SORTED :) Windows After XP Sux big time.

[StainlessS]

Sorry, The previously given link for wushowhide.diagcab executable [disable specific Windows update] was a bit knackered, It was missing one of the executeable versions of the file.
I have reposted and fixed the original link a few posts ahead.
https://www.mediafire.com/file/5bb2h2w3acxvua2/Windows10_ShowOrHide_Updates.7z/file

EDIT: Also,
Here:- https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-do-i-disable-automatic-windows-10-updates/9ee64521-5236-4df4-b31f-1e9457eda600
a M$ moderator post on M$ site that mentions the wushowhide.diagcab executable, this link is CURRENTLY ACTIVE
(just above the bottom graphic) at time of this post, so you can download that one if you like.
(all M$ links are supposed to have been killed)

Also, I downloaded the exe from Github, and found that one and the M$ linked one above, and the one in the SHA-2_VERSION folder of my .7z file are all identical.

[StainlessS]

I think I mentioned WinRoboCopy app somewhere in this thread.
Here tis:- http://www.upway2late.com/#/projects/winrobocopy

WinRoboCopy is a GUI front end for RoboCopy (RoboCopy builtin for Vista+).
Above is by upway2late, original by Microsoft.
Not sure why I'm using the non microsoft version, maybe its better.

WikiPedia for RoboCopy:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robocopy

Anyways, can select various options in the GUI, and clicking on 'save' it saves the robocopy command to a file.
https://i.postimg.cc/m1QfzL6V/mainwindow.png (https://postimg.cc/m1QfzL6V)

Here a WinRoboCopy created cmd file.
DUPLICATES_E_to_F.cmd

robocopy.exe E:\DUPLICATES F:\DUPLICATES *.* /E /R:1 /W:5 /MT:8 /DCOPY:DAT /COPY:DAT /PURGE
PAUSE

[EDIT: Above option /R:1 = only 1 retry, default is 1 million retries, might wanna change/delete_option. /W:5 = 5 seconds between retries, default 30 secs]
Copies E:\DUPLICATES folder to F:\DUPLICATES, removes any files/folders in F: that do not exist in the E: folder,
and copies new/updated files/folders in E: to F: folders.
Is a sort of Synchronising whatsit. [EDIT: one-way synchronising, F: made a copy of E:]

You must use the cmd file to initially create the F: directory, along with any attributes and time/dates.
Thereafter, copying updated E: folder to F: should be very fast, only changed/added files are updated, or files deleted in E: also deleted in F:

Very handy if only making a few file changes, where source folder maybe tens of gigabytes in size, and F: output folder is on eg SD card or usb drive.
[For what I use it, about 30GB E: with 2500 files and 480 folders and with a couple of files changed {~800MB}, 3 files deleted and 3 files added,
takes about 10 second to complete with dest drive SdCard. Copy entire directory to SD takes about 15 -> 20 minutes, so can save a bit of time.]

You can just make a copy of the above cmd file and change the names on input (E:\DUPLICATES) and output (F:\DUPLICATES) folders.
[You dont need WinRoboCopy if you are just gonna make a copy/mod of the Duplicates thingy command file, robocopy is builtin to windows]

EDIT: Should work on W8+ (Different versions of RoboCopy may not support all options),
I did originally use

"/DCOPY:DATX /COPY:DATX" but W8.1 only supports "/DCOPY:DAT /COPY:DAT"

The X attribute does not copy NTFS alternate data streams. [I can live without that option as I do have at least one W8.1 machine].

W10 RoboCopy usage doc.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROBOCOPY :: Robust File Copy for Windows
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Started : 27 November 2024 15:09:44
Usage :: ROBOCOPY source destination [file [file]...] [options]

source :: Source Directory (drive:\path or \\server\share\path).
destination :: Destination Dir (drive:\path or \\server\share\path).
file :: File(s) to copy (names/wildcards: default is "*.*").

::
:: Copy options :
::
/S :: copy Subdirectories, but not empty ones.
/E :: copy subdirectories, including Empty ones.
/LEV:n :: only copy the top n LEVels of the source directory tree.

/Z :: copy files in restartable mode.
/B :: copy files in Backup mode.
/ZB :: use restartable mode; if access denied use Backup mode.
/J :: copy using unbuffered I/O (recommended for large files).
/EFSRAW :: copy all encrypted files in EFS RAW mode.

/COPY:copyflag[s] :: what to COPY for files (default is /COPY:DAT).
(copyflags : D=Data, A=Attributes, T=Timestamps, X=Skip alt data streams).
(S=Security=NTFS ACLs, O=Owner info, U=aUditing info).


