A message just suddenly appeared on my Win10 Desktop to say "Microsoft To Do" had been installed ....

This isn't anything I requested and in fact I don't even know what it is !!

Can Microsoft do whatever it likes on my machine, then ??

I haven't encountered that one Mad??

Have you encountered any similar action, oldbroad ??

I can't remember for sure, but it may have been part of the last update. I know you can go to the Store and download it. You might try looking for it in your list of programs... If you find it, just right click and uninstall. Or just completely ignore it. Some people like these things - I do not, so I just let them be. I kind of like the weather on the right side of the task manager that came in the last update, but I don't care for the rest of it. So, I just ignore it.

I like the weather there but it is starting to annoy me as it keeps opening up when I'm trying to do other things and my mouse hovers to close to it.

I didn't get that in my last update Drac and don't have it in my list of programs.

I checked and neither do I, oldbroad.

It's been annoying me too. I like the weather, but it's too darned touchy when I get anywhere near it! You can completely turn it off if you want.

Right-click on the News and interests entry on the Windows 10 taskbar.
Select the News and interests entry on the menu that opens.
To disable the feature entirely, select "turn off".
You may alternatively reduce it to an icon-only display.
You may also select "reduce taskbar updates".

I've found "Microsoft to Do" now.
It's referred to as an "App" - and just appears to be some sort of "planner".
So I will uninstall it.
Thanks.
Draclvr

Good choice! I uninstall any of that [blip] I don't need or want!

One thing I have noticed Mad, is not installations but some things becoming part of my "start up" programs even though I didn't have them set for that, such as GOG Galaxy. With the last updates (or I guess that's when it happened) GOG Galaxy and One Drive became "enabled" for start up and I had to "disable" them again.

Oh, something else to watch for !!
Thanks, oldbroad 👍

Yes and that is the fault of GOG of Steam etc. as they seem to think you want them running in the background all the time! Windows 10 has made dealing with start-up programs SO much easier, Mad. You can just do it in the Task Manager. I do leave One Drive running because I use it a lot. Some people also use it for backup.

I also go through Task Manager to disable it when it enables itself. I probably wouldn't be able to figure it out otherwise . I don't use One Drive and that's what I noticed kept popping up in task bar or whatever that bottom bar is called. I didn't notice GOG running until I went into Task Manager.

Oh, I regularly inspect what might be "constantly running" or what might have been added to "set to run at start up".
And there are several routes to use.

One of my favourites is via WinPatrol, which I've used for many years, but it's no longer available ....
However, as I already have it I can carry on using it.
(Though sadly not with Win10.)

I don't like Galaxy and very rarely use it so that certainly isn't allowed 🙃

I had WinPatrol at one time but never really figured it out. Then that computer broke down and I didn't know how to get it onto my other computer so that was that. Is it not compatible with Win10 then since it is an older program?

I don't really care for Galaxy much myself but I cannot download the games very well without it.

It is no longer available. Last I heard was due to no resources to keep it updated, it became subject to ransome-ware and was removed from the market. This was back in 2017 or 2018 I think. I used the paid version for years and really liked it.

I never used to use Galaxy, but it finally just became SO much easier to do my downloads using it that I always use it now.

Me too. It is just so much easier to download games through Galaxy. Once I realized that, I have continued to do so and have never looked back.

I know WinPatrol is no longer available but I thought purchasing it allowed you to use it on any computer or multiple computers or something. I just couldn't find my authorization/activation (whatever) code I needed to put it on my other computer or maybe because it was on the broken down one and would have needed to be removed from there first or something. I just can't remember how it worked. Been to long.

With my Norton, I had to sign a digital form or whatever to tell them I was no longer using that broke down computer so it was no longer taking up one of my allowed licenses.

Regarding GOG, I like that it is a DRM free sight and has good customer service but I really actually prefer Steam. If/when someday I run into a problem, I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune though!

Yes, purchasing it allowed you to install on a new computer. But from what I read, they no longer offer that or anything else because it is so vulnerable to malware.

I've never had any issues with Malware. Whether using WinPatrol or not. And I do regularly check for it.

Nor, as I have said on many occasions, have I ever had a Virus on any of my machines.
And I credit Norton (and a dose of good sense) for that.
I've used Norton since I first had a computer .... except for one period of something like 3 months when I tried McAfee .... (Ugh !! ) .... so I feel that speaks for itself

Sorry, just posting to say I love the name of this topic

I totally agree with your assessment of McAfee! However, I've never used Norton and have also never had any kind of malware in 25 years.

Two happy campers, then, Draclvr 😜