I hope that this is in the correct section, as I could not find a sticky for computers

Today without any warning, on my desktop, Windows 10 decided that I needed another update

I (being the boss) decided that I did not

For whatever reason or how and why, Windows 10 decided to go into tablet mode

Tablet mode means that all the shortcuts I had put on the desktop over the years were no longer visible

I did a security scan and found nothing out of the ordinary

In a normal situation (pre Windows 10), you would restart and most stuff would be where you had left it

After the restart I was still in Tablet mode

To get out of tablet mode I had to ask that very annoying Lady Cortana, to get me back to where I was

Eventually just type in Tablet mode, and at the very top of the list is

Tablet mode setting System setting

Click on that and at the top right is a box which gives you three option of

When I sign in

Use Tablet mode
Use desktop mode
Use the appropriate mode for my hardware


I would assume, but could be wrong, that Windows 10 had picked Tablet mode, because it is at the top of the list

Hope that this is useful to someone down the track

I still have an image of Windows 7 tucked away, Ian.

If I could not get my desktop back with all my shortcuts showing, I would have reverted back to Windows 7

It took me about an hour to figure out that it was in Tablet mode, as up to date I have never had a tablet, and did not exactly know, what I was looking at

Anyway, all is well that ends well

PeterD wrote:

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There should be an icon RH corner of your screen on the task bar. If you click on that it opens the "Action Centre." When you open the action centre there is a heap ot tyles at the bottom. The top LH one is labelled "Tablet mode." Have a play with that.

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Thanks for that advice Peter

I have just played around with the Tablet mode, in the Action Centre
Icon at bottom right far corner, clicked it and restarted twice, each time it has stayed in Desktop mode

I will now assume that when I was having problems, it had started in

Use the appropriate mode for my hardware and not Tablet mode

As I had removed all the Microsoft apps from where they were showing, therefore my screen would have had nothing on it

For those who have a desktop PC and do not want Microsoft to slip it into Tablet mode, my settings are below

Hope that this info is useful to someone, in the future

Cruising Cruze wrote:

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Just tell me one good thing of Windows 10
I must be stupid but I can't find any
this week we had heaps of problems with an 2 month old laptop after an 2 hr windows update it would not even go further than the login page
took it back to the shop were we bought it and they could not even set it back to factory default
so they gave us a new other brand laptop
I think Win 10 is the worse operating system windows ever made
I feel sorry for the people that have only an few gig to dl each month


Cheers John

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 I've found it to be an excellent Operating system John, been running it on a laptop and desktop machine for approaching 2 years now.

The only problem I've experienced is a hard drive failure, nothing to do with Windows.

Other family members and friends are also using it without problem.

"I think Win 10 is the worse operating system windows ever made" I've owned and used all of them since Win 95, still think this is one of the better versions, bit of a learning curve, once over that and you understand the ins and outs it's pretty straight forward.

Yes, we do have a fast connection and unlimited data, however that's a bit like buying a car and then complaining you cant afford to drive it because it's under powered and uses too much petrol, should have done the research.

We demand a lot of modern computers, and are asking for them to do more all the time, it's up to use to do our own research and understand personal limitations before buying one.

Taking the time to educate ones self and gaining an understanding of any operating system will go a long way toward preventing problems.

iana wrote:

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Having just looked at and considered about a hundred notebooks, all of which come with windows 10 installed as their operating system, perhaps Santa you could advise where I could have gone to buy a new note book with the earlier operating system installed.

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 Check if you can buy a notebook without an operating system and then have someone install Windows 7.

I bought one about twelve months ago and the dealer was quite happy to do this.

Strangely enough he had the same opinion of Windows 10 as myself and many others.

His explanation to me was that so many people have. "trouble" using 10 that it then creates an unhappy client and can reflect on his business. He openly advised me of the massive download updates and the difficulty in the general public understanding the new system.

