Windows 10, Sony Vaio question

I bought a W8 Sony Vaio laptop in August 2013. I upgraded to W8.1, and
then in early August this year, to W10. All was fine but I did notice
that not a single Cumulative Update would install. Windows Defender
updates were fine. I started hibernating rather than switching off, to
save the tedious and invariably failed attempts to install the CUs
whenever I switched on. Then W10 stopped seeing the USB 3.0 ports on the
LHS of the laptop: the USB 2.0 ports on the RHS were fine. I did a
system restore and all ports can now be seen. Then I disabled ALL
Microsoft updates, using the Services menu, and installed Panda
antivirus to replace Defender. I use Ninite to update all my programs
when necessary.

This is working fine for me now. All ports are seen, my programs update,
and I don't waste time trying to install CUs, new builds, nor do I risk
the other problems that these can create.

My question: is this viable for the long term? It's difficult to find
out whether Sony or Microsoft has brought the drivers etc for my laptop
(model SVF1521C5E) up to date for W10.

Hank wrote on 12/3/2015 6:53 PM:
I bought a W8 Sony Vaio laptop in August 2013. I upgraded to W8.1, and then in early August this year, to W10. All was
fine but I did notice that not a single Cumulative Update would install. Windows Defender updates were fine. I started
hibernating rather than switching off, to save the tedious and invariably failed attempts to install the CUs whenever I
switched on. Then W10 stopped seeing the USB 3.0 ports on the LHS of the laptop: the USB 2.0 ports on the RHS were fine.
I did a system restore and all ports can now be seen. Then I disabled ALL Microsoft updates, using the Services menu,
and installed Panda antivirus to replace Defender. I use Ninite to update all my programs when necessary.

This is working fine for me now. All ports are seen, my programs update, and I don't waste time trying to install CUs,
new builds, nor do I risk the other problems that these can create.

My question: is this viable for the long term? It's difficult to find out whether Sony or Microsoft has brought the
drivers etc for my laptop (model SVF1521C5E) up to date for W10.
Thanks for the warning, we have an SVE1512, sounds pretty close. About the same age, maybe a year earlier.
I'll make sure I image it if we do it at all.

On 04/12/2015 01:51, Big Al wrote:

Thanks for the warning, we have an SVE1512, sounds pretty close. About
the same age, maybe a year earlier.
I'll make sure I image it if we do it at all.
Just fyi, I allowed Windows 10 updates again this evening, and it took a
couple of hours to upgrade to build 1511 and, the good news, it seems to
be working fine now on my laptop. Perhaps MS and Sony between them
sorted out all the issues in the past few weeks. I think I will continue
to disable all updates, check the internet chatter to see how
problematic they are, then re-allow them for one evening every fortnight
or so (after making images) to give my machine a chance to catch up.

Hank wrote:
On 04/12/2015 01:51, Big Al wrote:

Thanks for the warning, we have an SVE1512, sounds pretty close. About
the same age, maybe a year earlier.
I'll make sure I image it if we do it at all.

Just fyi, I allowed Windows 10 updates again this evening, and it took a
couple of hours to upgrade to build 1511 and, the good news, it seems to
be working fine now on my laptop. Perhaps MS and Sony between them
sorted out all the issues in the past few weeks. I think I will continue
to disable all updates, check the internet chatter to see how
problematic they are, then re-allow them for one evening every fortnight
or so (after making images) to give my machine a chance to catch up.

Just for the record, I don't see any evidence that
Microsoft "works with" other companies on drivers and
such.

It would appear, that an "original" wave of drivers were
acquired by Microsoft. But any fixed versions, just
don't see to make it into the Microsoft facilities.

For example, AMD/ATI video has a new driver series (Crimson?), which
does not come from Microsoft Windows Update, and it *fixes*
the MOM.exe issue. And I had to go get that myself and
install it. (On the Driver download page, it says my
card is not supported, but I did eventually find a
web page at AMD, with a good driver for the job.)

If you use Crimson, be very careful ticking the option
boxes. There is at least one "feature" with privacy and
security issues, which should not be ticked. The software
in question, comes from a third-party (no, it's not adware,
just a gamer package of dubious value). Otherwise, you
find out after the fact, that "Raptr" has appeared in
your Program Files (x86) folder.

I had to use the same approach, to clean up about 20 entries
in Device Manager that had (cosmetic only) issues. I waited
for two months for them to fix that, and I ended up going
to the Intel site and getting an INFINST package to fix it up.

If you use the passive approach with Windows 10, your
wait could be a long one indeed.

