October 16, 2025Oct 16 I am 81 and I am having a lot of problems with my Acer AIO Aspire and MS probably with Windows 10. MS keeps telling me to upgrade to Win 11 and my Acer pc keeps telling me that the hardware for Win 11 is not there I am considering a new pc and using Kubuntu from Linux instead of MS Win 11. My friend has just bought a new laptop with Win 11 as the factory option and he is having a lot of problems. I am coming away fro MS Office and I now use Libre office instead.
October 16, 2025Oct 16 Popular Post Is the fact that you are 81 relevant? 😊 It is more difficult to move to Linux than it is to simply enrol your PC into another year of free Windows 10 updates or to upgrade to Windows 11, even though Microsoft is 'lying' to you in telling you that your PC cannot be upgraded to Windows 11(it can)
October 16, 2025Oct 16 Popular Post Once you have Linux installed, you will find it easy to use, especially since you have experience with LibreOffice. But getting Linux installed and properly configured for your hardware may take some tweaking, and may require that you use the Linux shell (in the Terminal program) and an editor such as vi or emacs. You will find that there is very good support online from the Linux community, and any problems you encounter will already have been solved by other users. If you are unsure if this is the right solution for you, you can create a bootable Linux on a USB stick and try it out prior to an actual installation. Hope this helps, Paul Laew
October 16, 2025Oct 16 Linux is very easy to use once you get used it. The real issue is the lack of software compatibility, that's why I wouldn't use Linux. There are ways around it but why put yoursef through that hassle when windows has compatibility like no other.
October 16, 2025Oct 16 I'm sure the OP was advised to not buy an AIO in the first place...but they went ahead anyway. Quite likely it is still running an old HDD. If it was bought five years ago, but the OP is suggesting that Microsoft is telling them it is not eligible to upgrade to Windows 11, then it means they bought OLD tech five years ago. The usual advice would be to just enable the extra year of Windows 10 updates...and to get an SSD fitted.
October 17, 2025Oct 17 Author On 10/16/2025 at 12:58 PM, Paulaew said: Once you have Linux installed, you will find it easy to use, especially since you have experience with LibreOffice. But getting Linux installed and properly configured for your hardware may take some tweaking, and may require that you use the Linux shell (in the Terminal program) and an editor such as vi or emacs. You will find that there is very good support online from the Linux community, and any problems you encounter will already have been solved by other users. If you are unsure if this is the right solution for you, you can create a bootable Linux on a USB stick and try it out prior to an actual installation. Hope this helps, Paul Laew Thank you for the information. It is helpful.
October 17, 2025Oct 17 Author On 10/16/2025 at 1:24 PM, JakeC said: I'm sure the OP was advised to not buy an AIO in the first place...but they went ahead anyway. Quite likely it is still running an old HDD. If it was bought five years ago, but the OP is suggesting that Microsoft is telling them it is not eligible to upgrade to Windows 11, then it means they bought OLD tech five years ago. The usual advice would be to just enable the extra year of Windows 10 updates...and to get an SSD fitted. Nobody "advised" me to buy an AIO. It was MY decision and MY choice. Quite likely it IS running an old HDD, but unlike some people with loads of money. I don't chop and change with every new thing that comes along. It works well enough for me and that is the thing that is important for me. I have read both your post and that of Paul Laew who responded first. His post is useful and helpful, whereas yours is nothing but a waste of my time. I asked a reasonable question and received 1 good and helpful response, and then I read yours, which was a complete waste of time, and told me nothing that I didn't know already.
October 17, 2025Oct 17 Popular Post You can download a live USB version of most linux distros and boot from it without destroying your windows install. As a new user, I'd suggest linux mint as a reasonable place to start. Give it a shot and see how you like it. At 81, it will be a lot to learn, but that's a good thing as learning new stuff is good for your mental health. More complicated, you can also set up some USB sticks to remember your changes when you switch back to windows. Aldo if there's enough room on your hard drive/SSD you can install linux and run dual boot so you can change back and forth easily. Good luck.
October 17, 2025Oct 17 I used to use OpenOffice (then Libre) as opposed to MS Office. However, I have now moved everything into Google docs and I will never go back. If you can make that transition, it is likely you need nothing more than a solid browser. That can be done quite well on almost any platform/os. Even if you need to hire a little help to get Linux installed properly, after that it should deliver what you need. I prefer it over Windows. Especially these days.
