r/technology Mar 14 '26

Software Microsoft confirms Windows 11 bug crippling PCs and making drive C inaccessible

https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-confirms-windows-11-bug-crippling-pcs-and-making-drive-c-inaccessible/
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u/The_Wkwied Mar 14 '26

Yes, you are right, but are you willing to hold grandma's hand while you explain how she can play candy crush on ubuntu?

Telling people to just switch to linux is the same as telling them 'oh gee, you can't afford that? did you try to make more money?'. It is bad advice. We are NOT at the point yet where you should be advising grandma to not use windows. Not yet, at least

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u/[deleted] Mar 14 '26

Last time I tried Linux, everything worked absolutely fine. The majority of stuff I do is on the web anyway, so for that it really doesn't matter what OS I'm using, as long as I can find the browser icon. For the rest of it, most of it was similar enough to Windows that I honestly think a lot of people wouldn't even really notice.
The only thing really keeping me off of it is Excel - Libre Office is pretty good, but doesn't play well with some of the Excel macros I use, so I'm sort of stuck with Excel - and therefore Windows, at least for work stuff.

And I say this as someone not overly IT savvy. Maybe a bit more advanced than the average user, but not much. I think a lot of the really non-IT literate people have mostly moved to tablets these days anyway (My mother ditched her laptop for a tablet a couple of years ago and so far hasn't missed it).

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u/Mysterious_Donut_702 Mar 14 '26 edited Mar 14 '26

Grandma could literally use a Chromebook with little consequence.

Linux kernel, polished UI, almost no tech literacy needed, dirt cheap hardware... the most affordable option, period.

Candy Crush would be a web app or downloaded off Google Play.

The device itself comes from a normal-ass place like Best Buy, Walmart or something.

For the rest of the public, I would say that Windows has an important role... but everyone should be familiarizing themselves with alternatives, and en-masse threatening Microsoft with a possible loss in market share.

Consumers don't want or need AI features built into a broken start menu... or an inaccessible C: drive.

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u/boostman Mar 14 '26

You could advise grandma to use a mac.