Hi All,

I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
typical. Or its age, also typical.

I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
his hardware. Whilst I am in there, is there
an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
W10 or W11?

I could always look at his registry, but that
is a little time consuming to mount.

Many thanks,
-T

On 2022-03-10 9:53 a.m., T wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
> He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
> typical.  Or its age, also typical.
>
> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
> W10 or W11?
>
> I could always look at his registry, but that
> is a little time consuming to mount.
>
> Many thanks,
> -T

If you boot with a Linux USB key like Linux Mint, it will have access to
its own storage but also any hard disk attached to the computer. As
such, if there is a hard disk with a Windows installation, it should be
able to see it as long as it is not encrypted. If it isn't, you'll be
able to retrieve any files he left there AND determine that it is
Windows by seeing the typical "Program Files," "Windows" and "Program
Files (x86)" folders. If he doesn't know where his files are, they're in
"Users/username"

If the storage is encrypted (it might be even if he didn't explicitly
choose for it to be), he won't be able to retrieve his data unless he
boots into Windows again as normal and retrieves them there.

--
rabidR04CH
MSI GT72 2QD on Windows 10
"But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than
men.'" - Acts 5:29
For fans of message boards, I invite you:
https://retalk.com/invite/rabidR04CH

On 3/10/22 08:25, rabidR04CH wrote:
> On 2022-03-10 9:53 a.m., T wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
>> He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
>> typical.  Or its age, also typical.
>>
>> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
>> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
>> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
>> W10 or W11?
>>
>> I could always look at his registry, but that
>> is a little time consuming to mount.
>>
>> Many thanks,
>> -T
>
> If you boot with a Linux USB key like Linux Mint, it will have access to
> its own storage but also any hard disk attached to the computer. As
> such, if there is a hard disk with a Windows installation, it should be
> able to see it as long as it is not encrypted. If it isn't, you'll be
> able to retrieve any files he left there AND determine that it is
> Windows by seeing the typical "Program Files," "Windows" and "Program
> Files (x86)" folders. If he doesn't know where his files are, they're in
> "Users/username"
>
> If the storage is encrypted (it might be even if he didn't explicitly
> choose for it to be), he won't be able to retrieve his data unless he
> boots into Windows again as normal and retrieves them there.
>
>
I am wanting to read his hard drive to figure
out if it is W10 or W11, so I can insert either
my W10 or W10 USB installation drive and run sfc
and dism and boot recovery
I am not at the point of need to recover any files

On 3/10/22 08:31, T wrote:
> W10 or W10
W10 or W11
Stinkin' typos

T wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
> He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
> typical.  Or its age, also typical.
>
> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
> W10 or W11?
>
> I could always look at his registry, but that
> is a little time consuming to mount.
>
> Many thanks,
> -T
>
Maybe the obvious will work.

If this folder/file is accessible
=> Windows\System32\License.rtf
Top of document
If Windows 10, the date(last updated) is 2018
If Windows 11, the date(last updated) is 2021

--
....w¡ñ§±¤ñ

On 2022-03-10 11:31 a.m., T wrote:
> On 3/10/22 08:25, rabidR04CH wrote:
>> On 2022-03-10 9:53 a.m., T wrote:
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
>>> He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
>>> typical.  Or its age, also typical.
>>>
>>> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
>>> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
>>> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
>>> W10 or W11?
>>>
>>> I could always look at his registry, but that
>>> is a little time consuming to mount.
>>>
>>> Many thanks,
>>> -T
>>
>> If you boot with a Linux USB key like Linux Mint, it will have access
>> to its own storage but also any hard disk attached to the computer. As
>> such, if there is a hard disk with a Windows installation, it should
>> be able to see it as long as it is not encrypted. If it isn't, you'll
>> be able to retrieve any files he left there AND determine that it is
>> Windows by seeing the typical "Program Files," "Windows" and "Program
>> Files (x86)" folders. If he doesn't know where his files are, they're
>> in "Users/username"
>>
>> If the storage is encrypted (it might be even if he didn't explicitly
>> choose for it to be), he won't be able to retrieve his data unless he
>> boots into Windows again as normal and retrieves them there.
>>
>>
>
> I am wanting to read his hard drive to figure
> out if it is W10 or W11, so I can insert either
> my W10 or W10 USB installation drive and run sfc
> and dism and boot recovery
>
> I am not at the point of need to recover any files

Ah, my bad: I read it too quickly.

