ritualclarity

2 hours ago, Doublezero said:

The problem with Outlook is that Microsoft makes more money shoving ads in your face with the inferior version than they do selling the better product. They track what you're browsing in Edge and show you ads relevant to what you're browsing for in the new ad-laden Outlook.

I was going to switch to Thunderbird anyway, I want to use as little Microsoft software as possible, but I'm going to take the extra step of ditching their email service. They even put ads in the webmail version of Outlook, and lately they have been sending email from sources that they themselves mark as trusted senders to the Junk folder, including my bank!

I'm beginning to think that Microsoft is shooting itself in the foot with all these Windows shenanigans. Linux is a viable alternative to Windows for the average PC user, and it just needs a catalyst to get people using it.

Wow. I didn't know that they were that bad. (The ads in the browser version of Outlook) I don't have that in my outlook but that is work related and likely the cause that I don't get the ads in it. I don't use and never used Outlook for personal email. I mostly used Google. In the past I used Compuserve until they just up and decided that I don't have an email anymore. This was when the were still active and popular!  After they also tried to do a money grab (paid email) if I recall correctly.

I agree they are really being stupid and shooting themselves in the foot. ... actually their heads as they are going to kill themselves. I don't understand why companies aren't moving to linux more for their day to day activities, they use POS stations which are generally Linux, their servers are ... again Linux ... generally as a rule. The only reason I can think they don't is less support specialist available and Windoze generally comes on the computers they buy. They can buy Linux computers from Dell and other companies but that takes more effor I believe.

I just thought of another possiblity. Some of thir software is paid and they need the features of that software. Which for the amounts that they pay if they wanted they could help fund development of open sourced equivalant software to cover the needs. If they don't like the GUI that can be changed easily as well. Lord know Linux is more secure. Even if it did become the mainstream softare, it's design is more secure. You can even make it look like Windoze 11!  LOL.

If Microsoft can't get there crap together then possibly try the below. You can use web, but an email client downloads your emails to your computer which helps keep your emails safe.

1 hour ago, Doublezero said:

I found this email in my spam folder. Even Microsoft's own email service hates Windows 11.

  Hide contents

What can I do with my old computer? Trade it in? To who? Ineligible computers become unusable.

The good news for Microsoft shareholders is that the company should make a decent chunk of change from the people who are willing to pay for the Extended Security Update program.

Or they will switch to Linux...

E-waste or Linux? Charities face tough choices as Windows 10 support ends | TechSpot

The thing about Outlook andn microsoft office apps is you can use a web based solution for most of your needs if you don't need the heavy lifting. For example in Outlook your mail works perfectly. If you want to archive using outlook you would need the app... or would you? You  could create a free Googlel or other email account with storage and forward the emails to that instead for archival purposes. If you aren't required by regulations to archive a specific way or manner which generally those that work for major cooporations are effected by this.

Excel works pretty well from what I read except for really compex multipage or lots of enbedded forumlas and such. 

If you use web based products I'd suggest checking into Google docs as it would keep your documents on the free storage of Google. No need to add the app to the Linux (or Windows or even Chrome) and you have access not only to the document program but the documents as well. Unless you have a security concern regarding your work then you would need to either create your own cloud server and use Linux apps. Good news with this is there are lots of very good tools to create a very secure cloud server in Linux. (or so I have read. I don't have enough shit to need it lol)

The bottom line is unless you are using these tools professionally you generally don't need to use Microsoft office applications. If you are, generally you are provided with a machine with the programs installed from I.T.  Generally you wouldn't be advised to do personal work on it considering someone else owns that laptop. 

Generally there isn't a real need for Microsoft for the general public beyond online PC gaming or modding.  If it wasn't the need to have easy access to my games I spent lots of $$$ on (some of which don't run well or at all on Linux currently at least) I wouldn't even have my gaming machine. All my other machines are either linux or google chrome. (I use the Chrome for my Google work since they have access to it and leave my Linux seperate to do stuff that I don't want Google to access) I have been using Google for my work emails for the past 2 years. Using web outlook. No problems. I have had some issues with some of the more complex spread sheets but converting over to Google doc (easy and reasonably quick process)  handles many of those issues.

I'm looking forward to a mass influx of old computers (again) as I used this last time when windoze whent from 10 to 11. This I expect will be even bigger. If I am lucky, Servers will be retired. (not as likely because I.T. generally uses the better OS ... Linux... to run on them) One can dream!

Bethesda not doing Fallout 5?

