OS: Windows XP is MUCH better than Windows Vista

[steve]

and here are just a few of the problems that prove this to be very
true:

1) Incompatibility (Driver/Software handshaking issues)
Nearly everything ran super smooth in XP from day one
It was a root canal getting even some of the simplest software to run
in Vista

2) Desktop Convolution
It's a "Muddy appearance." Everything looks the same. You cannot
easily distinguish if you are looking at a folder or an I-net site.
It's a horrible experience just looking your screen.

3) Instability
XP crashed on me once in over five years.
Vista crashed the first day!

The list goes on and on. I haven't the time to waste commenting on
Gates shotty work.

MS is infamous for peddling half-baked software. XP was the exception.
It is wonderful. MS hit a wall with Vista, a solid cement wall.

Gates should have stuck with XP and simply added features, but the
temptation for profit once again won out (Gates can make much more
money with a new OS than simply improving past software).

Keep your XP until an actual upgrade becomes available. If you've
already took the plunge, return it. MS REFUND PHONE NUMBER:
1-888-673-8624.

[Shenan Stanley]

steve wrote:
> and here are just a few of the problems that prove this to be very
> true:
>
> 1) Incompatibility (Driver/Software handshaking issues)
> Nearly everything ran super smooth in XP from day one
> It was a root canal getting even some of the simplest software to
> run in Vista

Were you a Windows 9x/ME/Windows 2000 user when Windows XP first came out?
New OS means that many hardware manufacturers (and software writers) will
choose not to support older models (or versions) on the New OS and you will
either buy the new version of their product too or make some other choice to
make it work for you.

> 2) Desktop Convolution
> It's a "Muddy appearance." Everything looks the same. You cannot
> easily distinguish if you are looking at a folder or an I-net site.
> It's a horrible experience just looking your screen.

Similar complaints have been lodged against Windows XP - when it was first
released. Everything keeps becoming more and more 'bubbly' and
'crayola-fied' in all OSes.

> 3) Instability
> XP crashed on me once in over five years.
> Vista crashed the first day!

That means you did not change things much (hardware or software), you were
very luck and your experience is limited. Supporting thousands of Windows
XP machines with just as many different combinations of hardware/peripherals
and applications - Windows XP is pretty annoying at times - particularly 5+
years ago.

> The list goes on and on. I haven't the time to waste commenting on
> Gates shotty work.

If you think Gates has much to do with the actual OS... That's funny. heh

> MS is infamous for peddling half-baked software. XP was the
> exception. It is wonderful. MS hit a wall with Vista, a solid
> cement wall.

Many would disagree with you about XP. All of this is opinions and personal
experience. If you talk to the right people, BeOS was the OS to end all
OSes.

> Gates should have stuck with XP and simply added features, but the
> temptation for profit once again won out (Gates can make much more
> money with a new OS than simply improving past software).

Why do you keep mentioning Bill Gates personally? If only one person wrote
the OS, I could see it - maybe - but this seems more of a personal vendetta
on your part - and not a logical attack with research and backup ABOUT an
OS.

> Keep your XP until an actual upgrade becomes available. If you've
> already took the plunge, return it. MS REFUND PHONE NUMBER:
> 1-888-673-8624.

Search using Google!
http://www.google.com/
(How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )

Everyone is welcomed to their opinion - feel free to express yours. In X
more years, people will complain about the next OS just like they did five
years in the past. Change sucks - especially when it is a change over which
no one entity has complete control. Millions of hardware combinations with
thousands of manufacturers, millions of software combinations with thousands
of software writers - all who get to choose what they will/will not
support/do.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

[Susan Bradley, CPA aka Ebitz - SBS Rocks [MVP]]

I couldn't deploy XP sp2 for months.
I couldn't deploy XP rtm for months until my applications came up to speed.

BSOD's or crashes are a sign of a third party driver problem.

And Sir, if you think you can't get apps to run, I can't get my Mac Mini
to print on two of the three printers at the office.

Change is hard, we don't like it. But change takes time.

If all we had were XP features we'd be complaining that it should have
been a service pack.

XP wasn't wonderful when it first came out.
XP sp2 was a brick wall when it first came out.

We have short memories in technology, don't we?

[steve]

On Oct 19, 11:05 am, "Shenan Stanley" <newshel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> steve wrote:
> > and here are just a few of the problems that prove this to be very
> > true:
>
> > 1) Incompatibility (Driver/Software handshaking issues)
> > Nearly everything ran super smooth in XP from day one
> > It was a root canal getting even some of the simplest software to
> > run in Vista
>
> Were you a Windows 9x/ME/Windows 2000 user when Windows XP first came out?

XP had nearly every driver when I bought it about a year after it was
released. Vista, almost a year after it was released still struggles.

> New OS means that many hardware manufacturers (and software writers) will
> choose not to support older models (or versions) on the New OS and you will
> either buy the new version of their product too or make some other choice to
> make it work for you.

That depends on how advanced the OS is from the last version's build.

>
> > 2) Desktop Convolution
> > It's a "Muddy appearance." Everything looks the same. You cannot
> > easily distinguish if you are looking at a folder or an I-net site.
> > It's a horrible experience just looking your screen.
>
> Similar complaints have been lodged against Windows XP - when it was first
> released. Everything keeps becoming more and more 'bubbly' and
> 'crayola-fied' in all OSes.

Prolly not 1/10th as many complaints about XP. Wait till the dust
settles on Vista and then google "Vista Sux" and see if I'm right.
Were there lawsuits being filed against XP like there are with Vista?
No.

>
> > 3) Instability
> > XP crashed on me once in over five years.
> > Vista crashed the first day!
>
> That means you did not change things much (hardware or software), you were
> very luck and your experience is limited.

Obviously you don't know me from adam.

> Supporting thousands of Windows
> XP machines with just as many different combinations of hardware/peripherals
> and applications

I have three separate builds of XP on a half dozen computers and all
ran fine from day one. XP has ran smoothly for me and many others for
years. More like XP than Vista. Just google around like I did.

>Windows XP is pretty annoying at times - particularly 5+ years ago.

Has there ever been software that Gates made that wasn't annoying at
times?

>
> > The list goes on and on. I haven't the time to waste commenting on
> > Gates shotty work.
>
> If you think Gates has much to do with the actual OS... That's funny. heh

No, but I don't know pedro the programmer. Who do you blame, the
janitor?

>
> > MS is infamous for peddling half-baked software. XP was the
> > exception. It is wonderful. MS hit a wall with Vista, a solid
> > cement wall.
>
> Many would disagree with you about XP.

Most agree, google my friend.

> All of this is opinions and personal
> experience.

What isn't personal experience? Even "techie gurus" have to experience
it (duh).

> If you talk to the right people, BeOS was the OS to end all
> OSes.

Talk? I'll take personal experience over talk.

>
> > Gates should have stuck with XP and simply added features, but the
> > temptation for profit once again won out (Gates can make much more
> > money with a new OS than simply improving past software).
>
> Why do you keep mentioning Bill Gates personally?

Ok that damn MS janitor is sick.

> If only one person wrote
> the OS, I could see it - maybe - but this seems more of a personal vendetta
> on your part

Yeah, a vendetta against rotten software.

>- and not a logical attack with research and backup ABOUT an
> OS.

I used Vista and it failed. Nothing illogical or non researching about
that.
I actually USED it thoroughly inside and out. Get it? Research what?
You are the one that lacks researching. Heard of google yet? Enter
this into Google's search box: Vista "Class Action Lawsuit." You'll
be enlightened.

> Everyone is welcomed to their opinion - feel free to express yours. In X
> more years, people will complain about the next OS just like they did five
> years in the past. Change sucks - especially when it is a change over which
> no one entity has complete control. Millions of hardware combinations with
> thousands of manufacturers, millions of software combinations with thousands
> of software writers - all who get to choose what they will/will not
> support/do.

> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP

LMAO. You actually work for MS?! I'm reporting you to the janitor for
ragging on XP!!