The thing that made me mad, is the MOM.exe kept throwing
errors. I used an option, to stop the errors from
appearing on the screen, so I wouldn't be bothered by
the errors. When the 10586 update came in, it
restored the obnoxious side effects of the errors.
Forcing me to find yet another solution to fix it.
I expect the next time a major Upgrade comes in,
I will have to repeat this work.

I don't know who fixed your problems, but it is
good that it works. For now.

Paul

Many thanks Paul/Hank, I have been putting off the opportunity to upgrade
my Vaio (VPCYB3V1E); think I should keep ignoring MS's exhortations to upgrade
until August 2016 or whenever the free upgrade ends?

Keith


between them sorted out all the issues in the past few weeks. I think
I will continue to disable all updates, check the internet chatter to
see how problematic they are, then re-allow them for one evening
every fortnight or so (after making images) to give my machine a
chance to catch up.

Just for the record, I don't see any evidence that Microsoft "works
with" other companies on drivers and such.

It would appear, that an "original" wave of drivers were acquired by
Microsoft. But any fixed versions, just don't see to make it into the
Microsoft facilities.

For example, AMD/ATI video has a new driver series (Crimson?), which
does not come from Microsoft Windows Update, and it *fixes*
the MOM.exe issue. And I had to go get that myself and
install it. (On the Driver download page, it says my
card is not supported, but I did eventually find a
web page at AMD, with a good driver for the job.)
If you use Crimson, be very careful ticking the option
boxes. There is at least one "feature" with privacy and
security issues, which should not be ticked. The software
in question, comes from a third-party (no, it's not adware,
just a gamer package of dubious value). Otherwise, you
find out after the fact, that "Raptr" has appeared in
your Program Files (x86) folder.
I had to use the same approach, to clean up about 20 entries
in Device Manager that had (cosmetic only) issues. I waited
for two months for them to fix that, and I ended up going
to the Intel site and getting an INFINST package to fix it up.
If you use the passive approach with Windows 10, your wait could be a
long one indeed.

The thing that made me mad, is the MOM.exe kept throwing
errors. I used an option, to stop the errors from
appearing on the screen, so I wouldn't be bothered by
the errors. When the 10586 update came in, it
restored the obnoxious side effects of the errors.
Forcing me to find yet another solution to fix it.
I expect the next time a major Upgrade comes in,
I will have to repeat this work.
I don't know who fixed your problems, but it is
good that it works. For now.
Paul

Keith wrote:
Many thanks Paul/Hank, I have been putting off the opportunity to
upgrade my Vaio (VPCYB3V1E); think I should keep ignoring MS's
exhortations to upgrade until August 2016 or whenever the free upgrade
ends?

Keith

The forecast is, that Microsoft will become more pushy with
its requests to upgrade. Up to and including downloading
the materials and starting the installation without permission.
(There are already reports from people who claim they never
clicked anything to start the install, and they found Win10
running on the computer.)

This means, having your gear set up in "defensive mode", if
you don't want the upgrade to happen.

My Windows 7 setup has no GWX icon. It has no exhortations
at all. Why ? Windows update was shut off. The GWX update
did get into the machine, but I noticed GWXUI running in
Task Manager (just before a reboot) and I uninstalled the
update that did it. I could have sworn I unticked that
update, and it still got into the computer. So Windows Update
was shut off as a response.

There is at least one person, who makes an application
for preventing Windows 10 updates, and even he is having
trouble keeping up with it. His application now
has to flip the controls to the off-state, multiple
times per day. So his software operates
in a "persistent" mode of operation,
keeping the machine "safe".

If you do want to sit tight until August 2016,
you're going to need to put the couch up against
the window, to keep Microsoft out :-)

The thing is, if GWX is already showing in the machine,
you may be pestered ad nauseam. Both GWX and Windows Update
are now entry points for the pest.

If you have a backup strategy, that will give you
more options if "something naughty" happens. The
thing is, Microsoft moves C:\Windows to C:\Windows.old,
preserving the state of the OS. But the Program Files
folder is treated with contempt, and Microsoft feels
they can do anything they want to it... and not put
it back if you roll back the machine to the original OS.
So while the OS upgrade nominally has a "roll back"
capability, it is not deserving of such a title. If
you keep your own backups of the C: drive, that allows a
more complete rollback to be orchestrated.

For example, an install and rollback, may find your
AV program disabled on the roll forward, and damaged
on the roll back. (AV cleaner applications are available
to clean up the mess, and allow you to reinstall later.
Most AV companies have such a program to cover cases
like this.)

