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Author Topic: Windows 10 listens to everything you say and records your keystrokes etc........  (Read 3799 times)

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Offline Matthew

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Re: Windows 10 listens to everything you say and records your keystrokes etc........
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2021, 11:45:52 AM »
Quote from: SimpleMan on March 23, 2021, 11:35:31 AM
I have a cheap Compaq on which I installed Linux, and I have basically "bricked" it from being able to scrub everything off and re-install Windows 7.  I'd like to set it up as a dedicated machine to run my Skype line --- right now I'm using a netbook, which is beyond lame --- and may end up having to spend $50-$100 to reinstall Windows, since I can't do it.  Anybody got any tips?

Without going into too much detail, just for starters, I have to comment --

You can't "brick" a PC. PCs use standard hard drives which are replaceable. "Bricking" is when you interrupt or do a bad job flashing the BIOS (the very lowest level of software in a device -- and the ONLY level of OS or operating software for many consumer electronics devices) so that the old low-level instructions are gone BUT ALSO the new version that you were upgrading to as well. So you have neither the old or the new, and you turn on the device and it has no low-level BIOS software to execute -- so you have a brick. Unless you can replace the flash ROM chip on the motherboard (which may require soldering) you are out of luck.

You can *always* format a PC and install a new operating system. Even if you destroyed a hard drive, you just buy a new one.
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Offline SimpleMan

Re: Windows 10 listens to everything you say and records your keystrokes etc........
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2021, 12:55:45 PM »
Quote from: Matthew on March 23, 2021, 11:45:52 AM
Without going into too much detail, just for starters, I have to comment --

You can't "brick" a PC. PCs use standard hard drives which are replaceable. "Bricking" is when you interrupt or do a bad job flashing the BIOS (the very lowest level of software in a device -- and the ONLY level of OS or operating software for many consumer electronics devices) so that the old low-level instructions are gone BUT ALSO the new version that you were upgrading to as well. So you have neither the old or the new, and you turn on the device and it has no low-level BIOS software to execute -- so you have a brick. Unless you can replace the flash ROM chip on the motherboard (which may require soldering) you are out of luck.

You can *always* format a PC and install a new operating system. Even if you destroyed a hard drive, you just buy a new one.
I meant "brick" in the sense of "it's useless to me and I can't do a software fix on it".  I see from your comments that this is not the standard definition, and perhaps I shouldn't have used the term so loosely.  I can surf some very basic internet on it, but anything that is the least bit complicated, can't do it.  I have neither the time nor the patience to try to download all the things I might need, and even then be in no better shape than when I started.  I have tried to reformat it, and it doesn't work.  Don't know what I'm doing wrong.  It may be something simple.

I have actually thought of getting a new hard drive and just starting from scratch.  This is a piece-of-dung cheapest Compaq imaginable, it doesn't even have built-in WiFi, I have to use a USB device for that --- whose bright idea was that in the year circa 2010?  I actually have a couple of hard drives from PCs that died on me --- when I have to retire a computer, I take it apart and throw every usable part into a storage box, in case I might ever find a use for it.  So I may see if either of those are compatible. 

I also have a fairly nice HP that I bought in 2006, and I have repurposed it to an entertainment server, to play audio and video through the TV set in our main room.  I have basically rebuilt that machine from scratch due to hardware failures, new motherboard, new hard drive, new video card, you name it, and taking into account its inherent limitations, it's actually the smoothest, most trouble-free, most elegant PC I own.  Playing MP3 and MP4 through Windows Media Player isn't exactly nuclear physics. 

If I can't fix the Compaq, I may just donate it to charity.  I have several machines here that aren't regularly used.  Planned obsolescence has seen to that.
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Offline Kazimierz

Re: Windows 10 listens to everything you say and records your keystrokes etc........
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2021, 01:34:36 PM »
Quote from: SimpleMan on March 23, 2021, 12:55:45 PM
I meant "brick" in the sense of "it's useless to me and I can't do a software fix on it".  I see from your comments that this is not the standard definition, and perhaps I shouldn't have used the term so loosely.  I can surf some very basic internet on it, but anything that is the least bit complicated, can't do it.  I have neither the time nor the patience to try to download all the things I might need, and even then be in no better shape than when I started.  I have tried to reformat it, and it doesn't work.  Don't know what I'm doing wrong.  It may be something simple.

I have actually thought of getting a new hard drive and just starting from scratch.  This is a piece-of-dung cheapest Compaq imaginable, it doesn't even have built-in WiFi, I have to use a USB device for that --- whose bright idea was that in the year circa 2010?  I actually have a couple of hard drives from PCs that died on me --- when I have to retire a computer, I take it apart and throw every usable part into a storage box, in case I might ever find a use for it.  So I may see if either of those are compatible.  

I also have a fairly nice HP that I bought in 2006, and I have repurposed it to an entertainment server, to play audio and video through the TV set in our main room.  I have basically rebuilt that machine from scratch due to hardware failures, new motherboard, new hard drive, new video card, you name it, and taking into account its inherent limitations, it's actually the smoothest, most trouble-free, most elegant PC I own.  Playing MP3 and MP4 through Windows mєdια Player isn't exactly nuclear physics.  