[steve]

On Oct 20, 2:46 am, "Susan Bradley, CPA aka Ebitz - SBS Rocks [MVP]"

<sbrad...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> I couldn't deploy XP sp2 for months.
> I couldn't deploy XP rtm for months until my applications came up to speed.
>
> BSOD's or crashes are a sign of a third party driver problem.
>
> And Sir, if you think you can't get apps to run, I can't get my Mac Mini
> to print on two of the three printers at the office.
>
> Change is hard, we don't like it. But change takes time.
>
> If all we had were XP features we'd be complaining that it should have
> been a service pack.
>
> XP wasn't wonderful when it first came out.
> XP sp2 was a brick wall when it first came out.
>
> We have short memories in technology, don't we?

And you speak for an entire population of one. Vista is half baked. XP
ran fine from day one. I have a good memory. But don't believe me.
Just google: Vista "Class action lawsuit." The consensus agrees that
Vista sucks.

[steve]

You can return Vista for a full refund to the address below:

RE: MICROSOFT PRODUCT RETURN
2031 Buroughs Ave.
San Leandro, CA 94577
(888) 673-8624

[Shenan Stanley]

You obviously don't know as much as you think if you believe I work for
Microsoft. Maybe you don't Google as much as you could.

As far as the rest:

- Blaming Bill Gates is still childish at best. Microsoft is a company. No
one forced you to utilize anything they sell. You chose to get involved at
some level - because you *could* just walk away... Microsoft and drivers -
perhaps you do not understand reality on this one - Microsoft produces the
OS - not the hardware. The drivers come from the hardware providers. If
you do not have a driver for some piece of hardware - that's a new person
(whomever is the president of the comapny when it started I guess is who you
go for - not who is president when you are having the trouble) you have to
blame. Utilize *nix and see if it has drivers for everything. I'm sure
your research will discover the person to name/blame for each flavor. ;-)

- As far as not knowing you, you are correct. But 1/2 dozen computers is
still not much. You don't know me either.

- If you google for XP sucks - you will find many archived messages about XP
reflecting the same trouble(s). Some of them current. Some things don't
work except in Vista. It is the third party manufactuyrer that gets to make
this determination. ;-)

- Windows Vista has not been out a year - so you buying XP a year later and
it having 'nearly every driver' is a bunch of crud/FUD - after all -
Microsoft does not release the drivers - that is up to the manufacturer and
up to TODAY there are still pieces of hardware not supported by their
manufacturer in Windows XP. Older machines/hardware are almost always left
in the dust. Windows 95 --> Windows 98 did it. Windows 98 --> Windows XP
did it. Windows XP --> Windows Vista did it. The difference is that as
those have progressed - so have the number of people using computers and the
number of people who don't even know life without a computer. More people
will equal more complaints because that hjust increases the number of
combinations of hardware/software they run.

- The only way to get personal experience is communication. Just because
your personal experience sucked doesn't mean your friends/family had the
same experience. There are people out there who *do* disagree with you
about XP. There are people out there who *do* disagree with you about
Vista.

- Did you try your google search? See the XP results? Heard of the EU? XP
Sucks too. Windows 98 Sucks. *nix sucks. OS X sucks. Someone out there
thinks so. Someone might even sue for it. Heck - some have bought coffee
(HOT COFFEE - the default state for morning coffee) and spilled it on
themselves and then sued (and won) against those who sold it to them for not
warning them the coffee was hot and might burn them if it contacted the
skin.

If you wish to go through life blaming individuals that have nothing to do
with the problem and expressing your opinion in such a way - that's your
choice. *shrug* It doesn't bother me at all. I just thought I would see
if you were rational or not.

[steve]

On Oct 27, 7:22 am, "Shenan Stanley" <newshel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> steve wrote:
> You obviously don't know as much as you think if you believe I work for
> Microsoft.

Pssst newsflash, MS like all major companies are highly
departmentalized and your department is miles from the software
department, and your lack of knowledge confirms it too. You are simply
an annoying MR PR rep, that's it. Stop being so proud. You obviously
don't know Vista OS like I do or you are one big liar. And this
statement is provable simply by sampling all the thousands Vista
complaints already logged in Google.

If you are trying to tell me that my experience with Vista was a happy
one, quit now. I can write a book on all the problems with Vista, 9
months after it's release.

> Maybe you don't Google as much as you could.

No, again, "obviously" that's your problem. Class action lawsuits have
been filed against Gates for Christ's sake. Wake up.

>
> As far as the rest:
>
> - Blaming Bill Gates is still childish at best. Microsoft is a company.

Pssst. Newsflash for the MS spokeslady deparment: Gates is the CEO of
Microsoft. Vista is a Bill Gates product whether you like it or not.
Vista was, at minimum, okayed by Gates himself. When HIS (GATES)
company makes a faulty product like Vista, who do you feel should take
the heat? Is not gates ultimately responsible for who works at MS??
Should he not oversee major end products? Of course. HE (WILLIAM GATES
III) let this stinker loose on an unsuspecting public .. and you
defend such pathetic business ethics is doubly pathetic. You cannot
own up to the fact that Vista sucks. Why not admit it and say "we're
working hard to render it." Your dishonesty or lack of knowledge
shows.

> No one forced you to utilize anything they sell.

Pssst, in order to test Vista on your PC, you have to actually go out
and purchase it *duh*. So you're saying "don't buy anything Bill Gates
peddles."

> You chose to get involved at
> some level - because you *could* just walk away... Microsoft and drivers -
> perhaps you do not understand reality on this one - Microsoft produces the
> OS - not the hardware. The drivers come from the hardware providers. If
> you do not have a driver for some piece of hardware - that's a new person
> (whomever is the president of the comapny when it started I guess is who you
> go for - not who is president when you are having the trouble) you have to
> blame. Utilize *nix and see if it has drivers for everything. I'm sure
> your research will discover the person to name/blame for each flavor. ;-)

My research has been already conducted and the jury has already made
it's verdict:
"Vista was released totally convoluted and unfinished."

So stop making yourself out to be dumber than you might already be by
backing such terrible sofware.

>
> - As far as not knowing you, you are correct. But 1/2 dozen computers is
> still not much.

Running a piece of software on Six PCs is 10000 times more revealing
than "doing research" which is what you've suggested earlier. And why
did you clip out the CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST VISTA, A BILL GATE'S
PRODUCT from the rest of that statement??

Six PCs running smoothly on XP and one PC running terribly on Vista
and class

> You don't know me either.

Never claimed I do. But I know you don't know vista or are glossing
over all the Vista problems so many end users know about.

>
> - If you google for XP sucks - you will find many archived messages about XP
> reflecting the same trouble(s). Some of them current. Some things don't
> work except in Vista. It is the third party manufactuyrer that gets to make
> this determination. ;-)

Yes, many Vista complaints are VERY current and VERY valid. You're
learning.

>
> - Windows Vista has not been out a year - so you buying XP a year later and
> it having 'nearly every driver' is a bunch of crud/FUD - after all -

It's a fact. No crud. FYI, XP wasn't a giant leap from Windows 98 so
that's why things ran rather smoothly from it's release date.

> - The only way to get personal experience is communication.

Where did you get that nonsense from? You mean to tell me you actually
believe that it's better not to actually experience something first
hand, but instead to read what other's say about it?? How old are you?
You're logic is as good as Vista, and both are from MS, isn't that a
surprise.

> Just because
> your personal experience sucked doesn't mean your friends/family had the
> same experience. There are people out there who *do* disagree with you
> about XP. There are people out there who *do* disagree with you about
> Vista.

People who disagree that Vista sucks are as bright as yourself or lie
as much and mean zip. Sorry, but that's the reality.

>
> - Did you try your google search? See the XP results? Heard of the EU? XP
> Sucks too. Windows 98 Sucks. *nix sucks. OS X sucks. Someone out there
> thinks so.

Someone means zip. Millions means a lot. Personal experience means a
lot.
Your logic is in a grave condition, like Vista.

> If you wish to go through life blaming individuals that have nothing to do
> with the problem and expressing your opinion in such a way - that's your
> choice. *shrug* It doesn't bother me at all. I just thought I would see
> if you were rational or not.

For the last time, Bill Gates has something to do with the products
released by Microsoft until the day he quits. Sorry you lose on every
account.

> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP

So insulting MS clients is what Gates pays you to do? Not impressed,
nor surprised.

> How To Ask Questions The Smart Wayhttp://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart->questions.html- Hide quoted text -

How to return MS Vista OS, send the receipt to:

RE: MICROSOFT PRODUCT RETURN
2031 Buroughs Ave.
San Leandro, CA 94577
(888) 673-8624

The refund process is the only feature of Vista that actually works.

[steve]

Windows Vista truly does suck hind tit, many say it's a downgrade from
XP. I say it's a downgrade from windows 98!

But don't take my word for it. Google around before you run out to buy
it. Those who plug Vista are either half crazy or lie or both, because
here's the statistical proof:

As of today, googling "VISTA ROCKS" gets 32,800 hits.
As of today, googling "VISTA SUCKS" gets 182,000 hits.

So there are nearly SIX TIMES more people complaining about Vista than
satisfied people (bear in mind that many of the "satisfied" people are
merely pumping Vista).

As of today, googling "VISTA ROCKS" in groups gets 116 hits.
As of today, googling "VISTA SUCKS" in groups gets 2150 hits.

You say more people use the term sucks than rocks? Ok, let's try this:

As of today, googling "VISTA RULES" in groups gets 41 hits.
As of today, googling "VISTA BLOWS" in groups gets 118 hits.
As of today, googling "VISTA STINKS" in groups gets 128 hits.

Nope.

I tried "VISTA IS GOOD" VS "VISTA IS BAD" and there were actually more
"VISTA IS GOOD" posters, HOWEVER, they can be snippets from unfinished
statements. ie "Vista is good for this or that, ..."

[Shenan Stanley]

<snipped>
See the entire thread forever here:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/browse_frm/thread/eea9bed36c339509/2fbebccd9704e6e5?lnk=st&q=#2fbebccd9704e6e5

steve wrote:
> Pssst newsflash, MS like all major companies are highly
> departmentalized and your department is miles from the software
> department, and your lack of knowledge confirms it too. You are
> simply an annoying MR PR rep, that's it. Stop being so proud. You
> obviously don't know Vista OS like I do or you are one big liar.
> And this statement is provable simply by sampling all the thousands
> Vista complaints already logged in Google.
>
> If you are trying to tell me that my experience with Vista was a
> happy one, quit now. I can write a book on all the problems with
> Vista, 9 months after it's release.

Hint: You are a moron if you still believe I work for Microsoft.

I have been using Vista since pre-beta.

I am not trying to tell you *your* experience with Vista. I am telling you
that it is unique to you (unless you over-generalize it - as just 'good' or
'bad') and although you are welcomed to your opinion - don't think it is the
only one out there.

steve wrote:
> Pssst. Newsflash for the MS spokeslady deparment: Gates is the CEO
> of Microsoft. Vista is a Bill Gates product whether you like it or
> not. Vista was, at minimum, okayed by Gates himself. When HIS
> (GATES) company makes a faulty product like Vista, who do you feel
> should take the heat? Is not gates ultimately responsible for who
> works at MS?? Should he not oversee major end products? Of course.
> HE (WILLIAM GATES III) let this stinker loose on an unsuspecting
> public .. and you defend such pathetic business ethics is doubly
> pathetic. You cannot own up to the fact that Vista sucks. Why not
> admit it and say "we're working hard to render it." Your dishonesty
> or lack of knowledge shows.

Hint: Bill Gates is *not* currently the CEO of Microsoft. I am thinking of
rephrasing my first statement to be more certain of your ranking.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/default.mspx?group=a-d

Steve Ballmer
Chief Executive Officer

Bill Gates
Chairman

You still think I work for Microsoft. Microsoft and I have no direct
relationship. I use their products, support the products (amongst others)
in my job (which is not with Microsoft in any way) and freely give my time
on public newsgroups such as these to help people who might be having
trouble - when I can.

Vista may *suck* in your opinion. That's all it is - a single opinion. I
don't recommend it - but I say it is not ready for the business world -
however, people buying their first computer system - no prior experience
beyond possibly work - will likely be fine with Vista.

I am not working hard on rendering anything to do with Vista - that is not
my job. I support many people who use Windows workstations, I manage many
Windows, *nix, Solaris, OSX and other types of servers. Microsoft is
involved only in the fact that some of the OSes are Microsoft OSes.
Otherwise - if they faded to nothing and were replaced by macs - my job
would still be the same and I would still be happily doing what I already
do.

steve wrote:
> Pssst, in order to test Vista on your PC, you have to actually go
> out and purchase it *duh*. So you're saying "don't buy anything
> Bill Gates peddles."

Well - maybe. You can get trial versions, try it out 'online' - get someone
to setup a virtual machine for you to try, etc. You could even - if you are
so inclined - download it illegally and install it. What you do is up to
you. Ignorance of the options proves nothing but lack of research. What
you buy should be based on your research, your trying out things online, at
a friends house, your looking up the support for what OS you are going to
utilize from each vendor you currently have computer products from, etc.
Anything less is putting your full confidence and trust in someone else to
do something *for* you.

What's with the 'pssst stuff? Oh - you are trying to be funny. Gotcha.
Yes - I am definitely reconsidering a rephrase of my first statement.

steve wrote:
> My research has been already conducted and the jury has already made
> it's verdict:
> "Vista was released totally convoluted and unfinished."
>
> So stop making yourself out to be dumber than you might already be
> by backing such terrible sofware.

Backing it? Not even close. For most people who are NOT buying a new
computer - I recommend against Vista. For people in Business - I recommend
against Vista. Buying a new computer - completely new everything? I have
nothing against you getting Vista. Go for it. Especially if you are
unfamilar with computers.

Showing that you have only one opinion of millions - which may be, in
general - the same as many people and different from many other people?
Sure. You have an opinion. Way to go.

steve wrote:
> Running a piece of software on Six PCs is 10000 times more revealing
> than "doing research" which is what you've suggested earlier. And
> why did you clip out the CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST VISTA, A BILL
> GATE'S PRODUCT from the rest of that statement??
>
> Six PCs running smoothly on XP and one PC running terribly on Vista
> and class

I snipped nothing out. Gate's again. Wow. That first phrase is looking
more and more like a certainty.

I have had hundreds of completely identical machines running Windows XP
smoothly before. Then one - not. Change out a memory chip and everything
is better. I have also had to replace the OS on a much less homogeneous
setup and some of the machines only had 128MB memory or a 500MHz CPU or an
8MB video card or combinations of such low stats - and even with a clean
install, Windows XP would not run as well on these older machines. Windows
98/98SE/ME worked fine. Blame Microsoft? Blame Bill Gates? Blame Windows
XP? I could have. Didn't - because I was trying to run something more
advanced on something less advanced than its better working counterparts.
Products where the manufacturer chose not to support it in XP. Etc...

steve wrote:
> Never claimed I do. But I know you don't know vista or are glossing
> over all the Vista problems so many end users know about.

Really? I guess phonics does not teach comprehension - only how to read.

I do not recommend Vista in most cases - there are problems with Vista. I
do recommend Windows XP - but there are problems with Windows XP. I utilize
and support Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Mac OS X, various
flavors of *nix and Solaris daily.

steve wrote:
> It's a fact. No crud. FYI, XP wasn't a giant leap from Windows 98 so
> that's why things ran rather smoothly from it's release date.

Hah. How incorrect can one person be? There are still people using Windows
98 for the very reasons you have hinted at for Vista sucking. Driver
support, speed of the system, issues they could not get over between their
stuff and Windows XP. Windows 98 worked fine, still does - so they have not
upgraded. Whole LARGE corporations still running Windows 2000... Because
they cannot move or will not for whatever reason.

Windows 98 and Windows XP have little to nothing in common beyond some eye
candy. Windows XP is even based off the NT line of products - where the
Windows 9x series died with Windows ME.

> For the last time, Bill Gates has something to do with the products
> released by Microsoft until the day he quits. Sorry you lose on
> every account.

