How to run PB progs in Linux

[Mannish Bhandari]

I heard so many terrible stories about upgrading to Windows 11 I'm now interested to use Linux instead and I want to be able to run my PB 
progs in Linux.  how to do this ?

[Dale Yarker]

(from Google)
People also ask:
Can I emulate Windows in Linux?
Wine allows you to run Windows apps natively on Linux without installing Windows. A Virtual Machine (VM), such as VirtualBox or KVM, creates a full Windows environment inside Linux, offering better compatibility at the cost of performance.

Have not tried any myself, so no idea how well any of them work.

I've had a bad upgrade experience. A Windows 7 notebook (not an 86 CPU) was updated without my asking to Windows 10. It was much slower. Slower still after each update. So slow it was start boot, make coffee, drink coffee before login, UNUSABLE!

My current laptop came with Windows 10, when MS tried to upgrade it said it could not be. (thank a deity)

Note: I also have a Windows 11 laptop, it is fine. Upgrading Windows on an existing machine - I say (expletive) no. The version of Windows the PC was shipped with is best. If you mean buy a new PC with Windows 11 by "upgrade", no problem.

Cheers,

[Albert Richheimer]

I've had a bad upgrade experience. A Windows 7 notebook (not an 86 CPU) was updated without my asking to Windows 10. It was much slower. Slower still after each update. So slow it was start boot, make coffee, drink coffee before login, UNUSABLE!

I would NEVER EVER let Windows upgrade itself ("on the spot"). Best solution is to install the operation system from scratch. So you also get rid of your and your computer's unsused trash. Not to speak about the growing registry...

And it is also possible to install Win11 on a fairly old hardware, see here an experimental system (built in 2012):



You also can install Win11 even without a Microsoft account. Look and feel of Win11 is almost the same as Win10, if you are installing some 3rd-party software, such as Classic Shell.

Cheers,
Albert

[Dale Yarker]

" I would NEVER EVER let Windows upgrade itself ("on the spot")."

I didn't let it. Woke up one morning with "Welcome to Windows 10" on screen.

[Albert Richheimer]

I didn't let it. Woke up one morning with "Welcome to Windows 10" on screen.

Never experienced this. For me this would be the moment to save all relevant files and re-install a copy of Windows from scratch. An upgraded Windows installation would be unusable for me.

[George Bleck]

Can't speak about upgrades as I did a new install, but I've been using Win11 since it came out and it hasn't ever been an issue. Only change i had to make was to move the task bar icons and menu to the left using the windows native taskbar settings (no special apps needed).

Granted I am currently using new hardware now (13900k), but even when I started using Win11 I only had an 8700k which is old (For Win11) and it was still completely fine after I told it to bypass the hardware checks.

[Rod Macia]

I heard so many terrible stories about upgrading to Windows 11 I'm now interested to use Linux instead and I want to be able to run my PB 
progs in Linux.  how to do this ?

Image backup your computer
Perform the upgrade
if all is ok then you are done
not ok then restore from image.

Also since you are contemplating moving OS
You could also do a clean win11 install.
In both cases you will need to install the applications you use (PBWin, PBCC, etc.)

My personal experience upgrading 3 machines to Win11 has been without issues (All 3 machine had the minimal requirements)
After upgrade my local accounts were preserved. (I only use Win Pro version, not Home)

I Usually run https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10

Which also works with Win11 to disable telemetry, and other annoyances.


Finally my experience using my PBWIN programs, with Linux and Wine, was not without issues. (YMMV)

[Owen_English]

Re installing a fresh W11 on an 'older' PC - how does one get around the need for the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) hardware?  I have a pile of Dell Optiplex 9010's here, all perfectly functioning machines each with 16GB memory and 500GB SSD's in them yet they don't have this 'TPM'.  Is there a way to circumnavigate that issue or am I to be again blackmailed into dumping them and buying new hardware?

[Stuart McLachlan]

 I have a pile of Dell Optiplex 9010's here, all perfectly functioning machines each with 16GB memory and 500GB SSD's in them yet they don't have this 'TPM'.  

Just saying:  They are  12-13 years old

Supposedly:
You can install Windows 11 without a TPM by creating a modified bootable USB drive with a tool like Rufus, or by using a registry edit during installation with a standard installation media. The registry edit method involves booting from the installation media, pressing Shift + F10 to open the Command Prompt, typing

Code:

regedit

, and adding a

Code:

LabConfig

key with

Code:

BypassTPMCheck

set to

Code:

1

.  

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHkrC6_21qk&t=89s

[George Bleck]

...again blackmailed...

I won't get into the bypass as Stuart already addressed it but a TPM is a critical for modern security. This is to prevent applications from dumping cryptographic keys that would otherwise be stored in main memory.

Although Microsoft is (semi) forcing the issue for your protection, it is definitely not to get you to "dump them and buying new hardware". Here is what Google AI had to say in a simplified answer...

A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is very important for modern computer security, as it provides hardware-level protection for cryptographic keys, sensitive data, and system integrity. It's essential for features like secure boot, full-disk encryption (like BitLocker), and strong authentication methods such as Windows Hello, which help protect against malware, ransomware, and sophisticated attacks. For users of modern operating systems like Windows 11, a TPM is a necessity for meeting security requirements and ensuring the device and its data are protected from tampering and unauthorized access.

Key functions and benefits of a TPM
* Secure key storage: A TPM securely stores cryptographic keys and other sensitive information like passwords and fingerprints, so they are not vulnerable to theft from the main storage.

* Hardware-based security: By using a dedicated chip, a TPM provides a higher level of security than software-based solutions alone, making it much harder for attackers to compromise the system.

* Secure Boot: When used with Secure Boot, a TPM verifies that only trusted, signed code runs when the computer starts up, preventing malicious software like rootkits from loading.

* Data protection: It is crucial for full-disk encryption, ensuring that data remains encrypted even if the system is physically tampered with. It helps prevent unauthorized access to the operating system drive by ensuring the correct boot measurements are in place.

* Enhanced authentication: A TPM can be used to augment multi-factor authentication, secure VPN connections, and protect user identity.

Why it's a necessity today
* Windows 11 requirement: A TPM 2.0 is a non-negotiable requirement for running Windows 11, as it is a core component of the OS's security model. (NOTE FROM GEORGE: This is NOT QUITE true, it is NOT a requirement if you know the bypass method)
* Protection against advanced threats: The increasing sophistication of cyber threats makes a TPM's hardware-level security essential for protecting against current and future attacks.
* Ubiquitous on modern hardware: Most modern PCs have a TPM, either as a discrete chip or a firmware-based Trusted Platform Module (fTPM), and it may just need to be enabled in the BIOS/UEFI settings. 

You may disagree with having to replace your hardware, but you can't disagree that the reasoning is to add substantial security improvements.