If buying from the big chain stores etc you will be stuck with their package. Have a look for a dealer that also does repairs and then do a deal with them re the operating system.

I have a notebook with Windows 7 and a Macbook Air and both are great.

iana wrote:

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Having just looked at and considered about a hundred notebooks, all of which come with windows 10 installed as their operating system, perhaps Santa you could advise where I could have gone to buy a new note book with the earlier operating system installed.

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 Microsoft will not permit manufacturers to sell computers with any other versions earlier than Win 10. See dates here. Here is the Microsoft dates from the horses mouth (scroll down to End of sales.) You may find some of the smaller resellers with old stock but you then may find the stock is something you would not want.

.

Like Iana I have Wifi with only 8GB/mth I don't run Windows but 6 months ago Apple sent me the free download notification for their latest operating system which is 5GB in size. I have been avoiding doing it because I am happy with the OSX that I am currently using, occasionally I will be on a site that tells me that my Safari web browser is not the latest version (Computershare is one that I can recall) and now and then I will come across a video that won't run. As operating systems get older they may no longer be as well supported with bug fixes or security updates so if you opt never to move to a newer version eventually you may start experiencing problems. As Santa suggested do your homework before buying some of these bargain basement Windows laptops as sometimes the memory is only sufficient to run the operating system and they will struggle to run some of the other programs. Not so much a problem with Apple as they don't really build their machines to compete in that end of the market. If you can afford to invest a few more $ upfront to get a capable machine it is going to save you from having plenty of headaches down the track. For those still wondering about why they should bother to update to newer versions check out this link.

http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles-tutorials/misc_network_security/risk-running-obsolete-software-part1.html

Gooday,

 Had Windows for almost 10 years, got so fed up with it when using XP, Our Daughter who had been using Apple for most of her time with Computers said, "Get an Apple Dad & you will never look back", did that in 2009 and for the first week wondered what I had done, after 4 weeks I asked myself?, why the Hell did I not do this in 2000 when we got our first laptop, have never looked back. At least their system and menus are logical.

We had to buy a new Laptop a few months ago for an Accounting Programme we run, only runs on 'Micromess', Windows 10 may be OK for those with an IT Degree but there was about 2 things on the desktop and beyond we recognised.

You can buy a good Mac Desktop or Laptop on the Internet at reasonable prices, I just bought an I-Mac Desktop for my Brother, 2012 build for $680-00, they are a bit like Mobile Phones with the 'Debt Hungry Younger Ones', they have to have the newest and so there are some very good ones for sale at sensible prices. 

Cheers,

,

You can turn off Windows 10 updates, scroll down to

Turn off Windows Updates in Windows 10

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/turn-off-windows-update-in-windows-10

When you get back to an unlimited download area you can then turn updates back on

blissonwheels wrote:

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Gooday,

 Had Windows for almost 10 years, got so fed up with it when using XP, Our Daughter who had been using Apple for most of her time with Computers said, "Get an Apple Dad & you will never look back", did that in 2009 and for the first week wondered what I had done, after 4 weeks I asked myself?, why the Hell did I not do this in 2000 when we got our first laptop, have never looked back. At least their system and menus are logical.

We had to buy a new Laptop a few months ago for an Accounting Programme we run, only runs on 'Micromess', Windows 10 may be OK for those with an IT Degree but there was about 2 things on the desktop and beyond we recognised.

You can buy a good Mac Desktop or Laptop on the Internet at reasonable prices, I just bought an I-Mac Desktop for my Brother, 2012 build for $680-00, they are a bit like Mobile Phones with the 'Debt Hungry Younger Ones', they have to have the newest and so there are some very good ones for sale at sensible prices. 

Cheers,

,

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And King Kanute tried all he could to hold back the tide but he still drowned.