So do millions of others (have something to do with the products and their
success/failure from Microsoft). And how do I lose? I have nothing to
gain/lose from this conversation. Microsoft can disappear and my life only
changes in which products I support daily - and even then - it is more a
shift towards one I already support and away from the MS one's as they fade
away.

Let me help you out with the signature I utilize here:
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/

I do not work for Microsoft. I could care less what happens to Microsoft.
If you wish to continue proving the density of your skull - after this reply
of mine - I leave you to do so alone. Know that *your* specific reasons for
disliking Vista are your own. There may be some people out there with
similar experiences - but I guarantee there are just as many with completely
differing opinions/reasons for liking/disliking Vista. You are *not* the
end-all of... likely anything.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--

[steve]

On Oct 27, 3:18 pm, "Shenan Stanley" <newshel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> <snipped>

> Hint: You are a moron if you still believe I work for Microsoft.

How so? The mere mention of Bill Gates seems to make your mouth froth
like a hungry dog.

>
> I have been using Vista since pre-beta.

Whoopie.

>
> I am not trying to tell you *your* experience with Vista. I am telling you
> that it is unique to you (unless you over-generalize it - as just 'good' or
> 'bad') and although you are welcomed to your opinion - don't think it is the
> only one out there.

"Unique" ?

Vista sux. End of topic.

> Hint: Bill Gates is *not* currently the CEO of Microsoft. I am thinking of
> rephrasing my first statement to be more certain of your ranking.http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/default.mspx?group=a-d

Are you saying Bill Gates doesn't own MS and has zero say?
You can be funnier than that.

>
> Steve Ballmer
> Chief Executive Officer
>
> Bill Gates
> Chairman

Bravo.

> You still think I work for Microsoft.

No, actually I could care less. It doesn't matter. What counts is what
you post here and most is just wrong.

> Vista may *suck* in your opinion.

No opinions needed. Many of the problems have been clearly illustrated
by many other end users as I've said here ad nauseum.

> That's all it is - a single opinion.

BS

> I don't recommend it - but I say it is not ready for the business world -
> however, people buying their first computer system - no prior experience
> beyond possibly work - will likely be fine with Vista.

VISTA SUCKS. Spit it out. Don't beat around the bush and ride the
fence.

> I am not working hard on rendering anything to do with Vista - that is not
> my job. I support many people who use Windows workstations, I manage many
> Windows, *nix, Solaris, OSX and other types of servers. Microsoft is
> involved only in the fact that some of the OSes are Microsoft OSes.
> Otherwise - if they faded to nothing and were replaced by macs - my job
> would still be the same and I would still be happily doing what I already
> do.
>

> Yes - I am definitely reconsidering a rephrase of my first statement.

Rephrase all of them and stop wasting other people's time with your
nonsense and lies.

> Showing that you have only one opinion of millions - which may be, in
> general - the same as many people and different from many other people?
> Sure. You have an opinion. Way to go.

?

> I have had hundreds of completely identical machines running Windows XP
> smoothly before.

Identical = 1. And I believe you own 100s of PCs too.

> Then one - not. Change out a memory chip and everything
> is better.

?
You make zero sense again.

> steve wrote:
> > Never claimed I do. But I know you don't know vista or are glossing
> > over all the Vista problems so many end users know about.
>
> Really? I guess phonics does not teach comprehension - only how to read.

?

> > It's a fact. No crud. FYI, XP wasn't a giant leap from Windows 98 so
> > that's why things ran rather smoothly from it's release date.
>
> Hah. How incorrect can one person be? There are still people using Windows
> 98 for the very reasons you have hinted at for Vista sucking.

People use anything. Extremely few still use 98. Make some sense
sometime.

> I do not work for Microsoft. I could care less what happens to Microsoft.

Obviously you don't care. That's the difference. I do care what Gates
puts out, because I'm forced to be an end user of his OS due to his
vast OS Monopoly.

> If you wish to continue proving the density of your skull - after this reply
> of mine - I leave you to do so alone. Know that *your* specific reasons for
> disliking Vista are your own. There may be some people out there with
> similar experiences - but I guarantee there are just as many with completely
> differing opinions/reasons for liking/disliking Vista. You are *not* the
> end-all of... likely anything.

Bottom line Vista SUCKS and if you cannot get over that fact, I feel
sorry for you as you struggle with it. XP runs much, much smoother and
is much much much more of a happy experience.

>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP

You mean:
"I don't work for MS" MS-MVP someone with too much time.

[gilesrsmith]

Apparently my product code is not valid for vista, so if i need to contact
vista support if is going to cost me £46, even though I have a valid copy of
vista home premium.

Anyway, all I want to know is for every benchmark test, and just general use
vista is around 68.5% as fast as windows xp?

That is the average figure I have managed to achieve through several tests.
I have been benchmarking vista against fedora 7 on hardware (aparently
designed for vista) Intel E6850 with 8Gb DDR2 RAM. Fedora 7 completed its
benchmarks on an average of 43.67% faster than windows vista. That is quite a
margin! Also for anyone that is interested, Windows XP completed the same
benchmarks 39.24% faster than vista.

What am I supposed to conclude from this other than vista is a complete
waste of money. On a software side, there isn't actually anything in vista
that can't be done in windows XP or Fedora 7 as far as I can see. Well
actually vista has some better tools for looking after your hard drive built
in, than XP. but that appears to be it!

Anyway. I would quite like my money back, I already have XP, and most Linux
Flavours are free. If I wanted to pay money I would have bought a MAC...

[steve]

On Oct 27, 6:23 pm, gilesrsmith

<gilesrsm...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Apparently my product code is not valid for vista, so if i need to contact
> vista support if is going to cost me £46, even though I have a valid copy of
> vista home premium.

You mean the mighty MS team cannot even maintain a solid correct
product code?

> Anyway, all I want to know is for every benchmark test, and just general use
> vista is around 68.5% as fast as windows xp?

Bingo. Speed is just one issue. There's dozens of other problems.

> What am I supposed to conclude from this other than vista is a complete
> waste of money. On a software side, there isn't actually anything in vista
> that can't be done in windows XP or Fedora 7 as far as I can see. Well
> actually vista has some better tools for looking after your hard drive built
> in, than XP. but that appears to be it!
>
> Anyway. I would quite like my money back, I already have XP, and most Linux
> Flavours are free. If I wanted to pay money I would have bought a MAC...

Keep your IBM and return Vista for a full refund to the address

[gilesrsmith]

Bingo is the word!

there is only one reason I still use windows and that is Last.fm. I have a
love of knowing what music I playing and seeing as I just sold out Creative
and bought an Ipod Classic instead of a Creative Zen so I can scrobble what
I listen to through the day and at work (whilst web programming turns my
brain to mush) .

Another problem I am really having is gaming. I used to play Call of Duty
constantly, (on an AMD XP 2600+ 1Gb Ram) online, whilst I was at Uni several
years ago, with no problems at all. Playing now is really quite jumpy on what
is meant to be a far superior system (above) how is a game that was designed
for something around a first gen P4 or maybe even less so under performing?

Is there something I am missing? A setting I have wrong? If I am to have any
belief in Microsoft any more please tell me there is some magic setting I
have just got wrong. If there is could Vista be something I was promised?

"steve" wrote:

> On Oct 27, 6:23 pm, gilesrsmith
> <gilesrsm...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > Apparently my product code is not valid for vista, so if i need to contact

> > vista support if is going to cost me #46, even though I have a valid copy of

[steve]

On Oct 27, 7:19 pm, gilesrsmith

<gilesrsm...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Bingo is the word!
>
> there is only one reason I still use windows and that is Last.fm. I have a
> love of knowing what music I playing and seeing as I just sold out Creative
> and bought an Ipod Classic instead of a Creative Zen so I can scrobble what
> I listen to through the day and at work (whilst web programming turns my
> brain to mush) .
>
> Another problem I am really having is gaming. I used to play Call of Duty
> constantly, (on an AMD XP 2600+ 1Gb Ram) online, whilst I was at Uni several
> years ago, with no problems at all. Playing now is really quite jumpy on what
> is meant to be a far superior system (above) how is a game that was designed
> for something around a first gen P4 or maybe even less so under performing?
>
> Is there something I am missing? A setting I have wrong? If I am to have any
> belief in Microsoft any more please tell me there is some magic setting I
> have just got wrong. If there is could Vista be something I was promised?

