I am totally sick and tired of Windows 10 changing default settings.

[BulletDust]

First and foremost, my intention with this post is not to bag out Windows 10 without good reason, this is myself venting frustration over who's in control of my client's PC - Am I the one in control, or is Microsoft in control? Here's my true to life example:

I have a couple of clients that run an accounting software package called Reckon Accounts and it has to be stated that I feel this particular software package is shit. Last I checked they do not fully support Windows 10 or MS Outlook 2016. In order to maintain compatibility one of my clients is still running Office 2003, yes, that's right, Office 2003! My second client I was forced to set up Thunderbird as their email client in order to maintain compatibility.

The issue shows itself when the clients try to email an invoice as an attachment directly from Reckon Accounts, the driver used to perform such an action is rubbish, but as stated I can work around the issue - With the exception of one major problem.

Every time Windows 10 updates it sets either Microsoft Mail or Microsoft Outlook 2016 as the default mail client, totally buggering up any work I've performed in getting this crappy package working. Furthermore, it's not enough to simply go to Settings > System > Default Apps and select the necessary client as well as go to Control Panel > Default Programs > and select the necessary client, a situation that is ridiculous in itself - Why is there two sections within the OS where I have to make the necessary changes?! Especially when the changes don't have an effect, Windows will still insist on using a Microsoft email client no matter what!

What I have to do is open Regedit and manually modify the fields under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Clients\Mail as well as HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Clients\Mail to Mozilla Thunderbird as opposed to Microsoft mail or Microsoft Outlook every time there is a Windows update!

This just isn't good enough! It's an inconvenience to me and a major inconvenience to my client. When I set up an OS the way I need it set up in order to run correctly those changes should unconditionally stick!

Not only that, but the Reckon accounts client software has to be set to 'Run As Administrator' or else the send attachment to email function will fail, where's the security in that! And yet again, every update this setting is changed, resulting once again in send to email problems.

Anyway, rant over. I'm just tired and sick of not being in control of this situation, it's not as simple as just disabling updates as that opens up a can of worms from a security patching perspective on behalf of my clients - Something I would never subject anyone to.

Anyone else face issues such as this? It just boggles my brain not only how Reckon Accounts can be so useless under Windows 10, but how Microsoft can justify changing my settings to use Microsoft products every time there's an update - Which is obviously what they're doing!

 

[Spartacus]

Can you migrate from Reckon to Quickbooks or other similar software?
Install the 30 day trial and see if it will work for them.

Roll them back to Windows 7, nothing says they have to run 10.

.

 

[DrLobotomy]

Windows 10 update mechanism is a hot steamy pile. It only took one of those setting reset sessions and reboot to get my win 10 disk demoted to slave status to be booted once every 6 months for updates or when I need to answer some question on how to do something.

I really don't understand their move with this. Not to mention the new monthly updates that don't list the patches individually. Who thought this was a good idea?

I guess they don't think the ship can ever get turned the wrong way. They may be in for a surprise soon enough. You can only cut off so many toes before you can't run anymore.

 

[BulletDust]

Can you migrate from Reckon to Quickbooks or other similar software?
Install the 30 day trial and see if it will work for them.

Roll them back to Windows 7, nothing says they have to run 10.

.

The issue is the client's are used to Reckon Accounts and don't want to relearn their accounting package all over again, people are always resistant to change. As far as rolling back to Windows 7 goes, these machines were both bought with Windows 10 licenses as that's all you can really get these days, therefore rollback to Windows 7 is really not an option.

Besides, I shouldn't have to rollback to an older OS to resolve issues.

 

[Deleted member 245375]

Tell the client if they want you to continue providing support for old outdated and unsupported software or hardware your fees will double and stand firm on it. If they balk, there's plenty of business out there to profit from - the actual money you're earning is more than likely not worth the time and effort (and frustration) you're having to expend on providing such support yourself.

I made a decision myself before Windows 10 was officially released that I was not going to support it for any of the people that I still do tech support for and I haven't to this day save for one single client that wanted to upgrade to Windows 10 to take advantage of the free offer. I did that for him by imaging the machine with Windows 7 on it, installed Windows 10 and locked in the free upgrade activation, then wiped it and restored the Windows 7 image and told him in the future if he wishes to upgrade to Windows 10 he's on his own. Last time I checked in December he was still using Windows 7 for a variety of reasons, he said he just wanted to lock in the free upgrade to Windows 10 because if he sells the laptop he wanted the new owners to have that option which makes sense: it's the same reason I did the free upgrade activation with my Latitude and the wife's as well.