As far as I know, the folder setup is exactly the same in both versions
of the operating system as a result of the fact that 11 is basically
just Windows 10 with a new GUI stuck on top of it. The only way to know
for sure is to start the boot process or find a way to get to the
command prompt and type in winver.

--
rabidR04CH
MSI GT72 2QD on Windows 10
"But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than
men.'" - Acts 5:29
For fans of message boards, I invite you:
https://retalk.com/invite/rabidR04CH

On 3/10/2022 9:53 AM, T wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
> He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
> typical.  Or its age, also typical.
>
> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
> W10 or W11?
>
> I could always look at his registry, but that
> is a little time consuming to mount.
>
> Many thanks,
> -T
>

In Linux, try "exiftool some.dll" or "exiftool some.exe" on the
content of the System32 folder. Be selective however, because there
are FOSS DLLs in there, and the identifier on those does not follow
Microsoft tradition (the identifier does not have a MS build number!).
When I say "some", I mean "some carefully selected thing".

In this picture, I use "bash" on Windows 11, to run "exiftool"
and emulate what a boot from a Linux stick would show. Release
22000.xxx is Windows 11. Release 19041 thru 19044 are more
or less the same thing, four "feature releases" of the same OS,
and forensic analysis is kind of a waste in this case.

[Picture] If the frame is blank, right-click and select "Reload"

https://i.postimg.cc/SspbjcJ7/exiftool.gif

And don't do that to some of the App files (someday they will all
be Apps and there won't be Win32 any more), as who knows what
standard they follow, and even the author of Exiftool won't
be able to keep up.

In a world possessing few standards, it is what it is.

Paul

On 3/10/22 09:42, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
> T wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
>> He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
>> typical.  Or its age, also typical.
>>
>> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
>> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
>> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
>> W10 or W11?
>>
>> I could always look at his registry, but that
>> is a little time consuming to mount.
>>
>> Many thanks,
>> -T
>>
> Maybe the obvious will work.
>
> If this folder/file is accessible
>  => Windows\System32\License.rtf
> Top of document
>  If Windows 10, the date(last updated) is 2018
>  If Windows 11, the date(last updated) is 2021
>
Last updated June 2021
MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS
WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
IF YOU LIVE IN (OR IF YOUR PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS IN) THE UNITED
STATES, PLEASE READ THE BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSE AND CLASS ACTION
WAIVER IN SECTION 11. IT AFFECTS HOW DISPUTES ARE RESOLVED.
Thank you for choosing Microsoft!
That could change with the wind. But it is a good start,
Thank you!

On 3/10/22 06:53, T wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
> He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
> typical.  Or its age, also typical.
>
> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
> W10 or W11?
>
> I could always look at his registry, but that
> is a little time consuming to mount.
>
> Many thanks,
> -T
>
Spent some time with the customer's machine yesterday.
It kept looping through "repair" when booting. I was
able to go into advanced, and lo and behold:
Choose and Option
Continue: Exit and continue to Windows 10
And in Linux, it also found in the SAM registry hive
(this is my machine, not hers):
C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM
/run/media/<username>/Windows/Windows/System32/config/SAM
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
"BuildLab"="22000.co_release.210604-1628"
"BuildLabEx"="22000.1.amd64fre.co_release.210604-1628"
"CurrentBuild"="22000"
"CurrentBuildNumber"="22000"
"DisplayVersion"="21H2"
"EditionID"="Professional"
"ProductName"="Windows 10 Pro"
"PathName"="C:\\Windows"

On 2022-03-10 22:06, Paul wrote:

>
> In Linux, try "exiftool some.dll" or "exiftool some.exe" on the
> content of the System32 folder. Be selective however, because there
> are FOSS DLLs in there, and the identifier on those does not follow
> Microsoft tradition (the identifier does not have a MS build number!).
> When I say "some", I mean "some carefully selected thing".

I thought exiftool was only for photos, but no. Interesting.