October 17, 2025Oct 17 3 hours ago, billd766 said: Nobody "advised" me to buy an AIO. It was MY decision and MY choice. Quite likely it IS running an old HDD, but unlike some people with loads of money. I don't chop and change with every new thing that comes along. It works well enough for me and that is the thing that is important for me. I have read both your post and that of Paul Laew who responded first. His post is useful and helpful, whereas yours is nothing but a waste of my time. I asked a reasonable question and received 1 good and helpful response, and then I read yours, which was a complete waste of time, and told me nothing that I didn't know already. I think you received more than one good and helpful response. I told you that it would be more difficult to move to Linux than it would be to apply another year of Windows 10 updates. So I answered your question. Perhaps you were too busy being gobby to notice. My other post just went right over your head. The cut off point for devices officially able to upgrade to Windows 11 is around 2017. As you state that you bought it just four years ago, then why would it be unable to upgrade to Windows 11? You bought a device manufactured in 2016, in 2021? It's a waste of time trying to help you to solve your problems. You prefer to kick off than to learn anything.
October 18, 2025Oct 18 7 hours ago, gargamon said: You can download a live USB version of most linux distros and boot from it without destroying your windows install. This is the advice I would give the OP. However, he would need to be aware that working from a USB it will run very slowly. It'll be much, much faster when it's properly installed. Then it will run faster and be more responsive than Microsoft Windows.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 Author On 10/18/2025 at 12:03 AM, gargamon said: You can download a live USB version of most linux distros and boot from it without destroying your windows install. As a new user, I'd suggest linux mint as a reasonable place to start. Give it a shot and see how you like it. At 81, it will be a lot to learn, but that's a good thing as learning new stuff is good for your mental health. More complicated, you can also set up some USB sticks to remember your changes when you switch back to windows. Aldo if there's enough room on your hard drive/SSD you can install linux and run dual boot so you can change back and forth easily. Good luck. Thank you also.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 Author On 10/18/2025 at 12:14 AM, timendres said: I used to use OpenOffice (then Libre) as opposed to MS Office. However, I have now moved everything into Google docs and I will never go back. If you can make that transition, it is likely you need nothing more than a solid browser. That can be done quite well on almost any platform/os. Even if you need to hire a little help to get Linux installed properly, after that it should deliver what you need. I prefer it over Windows. Especially these days. I am on Windows 10 and since MS have stopped supporting it, my pc is driving me nuts. Win 10 thinks that IT knows what it wants rather than why I want so that is where it goes, then I have to drive it back to where I want it to go.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 I think Linux is more difficult than Windows at first if you are used to the Windows way of doing things..you just have to try and adapt to the different way of doing things...it's the same things but different a bit like learning a new language,that said linux has become very much easier in recent years with lots of user friendly distro's now available. Windows 7 is still usable as 10 and 11 become less and less user friendly and more integrated into the big brother network, 11 with its Ai recording of everything done on the computer is particularly disturbing and to be avoided at all costs.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 1 hour ago, billd766 said: I am on Windows 10 and since MS have stopped supporting it, my pc is driving me nuts. Win 10 thinks that IT knows what it wants rather than why I want so that is where it goes, then I have to drive it back to where I want it to go. They haven't stopped supporting it. Whatever gave you that idea? Supported for everyone until October '26. Though you need to enrol.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 1 hour ago, BatteringRam said: They haven't stopped supporting it. Whatever gave you that idea? Supported for everyone until October '26. Though you need to enrol. Then why did Microsoft write "Windows 10 support has ended on October 14, 2025" https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-support-has-ended-on-october-14-2025-2ca8b313-1946-43d3-b55c-2b95b107f281 And ESU is neither full support, nor available for everyone.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 7 hours ago, Zaphod Priest said: Then why did Microsoft write "Windows 10 support has ended on October 14, 2025" https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-support-has-ended-on-october-14-2025-2ca8b313-1946-43d3-b55c-2b95b107f281 And ESU is neither full support, nor available for everyone. To get people to move to Windows 11. It's available to everyone. To whom do you say it is not? Do you know the meaning of full support? I think you don't. Did I even write 'full support'? I think that I did not.
October 21, 2025Oct 21 Author On 10/18/2025 at 12:14 AM, timendres said: I used to use OpenOffice (then Libre) as opposed to MS Office. However, I have now moved everything into Google docs and I will never go back. If you can make that transition, it is likely you need nothing more than a solid browser. That can be done quite well on almost any platform/os. Even if you need to hire a little help to get Linux installed properly, after that it should deliver what you need. I prefer it over Windows. Especially these days. I downloaded Kubuntu to a flash drive last night but I gave up on Linux Mint after it split 3 ways and wouldn't download at all.
October 21, 2025Oct 21 9 hours ago, billd766 said: I downloaded Kubuntu to a flash drive last night but I gave up on Linux Mint after it split 3 ways and wouldn't download at all. If you are having issues with such elementary things, are you sure about moving to a new platform, about which you understand nothing at all? How is it possible to fail to download when there are possibly one hundred mirrors and a Torrent option? I clicked on a random mirror, with the image downloading in three minutes. https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=322 Further to this, if there are any components within your AIO that the distro does not support, you are going to have to learn new skills in order to solve that issue.