But honestly, no joke, wasting time supporting old software and even old hardware (if that's what they use) is a waste of your time if you consider it worth value regardless of what they're paying you currently - raise the fees, see what happens, there's other tech support needs out there that aren't a drain on your own resources like some are. If you want to continue doing that then you're on your own basically, just like they should be.

 

[BulletDust]

Tell the client if they want you to continue providing support for old outdated and unsupported software or hardware your fees will double and stand firm on it. If they balk, there's plenty of business out there to profit from - the actual money you're earning is more than likely not worth the time and effort (and frustration) you're having to expend on providing such support yourself.

I made a decision myself before Windows 10 was officially released that I was not going to support it for any of the people that I still do tech support for and I haven't to this day save for one single client that wanted to upgrade to Windows 10 to take advantage of the free offer. I did that for him by imaging the machine with Windows 7 on it, installed Windows 10 and locked in the free upgrade activation, then wiped it and restored the Windows 7 image and told him in the future if he wishes to upgrade to Windows 10 he's on his own. Last time I checked in December he was still using Windows 7 for a variety of reasons, he said he just wanted to lock in the free upgrade to Windows 10 because if he sells the laptop he wanted the new owners to have that option which makes sense: it's the same reason I did the free upgrade activation with my Latitude and the wife's as well.

But honestly, no joke, wasting time supporting old software and even old hardware (if that's what they use) is a waste of your time if you consider it worth value regardless of what they're paying you currently - raise the fees, see what happens, there's other tech support needs out there that aren't a drain on your own resources like some are. If you want to continue doing that then you're on your own basically, just like they should be.

It doesn't take me long to rectify, I log in remotely and I'm done in about 10 mins - I charge for a minimum of an hours work so it's actually a good money spinner, it's just very frustrating that I tell the OS what to do and it goes and changes shit on me.

Their hardware isn't old, both are running NUC615SYH machines with M.2 SSD's.

 

[Deleted member 245375]

Then I have to ask: why make this thread? If the situation is well handled by you and your skills and you're ok with the client but your issue lies with Windows 10 apparently then, what, a rant?

 

[BulletDust]

I stated it was a rant in the OP?!

I was venting as it really isn't an OS's place to change settings to proprietary products when applying updates, I think everyone can agree on this, and I was asking if anyone else faced similar issues under Windows 10?

 

[M76]

Why exactly are they running windows 10 if they only run old archaic software on it? I feel this situation could easily be remedied for good by just downgrading windows.

 

[Spartacus]

The issue is the client's are used to Reckon Accounts and don't want to relearn their accounting package all over again, people are always resistant to change. As far as rolling back to Windows 7 goes, these machines were both bought with Windows 10 licenses as that's all you can really get these days, therefore rollback to Windows 7 is really not an option.

Besides, I shouldn't have to rollback to an older OS to resolve issues.

Yes, change is painful.... but how painful is it for them to keep having problems.
I would want to get them switched to Quickbooks regardless of any OS issues.

Also, you shouldn't have to roll back to Windows 7 but we know that already.
This is reality though. If everything was running well on Win-7 then that's a no-brainer to me.

You can get OEM Windows 7 Pro licenses really cheap here on the 4sale section.
Look for posts by the user [ION] .

.

 

[BulletDust]

Why exactly are they running windows 10 if they only run old archaic software on it? I feel this situation could easily be remedied for good by just downgrading windows.

The accounting package isn't archaic, it's Reckon Accounts 2015.

Downgrading only to run an OS that's end of mainstream support with support on security updates only isn't really an ideal situation either, especially when OEM Windows 7 Professional is worth more than OEM Windows 10 Home. Sticking to a 7yo OS isn't really a viable solution.

And while I'm aware of the fact that there are plenty of ways to get cheap Windows licenses, I'm not going to trust a license I purchase of the [H] forums to a client, no matter what anyone claims that's unprofessional and asking for issues.

 

[Deleted member 245375]

I stated it was a rant in the OP?!

Yah, I know, just pushing buttons on my end... on the keyboard... like these right now. It's Friday night/Saturday morning in Las Vegas, what can I say, I'm bored.

Also there's an irony here only I'll take note of - I see Spartacus joined the thread and I kid you not: I'm watching Spartacus at this very moment, been marathoning the series the past day or so, currently at season 1 episode 9, and no it ain't the first run through. I watched the entire series as it aired on Starz and this is just a rewatch 'cause it's a fuck-awesome show.