Apples work slightly better for graphics apps than IBM such as for
games, but don't completely write off MS. XP is still very robust and
most apps should continue to "sync" well with XP for the next several
years. Linux is awful at least last time I tried it. I'm holding onto
XP until MS gets all the kinks get worked out with a future "true"
upgrade from XP. Bearing in mind that MS took over two decades to iron
out most of the major bugs in its OS to reach the performance status
of XP, I don't expect a 50%+ improvement from XP anytime soon. I just
hope individual software companies continue to integrate with XP for
the next five to ten years.

GL, Steve

[steve]

What I've been waiting for for years is a quad, octa or hexadecimal
computer system to be made. The binary systems have reached their
potential and have been maxed out for years. Imagine just how much
more superior a 16-state computer will be over the two-state systems
of today! That day will truly be revolutionary. Things will run many
times faster, we're not talking 100% improvement in performance, but
10000% improvements. Such computers will also run cooler and will be
smaller and cheaper to make.
Optical instead of electrical computers will be amazing too. That day
isn't all that far away.

[gilesrsmith]

I guess I was hoping for too much too soon, I wanted Vista to be simply an
advancement of XP. Just some fancy extras and some good solid perfomrance
increases. But to be honest I can understand what MS are looking for with
Vista. Eg the rework of the session levels, I can see they are looking for a
far more solid base to build a new OS out of than XP started with. Don't get
me wrong Vista has the potential to be an amazing OS and I can definately see
some vision behind what has been released so far.

I was just hoping that performance would be a lot better for the first
official release of Longhorn.

[gilesrsmith]

"steve" wrote:

What about going biological, uncertainly in cellular processes allow the
potential for abstract thought within what can be classed as a "computer"
using techniques such as polymer elongation and ligation. What about a
processor that can think like a human?

one word: Potential

however I am sure this is probably far more relavent in a different thread!
>
>

[steve]

>What about going biological, uncertainly in cellular processes allow the
>potential for abstract thought within what can be classed as a "computer"
>using techniques such as polymer elongation and ligation. What about a
>processor that can think like a human?

"Pure" artificial intelligence is too near impossible, certainly in
our lifetime. In 2007, we cannot get a reliable OS to work, hell I've
yet to see a printer that works 100% or an answering machine for that
matter. Reminds me of a song by Dave Dudley:
"It took me 16 years to buy me a good pair of cowboy
boots."

[gilesrsmith]

Artificial Intelligence is still a just a very complex set of pre defined
arguements. I am talking about a computer than can truely learn. Yeah on a
commercial scale I would be extremely surpised if we saw anything close in
our lifetime. Especially at the current rate of hardware development agains't
hardware innovation. We are certainly stuck in a rut where it is cheaper to
just keep trying to jam as many predefined arguements into a clock cycle as
possible than to really rethink the whole "computer" process (please excuse
my quotes but I use the word computer quite loosely)

[gilesrsmith]

"steve" wrote:
Reminds me of a song by Dave Dudley:
> "It took me 16 years to buy me a good pair of cowboy
> boots."

Also LOL

[steve]

On Oct 27, 7:18 pm, steve <effac...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Just thought I'd update the world on the condition of my WINDOWS VISTA
refund.

What refund? A complete no show. It's been over a month and nothing.
Parr for Bill Gates and MS. But you'd think they'd do something right,
just once. Knowing MS & that idiot Gates, I'd be more surprised if it
eventually shows up. I'll keep you posted, but don't hold your breath.

[Shenan Stanley]

steve wrote:
> Just thought I'd update the world on the condition of my WINDOWS
> VISTA refund.
>
> What refund? A complete no show. It's been over a month and nothing.
> Parr for Bill Gates and MS. But you'd think they'd do something
> right, just once. Knowing MS & that idiot Gates, I'd be more
> surprised if it eventually shows up. I'll keep you posted, but
> don't hold your breath.

I wasn't.
I won't be.
Good luck.

[steve]

On Nov 26, 12:45 pm, "Shenan Stanley" <newshel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Good luck.
Apparently that I'll need.

[chris]

i just purchased a new computer and it had vista already installed how do i
delete vista and install xp. and vista does suck in a major way

[Shenan Stanley]

chris wrote:
> i just purchased a new computer and it had vista already installed
> how do i delete vista and install xp. and vista does suck in a
> major way

Glad you have your opinion on the matter.

In order to put Windows XP onto the computer in question you need:
- Windows XP installation media.
- A legitimate/not currently used Windows XP license.
- Drivers for all the hardware components in and that will be connected to
the system in question.

It is the latter that often gets those trying to do the downgrade into
trouble. The manufacturer of said equipment (motherboard, chipset, video
card, sound card, scanner, printer or sometimes - it is all made by the OEM
you chose to buy from) can choose to not have drivers for any operating
system available other than a few. It may be you have a system where the
manbufacturer (or at least of some particular component) has chosen to have
Vista drivers, but not Windows XP drivers. Check for these on the
manufacturer's web site and/or contact the manufacturer/people you bought it
from and see what they can do for you.

[Shenan Stanley]

chris wrote:
> i just purchased a new computer and it had vista already installed
> how do i delete vista and install xp. and vista does suck in a
> major way

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Glad you have your opinion on the matter.
>
> In order to put Windows XP onto the computer in question you need:
> - Windows XP installation media.
> - A legitimate/not currently used Windows XP license.
> - Drivers for all the hardware components in and that will be
> connected to the system in question.
>
> It is the latter that often gets those trying to do the downgrade
> into trouble. The manufacturer of said equipment (motherboard,
> chipset, video card, sound card, scanner, printer or sometimes - it
> is all made by the OEM you chose to buy from) can choose to not
> have drivers for any operating system available other than a few. It may
> be you have a system where the manbufacturer (or at least of
> some particular component) has chosen to have Vista drivers, but
> not Windows XP drivers. Check for these on the manufacturer's web
> site and/or contact the manufacturer/people you bought it from and
> see what they can do for you.

To continue the thought...

You boot off the Windows XP CD, you select to delete the partition(s) on the
system when asked where to install Windows XP, you create new partition(s)
and continue with the install.

You may - to be safe - want to do a few things to prepare...
- Get a list of hardware/software currently on the system. This can help
you install afresh (as you will know what you need to get.) Something like
Belarc Advisor and printing out the results should work fine.
- Make a backup image of the system with some imaging software (Ghost,
TrueImage, BootItNG, etc.) That way you can restore it back to Vista if
things go wrong and the manufacturer refuses to provide technical support to
you since they sold it to you with Windows Vista and you have Windows XP on
it.

Here's some detail on the installation and some of the preparation I have
suggested...

** You may want to print this **

1) Download and install Belarc Advisor onto the current Windows
machine. Use it to get a list of hardware from the
machine as well as the CD Key used to install it. Print it if you like.
http://www.belarc.com/

You may be able to obtain other product keys from here as well.
You will see everything that is installed listed here - so you have
a record of what you will be putting back - if you have the
installation media. Now is the time to find the installation media!

2) Using the list of hardware you obtained - visit the hardware
manufacturer(s) web page(s) and download the software drivers
for each of the components.

If it is a "vendor" computer (Dell, HP, IBM, Gateway, etc..) - simply
visit the vendor's page and go to the support/downloads for the
particular model and download all hardware drivers. Write those
to external (to that computer) media. CD/DVD/USB/Network.

If it is a piece-meal computer, take the Belarc list and visit each
manufacturer's web page. Be sure - at a minimum - to obtain the
motherboard chipset drivers, the hard drive controller card drivers,
the video card drivers, the modem drivers, the network card
drivers and the sound card drivers. Technically - if you have the
drivers for the hardware that will allow you to access the Internet,
everything else can be gotten later. However - there is something
to be said about going in prepared.

3) Now that you have the software and hardware drivers covered -
you can get to the business of obtaining Service Pack 2 and most
of the post-sp2 updates you will need. I have a list with links
below this - if you grabbed everything on this list - installed them
(after installing Windows XP) in numerical (by KB Article #) order
- rebooting when asked to - before ever connecting to the Internet
- you might (at this time) have 10-20 more to grab from the update
web page.