So I searched in a windows 10 partition for "winver*", and run exiftool
on some: it says win 10.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 3/11/2022 7:18 PM, T wrote:
> On 3/10/22 06:53, T wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
>> He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
>> typical.  Or its age, also typical.
>>
>> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
>> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
>> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
>> W10 or W11?
>>
>> I could always look at his registry, but that
>> is a little time consuming to mount.
>>
>> Many thanks,
>> -T
>>
>
> Spent some time with the customer's machine yesterday.
>
> It kept looping through "repair" when booting.   I was
> able to go into advanced, and lo and behold:
>
>    Choose and Option
>        Continue: Exit and continue to Windows 10
>
> And in Linux, it also found in the SAM registry hive
> (this is my machine, not hers):
>
> C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM
> /run/media/<username>/Windows/Windows/System32/config/SAM
>
> REGEDIT4
>
> [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
> "BuildLab"="22000.co_release.210604-1628"
> "BuildLabEx"="22000.1.amd64fre.co_release.210604-1628"
> "CurrentBuild"="22000"
> "CurrentBuildNumber"="22000"
> "DisplayVersion"="21H2"
> "EditionID"="Professional"
> "ProductName"="Windows 10 Pro"
> "PathName"="C:\\Windows"

It's just a bit of mis-labeling.

I have a clean install of Win11, and it is just as inconsistent.

You cannot, for example, conclude that copy of Windows 11 came
in through Windows Update. The machine could have a Windows 11 MSDM
license in the ACPI tables, and have arrived in the customer hands as
a clean Windows 11 install. It's not like a Windows Upgrade did this,
and that's why the numbers are mixed up. It would say "Windows 10"
right on the Windows 11 DVD. It's possible I even saw "Windows 10"
in the XML file in the WIM on the DVD.

Perfect is only in horseshoes. Software, not so much.
(We used to have two horseshoe pits in my neighborhood as a kid.)

Paul

Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
> On 2022-03-10 22:06, Paul wrote:

> >
> > In Linux, try "exiftool some.dll" or "exiftool some.exe" on the
> > content of the System32 folder. Be selective however, because there
> > are FOSS DLLs in there, and the identifier on those does not follow
> > Microsoft tradition (the identifier does not have a MS build number!).
> > When I say "some", I mean "some carefully selected thing".

> I thought exiftool was only for photos, but no. Interesting.

I thought it was just for medias. I didn't know it could do non-medias.
https://www.exiftool.org/#supported is a long list!
--
Sheesh. Hibernated from <9 PM - <5 AM with 3/4 wake ups. Didn't get to finish my yesterday's tasks and now somewhat behind. Stop changing the times and fighting please. :( MLB is back again so "let's play balls!".
Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
/ /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
| |o o| |
\ _ /
( )

On 3/11/22 17:19, Paul wrote:
> On 3/11/2022 7:18 PM, T wrote:
>> On 3/10/22 06:53, T wrote:
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
>>> He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
>>> typical.  Or its age, also typical.
>>>
>>> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
>>> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
>>> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
>>> W10 or W11?
>>>
>>> I could always look at his registry, but that
>>> is a little time consuming to mount.
>>>
>>> Many thanks,
>>> -T
>>>
>>
>> Spent some time with the customer's machine yesterday.
>>
>> It kept looping through "repair" when booting.   I was
>> able to go into advanced, and lo and behold:
>>
>>     Choose and Option
>>         Continue: Exit and continue to Windows 10
>>
>> And in Linux, it also found in the SAM registry hive
>> (this is my machine, not hers):
>>
>> C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM
>> /run/media/<username>/Windows/Windows/System32/config/SAM
>>
>> REGEDIT4
>>
>> [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
>> "BuildLab"="22000.co_release.210604-1628"
>> "BuildLabEx"="22000.1.amd64fre.co_release.210604-1628"
>> "CurrentBuild"="22000"
>> "CurrentBuildNumber"="22000"
>> "DisplayVersion"="21H2"
>> "EditionID"="Professional"
>> "ProductName"="Windows 10 Pro"
>> "PathName"="C:\\Windows"
>
> It's just a bit of mis-labeling.
>
> I have a clean install of Win11, and it is just as inconsistent.
>
> You cannot, for example, conclude that copy of Windows 11 came
> in through Windows Update. The machine could have a Windows 11 MSDM
> license in the ACPI tables, and have arrived in the customer hands as
> a clean Windows 11 install. It's not like a Windows Upgrade did this,
> and that's why the numbers are mixed up. It would say "Windows 10"
> right on the Windows 11 DVD. It's possible I even saw "Windows 10"
> in the XML file in the WIM on the DVD.
>
> Perfect is only in horseshoes. Software, not so much.
> (We used to have two horseshoe pits in my neighborhood as a kid.)
>
>    Paul
>
>
I could swear that this came from my W11 machine:
"ProductName"="Windows 10 Pro"
I am too tired to go look again. Been fighting with
Quickbooks horrible support and a lady with memory
issues (the big "A" [T3]). Her husband was really
patient. But she would not do anything either one
of us asked. Like herding cats.
"Password?" "I do not have a password."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
I conquered though. Eventually. Removed a lot of
passwords. And I have her new, good password in
an encrypted file, just in case.