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/gaming/microsoft-close-redfall-bethesda-studios-shut-down-b1156310.html

https://fandomwire.com/todd-howards-fallout-5-problem-reportedly-got-so-out-of-hand-that-microsoft-started-considering-a-different-studio-to-replace-bethesda/

Now that is a Feature! LOL

As with anything MIcrosoft... they will always mess up something good. They will soon "fix" this. (I.E. mess this up).

20 hours ago, Doublezero said:

Oh well. I have done enough testing. I don't need Windows as my primary OS and I don't need to wait until I'm ready to build a new computer.

I just bought a new 1TB SSD. I'm going to take Microsoft's advice and upgrade my PC this week! 

Going to duel boot?

If so .... nice!

On a different subject....

How to remove windoze bloatware...

https://www.ninjaone.com/blog/how-to-find-remove-bloatware-from-windows-11/

The article above is wrong...

Step 1. Install Linux over your Windoze OS

Step 2. Your done, Windoze bloatware is gone. Enjoy a PC that doesn't nag you, install software you don't want and is more secure along with FREE software you can use to do most of the work you need to do. (provided you don't need a professional app that isn't available for LInux. For that VM or duel boot)

LOL

24 minutes ago, Doublezero said:

I need 3ds max 2013 to make animations for Fallout 4. The plugins require 2013 or 2014 if I'm not mistaken.

I think the problem with Wine is that it can't install DirectX directly, because that's where it always fails. It would (I assume) successfully install the DirectX Runtime at the beginning of the installation, but tries to install it a second time and that's where the installation fails. Not that this matters, I was able to install it on a Windows 7 virtual machine using VirtualBox. 

Do you need the graphics card? Does it help? If so you can add a second one and have it output to that (the virtualbox) from my understanding at least. It can be also useful if you want to play some games (that are modded and/or use anticheat) that you can't in linux or at least not well. I am aware of the concept but I haven't gone there... yet. I would like to in the future and then just have windows be my bitch. (being able to create a quick snapshot of Windoze and return it to that image when it stops all its bullshit)

another thing you can possibly do if you need more than the virtual box is remote access to a windoze machine. Good for work not as good with gaming as there might be a lag depending on the network you have. I might start messing with that as I have several cheap old laptops (and likely will get easy access to more due to Micro$oft making people buy new computers to get the latests and "greatest OS" they offer.

I am honestly waiting for them to declare that they are the admin and you have no options other than the look (limited changes like screensaver and background) in the future. Everything from the time (using your location data) to how you store the data you have (using their  setup folders) so that they can properly "assist" you to prevent you loosing data. (I.E. data mine and stick their nose up your ass further than a proctologist)

Aparently we will get more Windoze. The new consoles will be more "PC" that will be able to have third party stores etc. 

9 hours ago, Doublezero said:

Same problem I'm having. Oh well, I'll just download a Windows 7 iso and set up a virtual machine.

WineHQ - 3D Studio MAX 2013 (32 bit)

https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=343

Depends on the version you use. 2.x has a gold version and 2008 and 2009 shows silver.

You can also try Blender and see if you can get that to work for you and do what you want. It would be a slight learnig curve since you are used to using 3dmax but the same principles should apply.

I've read that Oblivion is being redone.

In a different engine. I believe Unreal or the like. Not confirmed by Bugthesda but according to the sources a strong reality.

Recently I also just learned that another studio is doing it.

Rmember when another studio worked their IP?  How good it was?  Such a dam shame that they can't do their own work and make it great. It would be awefully funny if they do re release the game and it be a hit and they had nothiing to do with it beyond allowing some other studio to makeit.

On 2/8/2025 at 5:39 PM, Doublezero said:

 

I will be happy to take that e waste.  

15 hours ago, Kendo 2 said:

This was almost 10 years ago but they had Blender, 3Dmax, Photoshop. executables, JarFiles, pyfs, encrypted dlls, browser extensions, etc. all working on Linux.  At the time I was 'meh', but I should have latched on when I had the chance.  Those Ivans had straight ports of PS3 games working on a Linux PC and I blew it all off cuz corporate CoolAide and shills.

I am not stating that they didn't have some secret sause that the general public doesn't have. There are reports of issues with Photoshop using some of the tools provided. I don't know about 3dmax etc.  Now I haven't done emulators as my laptops are work laptops not graphics powerhouses so I haven't experimented with it yet. However, you might check thisi out for your PS3 emulation

There are lots of emulators freely available to run various consoles and games. There are also many roms however, some might be ... shady not techincally legal but depends on where you are and such. I doubt your Russian friends were too concerned with copy write laws lol If you have an old computer laying around give it a try. You might not have the power to run the stuff but you can play with it and gain confidence and then decide if you want to get serious. As I understand it doesn't take much to do PS3 games.

