Peter Fowler
@peterf.bsky.social
Thoughts & reposted tech articles on PCs, home tech & WiFi networks. Born in the UK, now a resident of Sydney, Australia since 1969. Retired Communications Engineer with part time job providing PC Repairs & Home Network Support.
www.homecompnet.com
www.homecompnet.com
This is obviously what #Microsoft should have been doing to keep users rather than just annoy the hell out of them to the point they are leaving in droves. Put the Marketing Dept on indefinite leave and just fix Windows 11 basics.
Ex-engineer tells Microsoft to forget AI – focus solely on fixing Windows 11's performance issues and bugs 'until it doesn't suck'
Fed up with Microsoft's big push for AI? Wish it would fix the basic problems with Windows 11? You are very much not alone.
www.techradar.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:17 PM
This is obviously what #Microsoft should have been doing to keep users rather than just annoy the hell out of them to the point they are leaving in droves. Put the Marketing Dept on indefinite leave and just fix Windows 11 basics.
#Microsoft should be getting worried! Zorin, Mint and other popular distros are eating away at Microsoft's user base. ChromeOS Flex and Chromebooks are also attracting users who don't want to buy a new PC when their existing PC is working fine! Microsoft's Windows 11 money grab is not popular!
Is the end of Windows 10 the beginning of something big for Linux? One distro has racked up a million downloads in the past month
Can't – or won't – upgrade to Windows 11? You're not alone, and one Linux distro is attracting a lot of attention since Windows 10 support ended.
www.techradar.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:15 PM
#Microsoft should be getting worried! Zorin, Mint and other popular distros are eating away at Microsoft's user base. ChromeOS Flex and Chromebooks are also attracting users who don't want to buy a new PC when their existing PC is working fine! Microsoft's Windows 11 money grab is not popular!
Follow on from my last post, this article gives a good description of Zorin OS, one of the increasingly popular Linux distros.
This is the Linux distro I moved my non-tech family members to
A surprising Linux distro for non-tech users that makes the transition from Windows a breeze.
www.xda-developers.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Follow on from my last post, this article gives a good description of Zorin OS, one of the increasingly popular Linux distros.
#Microsoft' s decision to force 400 million PCs to be prematurely pushed from #Windows could be its final downfall to Linux, ChromeOS and MacOS! Consumers are leading the way and once they are used to a non- Windows OS business will follow!
780,000 Windows users downloaded this Linux distro in a month, and for good reason
Here's hoping they stick around.
www.xda-developers.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:36 PM
#Microsoft' s decision to force 400 million PCs to be prematurely pushed from #Windows could be its final downfall to Linux, ChromeOS and MacOS! Consumers are leading the way and once they are used to a non- Windows OS business will follow!
Apart from the options in the article, you could also switch your existing PC to a fully supported #Linux or #ChromeOS Flex Operating System.
Windows 10 support ends soon – here's what you need to decide before it's too late
Whatever you do, do something – don't keep running Windows 10 with no updates
www.techradar.com
September 27, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Once again #Microsoft attempting to lock users into their products and forcing further use of their services like OneDrive. This will force those using #MSOffice 10 year versions to purchase storage unless they can work out how to store created files locally.
Microsoft Word now automatically saves new documents to the cloud
Word documents will be automatically saved to OneDrive
www.theverge.com
September 20, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Once again #Microsoft attempting to lock users into their products and forcing further use of their services like OneDrive. This will force those using #MSOffice 10 year versions to purchase storage unless they can work out how to store created files locally.
I was recently sent this YouTube which is a fascinating watch!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjc-....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjc-....
Most Popular Computer Operating Systems 1985 - 2024
YouTube video by Captain Gizmo
www.youtube.com
September 14, 2025 at 6:31 AM
I was recently sent this YouTube which is a fascinating watch!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjc-....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjc-....
If you want to download all your personal data from OneDrive, have a look at this YouTube from Leo Notenboom: youtu.be/PKsoohLHcl8. When setting up a new PC for someone, I check their current OneDrive contents (if any) using the second method. This data will automatically come down to the new PC.
How Do I Download All OneDrive Files to My PC?
YouTube video by Ask Leo!
youtu.be
September 14, 2025 at 6:26 AM
If you want to download all your personal data from OneDrive, have a look at this YouTube from Leo Notenboom: youtu.be/PKsoohLHcl8. When setting up a new PC for someone, I check their current OneDrive contents (if any) using the second method. This data will automatically come down to the new PC.
