Atwater Computer Consulting in Marin County
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Local computer network and technology consulting and support since 1996- backups, security, repairs/fixes, upgrades/updates.
Customization/personalization/configuration specialist.
Microsoft possibly reconsidering the necessity of demanding new Windows 11 computers use Microsoft accounts. They must have realized they're helping Apple, maybe Google, and Linux with their demands. Or just slowing Windows 11 adoption, which they need to help with Microsoft 365 sales.
Try Power Clean if your Epson Ink Tank printer seems to have gotten totally clogged. Shut the printer off. After a minute or two power the printer back on while holding the Question Mark button down at the same time. Takes about ten minutes to do the Power Clean routine. Worked great on an Epson ink tank printer that was thought to be dead a couple of weeks ago, now prints normally.
Stay away from Microsoft OneDrive (aka "Windows Backup" although it's NOT really a backup app) if you don't want a Microsoft subscription of some kind, they'll push it on you right away if you log into a Windows computer with a Microsoft account, which Microsoft is now heavily enforcing with new Windows 11 computers. It will also move your files to the OneDrive folder without warning. All in a desperate attempt to get another $2-20 per month out of anybody/everybody. I disable it from startup on most machines, but often it's already moved files into the OneDrive folder before that so all the data has to be moved back to the original folders after a restart with Onedrive disabled.
09/12/2025
Microsoft is insisting on Windows users using Microsoft accounts for Windows 10 extended security updates and on new Windows 11 machines.
Clearly you, the average Windows user, is being used for Microsoft's revenue if you use a Microsoft account-so try to use a simple local user account if possible. Also avoid OneDrive generally, which Microsoft is calling "Windows Backup" just to confuse things-this is just an underhanded way to get you to pay for storage and give more of your data to Microsoft long term. They got the idea from Apple of course, but i think Apple is a little more up front about long term charges and data use!
More here:
Microsoft extends Windows 10 support, but there’s a hidden catch For more than a decade, Windows 10 has been the familiar digital workspace for millions. It’s the operating system you trust when you hit “save,” the one you boot up every morning for work, school,…
End of Windows 10 support likely to create a lot of e-waste, roughly 240 million computers may go to waste according to TomsHardware. Microsoft could fairly easily let most of these computers upgrade to Windows 11 by allowing the installer to bypass the TPM 2.0 requirement with a disclaimer.
Microsoft 365 40 percent price increases pushing their AI on everyone. They do say you can go back to the "classic" (and less expensive) non AI version for a "limited time", whatever that means. I would stay away from Microsoft 365 entirely unless you really need it. Don't forget there are plenty of options including LibreOffice, Google Docs, and Zoho Writer/Sheets if you just need to do a few simple spreadsheets or letters
Facebook ending fact checking? Bad idea. Way too many ads too. Big Tech in general has become more and more obnoxious, intrusive, and misleading.
Time to dump Microsoft and Apple? Consider Chromebooks or Linux, Android phones. Harder to get rid of Google entirely but that can be worked around via Duckduckgo, Brave search, Ecosia or other search engines. Google Docs or Zoho Docs are basic alternatives to Microsoft Office, or LibreOffice if you still have to use a Windows or MacOS device. Microsoft in particular has gotten very naggy and pushes misleading ads and promos, Apple changes things generally in their favor, not the users, gives you less then charges more generally.
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