Just want to thank microsoft for screwing me

So basically I cannot upgrade to windows 11, thanks to microsofts requirement for something called TPM. It's stupid, and it's dumb.

Everyone! Can you believe we made it 29 years without bullshit like this to simply use an operating system? I mean, wow!

To be honest though, I hear windows 11 is the worst operating system ever. So in that respect, microsoft did me a favor. Now, it forces me to use Linux Mint, and move away from the CEO of microsoft, I think Nutella is his last name or something like that.

Anyway, great job microsoft. You've successfully pushed away your customers since the days of DOS. I'll be glad once I'm away because then I won't have to worry about forced updates all of the time. I hear there is a ton of stuff that is just literal trash with windows 11.

I'll be sticking with Windows 10 for as long as I can, I'll probably end up using the services of 0patch for updates. Our Wi-Fi is password secured, and I run Malwarebytes Premium, Adblocker Ultimate and uBlock Origin. So I feel as if I'm already well protected.

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Northwest · M

Prior to TPM (Trusted Platform Module), Microsoft relied on some very unreliable methods, to make sure that all the modules that are supposed to be part of the OS, or applications running under windows (and that relied on some self-policing by app developers), are what they're supposed to be.

This made it possible for hackers, or malicious developers, to insert "fake" modules, with the same name as the modules that are supposed to be there, and then next thing you know, your data is stolen, or worse.

TPM to the rescue, which required a HW/SW integration, allowing encryption keys to be included in the OS/App modules, that can only run if the HW provides the green light. Initially, these were separate chips on the motherboard, or a PICe card. Eventually, the CPUs from AMD and Intel, provided this functionality, eliminating the need for additional circuitry.

This first appeared 20 years ago.

If you got along prior to TPM, consider yourself lucky, though there's a possibility that you don't know what you don't know.

There are plenty of reasons you may have a gripe with Microsoft, including how they bundle SW, but this is probably not one of them.

Linux and iOS both use TPM and variations thereof as well to ensure the software you're running is not lying about where it came from.

So while you think you may be protected by malware detectors, an application you're using, may actually be a fake application.

twiigss · M

@Northwest It sounds like what Google has been dealing with lately. Developers will upload a camera app or a QR code scanner app and the app is completely legitimate, so it gets by the checks and is put up on the Play Store. It's not until the app is installed and asks for permissions, like this app needs to access your contacts, but it's a solitaire app, for example.

But yeah I get what you are saying. Malicious code could be inside of a program, and when you run that program, the malicious code runs. Like from days of old you would install a file and if your computer was on, on a specific day and time, it would run special code. And unfortunately something like that WILL get by malware detectors.

I've only heard about this with phone apps, haven't really had the experience with it on computer.

Northwest · M

@twiigss

I've only heard about this with phone apps, haven't really had the experience with it on computer.

Phones are more "recent", this has been around far longer. Let's say for instance, that one of those ".dll" components, is called 046yVrnx445, and it has a length of 42,793 bytes, and it has a date of sep-12-2002.

When your Chinese OEM vendor gets it, they replace it with their own, with the same date, name and file size. When Windows requests it (Windows loads modules dynamically, in order for the memory footprint to be as small as possible), a different piece of code is loaded, one that "appears" to be work fine, but is doing no one knows what.

t's not until the app is installed and asks for permissions, like this app needs to access your contacts, but it's a solitaire app, for example.

That is a slightly different issue. The APIs allow a third party to access your data, if you let them. They have a legitimate need to use some of it, to authenticate, or act on the problem on your behalf (for instance), but they don't need all that data. Initially, developers were told to request everything, either out laziness or because some product manager said they should.

And that's how you end with Solitaire asking if it's OK to get your social security number. Originally, they didn't even ask.

Remember that it all starts with a "legitimate" reason, until it gets abused.

twiigss · M

@Northwest Yeah, that makes sense. I agree with developers requesting everything, probably out of laziness of the company. They just go right to, we need all permissions, when in reality they don't. So I'm very cautious about what I install, and what kinds of permissions are being asked for.

I only learned a couple of years ago that your phone's camera can also scan QR codes, no need for a QR scanner app. I guess unless your camera doesn't scan for those.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

Any operating-system has to cope with developments in the electronics, and it also has to cope with ever more determined attackers, so it does not surprise me that Windows 11 has requirements earlier editions did not have.