/SEC :: copy files with SECurity (equivalent to /COPY:DATS).
/COPYALL :: COPY ALL file info (equivalent to /COPY:DATSOU).
/NOCOPY :: COPY NO file info (useful with /PURGE).
/SECFIX :: FIX file SECurity on all files, even skipped files.
/TIMFIX :: FIX file TIMes on all files, even skipped files.

/PURGE :: delete dest files/dirs that no longer exist in source.
/MIR :: MIRror a directory tree (equivalent to /E plus /PURGE).

/MOV :: MOVe files (delete from source after copying).
/MOVE :: MOVE files AND dirs (delete from source after copying).

/A+:[RASHCNET] :: add the given Attributes to copied files.
/A-:[RASHCNET] :: remove the given Attributes from copied files.

/CREATE :: CREATE directory tree and zero-length files only.
/FAT :: create destination files using 8.3 FAT file names only.
/256 :: turn off very long path (> 256 characters) support.

/MON:n :: MONitor source; run again when more than n changes seen.
/MOT:m :: MOnitor source; run again in m minutes Time, if changed.

/RH:hhmm-hhmm :: Run Hours - times when new copies may be started.
/PF :: check run hours on a Per File (not per pass) basis.

/IPG:n :: Inter-Packet Gap (ms), to free bandwidth on slow lines.

/SJ :: copy Junctions as junctions instead of as the junction targets.
/SL :: copy Symbolic Links as links instead of as the link targets.

/MT[:n] :: Do multi-threaded copies with n threads (default 8).
n must be at least 1 and not greater than 128.
This option is incompatible with the /IPG and /EFSRAW options.
Redirect output using /LOG option for better performance.

/DCOPY:copyflag[s] :: what to COPY for directories (default is /DCOPY:DA).
(copyflags : D=Data, A=Attributes, T=Timestamps, E=EAs, X=Skip alt data streams).

/NODCOPY :: COPY NO directory info (by default /DCOPY:DA is done).

/NOOFFLOAD :: copy files without using the Windows Copy Offload mechanism.

/COMPRESS :: Request network compression during file transfer, if applicable.

::
:: File Selection Options :
::
/A :: copy only files with the Archive attribute set.
/M :: copy only files with the Archive attribute and reset it.
/IA:[RASHCNETO] :: Include only files with any of the given Attributes set.
/XA:[RASHCNETO] :: eXclude files with any of the given Attributes set.

/XF file [file]... :: eXclude Files matching given names/paths/wildcards.
/XD dirs [dirs]... :: eXclude Directories matching given names/paths.

/XC :: eXclude Changed files.
/XN :: eXclude Newer files.
/XO :: eXclude Older files.
/XX :: eXclude eXtra files and directories.
/XL :: eXclude Lonely files and directories.
/IS :: Include Same files.
/IT :: Include Tweaked files.

/MAX:n :: MAXimum file size - exclude files bigger than n bytes.
/MIN:n :: MINimum file size - exclude files smaller than n bytes.

/MAXAGE:n :: MAXimum file AGE - exclude files older than n days/date.
/MINAGE:n :: MINimum file AGE - exclude files newer than n days/date.
/MAXLAD:n :: MAXimum Last Access Date - exclude files unused since n.
/MINLAD:n :: MINimum Last Access Date - exclude files used since n.
(If n < 1900 then n = n days, else n = YYYYMMDD date).

/FFT :: assume FAT File Times (2-second granularity).
/DST :: compensate for one-hour DST time differences.

/XJ :: eXclude symbolic links (for both files and directories) and Junction points.
/XJD :: eXclude symbolic links for Directories and Junction points.
/XJF :: eXclude symbolic links for Files.

/IM :: Include Modified files (differing change times).
::
:: Retry Options :
::
/R:n :: number of Retries on failed copies: default 1 million.
/W:n :: Wait time between retries: default is 30 seconds.

/REG :: Save /R:n and /W:n in the Registry as default settings.

/TBD :: Wait for sharenames To Be Defined (retry error 67).

/LFSM :: Operate in low free space mode, enabling copy pause and resume (see Remarks).

/LFSM:n[KMG] :: /LFSM, specifying the floor size in n [K:kilo,M:mega,G:giga] bytes.

::
:: Logging Options :
::
/L :: List only - don't copy, timestamp or delete any files.
/X :: report all eXtra files, not just those selected.
/V :: produce Verbose output, showing skipped files.
/TS :: include source file Time Stamps in the output.
/FP :: include Full Pathname of files in the output.
/BYTES :: Print sizes as bytes.

