Go to your settings, you can turn off Cortana and set up things the way you need them to be, search through your settings it's all there my friend!

Might try clicking on Cortana by the start button and on the top left of the screen that opens... Click the Hamburger icon, then down below that hamburger click the little settings gear ... maybe turn off a couple of settings there;

Than you both. Will work on this when I get home tonight. I'm really getting tired with Microsoft and their nonsense.

Jane

To drive a car with a manual transmission, the gear selector and the clutch must be operated. These steps can be avoided only by driving cars with an automatic transmission.

Windows is the PC equivalent of a car with a manual shift. Hundreds of appearance, behavior and performance aspects of Windows PCs are configurable to a user's preference. That flexibility also means that frequently settings need to be changed, just like shifting gears. Those who don't wish to deal with such things and who don't have a nearby neighbor or family member to help (or one available for remote assistance) might be happier with an Apple PC.

Macs allow very little user customization flexibility and far fewer configuration options, compared to WIndows PCs. For that reason, there's less to change and so less to know. It has the PC equivalent of an automatic transmission. One can just use them with much less to be concerned with.

I'm sorry you're frustrated, it's easy enough to happen. Try a Mac, it might be a better alternative for you.

Whip, I agree you. I'm sorely tempted to switch to a Mac but can't really afford it.

My Iphone has never changed from the 4 version to the 6 (thats about 6 years). Everything moves from one phone to another through ITunes. I do it myself without a glitch. IPad works exactly like my phone. No glitches. Not only that, through ICloud, everything on my phone shows up on my IPad and visa versa. I don't even know it happens. All my stuff appears by itself. Such ease of use.

I knew my way around XP. I liked it and held on to it until I had to switch to Win 10. I learned so much about computer through this wonderful website and absolutely loved and knew my way around my XP.

Now everything is different. Nothing is called the same, nothing looks the same. I had such control over XP and what ran. Now, I can't figure my way around Win 10. I've had it for over a year.

What has happened is that I lost enthusiasm using this computer. I resent the time needed to relearn everything, plus the 'memory' of a 67 yr old to learn my way around it.

I resent that they did this, not only for myself but so many elderly friends who just cannot relearn it all. Its a pity because their windows XP was their way to look at photos, email, upload photos, write letters. Now, they are faced with the browser they don't know and is called something else. I could go on and on and find it sad I don't know what Microsoft was thinking.

Anyway, I hardly use this laptop anymore. I use my Iphone for almost all internet work. I read all my emails and search is on the phone. My eyes are not the greatest and I don't like writing on the phone, so I'll turn on the laptop. Each time it becomes more and more unpleasant.

Jane

Thanks, Mikie and puter.

This is what I get when I go to start, settings.:

Then I went to back to Settings and r-cicked. Found it and opened it. No option to shut it off that I could find:

My SIL shut off all sorts of things running that I didn't want or use. He explained before shutting things off. Machine ran smoothly. Since the updates, I keep getting Cortana, messages from Microsoft about suggestions I might want to buy and to download their app. Nonsense.

I am tempted to go into 'services' (like I used to do on XP), to shut off crap like this. I know my SIL shut this stuff down but now it has all reappeared since the updates which I am furious about.

Another thing, I do not use Outlook, have no desire to and all of a sudden I got a message that Outlook was syncing my Icloud stuff. There was no button to cancel or stop it.

Now I keep getting a message to restart for changes to take place which I don't want! No cancel button, just 'later'.

I'm so frustrated and apologize for my rant.

Jane

Do you see on the first Windows Settings at the top there is a place you can type in Cortana, this will bring up the place where you can turn anything off on Cortana you choose with a simple click.

There is no option to turn it off as far as i know since the Anniversary up-date.

...but you can lessen her awareness.

Some information here

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3100358/windows/you-cant-turn-off-cortana-in-the-windows-10-anniversary-update.html

My casual browsing is mostly in Firefox and sometimes Opera. If Cortana is following that, I've seen no evidence of it. I also use Libre Office exclusively, and it appears Cortana isn't interested in what I type there. Ditto Thunderbird. Maybe using MS Office/Outlook makes a difference, I don't know. I don't use Edge at all and IE11 is used for my employer's web site ONLY. As a result, I've almost forgotten that Cortana even exists. I vaguely remember fiddling with some Cortana settings and disabling what I could find, but if a later update has undone my changes it wouldn't surprise me. I'm not worried enough about it to check unless Cortana starts bothering me. That's my $.02...YMMV.

Thanks. I cannot find anyway to shut her off.

Azinoh, I also use FF exclusively. Cortana has nothing to do with that. She pops up from the desktop with stupid questions about shopping and let me help you find things. The latest was something about 'using her memory so I don't forget things like important dates and appointments.'

It is intrusive and annoying.

I use MS Office but have never used Edge nor Outlook on this laptop.

Zep, I'll check your link. I'll post back. I thought there might be a way to disable Cortana in Services, but I can't find it. I'm thinking its called something else or embedded in something you don't want disabled.

Just stupid!

Jane

In services some users are stopping windows search service altogether , but Cortana continues to run as a Windows task.