However, I concur with the negative comments about Windows 11 generally.

MS developed a file archiving system very simple and efficient to use, right back in WIN-3 days,when it first became possible to manoeuvre files without using command lines. The next step, as the engineering advanced, was to increase permissible file-name lengths from 8 characters only to ones clear to their users.

So right up to WIN-10 we had a very clear directory structure for programmes and data, quick and easy to use.

Then along came W11. MS kept badgering me to "up-grade" (I call it "up-date" at best) my PC, with 10 installed, to 11, and eventually did it without my authority.

Four things happened:

1) I found it hard to search for anything. MS had replaced that efficient, elegant filing system with a sloppily throw-together mess. It might be partly because MS wants us to store our data on "the cloud" - i.e. the company's own servers, presumably for its own use.

2) MS had stuffed all my photographs into its own, single folder, childishly called "Pictures", having wrecked my folder system for them. Worse, a suspicious number of images are damaged in a very odd way. I had to re-sort them into folders in my own directory with its own name - but the W11 index refuses to list it and I have to use a Desktop symbol for it.

3) WIN-11 has an innocuous weather symbol in the corner of the screen. It opens Bing, MSN and other clutter, as a tile display of links to assorted random items. Among it, was a strange collection of random images, some from elsewhere but some, my own photographs - what the Hell does MS think it's playing at, interfering with my data files like this?

4) WIN-11 refuses access to my two extension hard-drives, so I cannot readily remove my data for external HDD and spare PC storage. It will accept my assorted USB "sticks".

ArishMell · 70-79, M

What is this "account" so many mention?

As far as I can see I have no "account" with Microsoft.

I bought this PC, a factory-rebuilt DELL, with Microsoft Win-10 loaded. Subsequently MS up-dated (= down-graded) it, unasked and unwanted by me, to its tacky Win-11. As I do not have the source copy of W10 I cannot revert it to that less-bad OS.

At no time do I recall creating an "account" with the Seattle Cowboys, and I do not pay subscriptions to them.

twiigss · M

@ArishMell So back in the day, 1993, you would make what was known as a local account, and then sign in with that. And all that was, was like a profile.

In Windows 10, Microsoft wants you to create a Microsoft account and then they were trying to force people to sign into their operating system with their Windows account and could no longer use a local account.

There is a way around it, but apparently with Windows 11 Microsoft is forcing it on everybody. A lot of people are against it, which I totally understand, and once I can no longer use Windows 10, I will be forced to make a move to linux.

So in other words, I believe Microsoft and they're absolute bullshit behind. Microsoft can go fuck themselves. But until I figured out Linux and the ability to get most games working, I'm just not ready for that Linux switch as much as I would love to. But Microsoft has become nothing but a scourge, and I really, really wish that the Linux team would focus more on software compatibility than anything else and then at some point, you know what, they would have a very competitive operating system to Microsoft's windows.

But in the next 5 years, or 10 years, or 20 years, etc etc etc Linux will always be the low-end operating system that just isn't made for running games and it's very very unfortunate.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@twiigss Thank you for explaining it.

I don't like the Microsoft near-monopoly either, but I am not sufficiently skilled to risk trying to move to Linux.

Also, although I don't use my computer for games or entertainments it does have a fairly hefty CAD program installed, and I have no idea if that would run, or read my files created in it, in anything other than MS Windows.

NerdyPotato · M

I got the same issue, but was able to enable it through some advanced settings. It's definitely not meant for the average user though...

twiigss · M

@NerdyPotato Yeah I think I have TPM 1.2 or something. Like my mobo is manufactured right when TPM was becoming a thing, so I got a good mobo for the time, but it doesn't have the full 2.0 version on it.

NerdyPotato · M

@twiigss then you're going to need a new mobo for the upgrade indeed, and as that links all hardware together, it will be difficult to find one that's modern enough and is compatible with everything else, so you'd essentially need to buy a whole new system. That's a really bad requirement, especially since Windows 10 was announced as the end to all full replacements. "This is going to be last Windows version. Only minor updates from here on, no more complete reworks."

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kwood1 · 61-69, M

I'm having trouble with Microsoft confusing my business and personal accounts, so they ask me to download an app that requires subscription payments...

kwood1 · 61-69, M

falsely staying that this is required by my "administrator"

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