How exactly is Bing truly awful? I use Bing and it has given me pretty good results. Sometimes though, I have had to use Google because the official site of someone hasn't appeared on the first list of results.

The main reason I don't like Bing is that it seems that it has to be foisted on people rather than people choosing it of their own free will

Various companies appear to have regular 'updates' which are entirely unnecessary but merely a vehicle for catching people out who don't uncheck the 'Install Bing Toolbars' box

Even updating to W10 I notice that a Bing link has surreptitiously appeared in my 'Favourites' list..........I didn't put it there !

You can change Cortana and W10 default search engine, I have changed her to Google, Duck Duck Go works fine.
Most browsers have a do not track now anyway, so no need for DDG.
Very easy with Firefox 40 with a number of W10 specifics.

Like I said Noise unwittingly approves of Bing.
Obviously it has improved over the years, some things do.

Seems to throw up random stuff for me when i used to use, granted it have been a while since i used it so it may have improved.

i did have a look at the webpage last night, that is too colourful, just a box on a search engine will do.

I did not realise that it could be changed, I am shocked as I am sure that Ms would want to force people to use their own search engine. I bet it is not well known that it can be changed.
Not that it will make much difference to me as If i went to 10 I would not have cortana enabled anyway.

As for the no tracking option in browsers, that works if the website got that option,

you say this, but looking around all I see is that DDG uses multiple search engines, so it is not stuck using one.

would you mind specifying where you can do that?

the closest I can find is some insane sounding advice about REDIRECTING the search via some browser extension - http://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/you-ca...s-1-1721950842

really if that's what it takes to do it, is it any wonder people are upset?

Many ways, but installing firefox 40 and justv enabling firefox as your default browser does it all for you.
Chrome does it too, with an extension. I only use chrome to chromecast the pc, but have not done since w10 so not installed it so unsure if its quite as powerful.
Mozilla have had this for a good few months in their nightly builds.

You better read a bit more on that
Its not fullproof, much like the DDG stuff.
An adblocker does help you too, not just adblocking.

I have Opera as my default browser.

Cortana defaults to Opera sure, but that's not the same thing as it defaulting to the Search Engine SET in that browser. It still goes to Bing, even though Google is the default I have set otherwise there.

Is it any different with Firefox as the default? Does Firefox actually intercept the call to Bing and redirect it to whatever the default search engine is there?

Yes
Its a bing free zone for me.

Do not track, as far as I know, needs a bit of code on the website for it to work, or it used to. Nothing is foolproof, I do use Ghostery which helps.

So in reality Cortana can not be changed to use a different search engine by just changing a option.

So MS do not make it possible to change the default, it is done by third party software.

Maybe it is time the EU got around MS again like they did with Internet Exploder and give people the choice again. I wonder why the EU is not picking up on this? Money talks I suppose.

Windows 10 has been in trial mode for such a long time and so it is unfortunate to see that the relevant drivers have not been prepared yet. The manufacturer of my printer, Epson, has already made available Win 10 drivers, both 32 bit and 64 bit.

Had a nightmare yesterday. Tried to completely refresh the install as I removed norton endpoint (as it was crashing my system) and couldn't get windows defender to go back on. 5 hours later..........the reset install crashed my system altogether so had to get the windows tool and clean fresh install and I still can't get windows defender to work

Printer drivers are a very different affair to internal hardware drivers. A printer driver interfaces with Windows at a higher, more protected level than a driver for a piece of internal hardware.

Internal hardware drivers require far more testing before being certified for use. Plus, Microsoft have introduced a new version of their display driver framework with Windows 10 and many manufacturers are taking the opportunity to develop new drivers supporting this new framework rather than simply certifying their W8.1 drivers for W10.

This is why many manufacturers are recommending that people wait for new Windows 10 drivers before upgrading.

For your printer it was almost certainly just a case of telling the installer the Windows 8.1 driver is fine to use with Windows 10.

I'm sure it will and give those EU beaurocrats something to do.
But I think I remember MS saying the search engine options in W10 and edge will be changing soon, they are still not that configurable yet in the edge settings, much like in the preview.
The google addon is called Chrometana, assume it does the same as the inbuilt firefox one.

Are you saying Microsoft are bribing EU officials?

You can easily change the default search engine in Edge which changes it in Cortana as well or you can use another browser optimised for W10 and the chosen default search will be used.
Not sure what everyone's problem is?? How dare a company push their own products first!? Imagine using a Google product and them giving you a different search engine......
Get real peoples...

I never saw the point of Bing anyway. Why spend resources on developing a search engine when Google already does it so well?

I'm back!
I have upgraded my Sony Vaio without any problems. They only say that to avoid being sued etc if somebody updated and it went pearshaped.

Just make that vital recovery usb drive and full system image etc before upgrading.

Bing has a far larger audience in the U.S. whereas Europe is predominantly Google.

That is good to hear but might I please enquire about the fate of the original pre-installed bloatware that usually comes with Sony Vaios? Thanks (a friend of mine has one).

Bloatware isn't really necessary.

Gizmos Freeware, http://www.techsupportalert.com/), Majorgeeks.com, Ninite.com, Authors Websites provide almost everything.