Windows 10 A breath of fresh air.

dannyboy · August 03, 2015, 08:31:16 PM

As I understand it, W10 does not have Windows Media Player. VLC is an excellent alternative. David.

DELETED · August 03, 2015, 08:37:14 PM

Quote from: dannyboy on August 03, 2015, 08:31:16 PM
As I understand it, W10 does not have Windows Media Player. VLC is an excellent alternative. David.

I much prefer windows media player but I have VLC also because media player won't play everything. Much as I hate to admit, VLC is pretty darn good and plays most things without much fault -it's usually downloadable as a simple file also.

Caz · August 03, 2015, 08:47:47 PM

Further to my previous post I have found that if you navigate to the "windows_old" folder you will find sub folders for documents, program files etc, and if you go into the program files folder I have found a lot of my old WinXP programs still run fine. Paint Shop Pro is one I 've tried, likewise a couple of astronomy programs and also my main genealogy program "Ancestral Quest". Haven't been able to get Office to run, tells me to reinstall, likewise Adobe programs, that's tomorrow's task.

Oldman · August 03, 2015, 08:55:23 PM

Further investigation has brought up other issues with some of my other software that I have to run under 8.1 is incompatibility with 10.
The particular software was designed for XP and is compatible with Windows 7.
Unfortunately the hardware cannot be changed without costing as much as the laptop.

Railwaygun · August 03, 2015, 09:29:12 PM

can you use compatability mode? ( does it still exist?) for older programs

Caz · August 03, 2015, 09:40:22 PM

Quote from: dannyboy on August 03, 2015, 08:31:16 PM
As I understand it, W10 does not have Windows Media Player. VLC is an excellent alternative. David.

Just checked my installed Win10 and it certainly has Windows Media Player as part of the system.

MikeDunn · August 03, 2015, 09:43:01 PM

There are various things that aren't installed anymore that may upset some people; and some of these have been wrongly interpreted in the Press ...

Media Player has, for example, been mixed up with Media Centre ... and I was asked why DVDs can no longer be used for anything

...

austinbob · August 03, 2015, 10:13:40 PM

Quote from: MikeDunn on August 03, 2015, 09:43:01 PM
There are various things that aren't installed anymore that may upset some people; and some of these have been wrongly interpreted in the Press ...

Media Player has, for example, been mixed up with Media Centre ... and I was asked why DVDs can no longer be used for anything ...

Good point.

Geoff · August 04, 2015, 11:17:49 AM

After going through Windows 10 I want to tell every one who has installed the operating system to go to your Privacy Settings because this is a must and very important if you do not want anyone looking at you via your web cam without invitation, plus there are plenty of ticked boxes to untick.

MikeDunn · August 04, 2015, 12:00:53 PM

Careful Geoff ... you're on track (see what I did there

Gotta keep it railway !) to upsetting all those who insist on no privacy settings; after all - disabling the webcam means you have something to hide !!!

Geoff · August 04, 2015, 12:29:38 PM

Quote from: MikeDunn on August 04, 2015, 12:00:53 PM
Careful Geoff ... you're on track after all - disabling the webcam means you have something to hide !!!

Only my ugly face lol

Caz · August 04, 2015, 08:26:11 PM

I really like this new Windows, will finally officially update my XP when licences become available as it has some really good features..

I initially installed Win10 over XP on my oldish Dell laptop and it ran quite well so as an experiment I took the drive out of the Dell and put the drive into my slightly newer HP laptop which also has XP on it (came with Vista but I ditched it).

Thought it might protest, but no, was slow to start up and then proceeded to "configure the system" and then do updates, result was that it automatically installed all the right drivers for the HP, brilliant. It runs even better on this laptop mainly because it is a faster PC (has the same 3Gb of memory as the Dell).

Win10 is really a "breath of freshair" and once you get into it is quite configurable without too much hassle. A big

from me.

Adam1701D · August 04, 2015, 09:29:55 PM

I can confirm Windows Media Player is very much alive and well. W10 has dedicated separate apps for TV/Video and Music but you can choose what to use as your default player quite happily.

Crackerbill · August 05, 2015, 12:33:23 AM

I have had mixed fortunes on the Windows 10 front.
With my old(er) laptop the app appeared as expected and eventually I was invited to download and in due course install the update. My only complaint in this area was the length of time it took to download - some 12+ hours!!! The installation went ahead easily and quickly (under 2 hours) and I am now working my way through the wonderful world of a new OS.

My new(er) laptop did not and still does not display the upgrade app. I have tried all the fixes I have found within the help and troubleshooting areas of Microsoft but I still don't have the upgrade app. I have even tried a refresh then installation of all upgrades but it still won't play. Quite fed up with the whole mess really so I will leave things as is for now and maybe later I'll do a full return to factory setup and start again. There again maybe bypassing the upgrade app registration and loading direct may do the trick
I have heard that others have had similar problems and have given up. Maybe someone has found or will find a simple fix and will pass on the secret before I try any of the above.

Railwaygun · August 05, 2015, 09:45:08 AM

you can still download the ISO files from MS and burn then to USB or DVD and then install from that

URl to follow

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

Or this guide:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2953843/windows/how-to-install-windows-10-on-your-pc.html#tk.nl_today