/NS :: No Size - don't log file sizes.
/NC :: No Class - don't log file classes.
/NFL :: No File List - don't log file names.
/NDL :: No Directory List - don't log directory names.

/NP :: No Progress - don't display percentage copied.
/ETA :: show Estimated Time of Arrival of copied files.

/LOG:file :: output status to LOG file (overwrite existing log).
/LOG+:file :: output status to LOG file (append to existing log).

/UNILOG:file :: output status to LOG file as UNICODE (overwrite existing log).
/UNILOG+:file :: output status to LOG file as UNICODE (append to existing log).

/TEE :: output to console window, as well as the log file.

/NJH :: No Job Header.
/NJS :: No Job Summary.

/UNICODE :: output status as UNICODE.

::
:: Job Options :
::
/JOB:jobname :: take parameters from the named JOB file.
/SAVE:jobname :: SAVE parameters to the named job file
/QUIT :: QUIT after processing command line (to view parameters).
/NOSD :: NO Source Directory is specified.
/NODD :: NO Destination Directory is specified.
/IF :: Include the following Files.

::
:: Remarks :
::
Using /PURGE or /MIR on the root directory of the volume formerly caused
robocopy to apply the requested operation on files inside the System
Volume Information directory as well. This is no longer the case; if
either is specified, robocopy will skip any files or directories with that
name in the top-level source and destination directories of the copy session.

The modified files classification applies only when both source
and destination filesystems support change timestamps (e.g., NTFS)
and the source and destination files have different change times but are
otherwise the same. These files are not copied by default; specify /IM
to include them.

The /DCOPY:E flag requests that extended attribute copying should be
attempted for directories. Note that currently robocopy will continue
if a directory's EAs could not be copied. This flag is also not included
in /COPYALL.

Using /LFSM requests robocopy to operate in 'low free space mode'.
In that mode, robocopy will pause whenever a file copy would cause the
destination volume's free space to go below a 'floor' value, which
can be explicitly specified by the LFSM:n[KMG] form of the flag.
If /LFSM is specified with no explicit floor value, the floor is set to
ten percent of the destination volume's size.
Low free space mode is incompatible with /MT, /EFSRAW, /B, and /ZB.

[Katie Boundary]

Notes to self:

- KNLmeansCL 0.6.11 is the last XP-compatible version of KNLmeansCL
- Nnedi3 0.9.4.31 is the last version of nnedi3 for which XP support actually works as intended
- The Masktools2 "x86_xp" version doesn't work as intended with XP, but "x86_clang" does for some reason.

EDIT (cross-post):

Okay, I think I solved the dll mystery.

MSVC 2019 installs on XP.
MSVC 2022 doesn't install on XP.

This was the criterion that I was using to try to find "XP-compatible" versions of Visual C++. However, it is flawed. There is an EXTREMELY narrow range of MSVC 2019 versions that will install on XP, but not quite work properly with it. After removing MSVC 2019 version 14.29.30129 and replacing it with MSVC 2019 version 14.27.29112, all AVIsynth filters work as intended.

[StainlessS]

Notes to me myself and I, [EDIT: "Me Myself I", Joan Armatrading, 1980:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kavu_vuD2QM ]

For Win11 install/update, when it demands connect to network and/or provide M$ account, and refuses to allow you to procede without it,

press Shift+F10 to open a command prompt, type
start ms-chx:localonly
and press Enter.
Will continue and allow you to create a local account without internet.

Some older hacks no longer work, but above does at time of posting. [for W11 24H2]

EDIT: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-set-up-microsoft-windows-with-local-account

EDIT: Above code block would seem to be wrong, not start ms-chx:localonly
but should be for 24H2
start ms-cxh:localonly
('xh' chars swapped over)

[StainlessS]

Note for previous post and W11 24H2, Install with local account was wrong, I copied what the YT video did, he wrote one thing and showed a mixed up version of it.
ie, During install, Hit SHIFT/F10, and in the command window it brings up type "start ms-chx:localonly" which should have read "start ms-cxh:localonly".

Anyway, now for W11 25H2, that fix no longer works, you gotta (on first enter installer) do the SHIFT/F10 thingy to bring up a command window, and type

reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Should show that command succeeded, and then type,

shutdown /r /t 0

and it will reboot.


