More Windows 10 Garbage 2021-01-05
A friend asked me to help him out with a new computer recently. I had a look around, picked out something I figured would be appropriate, and bought one. Of course, buying something with Devuan isn't really an option, partially because nobody sells Devuan-pre-installed computers and partially because [like most people] he wouldn't want to use Devuan. Oh, I KNOW there is no good reason for that... but that's how it is. Now I have it at home with me and I figured I would complete the initial setup and install some of his applications on it before taking it over to him. I answered whatever questions Windows 10 had for me, including crap like what "region" I am in, and what keyboard layout I want (more on this later). Towards the end of the questions it wanted me to connect to the Internet so it could complete setup. I clicked on the No Thanks Asswipe button and it informed me that certain features would be unavailable to me until I connected to the Internet.
After clicking on what appeared to be an inactive button (more on this later) I was able to complete the initial setup questions and get to a desktop. Then I plugged in a network cable and monitored what DNS queries it made. Here's what happened in the first half hour of plugging it in and not clicking on anything or typing any keystrokes:
Jan 5 10:15:46 server dnsmasq-dhcp[25599]: DHCPOFFER(eth0) 192.168.1.144 78:e3:b5:bc:37:32
Jan 5 10:15:46 server dnsmasq-dhcp[25599]: DHCPREQUEST(eth0) 192.168.1.144 78:e3:b5:bc:37:32
Jan 5 10:15:46 server dnsmasq-dhcp[25599]: DHCPACK(eth0) 192.168.1.144 78:e3:b5:bc:37:32 DESKTOP-DQDC4IH
Jan 5 10:15:49 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] www.msftconnecttest.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:15:50 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] login.live.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:15:50 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] ctldl.windowsupdate.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:15:51 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] fs.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:15:51 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] ocsp.digicert.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:15:52 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] watson.telemetry.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:15:52 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] arc.msn.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:15:53 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] slscr.update.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:15:53 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] go.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:15:54 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] dmd.metaservices.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:15:56 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] licensing.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:15:56 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] fe3cr.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:01 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] fe2cr.update.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:05 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] download.windowsupdate.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:06 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] geo.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:07 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] kv501.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:09 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] cp501.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:10 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:11 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:17 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] settings-win.data.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:44 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] time.windows.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:44 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] g.live.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:45 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] 1drv.ms from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:45 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] www.bing.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:47 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] oneclient.sfx.ms from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:48 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] watson.telemetry.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:48 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] client.wns.windows.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:49 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] displaycatalog.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:49 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] microsoft.sharepoint-df.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:50 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] store-images.s-microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:53 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] adl.windows.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:53 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] pti.store.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:16:53 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] microsoft-my.sharepoint-df.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:17:00 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] msft.spoppe.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:17:05 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] msft-my.spoppe.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:17:07 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] sharepoint.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:17:11 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] maps.windows.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:17:33 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] img-prod-cms-rt-microsoft-com.akamaized.net from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:17:49 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] config.teams.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:17:49 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] ris.api.iris.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:17:57 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] logincdn.msauth.net from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:20:53 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] fe3cr.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:20:54 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] www.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:02 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] go.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:02 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] fe2cr.update.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:03 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] dmd.metaservices.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:20 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] geo.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:21 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] kv501.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:22 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] cp501.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:23 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] au.download.windowsupdate.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:23 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] emdl.ws.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:24 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] disc501.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:26 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] array508.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:30 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] tsfe.trafficshaping.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:32 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] 11.au.download.windowsupdate.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:32 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] 2.au.download.windowsupdate.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:40 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] download.windowsupdate.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:54 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] settings-win.data.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:57 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] login.live.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:57 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] displaycatalog.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:21:58 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] licensing.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:22:01 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] geover.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:22:04 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:22:05 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:22:07 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] 2.tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:22:08 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] 3.tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:22:08 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] storecatalogrevocation.storequality.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:22:08 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] 11.tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:22:52 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] outlookmobile-office365-tas.msedge.net from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:22:54 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] settings.data.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:23:04 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] watson.telemetry.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:23:04 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] watson.telemetry.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:23:43 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] slscr.update.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:23:51 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] www.bing.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:23:51 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] arc.msn.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:24:04 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] 9.tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:24:10 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] v10.events.data.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:24:12 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] v20.events.data.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:24:37 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] cdn.onenote.net from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:24:37 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] go.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:24:54 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] ctldl.windowsupdate.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:03 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] tile-service.weather.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:08 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] v10.events.data.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:09 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] fe3cr.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:22 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] array511.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:35 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] settings-win.data.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:40 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] 1drv.ms from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:41 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] microsoft.sharepoint-df.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:43 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] microsoft-my.sharepoint-df.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:45 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] settings-win.data.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:45 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] msft.spoppe.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:46 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] msft-my.spoppe.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:25:48 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] maps.windows.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:26:44 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] login.live.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:26:47 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] wdcp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:32:42 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] www.bing.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:18 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] licensing.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:19 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] slscr.update.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:20 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] storesdk.dsx.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:24 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] displaycatalog.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:25 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] purchase.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:33 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] fe3cr.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:34 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] v10.events.data.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:39 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] store-images.s-microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:41 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] tsfe.trafficshaping.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:44 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] geover.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:44 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] geo.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:46 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] kv501.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:46 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] cp501.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:47 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] disc501.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:48 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:33:49 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] array504.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:35:13 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] spclient.wg.spotify.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:36:30 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] geo.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:41:15 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] config.edge.skype.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:41:15 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] a.config.skype.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:41:16 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] ocsp.msocsp.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:41:33 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] browser.pipe.aria.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:45:28 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] browser.pipe.aria.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144
Jan 5 10:47:34 server dnsmasq[25599]: query[A] v10.events.data.microsoft.com from 192.168.1.144

This is just a dick move. Most of that crap is totally unnecessary and is specifically just to monetize people who use Windows 10. Whether it is selling additional Microsoft services, selling data to third party companies, or just plain keeping an eye on where you're at... it is just a dick move. They don't try to hide it at all, and people still view Microsoft as a fine upstanding corporation that provides the best PC operating system. People still want nothing to do with alternative operating systems even though it is common knowledge that Microsoft is selling them out. Don't get me wrong, Apple is too... don't be fooled in to thinking your Mac is any different. I just don't happen to have an Apple product here to record DNS queries on. Why is this crap permitted to continue entirely unpunished?
Remember I mentioned the questions about what region I am in? Well while deciding on my keyboard layout (based on my region) why wouldn't I be asked for my time zone? It has been a question for decades in Windows setup wizards. Notice how at 10:16:44 it did a lookup of time.windows.com? Well, after all that the time was still wrong because it figured I was in the Pacific time zone. Wrong. Remember the "inactive button" thing I mentioned above? That is a dick move too. I'm so tired of developers who HAVE to give you an option for logistics but hide the option they don't want to give you by simply colouring the "bad" button as if it can't be clicked. Dick move.
Unfortunately what has happened here is that the early adopters invited everyone to join in the fun. We tried to give everyone the opportunity to learn the same way we did, and to share the things they learned along the way. Instead they treated it like a resource to be used up and discarded instead of a tool to be maintained and improved. I'd point out that this complacency and indifference is why it sucks today, but they don't care about that either. Bite me.