 

[BulletDust]

Yah, I know, just pushing buttons on my end... on the keyboard... like these right now. It's Friday night/Saturday morning in Las Vegas, what can I say, I'm bored.

Also there's an irony here only I'll take note of - I see Spartacus joined the thread and I kid you not: I'm watching Spartacus at this very moment, been marathoning the series the past day or so, currently at season 1 episode 9, and no it ain't the first run through. I watched the entire series as it aired on Starz and this is just a rewatch 'cause it's a fuck-awesome show.

What's the whether like in Las Vegas this time of year?

 

[Deleted member 245375]

The weather is somewhat interesting as it rained a few days ago and this is the desert as so many people tend to forget. Right at this moment it's about 50F so 10C for you in Australia, slightly cloudy, been very windy the past few days (not all that uncommon in the desert unlike rain). Altogether not that bad so far but winter hasn't really hit just yet, it's not like it gets severely cold here but it did hit 29F/-1C a few weeks ago in early December.

Soon enough it'll be a hot box all over again and the air condition will skyrocket the power bill once more to stratospheric heights.

 

[BulletDust]

The weather in Australia's all over the place ATM, stupidly hot one day, storms and pissing down the next.

Thank gawd for A/C is all I can say.

 

[M76]

The accounting package isn't archaic, it's Reckon Accounts 2015.

Downgrading only to run an OS that's end of mainstream support with support on security updates only isn't really an ideal situation either, especially when OEM Windows 7 Professional is worth more than OEM Windows 10 Home. Sticking to a 7yo OS isn't really a viable solution.

And while I'm aware of the fact that there are plenty of ways to get cheap Windows licenses, I'm not going to trust a license I purchase of the [H] forums to a client, no matter what anyone claims that's unprofessional and asking for issues.

Yeah and sticking to an OS that fucks itself up at every update is a viable solution? They shouldn't have upgraded in the first place. And not as if W8 doesn't even exists. Yes the metro ui sucks. But 8.1 is at least usable. It's still better than running to the client after every update.

Well then tell them to get a Windows 10 Pro licenses. Than can be downgraded to either 7 or 8.1.

Also I don't understand why mainstream support matters? You still get security fixes, just not interactive support, and no feature updates.

You could still have a good 3 years of smooth operation, within that time the developer of the software package can fix Windows 10 compatibility.

There are options here.

 

[BulletDust]

Yeah and sticking to an OS that fucks itself up at every update is a viable solution? They shouldn't have upgraded in the first place. And not as if W8 doesn't even exists. Yes the metro ui sucks. But 8.1 is at least usable. It's still better than running to the client after every update.

Well then tell them to get a Windows 10 Pro licenses. Than can be downgraded to either 7 or 8.1.

Also I don't understand why mainstream support matters? You still get security fixes, just not interactive support, and no feature updates.

You could still have a good 3 years of smooth operation, within that time the developer of the software package can fix Windows 10 compatibility.

There are options here.

It would be nice to think MS stops the bullshit and all the manipulation after an update and settles down, I don't like my chances, but you can only hope. I just can't believe there's two settings UI's I have to adjust and neither of them actually change the default email client in the registry! It's got me stuffed!

 

[bigdogchris]

At this point, if someone is running a legacy application that requires something like XP or Office 2003, I would move that over to a dedicated PC on XP that they can keep off, then set up new Windows 7 or 10 machines for business operations. There's really no excuse to be using that old stuff as your daily driver.

I know it would be a pain to change computers throughout the day, but that's the price you pay for requiring old software that isn't updated anymore.

 

[M76]

At this point, if someone is running a legacy application that requires something like XP or Office 2003, I would move that over to a dedicated PC on XP that they can keep off, then set up new Windows 7 or 10 machines for business operations. There's really no excuse to be using that old stuff as your daily driver.

I know it would be a pain to change computers throughout the day, but that's the price you pay for requiring old software that isn't updated anymore.

The usual secretary goes berserk for as much as changing the location of one icon. Now you'll try to tell them that they need to use a different computer for one of the programs? Fat chance.

 

[Deleted member 126051]

Yeah and sticking to an OS that fucks itself up at every update is a viable solution? They shouldn't have upgraded in the first place. And not as if W8 doesn't even exists. Yes the metro ui sucks. But 8.1 is at least usable. It's still better than running to the client after every update.

Well then tell them to get a Windows 10 Pro licenses. Than can be downgraded to either 7 or 8.1.

Also I don't understand why mainstream support matters? You still get security fixes, just not interactive support, and no feature updates.

