Windows 10 Cumulative Updates

[ricb 19]

Three times in the last month I have been playing the game on my Lenovo ThinkCentre.  I have an Intel Dual Core 2.33GHz processor.  Windows 10 pro on a 64bit system.  My copy of SimCity Deluxe is a digital copy so I have not had the problem with the safe disk issue.  The problem seems to be occurring with the Microsoft policy of doing cumulative security updates which pushes these updates without my being aware.  The game will freeze and within moments I am presented with a blue screen and a frowny emoticon, telling me that a fatal error has occurred.  The computer reboots, usually more than once and then tells me updates are being installed.  I am wondering if anyone else is having any issues like this.

[Mister Giggles 310]

Possible partial solutions here. Unfortunately, nothing is guaranteed. Perhaps another poster with intimate knowledge of beating back Microsoft's "help" will have a better answer.

inb4 "Upgrade to Windows 7/Linux"

  Edited November 1, 2015 by Mister Giggles  

[ricb 19]

Thank you for that link.  Will wait and see how that works out.  Fortunately, I can try that fix as I have Pro installed.  I am hearing rumors that the security update policy will affect some earlier Windows versions as well.  I will repost on this topic if problem occurs again.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Good luck.  Getting shut of Microsoft's automatic updates is getting ever more difficult.  One way to defeat them while playing is to turn off your Internet connection while you play.  If they can't see you, they can't do anything.  Don't forget to reconnect when you are finished.

BTW, I am on Ubuntu 14.04 and while I have automatic notification of updates, I have manual installation of same.  This is the only site I allow to snoop.

[Mister Giggles 310]

Thank you for that link.  Will wait and see how that works out.  Fortunately, I can try that fix as I have Pro installed.  I am hearing rumors that the security update policy will affect some earlier Windows versions as well.  I will repost on this topic if problem occurs again.

You hear correctly, you. Windows 10 is going to start automatically installing itself next year if people on Windows 7/8 are set to automatically download and install updates. It's already happened to some extent, by "accident". Several non-security updates for 7/8 are installing and blessing those operating systems with Windows 10's spyware.

[QuantumChicken 82]

I use windows server 2008R2, will I have to worry about winblows 10 auto-installing?

[dedgren 830]

It breaks my heart to say it, but SC4 is 13 years old in January and is classically obsolete.  It has survived what, five Windows operating systems now?  I'm no techie, but that strikes me as pretty amazing.  But what is happening is what I started worrying about a couple of years ago.  Without access to the core game program, we can't address the the changes that will ultimately kill the game completely.  EA has had its head so far up its corporate ass on SC4 for so long that it doesn't have a clue as to how to do the right thing.

So sad, so sad.

 

David

[catty-cb 4,381]

I'd been planning on upgrading my PC so I could finally play Cities: Skylines and was talking about this with a couple of people at the CB website and have pretty much decided that when I do upgrade its going to be either to a MAC or LINUX based computer as I'm already having problems with my Win7 64-bit computer as despite the fact I have it set to manual updates Microsoft has still managed to do updates on it, all the while trying to persuade me to go back to automatic updates and its proved impossible to get rid of that Windows 10 upgrade message it brings up every time you login

[Compdude787 916]

Thank you for that link.  Will wait and see how that works out.  Fortunately, I can try that fix as I have Pro installed.  I am hearing rumors that the security update policy will affect some earlier Windows versions as well.  I will repost on this topic if problem occurs again.

You hear correctly, you. Windows 10 is going to start automatically installing itself next year if people on Windows 7/8 are set to automatically download and install updates. It's already happened to some extent, by "accident". Several non-security updates for 7/8 are installing and blessing those operating systems with Windows 10's spyware.

That's interesting that it will automatically update itself to Windows 10 next year. I'm sure that this will cause much freakout for people who lack anything beyond very basic computer skills, like my grandma. She's currently using Windows 7 and I'm worried how she'll respond to Windows 10 automagically appearing on her computer. I'm worrying about her calling up a few months from now and being like "help! everything on my computer changed! I don't know what happened! I don't know how to do anything!" My mom and I were going to buy her a printer a month ago, but we talked ourselves out of it because we weren't sure if she'd ever figure out how to use it. 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I use windows server 2008R2, will I have to worry about winblows 10 auto-installing?