T wrote:
> On 3/10/22 09:42, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
>> T wrote:
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
>>> He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
>>> typical.  Or its age, also typical.
>>>
>>> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
>>> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
>>> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
>>> W10 or W11?
>>>
>>> I could always look at his registry, but that
>>> is a little time consuming to mount.
>>>
>>> Many thanks,
>>> -T
>>>
>> Maybe the obvious will work.
>>
>> If this folder/file is accessible
>>   => Windows\System32\License.rtf
>> Top of document
>>   If Windows 10, the date(last updated) is 2018
>>   If Windows 11, the date(last updated) is 2021
>>
>
> Last updated June 2021
>
> MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS
> WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
> IF YOU LIVE IN (OR IF YOUR PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS IN) THE UNITED
> STATES, PLEASE READ THE BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSE AND CLASS ACTION
> WAIVER IN SECTION 11. IT AFFECTS HOW DISPUTES ARE RESOLVED.
> Thank you for choosing Microsoft!
>
> That could change with the wind.  But it is a good start,
>
> Thank you!
>
Then you don't have to deal with version numbers or Windows 11 showing
Windows 10 in the registry (HKLM\...\CurrentVersion

Fyi...in your other post capture - the 'Current Build' data value in the
CurrentVersion key
- thre installed build is 22000 <=== Windows 11

Windows 10 Pro is 19044 for 21H2

--
....w¡ñ§±¤ñ

On 3/11/22 23:49, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
> T wrote:
>> On 3/10/22 09:42, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
>>> T wrote:
>>>> Hi All,
>>>>
>>>> I have a customer with a laptop that won't boot.
>>>> He does not know what OS he has on it, which is
>>>> typical.  Or its age, also typical.
>>>>
>>>> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
>>>> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
>>>> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
>>>> W10 or W11?
>>>>
>>>> I could always look at his registry, but that
>>>> is a little time consuming to mount.
>>>>
>>>> Many thanks,
>>>> -T
>>>>
>>> Maybe the obvious will work.
>>>
>>> If this folder/file is accessible
>>>   => Windows\System32\License.rtf
>>> Top of document
>>>   If Windows 10, the date(last updated) is 2018
>>>   If Windows 11, the date(last updated) is 2021
>>>
>>
>> Last updated June 2021
>>
>> MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS
>> WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
>> IF YOU LIVE IN (OR IF YOUR PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS IN) THE
>> UNITED STATES, PLEASE READ THE BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSE AND CLASS
>> ACTION WAIVER IN SECTION 11. IT AFFECTS HOW DISPUTES ARE RESOLVED.
>> Thank you for choosing Microsoft!
>>
>> That could change with the wind.  But it is a good start,
>>
>> Thank you!
>>
> Then you don't have to deal with version numbers or Windows 11 showing
> Windows 10 in the registry (HKLM\...\CurrentVersion
>
> Fyi...in your other post capture - the 'Current Build' data value in the
> CurrentVersion key
>   - thre installed build is 22000 <=== Windows 11
>
> Windows 10 Pro is 19044 for 21H2
>

I noticed that. I though someting was amiss
with my testng, but did not know how, then
realized the micky mouse involved.
From the registry, the 22000 is really
the only way

On 3/11/22 16:18, T wrote:
> It kept looping through "repair" when booting.   I was
> able to go into advanced, and lo and behold:
>
>    Choose and Option
>        Continue: Exit and continue to Windows 10
Since the Registry in W11 says it is Windows 10,
except for the build number (22000), I thought it
would be a good idea to see if the "Continue"
also said Windows 10 in Windows 11. Luckily, it
says Windows 11.
https://ibb.co/kHtNnps
Windows 11: same pig, different color lipstick.