Update on my Kubuntu system. It is still pretty good. It is on the old laptop and running fairly well even the Snaps which are told to be slow and crap is running decently. No major problems yet. Other than an issue with a program that I never used before so the problem could be between my fingers and keyboard.

eventually I plan on getting one of those mini computers or build one dedicated to my Linux gaming experience. (mostly for the emulators to play DOS and other games) as I have a dedicated windoze computer for my regular gaming (no need for the proton and other tools. However, perhaps if and when Steam ever gets officially released for the general public I might change it. I can also with some work have a duel boot and have both on it. Not sure if I want to do that. I had issues in the past playing around with my gaming computer and had to fix mods and games constantly which took me away from my gaming sessions. Now I don't even spend much time modding as it is to have to screw around with it. Currently partially setup Fallout games and TES games still need to set up various frameworks and of course texture mods (god they make horrible characters. Dam NPCs got hit with the ugly sticks) The main one that I am using is Sims 4 (yep Kendo I know what you just called me reading this lol) It is because it is the most stupid easy game to mod. Eventually I will setup both WW and DD (of course different mod folders which are renamed ) AT least that was the plan. Enough of that. This is a LINUX thread! 

Oh to anyone that is interested (and would require a bit of work) but useful for those that know all the programs they want to use. Kubuntu has an option to load a light version when installing it. None of the extra software. I personally found the software they give reasonable but if you have specific needs or desires you can install them afterwards on a clean light system.

Next step (when I get off my lazy ass) is to install Linux on an external drive (usb c) and then setup it the way I want (perfect no personal data) then just use that as a base to update and install on all my computers lol.  Also could be used for a fast system recovery since it is simple to run Linux on a external drive no windows restrictions there.  

13 hours ago, Doublezero said:

I see Kubuntu has a Windows 10 desktop look. I like it. I might go with it as the OS for my next PC.

You can also check into changing your desktop to KDE and then choosing the windows image. At least as I have been told. I would'n't have changed to Kubuntu if it wasn't for the snaps. I didn't want to experiment on my current Mint laptop.

Try this? I haven't followed it so not sure but it should give you an example of what is going on and what you can do. From my understanding you can change the destop like you open a program (well not quite but it is doable. just it will take more resources as you have both running. )

1 hour ago, Kendo 2 said:

I wish I had stayed in touch with Cronikx and Turkey and those other Russian coders from when I was on Nexus.  They had Windows cracks for Linux on just about anything imaginable.  The way Microsoft is getting ready to fuck us up and force us to buy new PCs is criminal.

If I am understaning what you are saying ... then there are lots of "cracks" for windows programs currently. Way more than previously when you would have been on Nexus. It might take a bit to find all of them and get them installed with some command line work but it can be done. You can run many windows programs pretty well and in some cases better than on windows. You can also duel boot and have both working at the same time with. On two different monitors like they were two different machines. Lots of stuff can be done.

Sorry for double post.

An app that I use is https://dupeguru.voltaicideas.net/

sudo apt install dupeguru

above is the command. Doesn't show up on Kubuntu and likely their various flavors store.

Raited  as save and used by many. Still be careful and make a complete backup (or save one of your 3 copies on seperate drives .. you have that right... RIGHT? )  then use it and see if the results is what you want. I need this because I am an internet pack rat and often have downloaded something I downloaded sometimes years ago.

Don't forget to

sudo apt update

followed by

sudo apt upgrade

before any command upgrades.

@Doublezero and anyone that is thinking of getting linux.

I tried Kubuntu today. It has a nice base software. Debian based (like Mint) and looks pretty good. It does have Snaps which I don't like so much but it does give other options for example in my case, setting up a complex program required jumping through a lot of crap to get it to work properly. Manually installing many components and rebooting mutiple times. IT did however have a snap option. Much easier however did require me to input the permissions manually in the console but it nicely gave me the list (complete command by the way not making it hard for noobs) More difficult than a sudo apt install program command but not bad if I say so myself.

Those that like customizations so far there seems to be way more with the plasma GUI (what people see when they sit in front of the computer showing their information)  Like Mint there are downloadable options that have a ready made pack for you to get close to where you want to be. Haven't gotten into it very deep yet just installed it.