The NEW Windows 11 25H2 Microsoft Account Bypass - NEW METHODS! :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE1jzBDKFKg

EDIT: I just got a dirt cheap (£75) HP 600 G6 mini with 10th gen Pentium, and I like to make an image of a working "as received" OS, before I jump over to W10.
(I swapped pentium for an i7-10700T from another machine, and the other machine [Dell 7080 Micro] got a spare i5-10500T which I already had, now I got a spare pentium).
EDIT: The HP mini's have better CPU heatsink [copper] than the Dell Micro's [aluminum(USA) / aluminium(everybody else)].

[FranceBB]

Thanks for the updated command.
Looks like they're trying to make it harder and harder for people... :(

[StainlessS]

Also, if you dont sign into your online account every (I think) 60 days, you stop getting updates.
[dont as yet know if that also includes those that skip the online acc creation altogether].

[StainlessS]

This, is as scarey as it gets [Your Windows 11 Computer’s Hidden Spy: The Dark Truth About TPM Chips]:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1eX_vvAlUc

[GeoffreyA]

Well, I just keep TPM and Secure Boot disabled.

[StainlessS]

Well, I just keep TPM and Secure Boot disabled.
I usually have Secureboot disabled, but now will always disable TPM too.
I just watched that video again, scared he sh1t out of me again.
I'm not going W11 at all, will setup separate offline network for W10, and use Linux Mint (or I kinda like LMDE, Linux Mint Debian Edition) for online stuff.

EDIT: Some months back, I did a few Windows updates and found that Bitlocker had been enabled on a drive (I've Never ever used bitlocker before),
and it also managed to destroy linux booting too. (I cant remember if it was W11 that I was updating, or W10). Kinda sounded like what the guy in the video was saying.
EDIT: Come to think of it, I think it was W10 updates on my main machine (the one I tend to use all of the time) and is W10 HOME edition, not even professional, and so is
not supposed to even support bitLocker, so I'm not sure how it enabled bitlocker in a sort of reduced capability state for W10 HOME.

EDIT: Think this is the W10 update that caused my problem, the SBAT update. [Secure Boot Advanced Targeting],
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/resolved-issues-windows-10-22h2#3377msgdesc

[GeoffreyA]

I usually have Secureboot disabled, but now will always disable TPM too.
I just watched that video again, scared he sh1t out of me again.
I'm not going W11 at all, will setup separate offline network for W10, and use Linux Mint (or I kinda like LMDE, Linux Mint Debian Edition) for online stuff.

I haven't watched the video yet. But certainly, TPM having low-level, outside-OS privilege is not a good thing. Some newer games require TPM and Secure Boot: whether through direct use, or indirectly as a requirement, I don't know, but this is surely a negative.

I'm sticking with W10 for now. When the Intel GPU drivers cut off, I'll move.

[Z2697]

TPM itself is not the problem, nor secure boot.
How they are "used" is the problem, and to be clear I also don't enable them.

But I don't believe the example about disabling secure boot wipes his drive in that video.
The problems and concerns with pre-installed Windows 11 in laptops have bitlocker configured to automatically enable after the OOBE (network connection or login step) definitely holds its place, but if he immediately (without going through W11 OOBE first) installs Ubuntu, that's not happening.
(And if he is cares about privacy like he claims himself, he should not go through that OOBE, heck, he shouldn't even use the pre-installed OS! Listen to him, but don't trust this guy 100%.)

But yeah, enabling bitlocker without telling the user, and warn them about the potential data loss is not a good move.

[GeoffreyA]

TPM itself is not the problem, nor secure boot.
How they are "used" is the problem, and to be clear I also don't enable them.

Microsoft just can't be trusted to act in good faith any more.

[StainlessS]

How bout SGX, you guys enable that? [I dont]

[GeoffreyA]

On AMD, so no. But if I had an Intel CPU, I'd keep it off, and I believe it has been deprecated on newer CPUs.

[StainlessS]

Tanx G.

[Katie Boundary]

Microsoft needs all its patents and copyrights taken away, and all Windows source code made public domain. This is bullshit.

[GeoffreyA]

and all Windows source code made public domain

Well, that seems the only way to save Windows. This time, I don't think the bad-Windows-good-Windows pattern will hold; the OS seems to be on a trajectory of decline, as evidenced by the weekly breaking of some feature.

[StainlessS]

What is the 'better' (avoiding use of 'best') way to switch off or nullify TPM on W10 ?

