Window's Weaknesses

Twangbuster007 · Oct 16, 2023

Version 22H2

As I write I have been waiting for 30 minutes for a picture to be added to my lockscreen and for the Microsoft store App to load. I have also spent a couple of hours with tier-2 tech support trying to resolve these issues, which, by the way, were also problematic with Win 10. I know you folks are here to help and we all appreciate that. But at a certain point Microsoft has to be held accountable for their slipshod OS. If they are going to add cool Apps like Spotlight and slideshows etc. they should work! But, the fact that they don't for many users is documented all over the Internet. Their usual solution is to reinstall the OS or to create a new account...Both are cumbersome, labor intensive processees that don't even guarantee to correct what should be a simple fix. Maybe one or two of you Micro-Warriors can lead the charge and get this company to start paying attention to the user experience instead of messing around with capricious apps and devolving operating systems...like Win 11..which needs a rehaul in the name of user intelligibility. Their irresponsible lack of attention to their own product is disturbing, to say the least! {BTW: still waiting for the Microsoft Store to open, and the Lockscreen picture to load} Pathetic!

Berton · Oct 16, 2023

Since the same issue occurred with Win10 my guess the Internet speed as provided by the ISP may be a big part of the problem. I don't get the same problems with my 25Mbps speed.

As for

But at a certain point Microsoft has to be held accountable for their slipshod OS

it must be kept in mind we only purchase, or have included with a computer, a license to use the software, not the software itself. If I were sufficiently frustrated with Windows or the older DOS I'd go with the free Linux, there's around 100 different versions available. I actually do use Linux Mint on occasion [on an older computer].

antspants · Oct 16, 2023

I buy a brand new laptop, windows works pretty much flawlessly. I start adding software/apps/adjustments… I’m in for a ride.

Berton · Oct 16, 2023

A big difference between Apple's Macintosh and Windows-based computers is that Apple has always had more control over use of third-party programs [I used to have a Mac OS X]. Microsoft has to allow more access to their source code for programmers to write their programs for. That's probably a simplified statement as I'm not a programmer but see some software that is difficult to deal with on Windows. A downside to using Linux is usually a lack of programs comparable to what is offered for Windows. A couple of cross-platform programs that are free are LibreOffice and VideoLAN/VLC.

Twangbuster007 · Oct 16, 2023

Whatever the reason, some of their software is so whacky they need to get it together make it work...otherwise...why bother?
Let me know if you can get Windows Spotlight to work consistently and if your Lockscreen image can be changed. Also, I'd be interested how many can get the Windows Store App to even open!

Berton · Oct 16, 2023

Haven't tried to change the lock screen image yet and the only things I've wanted from the Store is some backgrounds, in particular Community Reflections, no issue getting them.

TraderGary · Oct 16, 2023

As pointed out by @Berton, if you had the same problems with Windows 10, it does appear to be your Internet connection.

I have the advantage of living in an Atlanta area where the Internet has always been fast and reliable. The Microsoft Store always loads very quickly here. Adding an image to my desktop is literally instantaneous. I've never had a problem with Windows itself not being fast and reliable.

Bree · Oct 16, 2023

Twangbuster007 said:
Let me know if you can get Windows Spotlight to work consistently and if your Lockscreen image can be changed. Also, I'd be interested how many can get the Windows Store App to even open!

Yes, yes, and yes....

antspants · Oct 16, 2023

Twangbuster007 said:
Also, I'd be interested how many can get the Windows Store App to even open!

On certain days I do find that store says it can not connect or that I need to sign in, which I already am. I can often get around this by opening store in different ways. Win+x search store/open as admin. Via the start menu or via Admin apps folder, sometimes via an icon on my taskbar. Like I said, it depends on the day, sometimes a reboot can fix it. I’ve come to conclude, in my opinion, it is a windows server issue, sometimes just a stupid bug.

TraderGary · Oct 16, 2023

antspants said:
On certain days I do find that store says it can not connect or that I need to sign in, which I already am. I can often get around this by opening store in different ways. Win+x search store/open as admin. Via the start menu or via Admin apps folder, sometimes via an icon on my taskbar. Like I said, it depends on the day, sometimes a reboot can fix it. I’ve come to conclude, in my opinion, it is a windows server issue, sometimes just a stupid bug.

I wonder if it's a problem being in Australia. Do you have problems with anything else on the Internet? I frequently use the Windows Store and it always loads quickly and problem free here in Atlanta, GA, USA. I always load it from the START menu.

glasskuter · Oct 16, 2023

Twangbuster007 said:
Let me know if you can get Windows Spotlight to work consistently and if your Lockscreen image can be changed. Also, I'd be interested how many can get the Windows Store App to even open!

