I have Linux Mint (Cinnamon) running on a Lenovo Ideapad 320 purchased about 8 years ago in Pantip Plaza, with - as was once common in these parts - an unofficial version of Windows.
(Laptop pulled out of storage after then-current one developed faults.  Have since purchased a new Lenovo Ideapad, running Windows 11.  With hopes of eventually moving it over to Linux)

 

Linux Mint is based on Debian and is said to be easiest for those moving over from Windows who are not computer-wizards.

 

Had a slight struggle making the memory stick bootable; and then going into the BIOS to allow it to boot.

Initially ran Linux from USB memory stick without installing, to check all was well.  Then installed Linux, wiping Windows rather than making a dual-boot system.

 

Some programs I have long used under Windows are also available under Linux.  E.g. Libre Office, The Gimp, ESET Internet Security, Express VPN.  A couple of my decades-long favourites intended only for Windows needed installing with Wine:  Pegasus Mail and Notetab Pro.

 

Linux is said to work well with most computers, but if planning on buying one of the latest models, it is recommended to check out that all the necessary drivers are available, in case ones for Linux have not yet beeen developed.

 

Rob Braxman's site seems to offer a good introduction to online security and to Linux:  https://www.youtube.com/@robbraxmantech

 

 

 

 

Privacy disappeared decades ago.

 

 

6 hours ago, orchidfan said:

So, can you give me a brief, simple,  guide to uninstall it?

I have always found these tutorials very helpful -

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/16278-enable-disable-onedrive-integration.html

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4818-add-remove-onedrive-navigation-pane-windows-10-a.html

 

And a simple search will produce loads of other options from various sites.

2 hours ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

 

Privacy disappeared decades ago.

 

 

 True for most people.
And it might not have mattered in the past for those living in liberal democracies.  Which was not everyone of course.
But looking around one, it seems that things are changing, as governments everywhere exhibit an urgent desire to gain total control of their populations.
To what end exactly?
I do not pretend to know.
But am mistrustful.

19 hours ago, ericbj said:

 True for most people.
And it might not have mattered in the past for those living in liberal democracies.  Which was not everyone of course.
But looking around one, it seems that things are changing, as governments everywhere exhibit an urgent desire to gain total control of their populations.
To what end exactly?
I do not pretend to know.
But am mistrustful.

 

To enforce the laws of the land, mostly.

 

Otherwise, as far as I can tell, the only things they are interested in is:

- Your spending habits so they know what to market to you. AI on Youtube already does this. The AI algorithm keeps track of what you watch and feeds you videos it thinks you might like. I actually find this helpful. 

- In google searches, a lot of ads show up related to your search. One IT guy stopped using google because of this. But I find it silly. No one is forcing you to buy anything. 

 

- I guess AI uses people's information to learn. 

 

I don't think it's nefarious for people who are on the up and up. 

 

 

13 hours ago, ericbj said:

I have Linux Mint (Cinnamon) running on a Lenovo Ideapad 320 purchased about 8 years ago in Pantip Plaza, with - as was once common in these parts - an unofficial version of Windows.
(Laptop pulled out of storage after then-current one developed faults.  Have since purchased a new Lenovo Ideapad, running Windows 11.  With hopes of eventually moving it over to Linux)

 

Linux Mint is based on Debian and is said to be easiest for those moving over from Windows who are not computer-wizards.

 

Had a slight struggle making the memory stick bootable; and then going into the BIOS to allow it to boot.

Initially ran Linux from USB memory stick without installing, to check all was well.  Then installed Linux, wiping Windows rather than making a dual-boot system.

 

Some programs I have long used under Windows are also available under Linux.  E.g. Libre Office, The Gimp, ESET Internet Security, Express VPN.  A couple of my decades-long favourites intended only for Windows needed installing with Wine:  Pegasus Mail and Notetab Pro.

 

Linux is said to work well with most computers, but if planning on buying one of the latest models, it is recommended to check out that all the necessary drivers are available, in case ones for Linux have not yet beeen developed.

 

Rob Braxman's site seems to offer a good introduction to online security and to Linux:  https://www.youtube.com/@robbraxmantech

 

 

 

Chuck it, buy an Apple computer and all the annoying amateur stuff you mentioned above will have been implemented into the system by professional engineers through the company which has 3.9 trillion dollars behind it or you could stick with your steam engine system.

 

I don't have to deal with the boring stuff you mentioned as it is all in the system meaning I can get on and write smart phone apps instead of wasting time on such things you mentioned. 

 

I was though thinking of getting rid of my Apple computer and swapping it for an abacus as I heard they are more advanced. 🤣

 

 

Hi @orchidfan Are you referring to Windows 10 or Windows 11?

The simplest answer to your query, is to select "Always Keep On This Device" by navigating to File Explorer and Right Clicking on the OneDrive Folder to select that option.

You should then have the files on your PC and in the Cloud.

