No, Not While I Was Sleeping

b****ds did it while I was in the fechen shower

from WinCustomize Forums

So, just when I think I have the bastards beat, there's another twist to the story.

I had issues where I couldn't access downloads for Windows 8.1, just the Windows 10 downgrade, and it took me a couple of days to resolve.... or so I thought.

>:(

I didn't download all the available updates for Win 8.1 as there were quite a few and I didn't want to be tying things up or having to reboot at inopportune times.... hence the plan to do some at a time each day 'til done.

Sounds like a good plan, right?  Wrong!  I set Updates to download the updates I had selected and proceeded to have a shave, shower, shit, shampoo and shoe shine - well maybe not the shit and shoe shine - which can take me a while these days cos I got far more skin real estate than I used to.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, when I got back to the little beast - and get this, cos I didn't select it in updates - Windows 10 had downloaded and was 23% installed.  What a fechen cheek, none of the downloads I selected, just this damned butt ugly OS and partly installed... without my say-so.  Thing is, if I stop it now, at 61%, I'll be neither here nor there, so I may as well let it complete and decide then as to whether I will roll back or not, given the sheer persistence of MS and the few, if any options I have remaining to keep 8.1.

And no GWX Control Panel did not help.  I think that is only useful to remove the tray icon and prevent the preparatory downloads.  If the Win 10 downgrade is already listed in the download list, which it was, I don't know that there is anything that can prevent it downloading and installing, as was the case here tonight [Oz time].

I know that when I install 8.1 on a spare machine I had prepared for Win 10, it'll be disconnected from the internet until I set it up with GWX Control Panel and research any 'bad' updates before connecting.  Hopefully I will gain full control over which OS I want to run on it.

Oh, and a few more... >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( for good measure.  >:(

17,449 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I don't know why you are having problems with Windows updates. I have 8.1 on my laptop and my desktop and I don't look at the updates that are being installed. I've never come across the Win 10 update. The only time I see it is on my MSN home page with a banner at the top or an ad that appears in the middle of the screen. 

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting ALMonty, reply 1

I don't know why you are having problems with Windows updates. I have 8.1 on my laptop and my desktop and I don't look at the updates that are being installed. I've never come across the Win 10 update. The only time I see it is on my MSN home page with a banner at the top or an ad that appears in the middle of the screen. 
End of ALMonty's quote

I don't know why I'm having such issues, either.  But then I've known others who also had/have issues with Win 10 wanting to download/install without permissions.  As for your not having these issues with your PC and Win 8.1, and I have, it is most likely because I did a factory reset while connected to the net and the Win 10 downgrade was listed in my updates list during that process.... in fact it was the only 'update' to begin with.

I don't know how, why, I just know that it somehow snuck under my radar while I was showering.  I dunno, maybe if I hadn't taken so long, but when my blow-up doll didn't come in to scrub my back, and gawd knows I waited plenty.... anyway, it's done but not necessarily dusted.

Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have 8.1 on 5 machines with no problems. I know this doesn't help you. Sorry.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

W10 got the cap'n? Oh......the irony of it. No offense starkers but I couldn't resist.  :)

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You use "shit shampoo"? 8C

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

x_x

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well, 2nd impression of Win 10.... DON"T  FECHEN like it.

I say 2nd impression cos I had to set Shaunna's new Win 10 Lappy up for her.  Didn't like it then, don't like it now.

Having all sorts of issues:

1. I can't give permissions in UAC.... there's nothing to click on.  Hence; I can't install anything

2. Windows dialog boxes have nothing in them... just a blank page... or nothing at all, just the frame.

3. Can't make Firefox my default browser.... keeps reverting back to effin' Edge.

That's just to start with.  I'll bet my left nut there'll be other fuck ups with this POS OS.

In fact, I hate it more now than I did fiddling with Shaunna's lappy.

I have the feeling I may have to either do a clean install or roll back to Win 8.1... if that's even an option.

Anyway, not now... not at 4.17am

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well I keep my left nut.... Control panel items fail to load, meaning I cannot view system information to get the product key in order to do a clean install.  Yes, there are product key finders but I've found some not to be so reliable/accurate.

I'm currently running sfc /scannow in the hope it will repair the obviously broken system files'

Yeah, I know, not at this time of the morning, but there's no way I'd get to sleep with a mostly effed up computer that has too much going wrong.

Oh well......

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

sfc /scannow failed to find anything wrong and I can't find a way to disable UAC so that I can run the downloaded Win 10 installer to see it that may correct the issues.

Put bluntly, I think I'm feched... unless I can disable UAC or find a way to run the setup files.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'd try a clean install. If that don't work roll back and give 10 the proverbial boot.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I can't do a clean install.... UAC won't let me run the Win 10 setup or open/install any programs, bar Firefox and a couple of default apps that are of no assistance.  None of the Control Panel functions load, either, so I can't open any useful tools to make any system adjustments.  I can't even open regedit without UAC, so there's no solution in there... same with task manager.

I think my only hope now is to burn a disc with the installation files and use my portable DVD to install using boot from disc in BIOS.... IF there is a boot from disc option, that is.