On 3/12/22 09:15, Joel wrote:
> T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> On 3/11/22 16:18, T wrote:
>>
>>> It kept looping through "repair" when booting.   I was
>>> able to go into advanced, and lo and behold:
>>>
>>>    Choose and Option
>>>        Continue: Exit and continue to Windows 10
>>
>> Since the Registry in W11 says it is Windows 10,
>> except for the build number (22000), I thought it
>> would be a good idea to see if the "Continue"
>> also said Windows 10 in Windows 11. Luckily, it
>> says Windows 11.
>>
>> https://ibb.co/kHtNnps
>>
>> Windows 11: same pig, different color lipstick.
>
>
> The thing is, "Windows 11" is a cosmetic, branding, name. It's not
> really a new OS - it's just that they have officially broken away from
> older hardware, with it, but in truth, Win10 had long since exceeded
> its system requirements.
>
Funny how Fedora operated just fine on older hardware.
And at about 40% faster that Windows. (Getting the
software you want to run on it is another issue.)

[]
>> On 3/10/22 09:42, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
>>> T wrote:
[]
>>>> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
>>>> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
>>>> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
>>>> W10 or W11?
[]
>>> If this folder/file is accessible
>>>   => Windows\System32\License.rtf
>>> Top of document
>>>   If Windows 10, the date(last updated) is 2018
>>>   If Windows 11, the date(last updated) is 2021
[]
Just for completeness (well, for now - any XP [or older OS!] users
reading this? Or 8/8.1?): on my Windows 7-32 system, it's dated 2016-8-2
10:46.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

1. If it's green, it's biology
2. If it smells, it's chemistry
3. If it doesn't work, it's physics.

On 3/12/22 09:32, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
> []
>>> On 3/10/22 09:42, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
>>>> T wrote:
> []
>>>>> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
>>>>> his hardware.  Whilst I am in there, is there
>>>>> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
>>>>> W10 or W11?
> []
>>>> If this folder/file is accessible
>>>>   => Windows\System32\License.rtf
>>>> Top of document
>>>>   If Windows 10, the date(last updated) is 2018
>>>>   If Windows 11, the date(last updated) is 2021
> []
> Just for completeness (well, for now - any XP [or older OS!] users
> reading this? Or 8/8.1?): on my Windows 7-32 system, it's dated 2016-8-2
> 10:46.
My W7:
C:\>reg query "hklm\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v
"BuildLab"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
BuildLab REG_SZ 7601.win7sp1_ldr_escrow.190220-1800

C:\>reg query "hklm\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v
"ProductNam
e"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
ProductName REG_SZ Windows 7 Professional

C:\>reg query "hklm\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v
"ProductName"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
ProductName REG_SZ Windows 7 Professional

C:\>reg query "hklm\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v
"DisplayVersion"
ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.

On 3/12/22 09:39, Joel wrote:
> T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>>> The thing is, "Windows 11" is a cosmetic, branding, name. It's not
>>> really a new OS - it's just that they have officially broken away from
>>> older hardware, with it, but in truth, Win10 had long since exceeded
>>> its system requirements.
>>
>> Funny how Fedora operated just fine on older hardware.
>> And at about 40% faster that Windows. (Getting the
>> software you want to run on it is another issue.)
>
>
> Win10 20H2 was a disaster, on my old computer. The only reason I'm
> not using Linux, on that machine, today, is because of the COVID
> stimulus payments, which allowed me to build a modern machine.
>

It is all about the software you want to run.
If you can't get what you need to run, it does
not matter how much better a different OS is
than Windows.

On 3/12/22 09:55, Joel wrote:
> T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>>>> Funny how Fedora operated just fine on older hardware.
>>>> And at about 40% faster that Windows. (Getting the
>>>> software you want to run on it is another issue.)
>>>
>>> Win10 20H2 was a disaster, on my old computer. The only reason I'm
>>> not using Linux, on that machine, today, is because of the COVID
>>> stimulus payments, which allowed me to build a modern machine.
>>
>> It is all about the software you want to run.
>> If you can't get what you need to run, it does
>> not matter how much better a different OS is
>> than Windows.
>
>
> I was able to run mIRC and Forte Agent under Wine, on Linux, which
> were the only Windows apps I really needed. It's nice to be running
> them natively under Windows, now, but Wine really was a great feature
> to have, on the old machine.
>

I run several things on Wine. Wine's quality
is pretty bad, but I cope. Well most of the
time. When Wine fails, I have to go to one
of my Windows virtual machines.