I've got a couple of M$ Surface Go 2, 2-in-1 tablet/laptop thingies (1x 4GB RAM, 64GB MMC storage and Pentium CPU, 1x 8GB RAM, 128GB nvme storage, and 8th gen mobile i3, and cellular LTE),
both of these machines have TPM 2.0 enable/disable in UEFI firmware whotsit, so can turn off there.

But,

I also got me a M$ Surface Go 3, 2-in-1 tablet/laptop thingy (8GB RAM, 128GB nvme storage, and 10th gen mobile i3),
this machine has NO TPM 2.0 enable/disable in UEFI firmware whotsit, so cannot turn off there,
(looks like M$ has been planning the W11 TPM 2.0 duplicity stuff for some years).

There seems to be no way to disable the TPM device in windows 10, I could uninstall the driver but not sure that will do the job.
( I seem to remember that uninstall of intel IME driver will result in a windows 'improvised' driver being installed by the device name "HECI").

There is a 'secret' MSC console thingy by the name 'tpm.msc' (type it in command window) which allows you to 'Clear TPM', which seems to make it 'un-available',
shows "The TPM is not ready for use", not sure that this would be permanent.
I could also Disable the "Intel(R) TPM Provisioning service" which is usually Manual Triggering start.

Anybody any thoughts on the better way to screw up my TPM ?

EDIT: By the way, the Go2 and Go3, 2-in-1 tablets are great little machines for wandering the net, I love mine, even the 4GB pentium one is not so bad, good enough for Full HD youtube vidz in the pub.
Avoid the Go 1, smaller screen, same size tablet but thicker bezel, and slower Pentium.
Take care, the Go 2/3 LAPTOP, is NOT the same as the Go 2/3 tablet with keyboard, and reviewers etc often miss out the 'LAPTOP' part of the other machines name.

EDIT: By the way, I was having a helluva time trying to boot some USB tools or eg Linux ISO's on the Go2/3, but if you use Ventoy, they boot no problem at all.
Ventoy:- https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html

What is Ventoy

Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files.
With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk over and over, you just need to copy the ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files to the USB drive and boot them directly.
You can copy many files at a time and ventoy will give you a boot menu to select them (screenshot).
You can also browse ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files in local disks and boot them.
x86 Legacy BIOS, IA32 UEFI, x86_64 UEFI, ARM64 UEFI and MIPS64EL UEFI are supported in the same way.
Most types of OS supported (Windows/WinPE/Linux/ChromeOS/Unix/VMware/Xen...)
I had used Ventoy some years ago, is even better now.
I've just made a 32GB USB Type A + Type C stick with about 10 Linux distros + W10 Setup + Macrium Reflect + System Rescue + other tools, easy peasy.

EDIT:
Features

100% open source (license)
Very simple to use (Get started)
Fast (limited only by the speed of copying iso file)
Can be installed in USB/Local Disk/SSD/NVMe/SD Card
Directly boot from ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files, no extraction needed
Support to browse and boot ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files in local disk Notes
No need to be continuous in disk for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files
Both MBR and GPT partition styles are supported
x86 Legacy BIOS, IA32 UEFI, x86_64 UEFI, ARM64 UEFI, MIPS64EL UEFI supported
IA32/x86_64 UEFI Secure Boot supported Notes
Linux Persistence supported Notes
Windows auto installation supported Notes
Linux auto installation supported Notes
Variables Expansion supported for Windows/Linux auto installation script Notes
FAT32/exFAT/NTFS/UDF/XFS/Ext2(3)(4) supported for main partition
ISO files larger than 4GB supported

Menu alias, Menu tip message supported
Password protect supported
Native boot menu style for Legacy & UEFI
Most type of OS supported, 1200+ iso files tested
Linux vDisk(vhd/vdi/raw...) boot solution Notes
Not only boot but also complete installation process
Menu dynamically switchable between ListView and TreeView mode Notes
"Ventoy Compatible" concept
Plugin Framework and GUI plugin configurator
Injection files to runtime enviroment
Boot configuration file dynamically replacement
Highly customizable theme and menu style
USB drive write-protected support
USB normal use unaffected
Data nondestructive during version upgrade
No need to update Ventoy when a new distro is released


EDIT: Very easy to add another ISO to the ventoy drive (just copy ISO into USB folder), other IMAGE formats (non ISO) may require additional reading, plugins and config.

[GeoffreyA]

I've not needed to try this, having TPM in the BIOS, but apparently, it can be done through tpm.msc.

Clearing the TPM puts it back into the default state but doesn't disable it.

To disable it, open tpm.msc, then select "Turn TPM Off" in the Action pane and follow the instructions.

