because you dont have a inkling about what you're talking about.really.

[Sylence]

Again another poor post about someone's own opinions about Windows 10.

 

Quote

Among Windows' bewildering array of versions, builds, rings, updates, branches, and editions, here's what you should consider

 

It's not that confusing this guy is talking about. Windows versions are straightforward. maybe he needs to take a look at Linux distros 

[D1v1n3D]

3 hours ago, steven36 said:

If someone never installed something they never know will it work for them are not .. If they  are scared to get there  hands dirty  and test to see if something works or not for the should just shut up and use what they going to use Windows 7 is good tell 2020  and Windows 8.1 tell 2023  and if you cant deal with that there's Linux or you can buy a MAC if you can afford one. .

 

Ive  used Windows RS 1  every since a week before it was released without any problems  on 2 PCs .. I beta test all the time but just not on Windows. I test unstable Arch updates  in Manjaro Linux all the time because i like beta testing Linux and being on the bleeding edge

 

.But windows I will  just wait tell tell RS2 is released to upgrade  and I can live with  bugs and them fixing them  . After all I  been dealing with bugs in Windows since windows me in 2001 . There's never been no O/S that was bug free and  being bitter and bitching all the time is not going to fix something .  And if you dont try something you dont know if it works for you are not.  RS 1 has been sold as a rock for me so far  and I cant say that about threshold versions of windows 10 really.  If you never tested something its contempt before investigation and  you need to just  shut up about it because you dont have a inkling about what you're talking about.really.

totally agree with Steven on this one.

[straycat19]

5 hours ago, vissha said:

Starting in October, Win7/8.1 users need to choose between two options -- I call them Group A and Group B.

 

I think I will stay in Group C, users who don't want, need, or use Microsoft's Lousy Updates.  A Windows 7 with SP1 basic installation is stable and if the appropriate GPO edits and firewall settings are applied the system is totally secure.  You don't even need to run any AV software since malware cannot install on it.  I also run Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB without any updates being applied.  And I have Windows 8.1 installed without updates.  All of them are stable and run the software  I need them to run.  Some are only host systems to run multiple VMs on, some are graphics systems running AutoCad, PhotoShop, Corel Draw, Illustrator, and a few other graphics programs, and some are strictly for games.  And my MacBook Pro systems have windows on them running under Parallels Desktop.  Some people like Boot Camp but it is a pain to keep rebooting.  I also have used VMWare Fusion to run Windows but Parallels runs much better.  I don't install updates on those Windows systems either.  Once I tweak Windows and get it set the way I want it I am not going to install an update and have Microsoft destroy hours of configuring and testing just so I can start all over again.  

[steven36]

I hate living in a VM  myself,  that's why Ive not installed one since 2014. I do all my beta testing on another drive on a real machine . Someone making a big deal over having to reinstall a OS is a prude .LOL  if you liked testing and learning new things reinstalling apps  and configuring things is fun. If you're paying me by the job ill set up what ever you like as long as i dont have to use it. Only businesses  or a non technical person would  care . The  businesses because they would lose hours trying to update  and sorting it out they may as will switch  too Linux or mac now because 2020 is not far away. And the noob would worry about it because he dont know how to trouble shoot.

 

[pc71520]

Windows 10 Enterprise x64, here.

[SB7]

I'm always experimenting ... running tons of different applications / settings etc, so I practically live in VM's and find them incredibly useful.   I love the snapshot features,

I've activated a number of them with various versions of Win10 , just see what version to go with.

My main PC quad boots 7x86,7x64,10LTSB,Ubuntu.

I find myself gravitating to LTSB for regular activities..so that'll be it.

Win10 LTSB. with classic shell. Its a good blend of new and old.

in my day job, we are beginning to deploy 10 ENT images onto existing hardware , whenever a re image is required, so that's our business path forward, but then we have little choice from a security / updates point of view. 

(We completely stayed away from 8/8.1 images )   Win10 on older hardware has worked very well, I'm running Pro on a 2008 Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop .  Very stable. Arguably better than 7...

I have found a few installers that don't like win10 but for the most part it just works.. and uploads all your private info to the NSA cloud :-) ... sorry I couldn't resist. ...

Don't be ashamed to update to Win10 .....but as Steven has said don't be guinea pig/first adopter for the latest version of anything.

[steven36]

18 hours ago, SB7 said:

I'm always experimenting ... running tons of different applications / settings etc, so I practically live in VM's and find them incredibly useful.   I love the snapshot features,

From 2007-2011 I experimented so much that i use have to reinstall    windows about once a month and i never used a VM  very often and many of the older members can remember me when i uploaded and troubleshooted  for  people . I never liked them other than just to test the VM to see if it worked .  Fact is if I used a VM i would not need to install windows in a real machine at all I could just use it from Linux .

 

But since many things cant be reproduced in a VM that happen in a real machine. and things can be produced  in VM  that want happen in a real machine , Also i dont like draining  my real machine,  I dont care how much resources you give  a VM, it will never run as good as on a real machine  with that much resources. I dual boot my Machines  I have triple booted before  that's fun too.  and really no longer care about testing any Legacy OS I done learned them already years ago.. I only test new ones .

 

So  I dont like them  very much. Its a artificial environment It's good for codeing  but not so good for testing .That's why most crackers who code in VM  have testers that are on different real  machines  too test there work . A good cracker  will make sure it works in everything  that the software supports . Also they can be used too run 2 vpns  at once  if you can stand too use them all the time.

 

I  experiment so much i can take a Home version of windows 10 and make it just as good as enterprise  and they want need to pay a extra  $100 for pro much less renting enterprise. Too me Enterprise.takes the fun out of it , Do i supposed to be  to impressed  that you pirated windows? you didn't crack it  so im not. The fun part is being  able to reverse what they do to try too charge you more money .

 

I  have got some good ideas from Woody before but  I disagree with most of his methods  .Because millions of people had windows auto updates on for years and years and  never turned them off . It was not tell they put GWX  into windows really i ever had a reason to turn them off so the systems on my network with legacy windows would not upgrade to modern windows . I dont  know what OCT  will bring with cumulative updates  on legacy windows and nether  does he. But since i use  Windows 10 and do cumulative updates i really dont care . Its not my problem  the people on my network  can buy a new machine if they dont like it.