I'd make darned sure you have set all updates, even emergency ones, to manual with notification.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I'd been planning on upgrading my PC so I could finally play Cities: Skylines and was talking about this with a couple of people at the CB website and have pretty much decided that when I do upgrade its going to be either to a MAC or LINUX based computer as I'm already having problems with my Win7 64-bit computer as despite the fact I have it set to manual updates Microsoft has still managed to do updates on it, all the while trying to persuade me to go back to automatic updates and its proved impossible to get rid of that Windows 10 upgrade message it brings up every time you login

Cathy,

If you like desktops, I suggest going to Linux and keep the peripherals you have if you can.  Desktops are fairly cheap if you don't want a huge, expensive gaming set up.  I am probably going to the well for a new box of tricks myself soon because the last Ubuntu update (15.10) doesn't support my graphics system.  I am currently running Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Long Term Support) which is good until 2017 and updates are still coming in. 

I like Ubuntu, but you should choose whatever decor you like.  For a geekier look try Debian, for more Ma and Pa try Mint.  Debian is the base of Ubuntu, and Ubuntu is the base of Mint.  I chose the middle road because I found that, when I tried both of them, neither were ready for people.  My understanding from other users is that Mint has gotten over its growing pains and is now quite viable.

A new desktop box without peripherals but enough connectivity to get to all the ones you have shouldn't run you more than $500 U.S.  One nice thing about Linux is that you can move your existing Windows files onto separate media in NTFS format (Windows default), and Linux file system (gvfs) will quite happily read and write it.  The current default file system for Ubuntu is ext4 (gvfs has lots of decors).  The big one in a conversion is getting the files over.

If you would like to test drive Ubuntu, here is the site.  You can download the ISO, make a hot boot disk from it (DVD), and test drive it on your existing machine.  Runs totally in memory and doesn't touch your storage.

You can wander through the tour on the web site to get the feel for what applications are default.  There are over 75,000 apps, most of them free, on the Ubuntu Software Centre.  Any unfree ones are usually rather inexpensive.  The O/S is free when licensed to an individual, and is supported either by the distributor or by the community.

If you download, you will be asked for a donation.  That is entirely up to you.  They make most of their money from commercial licenses.

Good luck,

John.

[QuantumChicken 82]

I use windows server 2008R2, will I have to worry about winblows 10 auto-installing?

I'd make darned sure you have set all updates, even emergency ones, to manual with notification.

Alrighty, I am already doing that, but thanks for the heads-up.

[catty-cb 4,381]

I'd been planning on upgrading my PC so I could finally play Cities: Skylines and was talking about this with a couple of people at the CB website and have pretty much decided that when I do upgrade its going to be either to a MAC or LINUX based computer as I'm already having problems with my Win7 64-bit computer as despite the fact I have it set to manual updates Microsoft has still managed to do updates on it, all the while trying to persuade me to go back to automatic updates and its proved impossible to get rid of that Windows 10 upgrade message it brings up every time you login

Cathy,

If you like desktops, I suggest going to Linux and keep the peripherals you have if you can.  Desktops are fairly cheap if you don't want a huge, expensive gaming set up.  I am probably going to the well for a new box of tricks myself soon because the last Ubuntu update (15.10) doesn't support my graphics system.  I am currently running Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Long Term Support) which is good until 2017 and updates are still coming in.....

Hi John

Up until early 2012, I was running a dual-boot desktop with three partitions (Linux, Shared space and Windows XP), the Linux version I was using was Xandros Desktop Professional (but I had tried out Ubuntu among others before I'd settled on Xandros)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xandros

The company has now gone out of business, anyway bang in the middle of selling the house and buying a new house the desktop died as I didn't have the time to sort out something better as I had a website to run I went down to the local store and bought a All-in-One single core Win7 64-bit computer it has been a surprising good computer and despite it not even being close to the minimum requirements for Cities Skylines I can actually start it up, its just the building a city .... 

