W10 with poor internet connection

grumpycrab

Sorry, probably not a new thread but have this week witnessed a couple of W10 computers on their last legs and one of the issues has been that the computers have been WAY behind with updates. W10 just doesn't seem to handle getting out of date (there were other issues so I'm not saying that lack of being updated was the main problem). We're talking about 2-5Mbps ADSL lines; and users that put their computer on for 30mins a day to check email...

SO, any easy advice what to do here (apart from go back to W7 which one person wants to do); I'm telling people to leave their computers on for at least a couple of hours once a week; Perhaps define a metered connection? but this only works with wifi (!!!!!!!?!). This is becoming a PITA. And I see we have a new build in April.

forgotmyname

Not getting updates does not cripple the computer and put it on its last legs. In fact the reason a lot of them are slow is because of the updates.

The anniversary one installed a load of crap alongside the essential updates. I rolled my mums back and blocked the update servers.

grumpycrab

forgotmyname wrote: »

I rolled my mums back and blocked the update servers.

Sounds a bit drastic. Could use the "defer upgrades" option I guess but not available on the Home edition. Dammit.

Browntoa

theres options in settings when it allows you to set the time windows//days they you want W10 NOt to do updates


go in and narrow that window to the middle of the night and it should do updates while turned on

grumpycrab

Browntoa wrote: »

...and it should do updates while turned on

Yep, got that one. Just have to convince people to leave their computers on; doesn't help with 2Mpbs internet connects!
I'm looking at trying to select the "metered connection" option on ethernet. (EDIT: answer - always ensure people use wifi, even if it involves buying a cheap/cheerful wifi stick. Will this have any affect!?!?)

Strider590

Leave computer on over night at least once per week, simples.

Ugh, maybe not so simples, you'd have to make sure it's not set to sleep after a set time as well.

I'd echo some of the above, an OS isn't just going to suddenly grind to a halt because it hasn't had its updates. In fact historically updates have almost always had a negative effect on PC performance. Years ago I was convinced that MS worked in cahoots with PC manufacturers to gradually bring PCs to a halt at around 3 years of age, so as to keep the market going.

Regardless, I could install Win98 or XP on my PC right now and it'd need 500+ updates, but it wouldn't grind to a halt if I stopped it doing so.

These PCs you mention have other issues and what you appear to be doing is regurgitating the sort of BS that PC techs tell people when the truth is too complicated for their brains to understand.

And for the 2nd time this week I post this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlQeavkp5ow

hans_2

How to set an Ethernet Connection as Metered to control Updates, Drivers, Store and others

grumpycrab

Strider590 wrote: »

...These PCs you mention have other issues and what you appear to be doing is regurgitating the sort of BS

Blimey - harsh words Strider - had a bad night mate? Lack of updates was one issue and I'll park the "are updates needed or not" argument off to one side.

Other issues (well the 2 neighbours I saw this week) had done various "bad" stuff :- installed a plethora of "speed up PC utilities"; had tons of malware; rang "support number" to fix their computers. So yes, you're right, not really the result of lack of updates. Happy?

GunJack

the W10 updates problem is not a new one, it's been around since xp at least, as the default option was always to install updates automatically. The vast majority of users:-
1. don't know or care about this
2. never leave the pc on long enough for it to ever catch up
3. accept the poor performance of a machine that's constantly churning cpu/ram/hdd trying to do updates in the background

the update ethos is down to ms...it's fine for corporate users where the pc is left on 24/7 and all the user sees is the occasional reboot required when they get into work, but this just doesn't translate to home use and how people use the pc

RumRat

Without the updates they will probably eventually encounter more problems. It would seem easiest to educate them to go into the settings and check for updates once a week.
Although if you can't get them to leave their machines on for one day a week, that might be a stretch..............Some people just can't be helped.....

Jivesinger

I have a machine which has lost the knack of picking up W10 updates. It's on loads of the time (and set to "metered") but for some reason it's just stopped checking. Even clicking Check for Updates doesn't make it find any.