Unfortunately, whether you like Apple or Microsoft is irrelevant.
Neither is better than the other, they are quite different tools for quite different jobs.
When one removes the silly emotive slanging matches of Apple Vs Microsoft (akin to Ford Vs Holden) and view your computer as purely a tool, then you can choose based on whether is does what you need it to do.
ie, function over form.

There are plenty of folks who are quite happy with their $20 supermarket mobile phones because all they want to do is make and receive calls close to phone towers.
Other folks want more from their phone and buy blue tick phones for increased coverage, or what is generically termed a 'Smart Phone' for multimedia functions, but if you don't need that or you don't have the smarts to operate it then what is the point.

The facts are that Apple computers have less than a tenth of a percent of the market, and Windows commands over 97% of all PCs.
Why? Not because Windows is better, but because Apple targets a specific portion of the market by limiting precisely what you can and can't do on their devices and they design their operating systems for 'Dummies' (aka luddites).

Microsoft on the other hand lets you do whatever you want, with whatever software you want, with Windows, but that not only requires a little more effort to learn to keep up with the latest technology developments, it also presents a vector for luddites to screw things up.
So, and if you don't need to do anything other than consume very basic info off the net, buy a tablet or an Apple and you'll love it.
But they aren't for everyone.If you need to actually create stuff, then you are going to need a Windows PC.

Oh, by the way, from someone who was involved in those early days, you might be interested to know some facts.

Apple was formed when big ideas man Steve Jobs partnered with hardware enthusiast and the real brains behind Apple, Steve Wozniac.
The first few editions of Apple computers, carried the MacIntosh brand name and only the hardware was made by Apple, designed by Wozniac.
The operating system was always made by Microsoft for Apple.
Jobs and Gates were Uni buddies you see, and there was never any competition between them. One made hardware, one made software and they stuck to what they were good at. 

With a shrinking market share because of the myriad of new players entering the market, the board of Apple thought they knew better and Steve Jobs was sacked by his own board and the Apple-Microsoft relationship ended.

The Apple boards attempts to force Woz to design low-end generic hardware that would run their own software and operating systems was disastrous for the company and so the end of the Apple-Microsoft relationship also spelled the end of Apple's then command over the Personal PC market and it darned near spelled the end of Apple completely.

After filing for bankruptcy protection under US corporate law, shareholders made a last ditch attempt to remain in business and sacked the entire board and re-hired their old CEO Steve Jobs, who had already sold off all of his few remaining Apple shares. 

The development of hardware form over software function again ruled supreme as Apple, now no longer prohibited by the expired trademark and copyright settlement contract with Abbey Road Studios, moved into the music business and could finally use the Apple name on their products.

Behold, the sleek new iPod Touch MP3 player that would be made cheaply in China, and an online music sales system called iTunes .

Next they put a GSM chip into the MP3 player and called it an iPhone, put a big screen on the MP3 player and call it an iPad, put a laptop style keyboard on the iPad and call it a MacBook, but whatever you do, make them beautiful to look at and to hold, and simple to use for the less than average Joe who doesn't want or need the bells and whistles.

The rest is history as they say.

Good story Hylife but if you want an accurate history of Apples operating systems check out the link - really exciting stuff if you're a computer nerd.

http://www.kernelthread.com/publications/appleoshistory/1.html

By the way Apple had 7.6% of the PC market share in Q1 2016 (4.6 million) up from 6.7% the previous year which is slightly more than your quoted figure of "less than a tenth of a percent". Nice to hear from someone who was involved with Apple in the early days you must have plenty of money now as the last time I looked they were the richest company in the world. Sorry if I misinterpreted your message but I'm just one of those dummies using an iMac (aka luddite). I don't believe that the luddites actually used computers back in 1811 so I guess that you must have been referring to us in the derogatory sense.

Luddite
noun
  member of any of the bands of English workers who destroyed machinery, especially in cotton and woollen mills, which they believed was threatening their jobs (181116).

derogatory a person opposed to increased industrialization or new technology: a small-minded Luddite resisting progress.