But your post is appreciated as to be honest I've sort of let my Linus knowledge die out along with my subscriptions to a number of Linux magazines, I did have a look around to see if I could get a fairly decent desktop without a OS on it and am thinking about getting one from here

http://www.elive.co.nz/pc-computer-systems.php

As they will tweak the build for you I can change the graphics and add in more memory, etc

Cathy

 

  Edited November 3, 2015 by catty-cb  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Cathy,

Being in the antipodes might very well have advantages.  I live in the rural area of south western Ontario and there are some interesting OEM builders around here, too.  Remember that Ubuntu is no charge with support (as is Mint, Debian) provided you don't need a commercial license.  MAC will cost you extra for hardware and the software.  The Aspyr version of SC4 from what I can tell is currently el punko junko.  They missed the big published patches when they made their latest effort.  So good luck with Linux, and pick a good distro.  You'd be surprised where Ubuntu and Mint have gone in the last couple of years.  Both are quite friendly and using scripts is strictly optional, but sometimes very helpful.

John.

[catty-cb 4,381]

....You'd be surprised where Ubuntu and Mint have gone in the last couple of years.  Both are quite friendly and using scripts is strictly optional, but sometimes very helpful....

I think you are right when I first started out with Linux I was still using a dial-up modem and trying to get one of those to work on the early Linux versions you practically needed a IT degree to do it and a lot of patience, and then if you were successful it used to take you so long to download something that it had to be something you really needed to get otherwise it just wasn't worth the time it took to download it.

EDIT: Just to gave you some idea of how long ago that was the latest Windows version at the time was Win95

 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Old experiences can some time stick to one.  I hope you enjoyed the tour.

[Prophet42 1,500]

Thank you for that link.  Will wait and see how that works out.  Fortunately, I can try that fix as I have Pro installed.  I am hearing rumors that the security update policy will affect some earlier Windows versions as well.  I will repost on this topic if problem occurs again.

You hear correctly, you. Windows 10 is going to start automatically installing itself next year if people on Windows 7/8 are set to automatically download and install updates. It's already happened to some extent, by "accident". Several non-security updates for 7/8 are installing and blessing those operating systems with Windows 10's spyware.

If you are on Windows 7 and want to keep it, but have the Windows 10 'plagueware' on your computer, I suggest getting the GWX Control Panel and removing the Windows 10 files and processes from your computer.  Once you do that set your updates to 'Check for Updates but let me choose whether to download and install them'.  That is what I have chosen for all my computers here and so far I have not had any issues with being nagged about upgrading to Windows 10 (or with it try to sneak onto my computer).

Since I no longer trust Microsoft, I do check every update offered and make sure it won't try to spy on me, download and install an OS, or break SC4.

  Edited November 21, 2015 by Prophet42  

[rsc204 21,805]

Thankfully I read about the Win10 nagware before it was time to update. Until then although I did them manually, I wasn't too picky with the security updates and just installed them. Now I've also lost all trust in MS and won't install a single update until I've checked what it is first. In reality that means all too often I can't be bothered to go through it when I first boot my machine, I have to load a page on the internet to find out what I'm downloading, seriously?

It's funny but I suddenly recall something about MS making every other OS decent and screwing up the one in-between. OK, perhaps that's not entirely true, but when Windows Vista ME 8.0™ comes along, perhaps this auto-update thing will be seen for what it is?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

You know that unless you have a corporate reason or a private reason to keep Microsoft, the solution is to pick a Linux distribution.  A commercial license will probably turn out to be less than the MS one, and private users can generally get one free.  Microsoft may finally have programmed themselves out of the operating systems business once and for all, which will please Richard Stallman no end.

I am currently running Ubuntu 14.04 LTS which will be supported to 2017, May 1st after which I can switch to yet another long term support release.  Linux has become far less of a geek's paradise in later editions, but there is a slight learning curve with the Office package which does not include an e-mail client.  There are several e-mail client packages including Mozilla Thunderbird, which I use because it has an excellent calendaring plugins (Lightning).  As for browsers, there are several but I find Firefox as good as any.  Libre Office reads/writes MS Office files in several versions.

As an example, here is a link to Ubuntu.  Take the tour.  You might be surprised.  There are currently 77,042 downloadable packages on the Software Centre for Ubuntu.