How to add a new user to your Windows 10 device

Today I wanted to add a new user to my Windows 10 machine.  On the "normal" Windows 10 Settings for adding a user, I could NOT find a way to add a local user.  The only options available required adding a Microsoft account.  You know I don't like those accounts because it logs you into the Microsoft Cloud at login and I don't use Microsoft.  Early on, it was frustrating because the login took so much time.  That's how I discovered the Local User option, which works like a pre Windows 8 user account.  That's the way to go if you don't want to be just a client to the Microsoft Cloud.

Anyway, Microsoft help was no help.  It was wrong!  But I did find a web page that definitely works.  So go here if you want to create a new user account on Windows 10.

For those who have delayed switching to Windows 10

Windows 10 capability has, to date and in general, been released in bits and drabs:  updated features here, fixes there.  This past week was the first very major refresh, meaning that the complete operating system was pushed out by the Update facility.  At this point, it is probably reasonable for most non-business users to switch to Windows 10.  Microsoft will continue to add features and fix bugs before the next complete reissue of the operating system, which will probably be in June, 2016.  Most of the activity will be in the business side of the Windows operating system, so I expect only bug fixes for the non-business user (other than Edge).

The new browser, Edge, now seems to work most of the time, but I still wouldn't rely on it as my only browser.  If you insist on using a Microsoft browser, go to the start button, left click, and then type "iexplo" in the search bar.  iexplore.exe should pop up as the result of the search.  This is the "old" IE 11 browser.  Left click to start the browser.  Then right click on the browser's icon on the task bar and click on "pin to taskbar" to keep the icon for easier access from that point on.  In general, I am an advocate of the "three browser" approach:  whatever Microsoft provides that works, Google Chrome, and Firefox.  Each browser has its advantages.

I would recommend a few minutes of 'handholding' during the installation process.  There are a number of "traps" associated with the default install process that could be unwelcome to most users.

Editorial comment:   Microsoft has "commercialized" Windows... literally... why do you think it is free?  The normal process ties you to logging in to the Microsoft Live Cloud environment at the time you log in to your computer.   The action is one and the same.  It is perhaps reasonable to have an email service that logs you into "commercialization," but I don't expect it with what is supposed to be (to me) an agnostic operating system.

The way around it kind of hidden in wording that suggests you shouldn't "go there" during installation.

Interesting Phishing Technique: Dangerous!

I got this email today concerning jobs at Amazon:

The link has an interesting url:  web.jameye.allaboard.com.  Plus some gibberish after that.  I'd like to know what is at the other end, but could get nothing off the internet.  It is certainly a phisher and could be a trojan as well.  Beware of job ads like this.  

Computer Death by Stink Bug

This is a real computer bug story.  You know those smelly flat bugs that are into everything this time of year.  They seem to be able to get into airtight, watertight, whatevertight spaces and wait to emit their patented odor.  Well, I think I have the first documented case of computer death by stink bug.  I got an ailing computer in and, as I was cleaning the main fan, out popped a stink bug.  It is likely the stink bug was limiting air circulation in the computer and one or more of the computer components succumbed to the lack of cooling.

Conclusion- check your computers; clean out the cooling system and all the pathways.  You just might find a stink bug!