Things and stuff and things.

If you're a Windows user, then you've definitely had this happen before.

You're playing or working, deeply engrossed in whatever it is you're doing, and then suddenly your computer alerts you to a Windows update! Or, in some cases, just shuts down and decides to update right then and there. It's obnoxious, it's frustrating, and now it's hopefully a thing of the past.

Windows 11 launched just a couple of days ago and Microsoft had been telling us quite a lot about their new OS leading up the launch, including providing details on how Windows 11 intends to deliver seamless updates that will be 40% smaller than those of Windows 10. These updates are supposed to take place with a lot less frequency, which means they shouldn't interrupt what you're doing - a bonus!

According to Microsoft, Windows 11 will have fewer feature updates than Windows 10 did, with a single feature update released every year, much like Apple's annual macOS updates. In order to achieve this, Microsoft has made some quality-of-life improvements to Windows 11's updates.


Image credit: Microsoft

When a new patch is available and you go to check for updates, Windows 11 will compare the contents of the new update with what's already installed on your PC. That way, it will only download the necessary parts of what you need, which makes the size of the update significantly smaller and way more efficient.

Windows 11 users will see their updates downloaded automatically when they aren't actively using their PC thanks to a new version of Microsoft's AI and machine learning software. Although there's a lot about upcoming Windows 11 updates that are great, it should be noted that the updates won't necessarily be faster. You will still have to restart your machine after an update and stare at a blank screen while it implements for a bit. 


Image credit: Microsoft

Microsoft launched Windows 11 just two days ago on October 5th and will continue to roll it out gradually over the next few months. If you're planning to make the move over to the new OS and want to jump right into customizing, make sure to check out Start11 and the other great programs in our Object Desktop suite, many of which can still be utilized on Windows 11. 

Did you download Windows 11 yet? Tell me about your favorite features!


Comments
on Oct 10, 2021

I downloaded Windows 11. Installed it. Found out it hates my onboard video card. All the app icons in the taskbar are grainy and blurry and the system does not show a true black anywhere. HP isn't releasing a video driver for my 6 month old machine for Windows 11 so I went back to Windows 10. Besides, the setting app is a nightmare compared to Windows 10. 

on Dec 13, 2021

I finally decided to install Windows 11 yesterday after looking at the update icon in my taskbar for over a month. I played with a bit and really liked it. With windows.old files retained my C drive was at 99% so I went all in on Windows 11 and deleted the Windows 10 files making it much more difficult to roll back should I need to. 

Now I am somewhat regretting that decision.  The issues started with explorer crashing, then this PC started crashing. Then I started getting fences error messages after opening explorer saying explorer closed incorrectly and fences stopped, this error would happen repeatedly to the point my only option was to force close by turning off the PC using the power button.  Task manager worked but restarting explorer did nothing and there's not an option to restart your machine in task manager plus all icons disappeared from the taskbar making a normal restart impossible. 

Windowblinds loaded fine but all text in a dialogue box below the title bar was partly missing, I could generally make out what it read but it wasn't easy.   On the non-Stardock related side I can no longer use my 3rd party taskbar clock and my weather app keeps randomly opening the fly out forecast screen.

I don't use the entire suite of OD products but the ones I do use seem to be hit and miss with Windows 11 compatibility. I unloaded but did not uninstall Windowblinds this morning and so far no explorer crash so I am hoping that was my primary issue. Fences seems to also be working OK.  Tiles hasn't given me any issues that I am aware of. I reinstalled ObjectDock which I hadn't used in years so I could have a visible clock with a second hand and so far that also seems to working fine. Start 11 I wouldn't expect any issues with as that is tested and proven compatible.  

on Dec 13, 2021

kona0197

I downloaded Windows 11. Installed it. Found out it hates my onboard video card. All the app icons in the taskbar are grainy and blurry and the system does not show a true black anywhere. HP isn't releasing a video driver for my 6 month old machine for Windows 11 so I went back to Windows 10. Besides, the setting app is a nightmare compared to Windows 10. 

I would suggest going to the chip manufacturer for a driver. If it's a AMD CPU/APU go to AMD. If you have an Intel CPU/APU go to Intel. They should have a driver for your system. Both  Companies also should have a program to detect which driver you need if you are unsure on which driver to pick. 

 Peace 

on Dec 15, 2021

JCurie

I would suggest going to the chip manufacturer for a driver. If it's a AMD CPU/APU go to AMD. If you have an Intel CPU/APU go to Intel. They should have a driver for your system. Both  Companies also should have a program to detect which driver you need if you are unsure on which driver to pick. 


I've tried that. It does not work. Apparently Windows 11 prefers the Intel UHD 630 integrated video graphics chip or newer.

I have a Intel UHD 610 video chip. 

on Dec 18, 2021

I've been advised by my tech support company to not install Windows 11 under any circumstances.  A major reason for that is that I deal with protected health information and Windows 11 is not only not HIPAA compliant but opens your computer to all kinds of background third party access.  MS has decided to go the way of Facebook and make you the product which they will sell as the primary method of sustaining their business.  The 'upgrade' may be free but orders of magnitude more intrusive, mostly silently of course (the fine print applies when you click Agree).

Windows 11, per my tech, also is a major step toward forcing all your application purchases and subscriptions into the Microsoft Store, a la Apple.  They are steadily making it harder & harder to install anything form outside their controlled ecosystem.

A good example of where this will lead is the recent behavior of Adobe regarding Adobe Acrobat Reader DC which is the subject of another post here.

on Nov 28, 2022

I obtained Windows 11. It was installed. It appears to despise my inbuilt video card. The taskbar app icons are all grainy and distorted, and the system does not display pure black anywhere.

foodle

on Nov 28, 2022

I should follow-up on my above comment.

Since then, my tech support advises that subsequent iterations of Win11 can be configured to be HIPAA compliant (at least as compliant as Win10), just takes a little time & effort, mainly by avoiding using a Microsoft account and making some settings changes to avoid the third-party back doors.

on Dec 02, 2022

sabletreat

I obtained Windows 11. It was installed. It appears to despise my inbuilt video card. The taskbar app icons are all grainy and distorted, and the system does not display pure black anywhere.


Exact same issue I had.