Resolved Windows 10 21H1 installed or not?

Ummm, no. It doesn't indicate that at all.

It is likely all sorts of files were updated but those updates (actual file replacements being downloaded and saved on our drives) occurred in the background or maybe when you were sleeping. But those new files did not immediately take effect because the computer was essentially, still in use and running the previous versions of those files. It was not until you rebooted that the new versions of those files were loaded.

As far as your November 2020 date, mine is just as, if not more confusing. It says 6/1/2020 (June 1, 2020) for 21H1. From what I have read, this is because MS rolls out these updates bit by bit over time. And that date is set by whenever that particular update is installed on our computers.

 

This laptop works AOK and may confuse you even more Christer.

 

If this Feature update is the same as my last on it's to do with Tips to speed up your comp.

 

That's normal. Windows.old is typically created during major updates and can be used to roll-back to the previous version should something go wrong. While it can be a HUGE file and take up a lot of disk space, it can safely be manually deleted. However, unless free disk space is critically low, it should be left alone. This is because Windows will automatically delete that file after 30 days.

ROTFL

Seriously? Are you really trying to figure out why Microsoft does things the way they do? I think I gave up trying to do that way back in 2000, about the time WindowsMe came out. All I can tell you is the developers at Microsoft really are some of the sharpest, most sincere people in the industry. And the developers really do want Windows to perform optimally and securely, and they really do want program updates to occur seamlessly, and without issues. And considering there are well over 1 billion Windows 10 systems out there, each one essentially a unique computer assembled from components from 100s of different manufacturers, configured with unique security and application software, and each personalized in our own ways, IMO, the developers are doing an amazing job. Truly amazing. I mean if just 1/10th of 1% of the users have problems whenever there's a new update, that is still 1 million upset users. And 1 million upset users can make a lot of noise. But that's not happening.

Plus, Windows over the decades keeps evolving, so do the bad guys and the security industry set on thwarting them. Hardware industries are constantly making their own technological advances. The software we use, and how we use our computers is constantly evolving too. So it makes sense the developers at Microsoft are going constantly change how they do things.

And again, I have to give great praise to the developers at Microsoft for how well they do this. Notice how I keep saying developers?

I can NOT give the same praises to the weenies in the Microsoft marketing department. Nor to many of the ill-conceived, poorly executed, and mismanaged executive decisions and policy changes those executives introduced (imposed?) on those developers, and us too. But Microsoft marketing weenies and execs are for a different discussion.

 

This is totally true. But in this case (and no doubt others) the decisions and directions dictated by those "weenies and execs" often reflects poorly on the developers too - through no fault of their own. For example, I know for a fact through a couple personal contacts at MS that the developers (or at least some of them) did not want the original version of Edge to go out with the first release of Windows 10. That version of Edge clearly was unfinished, full of bugs, under-developed and just not ready at all for release. And the development team knew that well and urged the execs and marketing to leave it out.

But they were overruled. The execs, too eager to retire Internet Explorer once and for all, directed that unfinished version of Edge go out with the first iteration of W10. And what happened? Exactly what the developers feared and warned would happen. The entire universe balked and vehemently rejected that version of Edge, then chastised Microsoft, the execs, Windows 10 itself, and the developers for clearly pushing out an unfinished, buggy as heck, down right lousy browser - pushing users even more quickly to any other alternative browser besides Edge.

That decision was so catastrophic, that Microsoft was forced to abandon that version of Edge completely. In fact, it was so bad, so ruinous of their reputation, that Microsoft was forced to team up with Google to use Chromium (Chrome's core engine) and develop a totally new Microsoft browser around that Chromium engine. So now the only thing in the new Edge that is the same as the old Edge, is the name. Fortunately, teaming up with Google on this was a wise decision because the new Chromium based Edge is an excellent browser and many, including me, think it much better than Chrome - and all the others too.

 

It's not really a question any more. IE is not included in W11. So over the next few years, as W10 fades away and W11 assumes dominance in the Windows arena, IE will fade away with it.

If you have not tried the Chromium based Edge, would urge you to give it a fair and honest try. Just pretend it does not say Microsoft anywhere on it. It really is a good browser. And, unlike the first Edge, this Edge has extensive add-on/extension support from both Microsoft and Google, since the new Edge is compatible with almost all (if not all) Chrome extensions. And part if the Google/Microsoft agreement is they will cooperate and share development duties, to include security information.

A fair and honest try has to mean to give it a couple weeks, IMO. Like many things, we don't always like them until we get used to them. Browsers (and thus Edge) is the same way. It will become intuitive before long.

If you still prefer FF, then I would at least keep Edge as your go-to secondary browser.

 

Ads? Huh? That is not the browsers fault.

Your choice and that's fine. I don't really care. The choice of browser is really just a personal choice. No one browser is best at everything, and every person has to decide which features are most important for them. This is why when I hear someone criticize this browser or that browser by claiming their favorite is "better", I tend to laugh and just ignore them. Or I try to ignore them - it depends on how outrageous their claims are.

As I already suggested above, we humans tend to prefer what we are used to. We also don't like change. So even when something better comes along, we humans tend to stick with the status quo, and what we are used to.

However, since it is clear you don't want to give it a fair and honest try, or take the time to get used to it, it would not be fair to criticize it either. For example, your entire post above is about your issues with ads in Edge and how you "found no way to turn it off", "no solution", and more "issues", but that seems to be the only issue you complain about. Yet how hard is it to Google, ad blockers for Microsoft Edge?

For the record, ads are served by the site. I suspect you are just used to having the ad blocker you installed in FF enabled. FF has a built in blocker but most people opt for a better alternative. Anyway, I see no ads in my Edge. As noted in that Google link, there are several good ad blockers you can use with Edge. uBlock Origin is very popular. So is Adblock Plus. My favorite and the one I have installed is AdGuard for Edge.

 

You said,

If instead, you will give it fair chance, then great.

But for the record, even if you don't care to give it try, that's fine too. I would not expect anyone to try out every browser out there - especially if happy with the one they have set as their default now. I only ask you don't be critical of something you haven't really learned as that is not fair. For example, I have no desire to install and learn Opera, Vivaldi, Tor, or Torch even though I know people I trust who use, like and recommend them. So I will not be critical of those browsers.

 

What? I didn't bring up a "this vs that" anything - unless you want to consider developers vs weenies and execs, or perhaps, the old Edge vs the new Edge.

But even if I did, no comparison or criticism is fair unless the contenders are treated fairly and you "take the time" to configure them your way and get used to them. And that's been my point.

As far as the Start screen and bloatware, this just illustrates my point. You prejudged Edge based on your own biases and "first impressions" without giving it a fair chance. That is NOT a criticism - just an observation as it is clear you have not installed Firefox totally anew in a long time.

A totally fresh, new install of FF on a new computer forces users to accept or opt out of extras. Once installed, the start screen if full associated/affiliated links (AKA, bloatware!). Click on a link and popups ads and redirects take you who knows where. It is truly horrible - until you "take the time" to install your favorite ad-blocker, set up your home page, set your preferred search engine, install and configure whatever other add-ons/extensions you typically use. That is, until you "take the time" to get it configured just the way you like it.

Anyway, this is your thread and you want to move on. So this is me now moving on! Have a good day.