I get so many questions (and problems) relating to #Microsoft #OneDrive that I thoroughly recommend EVERYONE watching the YouTube video from Leo Notenboom below: youtu.be/q_JmtT_4l3c. This YouTube is excellent for explaining how OneDrive works and how to avoid a confusing mess!
How Do I Store Files on My Computer and Not OneDrive?
YouTube video by Ask Leo!
youtu.be
September 14, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I get so many questions (and problems) relating to #Microsoft #OneDrive that I thoroughly recommend EVERYONE watching the YouTube video from Leo Notenboom below: youtu.be/q_JmtT_4l3c. This YouTube is excellent for explaining how OneDrive works and how to avoid a confusing mess!
Once again #Microsoft is trying to lock you into their products. This is only a temporary solution for Windows 10 and probably unnecessary if you still plan to move to a new Windows 11 PC asap. You could take the opportunity to move to a totally different OS like MacOS, Linux or ChromeOS Flex.
How to get another free year of updates for your Windows 10 PC
Buying Windows 10 a one-year stay of execution doesn’t have to cost anything.
arstechnica.com
August 10, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Once again #Microsoft is trying to lock you into their products. This is only a temporary solution for Windows 10 and probably unnecessary if you still plan to move to a new Windows 11 PC asap. You could take the opportunity to move to a totally different OS like MacOS, Linux or ChromeOS Flex.
#Microsoft is doing everything it can to lock you into OneDrive! Once they have you only Office 365/OneDrive they have guaranteed annual revenue!
'Moving is easy with Windows 11' Microsoft tells us, promoting Backup app for transferring files from a Windows 10 PC - but you'll need to pay for OneDrive
In a new promo video for the Windows Backup app
www.techradar.com
August 5, 2025 at 9:00 PM
#Microsoft is doing everything it can to lock you into OneDrive! Once they have you only Office 365/OneDrive they have guaranteed annual revenue!
It just never gets any better! The only consistency is #Microsoft incompetence! Join the millions leaving Windows for Linux, ChromeOS and MacOS!
New Windows 11 update fails to install for some, and I'm hardly surprised at that – but some other reported bugs sound more worrying
The July update for Windows 11 24H2 is proving troublesome
www.techradar.com
July 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM
It just never gets any better! The only consistency is #Microsoft incompetence! Join the millions leaving Windows for Linux, ChromeOS and MacOS!
Just when is #Microsoft going to stop trying to build fancy new features and fix the basic functionality of the OS so that it can reliably update?
A Windows 11 update failing to install is nothing new, but Microsoft has spectacularly dropped the ball with the latest patch for June.
First patch was paused and revised version is problematic too
www.techradar.com
June 18, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Just when is #Microsoft going to stop trying to build fancy new features and fix the basic functionality of the OS so that it can reliably update?
USB-C has become so popular but some users don't fully understand why they have problems sometimes.
4 myths about USB-C you shouldn't believe
USB-C has reached ubiquity, appearing in everything from PC peripherals to laptops. These are some myths about the standard that we'd like to dispel.
www.xda-developers.com
May 29, 2025 at 11:32 PM
USB-C has become so popular but some users don't fully understand why they have problems sometimes.
Further to my post on the demise of Pocket, here are some alternatives. As I mentioned, I use Raindrop.
Mozilla is shutting down Pocket – here are the 3 best bookmarking alternatives
Farewell Pocket, and bookmark these…
www.techradar.com
May 23, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Further to my post on the demise of Pocket, here are some alternatives. As I mentioned, I use Raindrop.
Sad news that Mozilla is shutting down Pocket. Looks like I am going to be shifting even more to Raindrop!
Mozilla is shutting down Pocket
Pocket had a nearly two-decade-long run.
www.theverge.com
May 22, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Sad news that Mozilla is shutting down Pocket. Looks like I am going to be shifting even more to Raindrop!
As #Microsoft has obviously given up on 24H2, users can now look at a whole new group of bugs as Microsoft changes some of the 'under the hood' parts of the 40 year old code!
Windows 11 24H2 seems to be a massive fail – so Microsoft apparently working on 25H2 fills me with hope... and fear
There are reasons why 25H2 might be less buggy than 24H2, and we can at least hold on to that hope
www.techradar.com
March 30, 2025 at 8:06 PM
As #Microsoft has obviously given up on 24H2, users can now look at a whole new group of bugs as Microsoft changes some of the 'under the hood' parts of the 40 year old code!
