Windows 10 Anniversary Update brings New Experiences and Developer Opportunity

[hazelnut]

Upgraded to the Anniversary Update via the Media Creation Tool as Win Updates wasn't offering it to me yet.

 

Took just over an hour.

 

No issues, everything working okay afterwards.

[mta]

good idea.

I've been waiting for my WIn10 updates to kick in, but it's still showing no updates found.

 

time for Media Creation Tool.....

[nukecad]

Upgraded to the Anniversary Update via the Media Creation Tool as Win Updates wasn't offering it to me yet.

 

 

I've also been considering doing this.

 

But I remember that some of those who did this with the 1511 update had problems, and had to roll back and wait until it was installed through WU.

 

I've also seen reports that some who have used the MCT this time have had problems with Cortana not installing properly (or at all).

Not that I want Cortana, it's one of the first things that I will turn off with the hack reported on another thread here.

https://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=46782&hl=

 

I'll think about it and if I've not got the Aniversary Upgrade by tomorrow may go for the MCT route.

[hazelnut]

nukecad I'm sure it will go well for you

 

As for Cortana here is the fix bottom of this page.

 

http://news.softpedia.com/news/how-to-fix-cortana-completely-dead-after-windows-10-anniversary-update-506969.shtml

[Corona]

I haven't gotten any updates for W10 since July 13.

[mta]

WIn10 Anniversary Update went very smoothly (lost a couple of system settings which needed reconfiguring and it killed StartIsBack but no surprises there)

 

went from v1511 Build 10586.494 to v1607 Build 14393.00

and just for giggles, did a check for updates and already there is one, taking you to 14393.10

[nukecad]

Well I went for it using the 'Windows Update > Learn more > Get the Aniversary Update Now' route.

 

Took over 4 hours to download and install. (The wi-fi I'm using tops out at 2.5Mbps, that's what you get for living rural).

That did include a helpful "Something went Wrong" after 1-1/2 hours of downloading.

 

Seems OK up to now, need to check what privacy settings it has changed, and otherwise have a good look round.

 

All programmes, including speccy and CCleaner, are still there but some icons have changed.

It's also put an AudioWizard icon on the desktop for some reason. I'll check that next.

 

And it keeps bugging me to register for OneDrive. No thanks, I still don't trust cloud storage.

 

EDIT

I've had a look about and TBH I don't see much difference apart from a few cosmetic changes, and of course having to change back 'spy' settings that MS had reset in their favour.

 

There again I don't use Edge, I don't have a touchscreen with stylus for the new "Ink" thing, I don't sync to my phone, and I don't play Xbox games.

I didn't even turn Cortana off completely, just turned off it's privacy and learning settings so it just works as a searchbox.

 

One oddity;

Even though this is Windows 10 Home it says in Settings>Privacy>General "Some settings are managed by your organisation".

Looking online all the sugestions I could find say you get rid of this message by changing the Group Policy using gpedit.msc - but this is the Home edition, it does not have any Group Policy (or gpedit.msc).

The only thing you could call a group with the home edition is the Wifi network Workgroup.

I do notice that one of the items there is greyed out, so its probably something to do with that.

(Send MS info about how I write to help us improve writing and typing in future).

I think it's to do with Cortana and/or Ink.

Not a problem, just an oddity.

[Corona]

Now that I've successfully installed the Win10 update, can I delete the Win10 Update Assistant?

[hazelnut]

If this is what you mean it seems you can Corona according to the info on this page

 

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-10-upgrade-assistant

[Corona]

I did eventually find and read that site a bit earlier and it says I can delete it after a few days. I'll do that. Thanks!

[nukecad]

One thing I have found is that the 'Sticky Notes has changed from a programme to a Windows app which seems to be part of the new "Ink" thing.

 

If you had any sticky notes on your desktop they will be gone after the upgrade. (Fair enough).

 

The new app has a few more functions but not much, and I don't like the new font, or the size of notes themselves.

You are limited as to how you can resize them.

Being a native app there does not seem to be a file where the contents of the notes are saved.

And you can't add it to start-up other than having a note open, or putting Ink in start-up.

 

I found it easy enough to get the old programme back and running by copying the StikyNot.exe and the StickyNotes.snt files from the Windows.old folder back to the new installation.

Which of course also restored the contents of my old sticky's.

 

Not critical, just another little niggle.

[Nergal]

Thanks @nukecad my mom uses sticky notes so I warned her. Can you lemme know where the exe is (I could use search when she gets the update, but this would be faster)

[nukecad]

No problem,  from memory the exe goes in (see below) and the snt goes in (see below) but I am on my phone now, will post the two correct paths when I get home in an hour or 2.
 