Essentially - visit each of these pages, download the update for
Windows XP (32bit) w/SP2 and save them to an external location.
CD/DVD/USB/Network. Consider yourself an "IT Professional" in
order to get to the page with the actual file download link for each
update.

You could get away with (pretty much) installing them in the order
given.

Direct Download of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP
http://snipurl.com/8bqy

Critical Updates
----------------------
Released: -- [ Web Page Address ] -- Description:
9/14/2004 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885626 ]
-- Critical Update for Windows XP
11/22/2004 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887742 ]
-- Update for Windows XP
12/13/2004 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885835 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
12/13/2004 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885836 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
12/13/2004 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/886185 ]
-- Critical Update for Windows XP
12/13/2004 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873339 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
2/7/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/891781 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
2/7/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888302 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
2/7/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887472 ]
-- Security Update for Windows Messenger
4/11/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/890859 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
5/18/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894391 ]
-- Update for Windows XP
5/24/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896344 ]
-- Update for Windows XP
6/13/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896358 ]
-- Security Update for Microsoft Windows XP
6/13/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896428 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
6/24/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/900930 ]
-- Update for Windows XP
6/27/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/898461 ]
-- Update for Windows XP
7/11/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/901214 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
8/8/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896423 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
8/8/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899587 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
8/8/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899591 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
8/8/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893756 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
10/10/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/901017 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
10/10/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902400 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
10/10/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905749 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
10/10/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905414 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
10/10/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/900725 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
12/12/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910437 ]
-- Update for Windows XP
12/13/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/904706 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
1/9/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/908519 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
2/13/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911927 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
4/10/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911562 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
4/18/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/904942 ]
-- Update for Windows XP
4/25/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/900485 ]
-- Update for Windows XP
4/25/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/908531 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
5/9/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913580 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
6/6/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916595 ]
-- Update for Windows XP
6/8/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918439 ]
-- Vulnerability in ART Image Rendering Could Allow Remote Code
Execution in Internet Explorer for Windows XP SP2
6/12/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914389 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
6/12/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917953 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
6/13/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917344 ]
-- JScript 5.6 Security Update for Windows XP SP1 and SP2
6/27/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911280 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
7/10/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917159 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
7/10/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914388 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
8/7/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917422 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
8/7/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920670 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
8/7/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922616 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
8/7/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920683 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
8/17/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920872 ]
-- Update for Windows XP
9/11/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920685 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
9/11/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922582 ]
-- Update for Windows XP
9/11/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/919007 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
10/9/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922819 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
10/9/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/924496 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
10/9/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923414 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
10/9/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923191 ]
-- Security Update for Windows XP
11/14/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920213 ]
-- Vulnerability in Microsoft Agent could allow remote code
execution
11/14/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923789 ]
-- Vulnerabilities in Macromedia Flash Player from Adobe
could allow remote code execution
11/14/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/924270 ]
-- Vulnerability in Workstation Service could allow
remote code execution
11/14/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928088 ]
-- Vulnerability in Microsoft XML Core Services could
allow remote code execution
11/14/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923980 ]
-- Vulnerability in the Client Service could allow remote code
execution
12/12/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926247 ]
-- Vulnerability in Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
could allow remote code execution
12/12/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926255 ]
-- Vulnerability in Windows could allow elevation of privilege
12/12/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923694 ]
-- Cumulative security update for Outlook Express
1/9/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929969 ]
-- Vulnerability in Vector Markup Language
Could Allow Remote Code Execution
* If you have installed IE7, also install the IE7 version
of this patch!
2/13/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928255 ]
-- Vulnerability in Windows Shell Could Allow Elevation
of Privilege
2/13/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927802 ]
-- Vulnerability in Windows Image Acquisition Service
Could Allow Elevation of Privilege
2/13/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928843 ]
-- Vulnerability in HTML Help ActiveX Control Could
Allow Remote Code Execution
2/13/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927779 ]
-- Vulnerability in Microsoft Data Access Components
Could Allow Remote Code Execution
2/13/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926436 ]
-- Vulnerability in Microsoft OLE Dialog Could Allow
Remote Code Execution
2/13/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/924667 ]
-- Vulnerability in Microsoft MFC Could Allow Remote
Code Execution
2/13/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918118 ]
-- Vulnerability in Microsoft RichEdit Could Allow
Remote Code Execution
2/13/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928090 ]
-- Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer
* If you have IE7, obtain that version of this update.
4/3/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925902 ]
-- Vulnerabilities in GDI Could Allow Remote Code Execution
4/10/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931261 ]
-- Vulnerability in Universal Plug and Play Could
Allow Remote Code Execution
4/10/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932168 ]
-- Vulnerability in Microsoft Agent Could Allow Remote
Code Execution
4/10/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930178 ]
-- Vulnerabilities in CSRSS Could Allow Remote Code
Execution
4/10/2007 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931784 ]
-- Vulnerability in Windows Kernel Could Allow
Elevation of Privilege

Media Player:
-------------------
Released: -- [ Web Page Address: ] -- Description:
9/2/2004 -- [ http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=30984 ]
-- Windows Media Player 10
11/7/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902344 ]
-- Update for WMDRM-enabled Media Players
2/13/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911564 ]
-- Security Update for Windows Media Player Plug-in
4/11/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911565 ]
-- Security Update for Windows Media Player 10 for Windows XP
6/12/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917734 ]
-- Security Update for Windows Media Player 10 for Windows XP
12/12/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923689 ]
-- Vulnerability in Windows Media Format Could Allow Remote
Code Execution

.NET Framework:
------------------------
Released: -- [ Web Page Address: ] -- Description:
3/30/2004 -- [ http://snipurl.com/10bde ]
-- Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1 Redistributable Package
8/30/2004 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885055 ]
-- Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1
2/8/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887219 ]
-- ASP.NET Security Update for Microsoft NET Framework 1.1
Service Pack 1
3/22/2006 -- [ http://snipurl.com/10bdv ]
-- Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable
Package (x86)
7/11/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917283 ]
-- NDP 2.0 ASP.Net Security Update
10/10/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922770 ]
-- NET Framework 2.0 SYSTEM.WEB.DLL Security Update

Other Updates:
---------------------
Released: -- [ Web Page Address: ] -- Description:
9/14/2004 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873374 ]
-- Microsoft GDI+ Detection Tool
9/2/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893803 ]
-- Windows Installer 3.1 Redistributable (v2)
10/14/2005 -- [ http://snipurl.com/10bex ]
-- Windows Media Connect 2.0
11/29/2005 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909520 ]
-- Microsoft Base Smart Card Cryptographic Service Provider
Package: x86
10/10/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/890830 ]
-- Microsoft® Windows® Malicious Software Removal Tool
- November 2006

Purely OPTIONAL:
----------------------
10/18/2006 -- [ http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/ ]
-- Internet Explorer 7.0
10/30/2006 -- [ http://snipurl.com/167ea ]
-- Media Player 11
12/8/2006 -- [ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925876 ]
-- Remote Desktop Connection 6.0 client

4) Now that you have all the updates you will need to install Windows
XP, all the hardware drivers you will need to get the
operating system to communicate with your hardware, all your
installation media and product keys in a pile - you can install
Windows XP by simply changing the boot order in
the system BIOS to CD first, putting in your Windows XP
CD and following the prompts. When it asks where you
would like to install - delete the partitions shown and create a new
partition to install on. Format it NTFS. Continue following the
prompts.

Want something a little more pictographic?
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

5) Once the installation is done - break out whatever external media
you saved all the 2nd & 3rd list items to and connect/insert it into
the system and begin installing all the hardware drivers (1st) and
then all the patches and such. It'll take a while and probably 10+
reboots.

6) Install your favorite AntiVirus software (I am including a tips list that
has several free alternatives as tip (9)) and immunize your system
against most spyware (see tip (10) in the same list below) and connect
to the Internet. Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan
your system for more updates. Do not install hardware drivers from
here.