Of course, be aware about data loss and all that when clearing or disabling this feature.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/hardware-security/tpm/initialize-and-configure-ownership-of-the-tpm

[StainlessS]

Thanks G, think I'll just clear the TPM via tpm.msc, and disable the tpm provisioning service.
Sounds like it will do the job.

However, you will need to remove and then re-do any sign in PIN if you have set a Windows Hello PIN. (for use as well as password),
you may find that windows Hello FingerPrint or Hello face needs to be re-done too. (removed and then setup again).

I dont do bitlocker, so that aint no prob for me. :)
But if you do use BitLocker, turn it off BEFORE you clear TPM, and then can maybe try to turn bitlocker on again after reboot.

[GeoffreyA]

You're welcome. Yes, it causes keys to be lost and sometimes data. For my motherboard's last BIOS update, because they updated TPM for game compatibility, MSI says, "If you have enabled the BitLocker function, please back up your BitLocker recovery key before performing the BIOS update. Failure to do so may result in permanent inability to log in to the operating system after the update is completed."

Luckily, I don't use any of these features.

[Z2697]

The reason why I don't enable "firmware" TPM is exactly that: I don't know what stuff is potentially there and a single BIOS update or some random things can result in disaster.
Plus I don't actually need to use TPM.

Maybe physical TPM module have same problem, I don't know, but I feel like if I need TPM I'll buy a physical one.

Secure boot is "nothing to worry about", a lot of Linux distros support secure boot already... but I decided to just disable it because I stupidly think who knows maybe I'll need boot a random unsigned OS... some day... (that never happened).

[GeoffreyA]

I don't know what stuff is potentially there and a single BIOS update or some random things can result in disaster.

Microsoft being involved, it doesn't surprise me any more.

[Z2697]

Bro you gotta realize that Microsoft is not a giant ubiquitous devilish entity that has control to everything and anything it sees...
(yeah tech giants are evil, I mean M$ is no particular, nor except of course)

[GeoffreyA]

Of course not. But they are an incompetent entity, one that's comfortable acting in bad faith, so any chance we get to criticise them, we ought to take it :)

[microchip8]

Microsoft is not giant? Last I checked, it's 3 trillion worth!

[FranceBB]

I haven't given up on my beloved XP, but unfortunately I happen to be daily driving Suckdows 11 more and more, which is a bit of a problem. Nonetheless, given that Microsoft never bothered to rewrite the small taskbar function for Windows 11 when they migrated to the XAML version, I'm now using Retrobar. It's written in C#, uses the .NET Framework and seems to be running just fine. Most importantly, it doesn't overwrite any system DLL and you can even run it as portable, so without installing it and without being administrator.

Of course everything else will still scream "Windows 11" but at least the taskbar is usable again.

https://images2.imgbox.com/88/0a/HAFhzeft_o.png


Link to Retrobar: https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar

[GeoffreyA]

I'm sure many will find this as useful as OpenShell. Unfortunately, Microsoft tries to use XAML more and more to tack on so-called "modern improvements" to the underlying Win32 code and it has not been going too well.

XP and 7 were the best. I continue to use 10 for the time being, and it works all right. The future of Windows looks increasingly bleak.

[StainlessS]

M$ has said that if you use any kind of GUI 'improvements' (eg OpenShell) then your MS updates will no longer work [ie, they will cripple it].
YOU WILL HAVE WHAT WE GIVE YOU, AND YOU WILL LIKE IT !!!

EDIT: And, W2K was the best. [Or, any MS server version, dont not got all dat dem nonsense stuff]

EDIT: You can download various MS server TRIAL versions, I, just a few days ago downed Windows server 2022 Trial/Evaluation (Not as yet installed it),
but you can (based on past trial versions) use for 3 months, and with some obscure command entend the trial for another 3 months, up to two times,
ie 9 months total. Really nice to use those without any nonsense or fancy stuff, just a good ol' work horse.

[Columbo]

M$ has said that if you use any kind of GUI 'improvements' (eg OpenShell) then your MS updates will no longer work [ie, they will cripple it]. Do you have a citation for that? I run OpenShell on Win 10 and Win 11 and updates are fine.

[Emulgator]

OpenShell 4.4.196 user here as well on Win10, no problems with updates until my recent 22H2.
Won't see myself updating beyond 19045.4894 I guess (after living through a nightmare of an impossible-to-boot-system with expensive licenses due to a semi-forced M$ update)
Thanks for the RetroBar tip !

[Columbo]

What kind of problems? Do you have ESU set up?