Lock screen works fine, store app has never failed to open, and I don't use Spotlight. For me it just works and so far has been performing solidly. I do not use stuff like spotlight, slide show, widgets, stickers...all those things that add nothing to the productivity of my daily computer use. Maybe if I did, my opinion would be different.

I think what has benefited my installation is I haven't tweaked it to death and use no third party app that alters the GUI. I have changed a lot of settings and uninstalled or disabled certain apps I knew I would never use, but I backup religiously in case I do mess up and change something I can't easily undo.

We all pitch a fit when MS changes something we do not like because we are creatures of habit, but all in all I've adjusted to 11 just as I did through every OS since the nineties. I feel most folks here have done the same.

I look at it this way. It's Microsoft's OS to do with what they will. I may not agree with some of their decisions, but MS is gonna do what MS is gonna do. Getting all riled up accomplishes nothing but raising my blood pressure. If I begin to hate it, I have alternatives. No one is forcing me to use Windows.

antspants · Oct 16, 2023

TraderGary said:
I wonder if it's a problem being in Australia. Do you have problems with anything else on the Internet? I frequently use the Windows Store and it always loads quickly and problem free here in Atlanta, GA, USA. I always load it from the START menu.

Not specifically, Gary. Having said that, it isn’t the greatest network on the planet so I wouldn’t rule it out.

Ghot · Oct 16, 2023

antspants · Oct 16, 2023

Ghot said:

Twangbuster007 · Oct 16, 2023

Yay Microsoft!....They just do what they do and we jump into their rabbit holes. Choice...What Choice...oh yeah if only $$$ wasn't a concern one could buy a Mac, use limited software choices in Linux etc. My Internet connection is downloading at nearly 1000 MB/S...not the problem. Get real boys and girls...Sloppy programming engenders sloppy, unreliable outcomes. It might work some of the time for some of the people some of the time...as for the others?...You get my drift.

antspants · Oct 17, 2023

Use it, don’t use it.

kelper · Oct 17, 2023

It's over the top to claim that installing Windows is "labour intensive"!

glasskuter · Oct 17, 2023

Twangbuster007 said:
Choice...What Choice.

Choices. Here's some. Use any one of 600 free active Linux distros, ChromiumOS, Google Chrome, FreeBSD, illumOS, ReactOS, Haiku, MenuetOS, or PrimeOS., Many have hundreds of available apps. You can buy a Mac. You can go back to any older Windows version you liked or If you have an ipad or an iphone, use a dock connected to your monitor, mouse, and keyboard and away you go. Some Androids can be connected to a monitor and usb devices as well. I'm sure there are some I've missed.
For an average user, any one of these can do just about anything one needs to do. So, yes, there are choices.
Some of the Linux distros don't even have to be installed but can run directly from your media. I've been playing around with both Ubuntu and Mint Cinnamon and am very impressed.
You won't know if you'll like a distro until you try it.

Steve C · Oct 17, 2023

Try using the Dynamic Theme app if you have problems with Spotlight on the lock screen

cereberus · Oct 17, 2023

Twangbuster007 said:
Version 22H2

As I write I have been waiting for 30 minutes for a picture to be added to my lockscreen and for the Microsoft store App to load. I have also spent a couple of hours with tier-2 tech support trying to resolve these issues, which, by the way, were also problematic with Win 10. I know you folks are here to help and we all appreciate that. But at a certain point Microsoft has to be held accountable for their slipshod OS. If they are going to add cool Apps like Spotlight and slideshows etc. they should work! But, the fact that they don't for many users is documented all over the Internet. Their usual solution is to reinstall the OS or to create a new account...Both are cumbersome, labor intensive processees that don't even guarantee to correct what should be a simple fix. Maybe one or two of you Micro-Warriors can lead the charge and get this company to start paying attention to the user experience instead of messing around with capricious apps and devolving operating systems...like Win 11..which needs a rehaul in the name of user intelligibility. Their irresponsible lack of attention to their own product is disturbing, to say the least! {BTW: still waiting for the Microsoft Store to open, and the Lockscreen picture to load} Pathetic!

How come the vast majority (and I mean the vast majority) have none of these issues?

Instead of rather ridiculously whinging about MS , you could try and solve your issues.

It is extremely likely that your issue is due to OS corruption

Have you actually tried a repair upgrade?