Would you prefer to not have OneDrive back up your files at all or are you happy to have a copy there?

 

1 hour ago, JakeC said:

Hi @orchidfan Are you referring to Windows 10 or Windows 11?

The simplest answer to your query, is to select "Always Keep On This Device" by navigating to File Explorer and Right Clicking on the OneDrive Folder to select that option.

You should then have the files on your PC and in the Cloud.

Would you prefer to not have OneDrive back up your files at all or are you happy to have a copy there?

 

Thanks for your reply.

I have windows 10 and a 500Gb SSD which I'll probably never fill in my lifetime!

I don't mind it backing up to One Drive per se, but

1/ find it hard to believe that it's FULL (hence the on-screen warnings being a pain)

2/ the time it takes to access One Drive to bring up a document or picture.

3/ I don't really know exactly what is backed up to One Drive ....but guess I could easily find this out 

4/ how do I get back all of my stored data on OneDrive as opposed to it being stored on an external drive (as suggested by another poster) should the computer crash.

Again, I can check this and ca probably access it from another computer via my Microsoft account.....Or Google account???

 

"So many Drives, so little time"

One Drive 

Google Drive

Dropbox

Mobile Drive 

Etc,etc

Samsung cloud (phone)

 

Cheers

@orchidfan I just explained what you needed to do. Takes less than a minute. Then it will download all of your files back to the PC. Then you'll have it on the PC and copies in the Cloud via OneDrive.

OneDrive is 'Full' because they only give you 5GB for free. They want you to pay to store more. Just more subterfuge to get you to subscribe. The trick is that they pretend that they are doing it to save space on your PC. Instead of saving to your PC, it's uploaded to OneDrive and not left on your PC. It's just to try to get people to subscribe to OneDrive in the same way that people pay more to Apple to get more iCloud storage space. So you actually have to take steps to return things back to 'normal'.

Of course the 'average' consumer can get caught in their web. People thinking that is just how it is and they have to go along with it.

 

6 hours ago, save the frogs said:

I don't think it's nefarious for people who are on the up and up. 

With that attitude...soon you will own nothing and be happy eating the bugs.

The built in Ai spy  foisted upon naive Win11 users  which records everything done on your computer should be a huge red flag with blaring Klaxon's for anyone with half a brain !!!!

 

However it is not the only spyware there is some worse that is built into the hardware

of all Intel CPU's since 2008  and AMD's from a bit later (2012 I think)

this is whole other mini CPU running underneath the main cpu and invisible to the main operating system  so antivirus or firewall is useless.

 

It can intercept all keystrokes encryption keys  read any file  and send it back to the 3 letter agencies   if you happen to become of interest to them .

 

 

https://hardenedlinux.github.io/firmware/2016/11/17/neutralize_ME_firmware_on_sandybridge_and_ivybridge.html

 

The Intel Management Engine with its proprietary firmware has complete access to and control over the PC: it can power on or shut down the PC, read all open files, examine all running applications, track all keys pressed and mouse movements, and even capture or display images on the screen. And it has a network interface that is demonstrably insecure, which can allow an attacker on the network to inject rootkits that completely compromise the PC and can report to the attacker all activities performed on the PC. It is a threat to freedom, security, and privacy that can’t be ignored.

17 hours ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

 

Privacy disappeared decades ago.

 

 

 

9/11  

1 hour ago, JakeC said:

@orchidfan I just explained what you needed to do. Takes less than a minute. Then it will download all of your files back to the PC. Then you'll have it on the PC and copies in the Cloud via OneDrive.

OneDrive is 'Full' because they only give you 5GB for free. They want you to pay to store more. Just more subterfuge to get you to subscribe. The trick is that they pretend that they are doing it to save space on your PC. Instead of saving to your PC, it's uploaded to OneDrive and not left on your PC. It's just to try to get people to subscribe to OneDrive in the same way that people pay more to Apple to get more iCloud storage space. So you actually have to take steps to return things back to 'normal'.

Of course the 'average' consumer can get caught in their web. People thinking that is just how it is and they have to go along with it.

 

thanks again

I thought as much. Same with the"365" thing, and my wife's storage FULL on her iPhone.

Now understand that "it will then download all your files back to the PC"......Presumedly to a folder I have created. But also keeps those already backed up on OneDrive.

 

3 hours ago, johng said:

https://hardenedlinux.github.io/firmware/2016/11/17/neutralize_ME_firmware_on_sandybridge_and_ivybridge.html

Very interesting thanks. Just surprised I have not seen anything about this before.

37 minutes ago, topt said:

Just surprised I have not seen anything about this before.

They try to keep it on the low down (covered up)  because ....

The 3 letter agencies of course had a deal with Intel/AMD to supply chips an/or BIOS without the spyware enabled so they would be more secure form spying..hypocrites  want to spy on everyone  but don't like it is done to them.