October 22, 2025Oct 22 Author 11 hours ago, BatteringRam said: Hey, don't shoot the messenger 😊 11 hours ago, BatteringRam said: Hey, don't shoot the messenger 😊 There are 3 types of poster on this thread. 1 There are those who ask for help and guidance, though they may not be that sure what exactly they want. 2 There are those who willingly give their help and guidance without criticism 3 There are those who are picky and feel superior to everybody else and are little or no help to man nor beast. Where do you think that you fit?
October 22, 2025Oct 22 Popular Post I have Win 11 installed on my 2 laptops, I think I've tried and tested pretty well all Linux distros now but I keep going back to Win 11 for the apps I use.
October 22, 2025Oct 22 1 hour ago, billd766 said: There are 3 types of poster on this thread. 1 There are those who ask for help and guidance, though they may not be that sure what exactly they want. 2 There are those who willingly give their help and guidance without criticism 3 There are those who are picky and feel superior to everybody else and are little or no help to man nor beast. Where do you think that you fit? 4. The one who gets criticised by the person to dim to understand the advice given and too arrogant to say thank you. I guess we are going to see a lot more of you around here. Perhaps within the Linux section? The question still stands? How is it possible that you failed to successfully download Linux Mint, when there are one hundred and one options to do so? That is a legitimate question as to your general competence. If you cannot even do that, how successful might you be at using Terminal? I'm not sure that you'll be able to follow any instructions given. That is my opinion. Sorry if it hurts your feelings.
October 24, 2025Oct 24 I tried Linux once and found it very difficult to install and use. Why go through the problems when MS W10/11 is so easy. Yes Libre Office is great though.
November 3, 2025Nov 3 On 10/24/2025 at 10:32 AM, henryford1958 said: I tried Linux once and found it very difficult to install and use. Why go through the problems when MS W10/11 is so easy. Yes Libre Office is great though. There are no problems if you really try it. If you cannot install it yourself get a techie to do it.
November 3, 2025Nov 3 On 10/16/2025 at 11:51 AM, billd766 said: I am 81 and I am having a lot of problems with my Acer AIO Aspire and MS probably with Windows 10. MS keeps telling me to upgrade to Win 11 and my Acer pc keeps telling me that the hardware for Win 11 is not there I am considering a new pc and using Kubuntu from Linux instead of MS Win 11. My friend has just bought a new laptop with Win 11 as the factory option and he is having a lot of problems. I am coming away fro MS Office and I now use Libre office instead. What kind of problems with the Acer and w10? You can keep using W10 even after MS stopped updates. I used XP till 2023 ! You don't need to update to W11 but if you really want , there are many articles on the net how to , like : https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-upgrade-your-incompatible-windows-10-pc-to-windows-11-2-free-options/ Linux is going to be (very) disappointing and do you as 81 year old want to deal with that ? Your friend has trouble with a new laptop with W11 ... ? Not W11's fault. W11 is far easier to get used to than linux.
November 3, 2025Nov 3 Before you try moving to Linux, make a list of applications types that you need. IE word processing internet browsing, media playing and so on. Open (Apache) office will cover most of your needs, unless you need the macros in Windows word. Internet is easy, and linux has most of the good comon browsers ( can even import all your settings from your cloud backups). Email could be alittle more difficult depending on what you use now. There are quite a few media players, most are free. Open office can be set up to read and save documents in word format, and once done is simple to use. There will be some initial difficulties getting used to Linux , but you will be fine very quickly.
November 3, 2025Nov 3 Popular Post I find the move to Linux very easy. You can have a dual boot system, with your Windows as an alternative (safety net / comfort). There is a learning curve, but it wasn't steep and there are many videos, articles to assist you. As far as hardware retirements, Linux does not need as much as Windows. It's worth trying, even on a bootable USB drive. Good luck.
November 3, 2025Nov 3 Many of the comments here come from people who either post by hear say or whose LINUX experience dates years...LINUX today is not what it was when I started using it, years ago and I can assure you that today LINUX is much more simple to use than any Windows product! First of all as far as you are concerned, there isn't such a thing as LINUX, because there many different LINUX distributions, called "DISTROS" in the LINUX world. As I understand your requirements, I would recommend LINUX MINT ,a very friendly user distro that has everything you need working out of the box without any need to go to the terminal or use of any editor. go to https://linuxmint.com/ read the installation instructions (I recommend the "cinnamon" flavour) download the file and follow the instructions. You may need help to create a "bootable media" and set your computer BIOS to boot on it but this is a straight forward operation that is much simpler than installing Windows anyway ... 99% of what you do with Windows will be done better and faster with LINUX MINT. I have been a happy user for 15 years and I only use Windows occasionally to update my GARMIN Golf Watch because GARMIN does not provide a LINUX version f their software...
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