Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Windows 10.  We who have OS 7 and 8 have probably, unintentionally, installed an 'update' that puts supported adware on our computer, urging us to install the 'free' OS 10 software.  Twice, now, I tried the upgrade.  Both times I was bitterly disappointed.  Here's how it went:

The first time, after a few days, I could not get any of the apps to work.  I could not even activate the Cortana searchbot.  I got nothin'.  So I went back to my user-friendly OS 7 and have been very happy.

The second time, which was just this morning, everything else was okay.  I was able to use the apps, but had absolutely no internet access.  I even called my cable company, and went through a bunch of attempts to fix the problem, to no avail.  She gave me Microsoft's customer care number, and I called it.  I told the man on the phone my problem, and his response was to transfer me to tech support.  Paid tech support.

Now, I get that Microsoft has to make money, and they're not doing it with free upgrades.  However, since the issue wasn't mine, I should not have been expected to pay for the resolution.  It is a common issue with the OS software that the wireless drivers aren't 'compatible' with the upgrade.  And, usually, those issues can be dealt with using the hoops the cable company and I had jumped through for over a half an hour (god love her, she was so patient and kind).  But not in my case.  And, since I seemed to be the exception instead of the rule, I wasn't going to pay them anything, just to have them tell me that they couldn't do anything; that I'd probably need to buy a new computer with Windows 10 pre-installed.  Either way, it was a racket to get my money.  No thanks.  I'll stick to Windows 7, my trusty HP All-in-One, and the Howtogeek website, where I found information to get rid of the adware.