But there is a point in discussing whether or not W10 actually displays adverts. This leads to a far more accurate, reasonable and helpful discussion compared to having people just misleadingly insist that there 'are no adverts'.

If you ask your computer to show you something, and then it shows you, what part of that do you think is an advertisement? What you're asserting is that if you ask your PC to show you 'adverts' it does do, therefore I was wrong to say there are no adverts. That about right?

I'm not sure what you mean by 'default' settings. You can certainly pay no attention whenever you install software or make changes to your computer, but it's a little disingenuous if, having done so, you then grumble that things aren't set up the way you'd like.

The radio button in Settings against 'Occasionally show suggestions in Start' is on by default when you install Windows 10 from scratch.

I can't remember if there was an opportunity to customise settings during the initial upgrade to Windows 10? But certainly there was no such option in the recent upgrade to version 1607.

Anyway nothing you say changes the fact that adverts are an optional part of Windows 10, when you made the bald statement that they didn't exist.

You're just trying to obfuscate.

This is the quote that started the discussion..

Obviously it hasn't and it isn't.

oops

Your PC and your settings are not 'Public medium'............

The adverts are being generated from outside your PC. They are coming over your internet connection. Certainly the ones that point to Store apps with a particular link to that app., or to a page of apps.
In that respect they are no different to adverts on this site or any other internet site.

Certainly at the moment they are fairly subtle and can be opted out of, if you know how. But who knows what the future holds?

And for anyone who buys a computer with Windows 10 pre-installed, these ads are just there as part of the operating system, and not everybody knows their way around the setting in order to disable them.

Well one thing is for sure, the two opinions are not for changing, so, maybe the debate has run it's course.
New debate:-
I despair at the attitude that people don't know their way around. The simple fact is that they should.
There are thousands of articles on the web with how to and how not to advice. Having a computer and not knowing how to google isn't really acceptable in the 21st century.

Well I can't imagine not being able to find things out about my computer, but then I'm interested in operating systems. Most people who use a computer aren't.
Most people just use them as a tool. They might work out how to change the desktop wallpaper, but that's the extent of it.

That's just the way of most things. When they are a novelty people who have them tend to know a lot about them. But when they are ubiquitous they are just used without a great deal of thought.
It's always a minority of people who are enthusiasts whether that be computers or cars or whatever.

I'm not talking about anything necessarily in depth......Just the basics.
I understand your point, but, people shouldn't really be let loose without the basic knowledge and what's more I don't think the OS developers (either MS or Apple or indeed Linux) should have to pander to the lowest common denominator.
I don't consider myself to be an expert by any means, but, I do know where to go to find out what I need.

It seems to have settled today and after updating the nVidia graphics the laptop is running smoothly now. I did create a new user profile (but never used it and then deleted it) as that was given as a possible workaround for anyone having problems.

Fingers crossed this is it and I won't have to reinstall Windows or anything.

No doubt you also believe nobody should be allowed to drive a car without a basic knowledge of how the components work and how to service it.

I think you mean that nobody should be allowed to drive a car without a basic knowledge of how to drive, and a licence that shows that you are proficient enough not to crash it. As it happens there is such a thing as the European Computer Driving License. Make of that what you will.

No doubt I don't......I didn't use the analogy as it's a bit worn though....

I don't know what it's like now but back when I got my first car, it was recommended that I the basics of running a good car in a roadworthy condition. In fact that last bit is still the law as far as I know it. So as a car driver everyone should know how much petrol they have, where the dip-stick is and how to check your own oil level which should be correct, tyre pressures, that your window washer system is filled and working and that your headlights and other windows are clean. All that used to be the minimum requirement before starting on any journey.

Aren't all those music and shopping apps actually adverts for commercial enterprises?

Depends how you define an advert. iOS for example has things like Newstand that you couldn't (until recently) get rid of.
If you have Windows 10 and chose to leave the live tile on the Store tile then it suggests apps. Is that an "ad"? From what I understand MS don't get paid for those by the app maker, they're just suggesting them as things you might want on your computer. Is that different to the News live tile suggesting current news stories?

I have always held the view that if you understand the basic mechanics of a car it helps in actually driving of it. You will often see someone in a beat up old motor driving it at speed as though it was new. I often muse to myself that if the driver knew about all the components that are probably old and worn they wouldn't drive the vehicle in such a manner.

...Or, perhaps they know a fair bit and the underlying mechanics are in tip top shape....Never judge a book.........etc....

Oh! believe me where motors are concerned I am pretty spot on with their mechanical condition. Being weaned on car engines and mechanics from birth tends to do that.

Which would make threads such as this and indeed the entire PC forum defunct and no longer needed as people can just google , often asking for advice form someone who knows can be far better than choosing random pages of which there are so many for advice and many of those asking you to pay to download something you may not even need. People may feel happier for example asking someone who knows on a thread like this .

I expect this is why Microsoft changed it that you can not disable the lock screen, after all if you disable the lock screen they can not stick anything on it in your face.

You obviously don't know what you are talking about.....If you turn them off they don't show anything...

You are correct, but we are not talking about people who are asking for advice. It's the ones that just make statements about something being wrong without researching, when in fact, it's not....

I'm getting lost here. What are these lock screen ads people are talking about? All I get is a pretty picture and occasionally something asking me if I like it or not. Maybe I turned off ads - I don't remember, apart from turning off that annoying Get Office 365 thing.