If you’re using Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise, the easiest way
to disable Cortana is by using the Local Group Policy Editor. Any other version needs a registry hack.

"Microsoft doesn’t want you to disable Cortana. You used to be able to turn Cortana off in Windows 10, but Microsoft removed that easy toggle switch in the Anniversary Update. But you can still disable Cortana via a registry hack or group policy setting. This transforms the Cortana box into a “Search Windows” tool for local application and file searches."

http://www.howtogeek.com/265027/how-to-disable-cortana-in-windows-10/

See what you can do at my first link first.

Thanks, Zep. If I'm feeling courageous this weekend, I might tackle the registry. I'll be cautious.

The info on your first link was not up-to-date, at least some of the things they recommended were not available. I could not get rid of the search or clear the memory.

Aputernut, thank you. I followed your directions and was able to shut some things off which I did. However, I'm not sure she is totally shut off. She pops up saying she needs my permission to help me!

Good grief!

Jane

"I might tackle the registry."

The idea is you don't need to go into the registry, they provide the download for you. It's a zip file

Please see this on the page,

"Download Our One-Click Registry Hack

Rather than editing the registry yourself, you can download our Disable Cortana registry hack.
Just open the downloaded .zip file, double-click the “Disable
Cortana.reg” file, and agree to add the information to your registry.
We’ve also included an “Enable Cortana.reg” file if you’d like to undo
the change and re-enable Cortana later."

http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Disable-Cortana.zip

See the link above . That's what you download , save the file to the desktop. You can do it from right here. Click the link save the file to desktop. Rest of instruction above as posted.

I didn't see that on the website. Thank you so much Zep. I will do that.

Jane

Zep, do you know anyone who did this? Any problems associated with it? I'm ready to do it but want to check with you before I do.

Thanks,

Jane

No. I don't know anyone who has done it, I wouldn't see any problems or I would not have provided the fix for you. If you downloaded the file there should be a disable file and a re in-able file to reverse the changes. All you're doing is changing 1 value data in 1 registry key. To be on the safe side set a system restore point first. I also trust the web site for correct information...

Thanks, Zep.

Doing it now. Will post back. Fingers crossed!

Jane

Standing by :)

Not sure it worked. Tried twice.

Cortana still shows in the Start menu and when I click on it, it asks what she could help me with.

I did a restart and did it again. I couldn't find the temp file nor find a way to move it to downloads or desktop.

I'll keep you updated.

Jane

I don't have a windows 10 machine to test it.

What temp file are we looking for ?

Removing anything that is part of your OS=operating system especially in the registry is always a bad idea, and a good way to really screw up your PC. If Cortana bothers you that much and you can no longer turn her off, then simply ignore it.

Cortana is always quiet here unless I use her vocally. She helps with sync's somehow - turning her totally off maybe impossible. But she does take time to fight her intrusions at first. I actually installed Hey Cortana on an Android cell phone so I could ask her for things rather than ask Ok Google. I find it clunky to type on a cell phone.

I have a Laptop with Windows 7.0 Professional that I purchased in January 2016...and it is faster than my Desktop Windows 10......I am so happy I didn't upgrade my Laptop....I tried to in May but had a problem and had to take it to a technician.....cost me $30.00 to repair and go back to Windows 7.0 Professional...but it was worth it.

By the time my Laptop (with W 7.0 Prof) expires in about four years.... I will have to buy a new Laptop with Windows 10....and maybe they will get the kinks out....

My overall view of Windows 3.l to Windows 10.....they did not improve at all ....they made it so confusing......and I have had computers with W 3.0, 98, XP, Vista, 7.0, 10....and my humble opinion...XP was the best....!!!! If it works why fix it??? I know why...they want you to spend your money....it is like that with these new elaborate cell phones.....I have $20.00/month Virgin Samsung....and it does the job and I love it......I have a ipad, laptop, and two desktops...who needs that new contraption....you can't see anything outdoors with it, can't hear, etc....believe my children and grandchildren. have it....but, I prefer mine....This is only my opinion.......so don't let my opinions upset you...LOL!!!..

I don't know if this is something you'd want to do, but how about trying Linux?

I got fed up with the forced restart/updates on Windows 10, so I looked into linux again (tried Ubuntu years ago and didn't like it much). I found Linux Mint, which people were saying was similar to XP (it is!). I installed it on Friday and it works perfectly. I downloaded Google Chrome, because I heard you had to use chrome if you wanted Netflix (it comes with Firefox).

I'm loving my computer again. It's faster, and prettier, and doesn't update unless I ask it to.

" ... I heard you had to use chrome if you wanted Netflix ... "

I don't use Netflix so I can't verify, but according to THIS article, Version 49 of Firefox for Linux should work with Netflix.

.

From the article linked above:

-------------------------------

Firefox 49 for Linux, scheduled for a September 2016 release, will add support
for DRM-protected HTML5 videos. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other
streaming services will “just work” in Firefox on Linux, just as they do
in Google Chrome.

------------------------------

I happened to open up the computer forum section this evening and it made me even more grateful I switched to a Mac and use the free Libre office application.

i recall how I really used to dread the Microsoft updates and system upgrades that NEVER went smoothly.

Thanks Apple for keeping things simple!