MS needs to learn to "Err is human" but to withhold details of known possible issues is very poor PR and disrespectful its loyal users. Most of us will wait if told by MS they are aware of an issue with xyz but are quickly working on it, but ,when left in the dark we worry and waste loads of time (and then trsut in MS when they do come clean). It is regrettable that 3rd Party Forums currently seem more helpful and informative than MS and its Community.
I have mixed feelings about Microsoft's policies on providing information. The fact of the matter is, keeping Windows fully updated and current is arguably the most effective and critical
user responsibility for keeping our computers secure and thus its users (including our children) safe. It is also a fact that the vast majority of users are NOT technically qualified to decide which update is needed and which is not - even when full information is provided.
The problem is, even if the user fails to maintain proper "user discipline" by failing to "practice safe computing", who gets blamed? Microsoft! Relentlessly.
And that is exactly what happens when users block or even just delay Windows Updates. So vulnerabilities that would have been patched or fixed by the update are exploited by a bad guy. But does the user get or accept the blame? No. Does the bad guy even get blamed? No! Microsoft gets the blame.
As someone with a shop, I can honestly say that the vast majority of problems we see are due to actual hardware (or driver) failure, or are user induced. Hardware fails and driver support is the responsibility of the hardware maker - not Microsoft.
By user induced, I mean through neglect - that is where the user fails to keep the computer clean of heat trapping dust, they mishandle the RAM, CPU or cards, they fail to do their homework when researching compatible RAM or CPU upgrades, or quality power supplies. Or they have been "click-happy" on unsolicited links, attachments, downloads, or popups. Or the user has "dinked" with the defaults without understanding what they are they doing.
The facts are, if Windows defaults are left the way Microsoft sets them, Windows is an extremely robust operating system. Windows Update is actually very robust, effective, and a highly successful process for keeping Windows fully updated and current. Considering there are well over 1.5
billion Windows systems out there, the fact is the vast majority of Windows Updates are installed with no problems at all.
The issue is, if just 1% of the users have a problem with a Windows Update, that is still 15 million upset users and 15 million upset users can make a LOT of noise - especially when amplified by the IT press just waiting to pounce on Microsoft. Yet a 99% success rate is considered an outstanding success rate in any industry (except blocking terrorists attacks).
So Microsoft is stuck between a rock and hard spot. If they allow "enthusiasts" to have greater control over their computers, the naïve
WILL fail to keep their computers properly updated so their computers
WILL become compromised or broken and Microsoft
WILL get the blame.
And if Microsoft clamps down and limits user control, Microsoft
WILL get the blame again.
So what is better? Giving users control and get blamed for not providing adequate security? Or taking away some user freedoms and keep them safe? Answer? See the 2nd line in my signature!
I agree with
almost all you said Digerati :smile9: with few additional personal observations and opinions.
1) If Microsoft speedily acknowledged issues they had confirmed existed due to MS products/updates,
then most would wait (if not critical) for MS to bring out a patch or update fix, and would not go seeking 3rd party solutions (as many do on this site and I have with this topic's issue). Some 3rd party fixes may have unknown negative ramifications which adds to my view MS would do well to quickly acknowledge confirmed issues
down to its software and its priority to try to fix. People needing to turn to 3rd party solutions due to MS silence on known issues surely make stable MS updates harder to produce.
2) Keeping some MS defaults lends itself to MASSIVE data gathering and Privacy intrusions especially with Windows 10 which most do not wish to give to MS without our permission.
Nor do most want MS to gather data which can be demanded by US Intelligence agencies (and others). In the case of the NSA this applies especially to the billions of us who are NOT US citizens and yet the NSA feels they are allowed more rights and freedoms to invade our privacy and rights in monitoring and data mining/gathering. I as a UK citizen feel if any agency be it US or other, are not allowed to access their own citizen data, due to current Laws of their countries, then hey should not feel they have the right to do so with
genuinely supportive allies (in the case of the US the likes of UK, France Germany to name just a few a biggies just coz MS is a US Company and subject to US law).
I hasten to add I have nothing to hide and
fully agree with your signature phrase "Freedom is NOT Free!" but there must be some reasonable limits, otherwise democracy is dead. I have no issue with reasonable data gathering but not "en masse" on everybody. Its the principle of massive
untargeted data mining
without lawful warrants etc. I personally take a very dim view of where another country (any) feels it can data mine on all other World citizens coz ITS laws MAY stop it doing so (on its OWN citizens)
3) When MS try to force Users (with Live account logins) to have ads on Lock screen (that now cannot be disabled officially) and down loads its desired (suggested) apps like Candy Crush what does MS expect?