7) Install whatever other software you need this system to have. Plugins
like quicktime, flash, shockwave, real player (or real alternative),
acrobat reader and so on... Full applications like Microsoft Office,
WordPerfect, Photoshop, etc. Any special software for
cameras/scanners/printers. Anything and everything you want this
computer to have.

8) Create an additional administrative user. Log out and log in as that
user. Make sure it has a password that is good and that you can
remember. Log out and log back in as the original user. That new
user is your 'just in case' account.

Good luck to you!

Microsoft has these suggestions for Protecting your computer from the
various things that could happen to you/it:

Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/

Outfitting an XP computer for the Net
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

Getting started with a new PC
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/yournewpc.mspx

Although those tips are fantastic, there are many things you should
know above and beyond that. Below I have detailed out many tips
that can not only help you clean-up a problem PC but keep it clean,
secure and running at its best.

I know this text can seem intimidating - it is quite long and a lot
to take in for a novice - however I can assure you that one pass
through this list and you will understand your computer and the
options available to you for protecting your data much better -
and that the next time you go through these steps, the time it
takes will be greatly reduced - since many things can be setup
to automatically protect you.

Let's take the cleanup/securing of your computer step-by-step.
Yes, it will take up some of your time - but consider what you use
your computer for and how much you would dislike it if all of your
stuff on your computer went away because you did not "feel like"
performing some simple maintenance tasks - think of it like taking
out your garbage, collecting and sorting your postal mail, paying
your bills on time, etc.

Now is a great time to point you to one of the easiest ways to find
information on problems you may be having and solutions others have found:

Search using Google!
http://www.google.com/
(How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )

Now, let's go through some maintenance first that should only have to be
done once (for the most part):

Tip (1):
Locate all of the software you have installed on your computer.
(the installation media - CDs, downloaded files, etc)
Collect these CD/DVDs and files together in a central and safe
place along with their CD keys and such. Make backups of these
installation media sets using your favorite copying method (CD/DVD Burner
and application, Disk copier, etc.) You'll be glad to know that if you
have a CD/DVD burner, you may be able to use a free application to make a
duplicate copy of your CDs. One such application is ISORecorder:

ISORecorder page (with general instructions on use):
http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

More full function applications (free) for CD/DVD burning would be:

CDBurnerXP Pro
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/

DeepBurner Free
http://www.deepburner.com/

ImgBurn (burn ISO images)
http://www.imgburn.com/

Final Burner Free
http://www.protectedsoft.com/descr_fb.php

BWGBurn
http://sourceforge.net/projects/bwgburn

BurnAware FREE Edition
http://www.glorylogic.com/

Another Option would be to search the web with Pricewatch.com or
Dealsites.net and find deals on Products like Ahead Nero and/or Roxio.

Ahead Nero
http://www.nero.com/

Roxio Easy Media Creator
http://www.roxio.com/

Tip (2):
Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a
size between 128MB and 256MB..

- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the
following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to
something between 128MB and 256MB.
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents"
(the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10
minutes or more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet
Explorer.

Tip (3):
If things are running a bit sluggish and/or you have an older system
(1.8GHz or less and less than 512MB RAM) then you may want to look into
tweaking the performance by turning off some of the 'resource hogging'
Windows XP "prettifications". The fastest method is:

Control Panel --> System --> Advanced tab --> Performance section,
Settings button. Then choose "adjust for best performance" and you
now have a Windows 2000/98 look which turned off most of the annoying
"prettifications" in one swift action. You can play with the last
three checkboxes to get more of an XP look without many of the
other annoyances. You could also grab and install/use one
(or more) of the Microsoft Powertoys - TweakUI in particular:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Another viable (decently inexpensive) option is to increase the amount
of memory (RAM) your computer has. You can get an idea of what you
need by visiting:

Crucial Memory Advisor™ Tool
http://www.crucial.com/

Then either buy direct from there or write down the specs you get and
visit: http://www.pricewatch.com/ and locate the best price on what you
need. 512MB up to 1GB total memory should be more than enough for
the normal home user.

Tip (4):
Understanding what a good password might be is vital to your
personal and system security. You may think you do not need to password
your home computer, as you may have it in a locked area (your home) where
no one else has access to it. Remember, however, you aren't always
"in that locked area" when using your computer online - meaning you likely
have usernames and passwords associated with web sites and the likes that
you would prefer other people do not discover/use. This is why you should
understand and utilize good passwords.

Good passwords are those that meet these general rules
(mileage may vary):

Passwords should contain at least six characters, and the character
string should contain at least three of these four character types:
- uppercase letters
- lowercase letters
- numerals
- nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !, :)

Passwords should not contain your name/username.
Passwords should be unique to you and easy to remember.

One method many people are using today is to make up a phrase that
describes a point in their life and then turning that phrase into their
password by using only certain letters out of each word in that phrase.
It's much better than using your birthday month/year or your anniversary
in a pure sense. For example, let's say my phrase is:
'Great Thanksgiving in 2007!'
I could come up with this password from that:
'Gr8Thanksgiving2007!'

The password tip is in the one time section, but I highly
recommend you periodically change your passwords. The suggested time
varies, but I will throw out a 'once in every 3 to 6 months for
every account you have.'

Also - many people complain that they just cannot remember the passwords
for all the sites they have - so they choose one password and use it for
everything. Not a good idea. A much better method would be to use a
Password Management tool - so you only have to remember one password,
but it opens an application that stores your username/passwords for
everything else - plus other valuable information. One that I can
recommend:

KeePass Password Safe
http://keepass.sourceforge.net/

It can even generate passwords for you.

Tip (5):
This tip is also 'questionable' in the one time section; however -
if properly setup - this one can be pretty well ignored for most people
after the initial 'fiddle-with' time.

Why you should use a computer firewall..
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/firewall/choosing.mspx

You should, in some way, use a firewall. Hardware (like a nice
Cable Modem/DSL router) or software is up to you. Many use both of
these. The simplest one to use is the hardware one, as most people
don't do anything that they will need to configure their NAT device
for and those who do certainly will not mind fiddling with the equipment
to make things work for them. Next in the line of simplicity would
have to be the built-in Windows Firewall of Windows XP. In SP2 it
is turned on by default. It is not difficult to turn on in any
case, however:

More information on the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320855

Post-SP2 Windows Firewall Information/guidance:
http://snipurl.com/atal

The trouble with the Windows Firewall is that it only keeps things
out. For most people who maintain their system in other ways, this is
MORE than sufficient. You may feel otherwise. If you want to
know when one of your applications is trying to obtain access to the
outside world so you can stop it, then you will have to install a
third-party application and configure/maintain it. I have compiled a
list with links of some of the better known/free firewalls you can choose
from:

Comodo Free Fireall (Free)
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Jetico Personal Firewall (Free)
http://www.jetico.com/index.htm#/jpfirewall.htm

Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (Free and up)
http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpostfree/

Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (Free and up)
http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html

ZoneAlarm (Free and up)
http://www.zonelabs.com/

You should find the right firewall for your situation in that
list and set it up if you feel the Windows XP firewall is
insufficient.

Every firewall WILL require some maintenance. Essentially checking for
patches or upgrades (this goes for hardware and software solutions) is
the extent of this maintenance - you may also have to configure your
firewall to allow some traffic depending on your needs.

** Don't stack the software firewalls! Running more than one software
firewall will not make you safer - it would possibly negate some
protection you gleamed from one or the other firewall you run. It is
fine (and in many ways better) to have the software firewall as well
as a NAT router.

Now that you have some of the more basic things down..
Let's go through some of the steps you should take periodically to
maintain a healthy and stable windows computer. If you have not
done some of these things in the past, they may seem tedious - however,
they will become routine and some can even be scheduled.

Tip (6):
The system restore feature is only a useful feature if you keep it
maintained and use it to your advantage. Remember that the system
restore pretty much tells you in the name what it protects which is
'system' files. Your documents, your pictures, your stuff is NOT
system files - so you should also look into some backup solution.

Whenever you think about it (after doing a once-over on your machine
once a month or so would be optimal) - clear out your System Restore
and create a manual restoration point.

'Why?'