You could still have a good 3 years of smooth operation, within that time the developer of the software package can fix Windows 10 compatibility.

There are options here.

I pretty much agree with everything here.

Is it an OPTIMAL solution? Fuck no!

But will it stop the bleed on your time and your client's pocketbook?

YES!

If it's dumb, but it works, it ain't dumb.

Also, the problem here isn't Windows 10, per-se. It's Reckon.
They need to pull their heads out of their ass and update their e-mail link PROPERLY.
Windows 10 has now been out SEVENTEEN MONTHS.

They need to have their feet held to the fire to get their program and their Office links in working order.
Submit a ticket on the issue (if you haven't already) and pester their tech support line on a monthly basis until it gets traction.

If they don't fix it by the next update, lay out the problems in economic terms.

It costs you "this much" to have me out here un-fucking it every few weeks/months.
A different accounting package that WORKS costs "this much".
Your original accounting package isn't/can't keep up and won't support your needs, and getting it to work is an ugly, nasty hack that Windows Updates keeps breaking (likely for security reasons)

Then inform them if they continue with this package, the fees for coming out (or remoting in) and fixing it on a regular basis will be going up. Because having to deal with their inability to shitcan broken software that they insist on clinging to is pulling time away from other clients.


One other option, depending on how many people need to use the package.

If it's just one, set up a legacy VM with the app.
Or do so with Terminal Services if you need multi-user access.

 

[BulletDust]

I pretty much agree with everything here.

Is it an OPTIMAL solution? Fuck no!

But will it stop the bleed on your time and your client's pocketbook?

YES!

If it's dumb, but it works, it ain't dumb.

Also, the problem here isn't Windows 10, per-se. It's Reckon.
They need to pull their heads out of their ass and update their e-mail link PROPERLY.
Windows 10 has now been out SEVENTEEN MONTHS.

They need to have their feet held to the fire to get their program and their Office links in working order.
Submit a ticket on the issue (if you haven't already) and pester their tech support line on a monthly basis until it gets traction.

If they don't fix it by the next update, lay out the problems in economic terms.

It costs you "this much" to have me out here un-fucking it every few weeks/months.
A different accounting package that WORKS costs "this much".
Your original accounting package isn't/can't keep up and won't support your needs, and getting it to work is an ugly, nasty hack that Windows Updates keeps breaking (likely for security reasons)

Then inform them if they continue with this package, the fees for coming out (or remoting in) and fixing it on a regular basis will be going up. Because having to deal with their inability to shitcan broken software that they insist on clinging to is pulling time away from other clients.


One other option, depending on how many people need to use the package.

If it's just one, set up a legacy VM with the app.
Or do so with Terminal Services if you need multi-user access.

This is true, the bulk of the blame does lie with Reckon, there's no doubt about it. However, first of all no setting should change as a result of an update, second of all I shouldn't have to go through two different GUI's in an attempt to change the default mail client back to Thunderbird (bearing in mind this issue doesn't happen on the machine running Office 2003, W10 is quite happy leaving that machine to run Office 2003) only to find that changing the settings in the GUI does nothing as it doesn't affect the registry, I shouldn't have to then go into the registry to effectively change the default email client.

It's just crazy.

In relation to getting the client's to switch to different accounting packages, I'm trying to swap them over to an online solution so that there's really no issues I have to deal with anymore, but trying to convince someone to switch to something new that they're not used to is like pulling teeth. I'm working on it, but it's going to take time.

I've thought of Windows 7 in a VM, but we're now getting into a more complicated solution just to run an accounting package - Best to keep convincing them to switch to a better solution and hope they come around.

 

[Deleted member 126051]

This is true, the bulk of the blame does lie with Reckon, there's no doubt about it. However, first of all no setting should change as a result of an update,

Unfortunately, not realistic.

Even in other versions of Windows, prior to 10, settings changed.
Sure, not as egregiously as 10 does. But they did change.

And if it's the case that Win10 happily chugs along on Office 2003, nab another copy of it.
If the person insists on Thunderbird...

Well, Jagger said it best.

 

[BulletDust]

Unfortunately, not realistic.

Even in other versions of Windows, prior to 10, settings changed.
Sure, not as egregiously as 10 does. But they did change.

And if it's the case that Win10 happily chugs along on Office 2003, nab another copy of it.
If the person insists on Thunderbird...

Well, Jagger said it best.

I never once had settings change to make use of Microsoft software upon update as opposed to third party software in any version of Windows prior to 10, never, not once.