EDIT.
Back home now.
 
The .exe file goes in- C:\Windows\system32\stikynot.exe
The .snt file goes in- C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Sticky Notes\StickyNotes.snt
 
As said you will find both of them at the same paths in the windows.old after you have done the upgrade.
(and just for info the .snt is the one that keeps all the contents, screen positions, and sizes of the notes)

 

 

EDIT2 - WARNING

Although doing the above restores your old sticky notes all is not well.

Although you can type into the notes (and delete, etc.) there is no right click context menu for copy and paste?

(ctrl+c, crl+v, etc. keys still work).

You can click on the + to create new notes, BUT you can't click on the X to close them.

Only way to close the notes is to stop the programme then delete (or edit) the .snt file. (Kind of defeats the object).

[nukecad]

So as Windows sticky notes has now become a 'Trusted App', so that it works with 'Ink' and Concertina, it looks like we are stuck with the new version.

 

At least I have found some options to change the text size and add bold, italic, underline, etc. for the new app version.

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/tips-to-use-format-sticky-notes-in-windows-7

(Yes I know that link says win7, but trust me it's the new Win10 sticky notes).

 

The new application files are stored at:

%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe

 

Still haven't found a way to get the notes themselves smaller.

[mta]

Still haven't found a way to get the notes themselves smaller.

do you mean physically smaller (or larger)?

as you can resize the notes by dragging their border around. (just to state the obvious in case you missed it - been there, done that)

[nukecad]

do you mean physically smaller (or larger)?

as you can resize the notes by dragging their border around. (just to state the obvious in case you missed it - been there, done that)

 

With the new app, which is part of the new Windows Ink, the minimum size that you can drag them to is just too big.

 

8 notes at the smallest they will go is the most you can get on the desktop without overlapping them.

You may get more on a higher resolution, I've not checked.

 

Not that I would want 8 up at once, but it gives you an indication of the minimum size.

Even just one looks too big and ugly.

 

Maybe they need to be this big to let you use a touchscreen stylus?

 

There have already been multiple moans on the Microsoft forums about the new ones being too big.

 

Oh well, time to either stop using them or get one of the 3rd party alternatives, there are plenty out there.

[hazelnut]

Two new updates (one cumulative) to the Anniversary build released bringing the build number to 14393.82.

 

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-releases-windows-10-for-pcs-build-1439382-to-everyone

 

EDIT..  It did 2 reboots installing this.

[Corona]

I think a recent lightning bolt zapped my pooter a tad too much. Whenever I booted it would start Windows Automatic Repair. Not really too automatic since the screen asks me what keyboard set-up I have. When this happens the system turns off my keyboard and mouse. So, um, I guess I can't tell it that I have a US keyboard, can I.

 

So I reformatted and lo and behold I'm back to Windows 7. Can't get the SP1 for it though unless I do the .iso thing, and I know nothing about that. But there was no way I could boot up the previous Win 10 I had for a year. (Now I see they're charging $120 for Win 10. )

[mta]

@corona,

if you stick to your Win7 product key, the MS activation servers would still have recorded your digital entitlement to Windows 10.

so, in theory, upgrading to Windows 10, saying "I don't have a Product Key" when prompted and then activating when installed, should all be a painless exercise.

[hazelnut]

mta is right Corona. MS already knows you used Win 10 so will let you use it again for free.

 

http://www.redmondpie.com/download-windows-10-pro-iso-file-without-product-key-from-microsoft/

[Corona]

The thing is, the whole kerfuffle happened while I was using Win 10. Couldn't even boot.

Win 7 is doing fine for now. Win 10 is okay but I want a Working pooter.

[nukecad]

(Now I see they're charging $120 for Win 10. )

You can still upgrade to Windows 10 for Free if you know the trick.

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade

 

It is official from Microsoft, it's not illegal, it's not dodgy.

(Well maybe a bit dodgy if you don't need or use Assistive Technology, but they are not checking at the moment).

[hazelnut]

All the ways you can still get Windows 10 for free

 

 

There are quite a few ways you can still get Windows 10 for free, without using a pirated license.

 

http://www.howtogeek.com/272201/all-the-ways-you-can-still-get-windows-10-for-free/

[Corona]

I tried this a few days ago and never got past 99% installed. Twice. I think it has something to do with MS shutting off Win7s' Update service.

[hazelnut]

I tried this a few days ago and never got past 99% installed. Twice. I think it has something to do with MS shutting off Win7s' Update service.

 

MS hasn't shut off Win 7's update service. Can you not do any Win 7 updates?

 

Uninstall any AV you have before doing the install.

 

Were you doing it from  the assistive technologies link?

 

If so, try disconnecting from the internet arfter download (during setup).