[StainlessS]

Do you have a citation for that? I run OpenShell on Win 10 and Win 11 and updates are fine.
Sorry, I dont. Was about 4/5 months ago that I saw it on YouTube, with (I think) link to an MS page, but I did not keep link.
(Was concerning W11 only)

[Columbo]

Got it, thank you.

[FranceBB]

EDIT: You can download various MS server TRIAL versions, I, just a few days ago downed Windows server 2022

Windows Server 2022 is unfortunately going to be the last "sensible" server. Ever since Jeffrey Snover left, they unified the codebase and now Server 2025 is literally Windows 11 and it has the same user interface too alongside the same nonsense.
Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019 were still entirely based on Windows 10, while Windows Server 2022 was based on Windows 11 while retaining the UI of Windows 10 and not including many unnecessary things.
Windows Server 2025 is just horrible, bloated and entirely based on Windows 11.


For reference, this is how Windows Server 2022 looks like by just changing the settings, no third party modifications or anything. Look at the taskbar: ungroup + small taskbar icons et voilà you have the usual classic taskbar that has been in every single version of Windows since the beginning instead of the new XAML abomination.

https://images2.imgbox.com/1e/df/I6mf1keM_o.png

[GeoffreyA]

instead of the new XAML abomination.

MS thinks it's a thing of beauty :)

[StainlessS]

.
Sorry, I dont. Was about 4/5 months ago that I saw it on YouTube, with (I think) link to an MS page, but I did not keep link.
(Was concerning W11 only)
I think it was a future warning, gonna happen one day.

[Columbo]

@FranceBB

You're a smart guy. Can't you do a better job of formating your posts so we don't have to scroll horizontally to read your text? Thank you. Let me know if you need assistance in this regard.

[GeoffreyA]

M$ has said that if you use any kind of GUI 'improvements' (eg OpenShell) then your MS updates will no longer work [ie, they will cripple it].
YOU WILL HAVE WHAT WE GIVE YOU, AND YOU WILL LIKE IT !!!

EDIT: And, W2K was the best. [Or, any MS server version, dont not got all dat dem nonsense stuff]

EDIT: You can download various MS server TRIAL versions, I, just a few days ago downed Windows server 2022 Trial/Evaluation (Not as yet installed it),
but you can (based on past trial versions) use for 3 months, and with some obscure command entend the trial for another 3 months, up to two times,
ie 9 months total. Really nice to use those without any nonsense or fancy stuff, just a good ol' work horse.

Well, that's their motto these days.

W2K was nice. But I preferred XP because it booted and felt faster. I suppose Server 2003, on whose codebase Vista was built, would have been acceptable for many too.

Haven't tried them but the IoT LTSC versions are popular and said to be streamlined. On normal W10, I used AppBuster from the ShutUp10 people to remove most unnecessary apps.

[FranceBB]

Can't you do a better job of formating your posts so we don't have to scroll horizontally to read your text?

Yeah, this was out of pure laziness 'cause I generally downscale the images but when I did that with Paint on Windows 11 it used an awful PointResize() (i.e nearest neighbor) and you couldn't even read the text.

I've now downscaled the image properly to 1542x720 in Avisynth with a simple BicubicResize() so it should fit while still being able to read the text inside.

[StainlessS]

Yep, I also use AppBuster, worx great, remove eg Solitaire/Games stuff, from Current_User, or from entire Computer.

I got an "Advantech_ARK-2250L", 6th gen i5 [laptop 'i5-6500u' version I think, very low power {maybe about 12watts at wall}] with IoT LTSC 2016,
wish I had that on all my machines.

Here:- https://buy.advantech.eu/Compact-Tower-Systems/Embedded-Box-Computers-Fanless-Embedded-Box-Computers-ARKs/ARK-2250L-9S51/system-21618.htm
Dont know what I paid, but one helluva lot less than the €1,387.00 on that page (less than £100 for sure, maybe £50).

Its about 12x5x2 inches, metal fanless job, and because its so big-ish, never gets more than luke warm.
(although its rarely stressed, just spends all day showing me whats going on outside on a 25" monitor {I get bored looking at a wall behind my computer monitor all day})

EDIT: Camera,
Tapo C211 2K 3MP Pan/Tilt Indoor Camera House Security Camera, WiFi Camera, No Monthly Fee, AI Detection, Dog Camera, Baby Camera Monitor, CCTV, 360° View, Night Vision, Works with Alexa & Google
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CQHY41NY
{Tilt/Pan via Android or iPad app}
Was £40 [EDIT: what I paid], now £20. Night vision works great even without IR lamp switched on (although street lights outside), and without any pay for subscription, can even view camera in pub via my phone.
There is a 'pay-for' subscription if you wanna store caps online, but has an SD card slot if cap required without subscription {I dont have subscription}.
I use 'ContaCam' (free) to view on Windows Machine, connects to camera via my router. (camera connects to router via Wifi)

EDIT: C211 is Black housing camera, C210 is white. {If using inside pointing outside, then need switch OFF IR lamp as it will blind the camera due to window reflection}.
Night vision without IR lamp is way/way/way better than my Logitech webcam under same conditions.