 

[KarsusTG]

As far as Microsoft is concerned, if you are a business you should be on enterprise and paying them much much more to not have these headaches even though this is what pro was originally designed for...

 

[BulletDust]

As far as Microsoft is concerned, if you are a business you should be on enterprise and paying them much much more to not have these headaches even though this is what pro was originally designed for...

These are small businesses of around one to two employees. They don't need enterprise operating systems, they don't need a Windows server. When it comes to any business with 10 or less PC's I don't believe in Windows servers anyway.

 

[KarsusTG]

These are small businesses of around one to two employees. They don't need enterprise operating systems, they don't need a Windows server. When it comes to any business with 10 or less PC's I don't believe in Windows servers anyway.

You don't and I don't but Microsoft does. I believe you can now get it by the user now at a monthly expense, which was the plan the whole time...

 

[BulletDust]

You don't and I don't but Microsoft does. I believe you can now get it by the user now at a monthly expense, which was the plan the whole time...

The writing was always on the wall re: Windows subscriptions. Even with an enterprise version of W10, there's nothing to state that settings won't be altered everytime there's an update.

 

[auntjemima]

Wait, you're tired of another thing in Windows? You? Call me shocked.

 

[BulletDust]

Wait, you're tired of another thing in Windows? You? Call me shocked.

Let it go.

 

[auntjemima]

Suggestion... make a registry addition file and have it run at startup each time. It should effectively do nothing unless something changes the value, and then the startup file will run when they restart and reset the value you need. I get that its a workaround, but it will resolve your issue and the four steps you normally take will be zero.

 

[BulletDust]

Suggestion... make a registry addition file and have it run at startup each time. It should effectively do nothing unless something changes the value, and then the startup file will run when they restart and reset the value you need. I get that its a workaround, but it will resolve your issue and the four steps you normally take will be zero.

That's an idea, still doesn't help with the application insisting on running as administrator and Windows 10 constantly unticking the radio box forcing the software to run in normal user space resulting in send to email issues.

 

[auntjemima]

Make a shortcut for the file and change the parameters. You could also change that files owner to a full admin account and you wouldn't always need to click the Run as Administrator box.

 

[Dreamerbydesign]

Then I have to ask: why make this thread? If the situation is well handled by you and your skills and you're ok with the client but your issue lies with Windows 10 apparently then, what, a rant?

OP - you are MAKING MONEY off this issue, and complaining about it?

 

[BulletDust]

Make a shortcut for the file and change the parameters. You could also change that files owner to a full admin account and you wouldn't always need to click the Run as Administrator box.

The shortcut for the file is where the parameters are being changed, I can look into adding the file to the Administrator account, thing is the current account should have admin rights.

 

[auntjemima]

The shortcut for the file is where the parameters are being changed, I can look into adding the file to the Administrator account, thing is the current account should have admin rights.

In my experience, having an account with admin privileges is not the same as the admin account itself. Setting the file owner to the admin GROUP is what you want, not the admin user.

 

[BulletDust]

In my experience, having an account with admin privileges is not the same as the admin account itself. Setting the file owner to the admin GROUP is what you want, not the admin user.

I'll give it a go, cheers mate!

 

[Nenu]

Suggestion... make a registry addition file and have it run at startup each time. It should effectively do nothing unless something changes the value, and then the startup file will run when they restart and reset the value you need. I get that its a workaround, but it will resolve your issue and the four steps you normally take will be zero.

I was about to say the same.

Alternatively, start the app with a batch file that runs the reg file first.
Then even if MS fudge with it after boot it will work.

 

[B00nie]

The weather is somewhat interesting as it rained a few days ago and this is the desert as so many people tend to forget. Right at this moment it's about 50F so 10C for you in Australia, slightly cloudy, been very windy the past few days (not all that uncommon in the desert unlike rain). Altogether not that bad so far but winter hasn't really hit just yet, it's not like it gets severely cold here but it did hit 29F/-1C a few weeks ago in early December.

Soon enough it'll be a hot box all over again and the air condition will skyrocket the power bill once more to stratospheric heights.

I'm spending 30 000 kilowatt hours on heating every year. I would love to do aircon instead lol. -30c is no fun I can tell ya!

 

[BulletDust]

I'm spending 30 000 kilowatt hours on heating every year. I would love to do aircon instead lol. -30c is no fun I can tell ya!

Geezus B00nie! What kind of heating are you running?

 

[B00nie]

OP - you are MAKING MONEY off this issue, and complaining about it?

Only completely unethical scumbags feel good about making money off something that is completely unnecessary and hurts the customer in the end.