If I can't fix the Compaq, I may just donate it to charity.  I have several machines here that aren't regularly used.  Planned obsolescence has seen to that.
Quote from: SimpleMan on March 23, 2021, 12:55:45 PM


If I can't fix the Compaq, I may just donate it to charity.  I have several machines here that aren't regularly used.  Planned obsolescence has seen to that.
I commend your actions about wanting to donate the silicon dung heap  :laugh2: :laugh1: to a charity. 
Dismantling old machines is another venerable action.
As I have always used Macs I traded them in and upgraded to a newer machine. I did have quite old hard drives of the external variety that came to their end of usefulness.
As I had several of these stored away, the time came to send them to oblivion.
“And in those days, Kazimierz of the Trad Cats 🐈 did take the storage units up into the mountains, whereupon finding the range he sought, did place the drives upon a makeshift altar of destruction. Then did Kazimierz make it rain at high velocities, lead and copper, and the drives were mercifully blown to bits in his Polish sight. Thunderous applause from the boom rods came, followed by rejoicing, with the imbibing of carbonated refreshments. And yea, Kazimierz did praise the Lord, pray to Our Lady and pass the ammunition.”
;)
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Offline SimpleMan

Re: Windows 10 listens to everything you say and records your keystrokes etc........
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2021, 05:58:36 PM »
Quote from: Kazimierz on March 23, 2021, 01:34:36 PM
I commend your actions about wanting to donate the silicon dung heap  :laugh2: :laugh1: to a charity.
Dismantling old machines is another venerable action.
As I have always used Macs I traded them in and upgraded to a newer machine. I did have quite old hard drives of the external variety that came to their end of usefulness.
As I had several of these stored away, the time came to send them to oblivion.
“And in those days, Kazimierz of the Trad Cats 🐈 did take the storage units up into the mountains, whereupon finding the range he sought, did place the drives upon a makeshift altar of destruction. Then did Kazimierz make it rain at high velocities, lead and copper, and the drives were mercifully blown to bits in his Polish sight. Thunderous applause from the boom rods came, followed by rejoicing, with the imbibing of carbonated refreshments. And yea, Kazimierz did praise the Lord, pray to Our Lady and pass the ammunition.”
;)
And it came to pass, that SimpleMan and his first-begotten son, a clever young squire of great spirit and half the blood of the noble tribe of Polonia, did gather up all the electronics in the house that had grown old and weary, and resolved to dispatch them to the end of their days. Not seeking to fall into the hands of the magistrates, they resisted mightily the temptation to sojourn at that fort called Academy and take unto themselves several measures of that mysterious powder called Ta-Ni-Reit. So they gathered their beatus vectes each heavy laden a score and thirteen with those projectiles that were hollow on the end, and loaded them into that weapon called Glock. They then found a clearing ventured not into by man or beast, placed those aged and obsolete wonders on stumps of wood, and proceeded to blast them into the great beyond. And so it was in those happy days before the reign of the dusky empress Kamapatra.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, even when it threatens to make the flatterer look like a total horse's hindquarters :jester:

..
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Offline Kazimierz

Re: Windows 10 listens to everything you say and records your keystrokes etc........
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2021, 08:08:14 PM »
Quote from: SimpleMan on March 23, 2021, 05:58:36 PM
And it came to pass, that SimpleMan and his first-begotten son, a clever young squire of great spirit and half the blood of the noble tribe of Polonia, did gather up all the electronics in the house that had grown old and weary, and resolved to dispatch them to the end of their days. Not seeking to fall into the hands of the magistrates, they resisted mightily the temptation to sojourn at that fort called Academy and take unto themselves several measures of that mysterious powder called Ta-Ni-Reit. So they gathered their beatus vectes each heavy laden a score and thirteen with those projectiles that were hollow on the end, and loaded them into that weapon called Glock. They then found a clearing ventured not into by man or beast, placed those aged and obsolete wonders on stumps of wood, and proceeded to blast them into the great beyond. And so it was in those happy days before the reign of the dusky empress Kamapatra.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, even when it threatens to make the flatterer look like a total horse's hindquarters :jester:

..
Applause!Applause! Tis meritorious to ape the Kaz who has aped The Bard himself. Let men take no offence, and ladies their Catholic virtue be not assailed if rude are found the humble scrivenings of those Polacks who were not smitten on the ice by any other Fortinbras in their melancholy disposition. Join us in Lenten joy with all those whose sinewed hands have mixed and placed anon the coruscating powder Tanned~Right. For it has become itself a Muse of Fire whose wafts of smoke to the heavens ascend in shapes oft weird and wonderful like the night cap, full of much sound and a modicuм of fury.
Enjoin us in our vespered oraisons, we happy few of the tribe of Tannerite.
Aside: I am in hope to some blasting this spring or summer. Alas not all ranges allow it esp it conditions are too dry. Might have to shooting in the rain, just shooting in the rain, what a glorious feeling, to hold my Marlin again....hee hee!
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