By the way, 20 minutes was all it took to install and update (from an old iso however same version #.  Upgrading is a different story all together, not a rolling release) including installing all my needed apps that i come to learn to enjoy. Screen capture and video players and the like. Even changing the GUI look and feel. (I made a mistake and missed the encrypt the drive option on the installation process and had to reload lol didn't take much time at all)

Still the same base which means anythign you can do in Unbuntu or Mint can very likely be done in Kubuntu. I was resistant to follow what somenone I work with suggested as his daily driver for the past several years. He stated that Snaps were ... well snappier. lol They are indeed. I have this installed on my oldest laptop An old windoze 10 8th gen  i5 laptop. Not a power house by any means.

Now if only I can get the spell corect to work on the web and discord.
 

Opps I forgot to get discord. Guess it will be 20 minutes and a half  to set up ... lol

https://www.boredpanda.com/hoa-wants-war/

HOA thinking they own the Farmers land. lol

I can't understand why someone would want a HOA.  We had some issues when my family bought a new house and moved there when I was a teen. The issue was people were working out of a garage reparing cars. Their personal garage. This was against the law. They also had car parts and at one time stripping down a car to sell for parts.  This is what people think an HOA protects against. They likely do but so does the police and aldermen. It might take a bit more but the job is done and they are stopped and even move. The only thing that sucked was during the couple of months this was going on in order to get taken seriously, everybody had to stop working on their personal cars. Yes, it is legal to work on YOUR car but illegal to work for $$$ on others cars in a residental area out of a residental garage. I was a teen and of course scraping up money for my car and keeping it going meant that often times I and my friends (at their garage) would fix the various things that would go wrong with a 20 year old 500 dollar car. We had to stop but fortunatly many of the parents would aid their childen with the cost of labor at a mechanic shop (but we did have to come up with the parts cost and of course they were refurb instead of from a junk yard)

People are fed a bullshit story that HOA is there for them. The part where they are there for them is FEES.  Going around and taking out a ruler and measuring fucking grass to make sure it is in compliance and checking the fucking plants in your front yard to make sure they are accepted or fining someone for painting their house because they didn't clear it with the HOA before they did so. Due to the fact that workers ... gasp... actually have to bring their trucks and park them on the strreet! OH my god the HORROR!  I read one story where a plumber wasn't allowed to bring his van to the house and had to park it outside of the HOA area and walk (a long way) with the equipment and supplies to the house. Needless to say the plumber said fuck this and didn't take the job. The home owner had a water damage all over and couldn't shower all due to some HOA asshole not being reasonable.  Going on a power trip.

3 hours ago, Neptune1098 said:

Before you ask yes I have inappropriate unlock in my mods and yes I have too so I might neeed help with the settings there as well

If I was you. I'd go where you got the mod. Ask support there. They also might have a discord / patron or whatever link for better support.

20 hours ago, vancleef said:

I imagine this sort of thing is just spill over from the past four years of failed DEI. Most likely, this was some contract that was agreed to before adults took the country back. Probably cheaper to take the loss in sales than to break the contract,
And you know the first mod for the game is going to be "make Taylor killable".

as far as I am aware this is a new project. If so they are continuning. I can believe EA would be that stupid. At least when Sweet Baby INc was getting all that money from the goverment and companies were getting money that made some sense. Having this without that. Seriously.

Like the video stated. IT might make sense to get here to bring women into a game. Just not GTA. The level of violence and actions doesn't generally play into what the vast majority of women would be interested in. Don't get me wrong, they can get into all sorts of trouble and start shit and such but it is ... different. A different style. Just another company changing their formula for no dam reason.

I thought this crap would stop

I didn't see the actions after the meeting. Still doubling down?  The only thing he has now is Europe and I doubt they want to cover the bill to continue. They were happy when the US was covering the largest share of the bill. Hopefully now they will see the writing on the wall and use their GDP to build up their own military. It is easy to give to health care and other social needs when they don't have to pay much for their defense.

yep saw that. It was on my feed.

He really did it didn't he. Wow. Try to take on Trump IN THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CONFRENCE. Not the place to do that. Then the reporter that decided to chime in "what about if Russia breaks the cease fire?".  Right after his outburst.  She FAFO as well. 

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/man-posing-as-transgender-woman-raped-female-prisoner-at-rikers-lawsuit-says/5067904/

Trans "woman" rapes fellow prisoners. Still in womens jail. Can't make this shit up. Seriously, what are people smoking these days?

LOL WTF!!!
 

I love their reactions.

3:20.

Even with all this public reactions getting the name out... they are still failing.

Harry Potter release had lots of "negative" reactions but sold out.