On 12.03.22 18:32, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
> []
>>> On 3/10/22 09:42, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
>>>> T wrote:
> []
>>>>> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
>>>>> his hardware. Whilst I am in there, is there
>>>>> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
>>>>> W10 or W11?
> []
>>>> If this folder/file is accessible
>>>> => Windows\System32\License.rtf
>>>> Top of document
>>>> If Windows 10, the date(last updated) is 2018
>>>> If Windows 11, the date(last updated) is 2021
> []
> Just for completeness (well, for now - any XP [or older OS!] users
> reading this? Or 8/8.1?): on my Windows 7-32 system, it's dated 2016-8-2
> 10:46.
>

On my XP PRO computer,
cant find that file.
The licence file wpa.dbl is sitting
in windows\system32 , created maandag 19 juli 2004, 23:23:13
Thats almost 18 years.......
3 licence files: Chaospro, Virualmoon and XoftSpy.
Hmmm, that last one is a remainder of an old install.
Last run in 2005.
Checking with google:
Last upate in 2006, abandonware.

On Sat, 12 Mar 2022 at 19:21:45, Sjouke Burry
<burrynulnulfour@ppllaanneett.nnll> wrote (my responses usually FOLLOW):
>On 12.03.22 18:32, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
>> []
>>>> On 3/10/22 09:42, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
>>>>> T wrote:
>> []
>>>>>> I will boot from a Linux USB drive to check
>>>>>> his hardware. Whilst I am in there, is there
>>>>>> an easy give away that will tell me if he is on
>>>>>> W10 or W11?
>> []
>>>>> If this folder/file is accessible
>>>>> => Windows\System32\License.rtf
>>>>> Top of document
>>>>> If Windows 10, the date(last updated) is 2018
>>>>> If Windows 11, the date(last updated) is 2021
>> []
>> Just for completeness (well, for now - any XP [or older OS!] users
>> reading this? Or 8/8.1?): on my Windows 7-32 system, it's dated 2016-8-2
>> 10:46.
>>
>
>On my XP PRO computer,
>cant find that file.
>The licence file wpa.dbl is sitting
>in windows\system32 , created maandag 19 juli 2004, 23:23:13

I couldn't on this 7 machine either, at first - I was looking for it
with the British spelling. I found is when I used an s ... (-:

>Thats almost 18 years.......
>3 licence files: Chaospro, Virualmoon and XoftSpy.
>Hmmm, that last one is a remainder of an old install.
>Last run in 2005.
>Checking with google:
>Last upate in 2006, abandonware.
>
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

It is complete loose-stool-water, it is arse-gravy of the worst kind
- Stephen Fry on "The Da Vinci Code"

On 2022-03-12 1:04 p.m., T wrote:
> On 3/12/22 09:55, Joel wrote:
>> T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>>>> Funny how Fedora operated just fine on older hardware.
>>>>> And at about 40% faster that Windows.  (Getting the
>>>>> software you want to run on it is another issue.)
>>>>
>>>> Win10 20H2 was a disaster, on my old computer.  The only reason I'm
>>>> not using Linux, on that machine, today, is because of the COVID
>>>> stimulus payments, which allowed me to build a modern machine.
>>>
>>> It is all about the software you want to run.
>>> If you can't get what you need to run, it does
>>> not matter how much better a different OS is
>>> than Windows.
>>
>>
>> I was able to run mIRC and Forte Agent under Wine, on Linux, which
>> were the only Windows apps I really needed.  It's nice to be running
>> them natively under Windows, now, but Wine really was a great feature
>> to have, on the old machine.
>>
>
> I run several things on Wine.  Wine's quality
> is pretty bad, but I cope.  Well most of the
> time.  When Wine fails, I have to go to one
> of my Windows virtual machines.

Wine's quality can't be great because just like the open-source NVIDIA
driver Nouveau, they have to work from scratch. It's not like Microsoft
made the source code for Windows available to everyone.

--
rabidR04CH
Red Cross donor, supporter of independent media, proud Catholic and free
speech absolutist
Zephyrus G14 GA401QM on Windows 11
"But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than
men.'" - Acts 5:29
For fans of message boards, I invite you:
https://retalk.com/invite/rabidR04CH

On 3/12/22 11:53, rabidR04CH wrote:
> Wine's quality can't be great because just like the open-source NVIDIA
> driver Nouveau, they have to work from scratch. It's not like Microsoft
> made the source code for Windows available to everyone.
Having dealt with those guys for a while, I have a
different take on it.
Wine is part of Code Weavers. This is the open source economic model.
You give the code away for free
and charge for the maintenance. If you want something
fixed, the likelihood of Code Weavers fixing it is small
if you do not have the economic wherewithal to put
them on your payroll. It is sort of a hostage situation.
And they indeed do deserve to be paid for what they do.