#Microsoft stuff ups continue unabated in March. It appears #Microsoft is not getting ANY better at quality control and testing. This time it uninstalls its own Copilot feature. Some PCs are not even booting after updates! Oh dear! Try a better Operating System.
Windows 11 bug deletes Copilot from the OS – is this the first glitch ever some users will be happy to encounter?
Windows 11 has been hit by a fair few bugs with Microsoft’s March patches – and Windows 10 is in the firing line of this Copilot glitch
www.techradar.com
March 17, 2025 at 8:45 PM
#Microsoft stuff ups continue unabated in March. It appears #Microsoft is not getting ANY better at quality control and testing. This time it uninstalls its own Copilot feature. Some PCs are not even booting after updates! Oh dear! Try a better Operating System.
Not only would you have to put up with ads but you will be locked into #OneDrive. Great for #Microsoft to charge for storage. Why would you not just go to #LibreOffice?
Microsoft is testing free Office for Windows apps with ads
The free Office apps have started appearing in select countries
www.theverge.com
March 2, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Not only would you have to put up with ads but you will be locked into #OneDrive. Great for #Microsoft to charge for storage. Why would you not just go to #LibreOffice?
Arrogant #Microsoft. Having locked users into #Office 365 Microsoft suddenly ups the price from A$109 to A$159 per anum for single users. Apparently there is a way of opting for a non Copilot 'Classic' plan if you can work out how to do it!
'Arrogance is astounding': Microsoft subscription price hike brings backlash
Microsoft has increased the price of its Microsoft 365 subscriptions, which it says has new AI features, but the price hike caused consumer outrage.
www.abc.net.au
February 25, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Arrogant #Microsoft. Having locked users into #Office 365 Microsoft suddenly ups the price from A$109 to A$159 per anum for single users. Apparently there is a way of opting for a non Copilot 'Classic' plan if you can work out how to do it!
#Microsoft should stop trying to add new features until it has Windows 11 running better than Windows 10 (or even Windows 7). Fix the problems before adding unnecessary features just to compete with their OS competitors!
Finding Windows 11 sluggish when you’re working with files and folders? You’re not alone – and it’s high time for Microsoft to sort out File Explorer
One fix is now inbound, but more work is clearly needed on this central cog in the interface
www.techradar.com
February 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
#Microsoft should stop trying to add new features until it has Windows 11 running better than Windows 10 (or even Windows 7). Fix the problems before adding unnecessary features just to compete with their OS competitors!
File Explorer is the key component of #Windows and as such the 'Achilles Heel' of the OS. The erratic behaviour of File Explorer renders the OS useless!
New patch for Windows 11 24H2 reportedly plays havoc with File Explorer, and some folks are claiming it's broken their PC
More bugs in the works for 24H2, and some nasty ones, too
www.techradar.com
February 17, 2025 at 8:30 PM
File Explorer is the key component of #Windows and as such the 'Achilles Heel' of the OS. The erratic behaviour of File Explorer renders the OS useless!
Is there no end to #Microsoft's sheer incompetence when it comes to #Windows 11 updates? I am now getting nervous delivering new Windows 11 PCs to users and then being faced with problem after problem. Maybe I need to recommend an alternative OS!
I'm absolutely sick of Microsoft's Windows 11 24H2 update, as it's now causing Bluetooth and webcam issues
Microsoft, enough is enough...
www.techradar.com
February 8, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Is there no end to #Microsoft's sheer incompetence when it comes to #Windows 11 updates? I am now getting nervous delivering new Windows 11 PCs to users and then being faced with problem after problem. Maybe I need to recommend an alternative OS!
Useful article if you finally want to end your relationship with #X / #Twitter. The article shows how to delete your existing #X account and some alternative social networks you might consider joining, including this one #Bluesky.
How to delete X and move on with your life | TechCrunch
As Elon Musk's X sees a decline in daily active users, some people are deciding to ditch the social network entirely, whether that's for Bluesky,
techcrunch.com
February 1, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Yet another #Microsoft stuff up not only affecting the delicate #Windows11 OS but earlier versions as well. Does Microsoft do any testing of its updates to their 40 year old software?
Microsoft admits bug that kills PC’s audio is seriously widespread affecting multiple Windows 11 versions and Windows 10 – but a fix is coming
Glitch that casts a silence spell on some PCs has no workaround, but Microsoft promises a solution is coming
www.techradar.com
February 1, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Yet another #Microsoft stuff up not only affecting the delicate #Windows11 OS but earlier versions as well. Does Microsoft do any testing of its updates to their 40 year old software?