Big problem with Windows 11 with Microsoft trying to force you to have to need internet to get into your computer and have a Microsoft account.
Anyone getting a new computer now will have this problem. This and the stupid S mode is how Microsoft wants to control your computer that is yours.
Here's the workaround to bypass.....
I'm sticking with Microsoft Windows 10 & 7. I even have a laptop onto which I'm installing Windows XP, just because (I actually have some amateur radio software that will only run on that O/S).
My new computer has Windows 11 pro on it. I bought that computer to run the radio station. But I've seen on another Win 11 computer you can't download any software or apps that's outside the Microsoft app Store. So that means I can't Put my automation system on it. Going to Linux and Rivendell automation.
@wefr You have to get out of S mode to access 3rd party apps like Zara etc.
Windows 10 has done that on most entry level computers also. That other computer you mention was Windows 11 in S mode.
You can get out of it but who needs the hassle. If I buy a computer I only get Windows home or pro. If it says in S mode, good bye.
But 11 has changed the set up so you can't get a local account without the tutorial to know how to defeat it.
I just recently got a new computer for broadcasting and the service dept. agreed to get rid of 11 and put back 10. For a computer just for broadcasting with Zara all automated you don't need internet so it doesn't matter what version you use that is not supported. And keeping 10 after next year when not supported so what...an antivirus like AVG or McFee will protect you if you go on the internet.
By the way, with Linux how can you run an automated program if the common ones are made for Windows only? Does Rivendell you mentioned work similar to the ones we are all familiar with?
Rivendell appears to just run with linux from what I can gather.
http://www.rivendellaudio.org/
That's what the engineer at Pacifica recommended. I've heard of linux being installed on top of windows several years. I don't know if that can be still done or not, after all the changes with windows. But I'm not going to attempt that, too many changes have happened over the years.
Using windows 10 when its not supported is at your own risk. If its never on the internet all will be fine. If you are streaming your station thats when you may have a problem. No virus scanner can protect you from holes in the windows system. That why you have a lot of windows updates. I have had my system hacked before when I didnt keep up with the updates. Myself I will take the chance as my pc's are no good for win 11 (Minimum Requirements bullshit). They can be updated to 11 with a hack now but with the new big update coming for 11 they will not work then. They are making the minimum requirements stronger.
I geo block most of the world, including the countries most notorious for hacking. That doesn't mean that they can't get in with a VPN, but usually there are far more inviting and easier targets than an almost unknown radio station.
I also keep backup computers handy and ready to go in the event that something happens. So far, touch wood, nothing has.
Johny mentions an interesting topic. Most of us are running older computers, not capable of running Windows 11. Part 15 radio stations don't pay much, after all. And older computers are perfectly fine to run automation, audio processing and even streaming. Particularly desktops - I've always found laptops more unstable than desktops. Desktops also give you the ability to upgrade substantially, adding more memory, disk space and even, if you're so inclined, powerful graphics cards that can offload certain types of processing from your CPU.
I'll take my chances with Windows 10 (and even Windows 7).
Linux? Meh. I've tried some versions, but was never really impressed. And I've always been leery of open source (or close to open source) software, particularly something that controls your entire computer. Maybe it's because I worked at Microsoft, but I've always been partial to their O/S's, despite their many faults. They're a lot more open than say, those supplied by Apple. And at the end of the day, they do an amazing job, supporting numerous devices. I also don't think people understand how difficult it is to be backwards compatible to previous versions. Things just work with Windows.
Wouldn't you think that if Windows 10 has been around for 10 years and updates constantly by the time 10 years or more has gone by the "holes" would be covered over by now?
But no worries, Youtube is your friend. Someone will always show you how to do it and get around the Windows 11 problem.
My broadcast computer is just that, not used for anything else and never connected to the internet. No updates to keep screwing up the broadcast and it can go like that forever.
The other computer which I use for everything else is a Lenovo Windows 10 and when I start up a message comes on asking if I want to upgrade to 11 and I keep saying no. Isn't till a year from this October that support will stop and then I would just say yeah Ok go to 11 and there will always be the work around for the having to have the Microsoft account. Still a little way off.
@artisan-radio Where do you get the older versions of Windows? Are they still sold anywhere or can service depts. still install them for you? Just wondering as I thought as they become not supported they are not available anymore?
The two computers I'm currently using can't be upgraded to Windows 11. I need mine connected to the internet to get network feeds/Programming. I'm not really comfortable going to Linux after giving it some thought. I've never used a Linux system before. Every computer I always used was and is Windows OS.
@mark From a variety of sources. I have a set of Windows 10 media, and until recently you were able to upgrade Windows 7 to 10 for free. I don't know if that is still the case but I successfully did it a few months ago.
You can also purchase older desktops with Windows COA's that can be transferred to other computers. In most cases, the COA is worth more than the price of the computer (virtually every computer I own I purchased for less than C$50 - of course, I then upgraded them which brings the price up a bit).
I own both standalone and upgrade disks for XP, Vista, 7 and have the media (on USB stick) for 10. Keep those COA's on your old computers, as you can always use them in an upgrade.