MS might wish to turn all Windows Desktop PCs and laptops into Smart Phones, where adds and necessity to buy extras or accept in order to use most apps is the order of the day, AND hand over permissions to apps being loaded -often seemingly more requested than often seems necessary) but we Users of PCs and Laptops mostly do not wish to go down such routes.
Thankfully for me I use a Local Account and have none of those Ad and suggested app downloads. I assume this is why MS want Users to have Live account logins and do a good job of not making the Local Account option readily visible.
4) Microsoft are not above outright deception
BY OMISSION regretfully. A prime example was when they sent out emails and online advice that when the delta sync email protocol ceased users would not be able to use Window Live Mail (desktop) for outlook.com in future. They told us various self interested options (buy outlook, use new MS Mail app, use online only BUT totally failed to mention the OBVIOUS solution for those millions
who love WLM and like to keep our messages synced to local PC that all we needed to do was over our Hotmail and Outlook accounts to IMAP, which I was already aware of and am using to this day despite the demise of Delta Sync (Shame Delta sync had to go as it is superior in performance and speed of syncing to IMAP). This sort of thing does not help User trust in MS.
5)) I do not wish to ever use Cloud service expect rare sharing of images etc. I do not trust Cloud security and do not want a continuous open connection to cloud or live account to MS. Its not that I believe my PC is more secure than Cloud servers its just that I feel Cloud servers are the prime target nowadays for hackers to target (why bother with individual PCs of irrelevant persons when a Cloud breach will yields millions of persons data.
If MS stop the next Win OS or Office from being a one off payment and completely loaded on to a person's PC but instead is cloud based requiring Net access to use and annual payments to avoid expiry
then Win 10 will be my last OS or Office Suite I buy from MS.
6) IMHO its MS silence on well reported issues that causes Users to worry and tweak (often beyond their understanding) Together with MS desire to do mostly monthly updates slows some remedies and when released, MS fail to give barely any real info on what each update does.
I recall with Windows 7, my previous OS, that there were Critical, Recommended and Optional Updates.
I personally always did Critical and Recommended but not always Optional. Why would I wish to bloat my OS with an Optional update for something I knew neither not my family would EVER need or use? Additionally sometimes Optional updates suggested that if Language packs were installed that these should be re-installed after the Optional update has been installed As I have a Language pack installed for my wife this would be nuisance especially if the update had zero use for us. I think the the best solution would have been in Win 10 mandatory Critical and Recommended updates but freedom to decide on optional. After all the more UNNECESSARY bloating of Win 10 the more likely new issues may appear.
7) Finally, and most saliently, I have not had runaway memory usage from IP Helper for a week (famous last words :r1:) which is a good sign that either the new IP Helper file update has resolved my issue (or I did something that helped or I have just been lucky and it will return anytime). Now if the new IP Helper file version IS what has resolved my issue then MS must have know the previous had an issue(s) a
nd had they mentioned issues found I would not have bothered this Forum's members seeking help on am matter shortly to be addressed by MS), nor would I have spent many worrying days trying to track down an issue which could have been avoided if MS knew of the issue and had let us Users know they were aware and working on it.
Do not think I do not like MS or its products which I have happily chosen and used for decades. I love MS products, mine have have always been legally purchased (many Windows OS versions and a few Offices) BUT I do feel MS are increasingly arrogant and do what they want to force on us, rather ask and provide what Users want.
I for one do not want my Desktop PC being turning into a Smart Phone coz its NOT a smart phone and has many advantages Smart phones and Smart pads etc. will never have (well for not for a decade or two) I do not need large brightly coloured screen tiles on a 21 inch Monitor display. Long Live "Classic Start Menu". Thanks to CSM I was able do 100% reliable searches that Win 10
Original, often failed to do or crashed due to Cortana issues. For me the real frustration was that I live in a location that was not allowed to use Cortana
when the Win 10 original version came out but Cortana sure was responsible for many issues and a variety of Windows Event Viewer Errors w
ith Win 10 Original. Thankfully (except for removal of a few useful User options) Windows Anniversary was a very nice and worthy upgrade, especially with Cortana related issues, in my experience.
All the above
JMO Digerati :smile9: as a retired Home PC User
Regards, Dave