EDIT: "can even view camera in pub via my phone"
I have a dynamic IP address. Camera registers my external IP address with TAPO server when it connect to router. Android app requests my current IP address from TAPO, and can
connect and view camera even though I have dynamic (changable at each boot) IP address. {leastwise, I'm guessin' thats what it does}

[Columbo]

when I did that with Paint In 2025 most people use IrfanView.

I've now downscaled the image properly to 1542x720 in Avisynth with a simple BicubicResize() so it should fit while still being able to read the text inside. Greatly appreciated! Wouldn't want to miss a word you say. ;)

[FranceBB]

In 2025 most people use IrfanView.


I have IrfanView installed since at least 2016, but I use it as an image viewer for JPEG2000 'cause I need to be able to take a look at the DCI P3 XYZ images I encode when I create a DCP. I've never actually used it to resize and export another image, but I'll try. It's definitely better than paint and faster than opening the good old Photoshop CS4 (yes, CS4, when you could still have an offline installation without being harassed by a constantly renewed subscription on an always internet connected device).

For all other cases, I guess


ImageSource("screenshot.png")

SinPowerResize(width/2, height/2)


will probably do xD

[StainlessS]

good old Photoshop CS4 (yes, CS4, when you could still have an offline installation without being harassed by a constantly renewed subscription on an always internet connected device).

FaBB, here, just found opensource Photoshop replacement that seems to have been around for 25 years (Windows, Linux, Mac).
Adobe charges $600/year for this... Krita does it for FREE :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCGI7-a-VF8

On searching D9, only found about half a dozen hits on the name.

No idea if as good as Photoshop, I cant remember last time I used it [EDIT: Photoshop] (more than a decade).

[GeoffreyA]

Haven't tried Krita, but have used GIMP for a long time, ever since saying farewell to Photoshop.

[FranceBB]

Adobe charges $600/year for this... Krita does it for FREE

I'll give it a shot during the weekend given that it's gonna rain the entire day on Sunday.

Haven't tried Krita, but have used GIMP for a long time, ever since saying farewell to Photoshop.

yeah, I've been using Gimp as well when I was on Linux, but on Widows it doesn't matter how many times I try, I always end up going back to Photoshop. There isn't a particular reason, I'm sure Gimp can do exactly the same thing, it's just a matter of habit / mental memory and probably laziness on my part. To be fair, I only really use Photoshop to do very basic things anyway, so it's not like I depend on it, but still.

[Z2697]

I use FFmpeg for simple image resizing...

[Z2697]

Windows Server 2022 was based on Windows 11 while retaining the UI of Windows 10 and not including many unnecessary things.[/IMG]

The last W10 release version is 19045(22H2), the first W11 release version is 22000, I'd say 20348 is closeer to W10 than W11?
(or 19041(2004), I believe they are the same code base with different number... for the sake of differentiate big updates)

[GeoffreyA]

yeah, I've been using Gimp as well when I was on Linux, but on Widows it doesn't matter how many times I try, I always end up going back to Photoshop. There isn't a particular reason, I'm sure Gimp can do exactly the same thing, it's just a matter of habit / mental memory and probably laziness on my part. To be fair, I only really use Photoshop to do very basic things anyway, so it's not like I depend on it, but still.

Honestly, Photoshop is the gold standard. But GIMP works and has the same functionality, so if one hasn't got a licence for a new version of Photoshop (though I think it's now a subscription?), GIMP is a serviceable, free replacement. I don't use it every day, so it works on the occasion I do. But it does need more polish. I remained on version 2.x because I felt 3 looked worse, but have been meaning to give it a shot again.

I use FFmpeg for simple image resizing...

Indeed, a true encoding enthusiast would use FFmpeg, AviSynth, or VapourSynth to resize an image :)

For the record, what scaling algorithm are you using? For videos, I have been using Spline36, though I sometimes wonder if I should switch to 64, but I can't tell the difference.