That'll be my next point of attack... and hopefully I managed to extract and copy the correct product key a while back.

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Okay, so I finally struck some luck.... how, I'm not sure, but I did.

Anyway, to cut another long story short, I somehow managed to access system setting that were not available previously.  Maybe I used a different path or something, but I got there and was able to do a factory reset.  Yes, that gets me back to where I started, but at least I'll be able to access important settings again and reset the little beast to something more usable... er, friendly.

I'm currently using Shaunna's Win 10 lappy to post this... the little beast hasn't finished resetting yet, but I thought I post some happier news. Thing is, I am looking at the possibility of being faced with the same update issue, and if so, and I cannot fully update Win 8.1 like last time, I may just have to suck it up and bite the Win 10 bullet.  I'd rather not, but ..... if I'm not given a choice...

 

Well the factory reset has completed, so I guess I'll See.  Fingers crossed.

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

OOPS!!!

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 13

 

Quoting starkers,
reply 7

1. I can't give permissions in UAC.... there's nothing to click on. Hence; I can't install anything

Turn that shit off. Get with the program...lol.

It's in control panel/user accounts. Not in settings.

Quoting starkers,
reply 7

3. Can't make Firefox my default browser.... keeps reverting back to effin' Edge.



Gotta do that in settings. Default applications.

End of RedneckDude's quote

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 14


Quoting starkers,
reply 7

1. I can't give permissions in UAC.... there's nothing to click on. Hence; I can't install anything

Turn that shit off. Get with the program...lol.

It's in control panel/user accounts. Not in settings.

End of RedneckDude's quote

Control Panel items were NOT loading... hence NO user accounts |-)

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 14


Quoting starkers,
reply 7

3. Can't make Firefox my default browser.... keeps reverting back to effin' Edge.



Gotta do that in settings. Default applications.
End of RedneckDude's quote

Couldn't access settings, Default Applications, either.  The items were there but unchangeable and reverted back to default.

 

Anyway, it's all sorted now.  I somehow managed to open the 'Recovery' page and was able to factory reset.  From there, however, my only update option was to install Win 10 again, which I reluctantly did after a solution to remain with 8.1 wasn't forthcoming.  I still don't like it, but at least everything is working as it should this time. 

It would seem I got a bad download last time.  When I tried to use it to save another download, the Windows installer noted some system files were either missing or corrupt, and the installation was aborted.

Well that's 6 - 7 wasted hours I'll never get back, and at my age - fech Microsoft - I can't afford to blow them away like that.

Oh well, a bit of snooze about now 'd be good.  :zzz:

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You got a bad download because MS knew who was getting it.

See... they need to datamine so they can match expectations with experience.

When you say "win 10 is crap" they hear that...and make sure your experience of 10 will match your expectations.

 

Damn it if they are not clever buggers...;)

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Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Funny you should say that, Paul, I thought pretty much the same thing.... and without my tinfoil hat, too.

So much for free speech, hey!  Poor large corporation, can't take a bit o' criticism from a lowly layman like me.  Diddums!!!! :grin:

As for being clever buggers, they made sure I had to downgrade, didn't they!  Before the factory reset completed, the installation page informed me that updates had been downloaded, which was made possible because Windows installed the previously disabled network adapter.  Thing is, I could have shut down the router, but in the end I'd have been faced with the same issue.

Oh well, like it or not - and I don't - I now have a fully functional copy of Win 10 on my 2-in-1.  However, I fixed it up pretty much like Shaunna's Lappy and it's not too different to Win 8.1 now.  One of the first things was to get rid of that monstrosity of a start menu with Start10 and set up Windowblinds.  At least 10 looks half decent, bar those default icons that look like escapees from a Fisher Price reject bin.  They definitely should have put a tighter lid on that.

Anyway, I'm stuck with an OS I don't like, but I will get used to it, I suppose.... when I stop grieving over Win 8.1. :'( :-" ;P

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Glad you got it sorted.

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Mark, you're not stuck with it, You should be able to rollback, or factory reset it.

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 19

Mark, you're not stuck with it, You should be able to rollback, or factory reset it.
End of RedneckDude's quote

That's just it, I can only roll back to a clean installation OR do a factory reset.  In either case, I'd have to run Windows Update to get all the latest security patches and etc..... and therein lies the rub.  In either case, a download takes place just prior to the installation completing, and the only thing available for download is Win 10.  The first factory reset had 'Show Other Updates' greyed out, and though they were not in the second reset and I could select them, Win 10 downloaded and installed first, thus negating the need for 8.1 updates.

The 3rd reset was the same thing, but instead of fighting a losing battle against MS' persistence to force Win 10 upon me, I simply installed it and have accepted my fate.  Seriously, I really wanted to stay with 8.1, but those bastards are smarter than I am and I was outsmarted.

Anyway, it is what it is. :waaaa:

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Okay, so I think that I've figured out what happened with the factory reset and why I got Win 10 as the only download available to me in Windows Update.

When the factory reset completed and was activated with MS, it was detected as Win 8.1 and a therefore a download was sent to Windows Update to make Windows 10 the 1st in the queue, thus nullifying all other updates for Win 8.1, whether selected or not.