It is possible to arrange daily backups, with
either differential or incremental scheme. This
means, if only 100MB of files changed today, it
only takes seconds for the backup software to
record that 100MB differential or increment.
You don't have to use backup schemes that do
full backups on every invocation. And this allows
a person to have a backup scheme that is minimally
disruptive and still preserves the machine state.

The "Illustration" section here, shows how the two
backup methods work. That way, you'll know what
you're shopping for. For example, Macrium Reflect Free
does Differential, whereas the paid version of
the software supports both Differential and Incremental.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_backup

*******

If you do plan to upgrade, Microsoft has had plenty
of time to get their act together. You should be able
to download 10586, install it, see if it works and
so on. If the drivers aren't there, or the software
refuses to install, I don't think at this point in
time, the situation will be materially different
on July 29, 2016. It will still fail to install on
that date as well.

And as long as you have a backup scheme, you have
nothing to worry about. Now is the time to start
working on your backup scheme, not July 28.

Paul

Hello Paul,

My backup plan has been (using Mactium free) full backups weekly, differential
every 3-4 days keeping the last three recent full b/us on my NAS. I keep
a 'current' Macrium PE 'disc' on a memory stick (no optical drive on the
Vaio: although I could use the desktop's drive, it has not always proved
to be successful).

I'm probably misunderstanding your penultimate paragraph; I've interpreted
it as "If Win 10 won't install now it (most probably) won't install next
July". The Sony European support site reports all necessary drivers are present
in W10 so, as one who went from DOS to W3.11/95/98se/XP/7 I'm going to bide
my time.


Keith wrote:

Many thanks Paul/Hank, I have been putting off the opportunity to
upgrade my Vaio (VPCYB3V1E); think I should keep ignoring MS's
exhortations to upgrade until August 2016 or whenever the free
upgrade ends?

Keith

The forecast is, that Microsoft will become more pushy with
its requests to upgrade. Up to and including downloading
the materials and starting the installation without permission.
(There are already reports from people who claim they never
clicked anything to start the install, and they found Win10
running on the computer.)
This means, having your gear set up in "defensive mode", if you don't
want the upgrade to happen.

My Windows 7 setup has no GWX icon. It has no exhortations
at all. Why ? Windows update was shut off. The GWX update
did get into the machine, but I noticed GWXUI running in
Task Manager (just before a reboot) and I uninstalled the
update that did it. I could have sworn I unticked that
update, and it still got into the computer. So Windows Update
was shut off as a response.
There is at least one person, who makes an application
for preventing Windows 10 updates, and even he is having
trouble keeping up with it. His application now
has to flip the controls to the off-state, multiple
times per day. So his software operates
in a "persistent" mode of operation,
keeping the machine "safe".
If you do want to sit tight until August 2016,
you're going to need to put the couch up against
the window, to keep Microsoft out :-)
The thing is, if GWX is already showing in the machine,
you may be pestered ad nauseam. Both GWX and Windows Update
are now entry points for the pest.
If you have a backup strategy, that will give you
more options if "something naughty" happens. The
thing is, Microsoft moves C:\Windows to C:\Windows.old,
preserving the state of the OS. But the Program Files
folder is treated with contempt, and Microsoft feels
they can do anything they want to it... and not put
it back if you roll back the machine to the original OS.
So while the OS upgrade nominally has a "roll back"
capability, it is not deserving of such a title. If
you keep your own backups of the C: drive, that allows a
more complete rollback to be orchestrated.
For example, an install and rollback, may find your
AV program disabled on the roll forward, and damaged
on the roll back. (AV cleaner applications are available
to clean up the mess, and allow you to reinstall later.
Most AV companies have such a program to cover cases
like this.)
It is possible to arrange daily backups, with
either differential or incremental scheme. This
means, if only 100MB of files changed today, it
only takes seconds for the backup software to
record that 100MB differential or increment.
You don't have to use backup schemes that do
full backups on every invocation. And this allows
a person to have a backup scheme that is minimally
disruptive and still preserves the machine state.
The "Illustration" section here, shows how the two
backup methods work. That way, you'll know what
you're shopping for. For example, Macrium Reflect Free
does Differential, whereas the paid version of
the software supports both Differential and Incremental.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_backup

*******

If you do plan to upgrade, Microsoft has had plenty
of time to get their act together. You should be able
to download 10586, install it, see if it works and
so on. If the drivers aren't there, or the software
refuses to install, I don't think at this point in
time, the situation will be materially different
on July 29, 2016. It will still fail to install on
that date as well.
And as long as you have a backup scheme, you have
nothing to worry about. Now is the time to start
working on your backup scheme, not July 28.
Paul