Windows 10: I Do Not Trust Windows 10: Help me to Protect Myself

I have put off updating to Windows 10 for as long as possible. But issues with VGA drivers no longer being supported which impacted graphics quality in games finally forced me to do so, approximately two weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised when the update retained apparently all of my files, apps and most of my settings.


Then today, apparently as a result of an auto-update of some sort, the OS Defecated in the Bed. I made some effort to use DISM to reverse things but it was all in vain so I finally resorted to a Reset. Scores of apps uninstalled, desktop configurations blasted, ESET uninstalled, Visual Studio uninstalled and I can only guess what sorts of nightmares I face in reconfiguring things there . . . Godot Engine uninstalled . . . Yeah sure, lots of apps I never used anymore but the fact remains: Microsoft corporation has now stolen scores or even hundreds of user hours from me by forcing me to re-install apps or even pay for new licenses for apps which had lapsed but remained useable for non-proprietary purposes e.g., Autodesk . . . and so now, I REALLY do not trust Windows 10.


Over the course of probably 7 years I NEVER had this sort of issue with Windows 7 so you can understand why my fears of updating to bloatware, cloud-infested nonsense seem to have been warranted after all. The REAL shocker of all this: the OS install is on a C drive, but for some reason the Reset of Win 10 found it was prudent to uninstall apps on a D drive!? Why would that even be necessary!?


So I am asking anyone from Microsoft and anyone from this community to help me, a developer and end-user to do WHATEVER I can to deny Windows 10 from harming me by randomly chocking on its own vomit and causing me to lose hours and hours of my day waiting for an interminable re-install sequence plus many dozens of hours fiddling with re-installing apps and reconfiguring my system. Obviously a System Restore Point and an auto System Restore point is in order, but perhaps there are subtleties or variations of that which the wisdom of this community can clarify for me. Creating an image disk and I have learned a USB install drive also would seem to be basic level "protect yourself from Windows 10 tripping falling on its face and breaking its neck because some programmer in New Delhi felt that the changes to some obscure widget in Cortana deserved a global update get pushed to 600 million end-users . . . Please, someone who is deeply expert in these matters, provide me with a list and ample html links all about "How to Protect Yourself From Windows 10 Suffering a Seizure and Wrecking Your PC for No Apparent Reason."


In addition to those "Basic Failure Measures" which, I mean think about WHAT this OS was supposed to be all about right!? Cloud-connected so no need for this kinda thing! RIGHT!? Yeah right . . . I want as close to COMPLETE control over my system as I can possibly manage, and that means turning off EVERYTHING automated, remote-controlled or otherwise mass-distributed from Microsoft Corporation or any of its minions as humanly possible. If at all possible, I would prefer that my desktop look about like Windows XP and that my user interface function more-or-less in that fashion as well. I have ZERO interest in Bing, Edge, Xbox, or ANY of Microsofts products or servers other than those which I actively seek out and shop for of my own volition. In sum, I want Billyware's Millennial Marketing Mobs to Bugger Off out of my face and leave me alone.


I don't want Windows 10 to do so much as connect to a server without asking me for permission first and I'm completely serious about that; Maybe that is not possible and I should just face the prospect of actually going for it and becoming a Tux . . . But maybe it IS possible to a considerable degree and if I've put it off this long and feel this heated about it then surely I'm not alone. Surely there are whole COMMUNITIES out there who feel the same where I can find mountains of lore and wisdom in my quest to subvert M$ and rip the system?

:)

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.

 

Vpn ( trusted Vpn)

Hi everyone.
I am not an expert about Vpn and that's why I would like to know if someone could list me a few trusted Vpns, I would really appreciate any suggestion/ advice.

Thanks.

 

windows xp installation and dual core am

could someone please list the steps they follow to install windows with a dual core processor and windows xp service pack to. I'm reletively new to amd dual core and i feel i'm missing a step. All help will be appreciated. thanx