Too many times have I seen the system restore files go corrupt or get
a virus in them, meaning you could not or did not want to restore from
them. By clearing it out periodically you help prevent any corruption
from happening and you make sure you have at least one good "snapshot".
(*This, of course, will erase any previous restore point you have.*)

- Turn off System Restore.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405
- Reboot the Computer.
- Review the first bullet to turn on System Restore
- Make a Manual Restoration Point.
http://snipurl.com/68nx

Don't want to remove ALL the system restore points? Don't. Simply
utilize "Disk Cleanup" (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312) to
remove all but the last system restore point.

Also - I suggest changing how much space System Restore can utilize.
When it was first released, Windows XP didn't have to deal with hard
disk drives of quite the bulk of today's drives. So, it may be a bit
ambitious in setting the System Restore sizing. I personally suggest
you set it to approximately 1GB, total.

See "Disk Space for System Restore" on how to change this:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_03may19.mspx

That covers your system files, but doesn't do anything for the files
that you are REALLY worried about - yours! For that you need to look
into backups. You can either manually copy your important files, folders,
documents, spreadsheets, emails, contacts, pictures, drawings and so on
to an external location (CD/DVD - any disk of some sort, etc) or you can
use the backup tool that comes with Windows XP:

How To Use Backup to Back Up Files and Folders on Your Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422

Yes - you still need some sort of external media to store the results
on, but you could schedule the backup to occur when you are not around,
then burn the resultant data onto CD or DVD or something when you are
(while you do other things!)

Another option that seems to still be going strong:

Cobian Backup
http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

A lot of people have wondered about how to completely backup their system
so that they would not have to go through the trouble of a reinstall..
I'm going to voice my opinion here and say that it would be worthless to
do for MOST people. Unless you plan on periodically updating the image
backup of your system (remaking it) - then by the time you use it
(something goes wrong) - it will be so outdated as to be more trouble than
performing a full install of the operating system and all applications.

Having said my part against it, you can clone/backup your hard drive
completely using many methods - by far the simplest are using disk cloning
applications:

Symantec/Norton Ghost
http://snipurl.com/13e00

Acronis True Image
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

BootIt NG
http://terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html

Tip (7):
You should sometimes look through the list of applications that are
installed on your computer. The list may surprise you. There are more
than likely things in there you know you never use - so why have them
there? There may even be things you know you did *not* install and
certainly do not use (maybe don't WANT to use.)

This web site should help you get started at looking through this list:

How to Uninstall Programs
http://snipurl.com/8v6b

How to change or remove a program in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307895

A word of warning - Do NOT uninstall anything you think you MIGHT need
in the future unless you have completed Tip (1) and have the installation
media and proper keys for use backed up somewhere safe!

Tip (8):
Patches and Updates!

This one cannot be stressed enough. It is SO simple, yet so neglected
by many people. It is really simple for the critical Microsoft patches!
Microsoft put in an AUTOMATED feature for you to utilize so that you do
NOT have to worry yourself about the patching of the Operating System:

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

However, not everyone wants to be a slave to automation, and that is
fine. Admittedly, I prefer this method on some of my more critical
systems.

Windows Update
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Go there and scan your machine for updates. Always get the critical ones
as you see them. Write down the KB###### or Q###### you see when
selecting the updates and if you have trouble over the next few days,
go into your control panel (Add/Remove Programs), insure that the
'Show Updates' checkbox is checked and match up the latest numbers you
downloaded recently (since you started noticing an issue) and uninstall
them. If there was more than one (usually is), uninstall them one by one
with a few hours of use in between, to see if the problem returns.
Yes - the process is not perfect (updating) and can cause trouble like I
mentioned - but as you can see, the solution isn't that bad - and is
MUCH better than the alternatives.

Windows is not the only product you likely have on your PC. The
manufacturers of the other products usually have updates. New versions
of almost everything come out all the time - some are free, some are pay
and some you can only download if you are registered - but it is best
to check. Just go to their web pages and look under their support and
download sections. For example, for Microsoft Office you should visit:

Microsoft Office Updates
http://office.microsoft.com/
(and select 'Downloads' for more - note that Microsoft Update does
handle MS Office products too.)

You also have hardware on your machine that requires drivers to interface
with the operating system. You have a video card that allows you to see on
your screen, a sound card that allows you to hear your PCs sound output and
so on. Visit those manufacturer web sites for the latest downloadable
drivers for your hardware/operating system. Always get the manufacturers'
hardware driver over any Microsoft offers. On the Windows Update site I
mentioned earlier, I suggest NOT getting their hardware drivers - no matter
how tempting.

How do you know what hardware you have in your computer? Break out the
invoice or if it is up and working now - take inventory:

Belarc Advisor
http://belarc.com/free_download.html

Once you know what you have, what next? Go get the latest driver for your
hardware/OS from the manufacturer's web page. For example, let's say you
have an NVidia chipset video card or ATI video card, perhaps a Creative
Labs sound card or C-Media chipset sound card...

NVidia Video Card Drivers
http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

ATI Video Card Drivers
http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html

Creative Labs Sound Device
http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/

C-Media Sound Device
http://www.cmedia.com.tw/?q=en/driver

Then install these drivers. Updated drivers are usually more stable and
may provide extra benefits/features that you really wished you had before.

As for Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP, Microsoft has made this
particular patch available in a number of ways. First, there is the
Windows Update web page above. Then there is a direct download site.

Direct Download of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP
http://snipurl.com/8bqy

Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD
http://snipurl.com/d41v

If all else fails - grab the full download above and try to use that.
In this case - consider yourself a 'IT professional or developer'.

Tip (9):
What about the dreaded word in the computer world, VIRUS?

Well, there are many products to choose from that will help you prevent
infections from these horrid little applications. Many are FREE to the
home user and which you choose is a matter of taste, really. Many people
have emotional attachments or performance issues with one or another
AntiVirus software. Try some out, read reviews and decide for yourself
which you like more:

( Good Comparison Page for AV software: http://www.av-comparatives.org/ )

AntiVir (Free and up)
http://www.free-av.com/

avast! (Free and up)
http://www.avast.com/

AVG Anti-Virus System (Free and up)
http://free.grisoft.com/

eset NOD32 (~$39.00 and up)
http://www.eset.com/products/

Kaspersky Anti-Virus (~$39.95 and up)
http://www.kaspersky.com/kaspersky_anti-virus

McAfee VirusScan (~$39.99 and up)
http://www.mcafee.com/

Panda Antivirus (~$39.95 and up)
http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/antivirus/
(Free Online Scanner:
http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/activescan/)

Symantec (Norton) AntiVirus (~$39.99 and up)
http://snipurl.com/13e12

Trend Micro (~$44.95 and up)
http://us.trendmicro.com/us/products/personal/antivirus-plus-anti-spyware/index.html (Free Online Scanner: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/)Most of them have automatic update capabilities. You will have tolook into the features of the one you choose. Whatever one you finallysettle with - be SURE to keep it updated (I recommend at least daily) andperform a full scan periodically (yes, most protect you actively, but afull scan once a month at 4AM probably won't bother you.)Tip (10):The most rampant infestation at the current time concerns SPYWARE/ADWARE.You need to eliminate it from your machine.There is no one software that cleans and immunizes you againsteverything. Antivirus software - you only needed one. Firewall, youonly needed one. AntiSpyware - you will need several. I have a list andI recommend you use at least the first five.First - make sure you have NOT installed "Rogue AntiSpyware". There arepeople out there who created AntiSpyware products that actually installspyware of their own! You need to avoid these: Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htmAlso, you can always visit this site.. http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htmFor more updated information.Install several of these: (Install, Run, Update, Scan with..)(If you already have one or more - uninstall them and download theLATEST version from the page given!) SuperAntiSpyware (Free and up) http://www.superantispyware.com/ Lavasoft Ad-Aware 2007 Free (Free and up) http://www.lavasoft.de/products/ad_aware_free.php (How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdn ) Spybot Search and Destroy (Free!) http://www.safer-networking.net/en/download/ (How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdk ) SpywareBlaster (Free!) http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html (How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate6 ) CWShredder Stand-Alone (Free!) http://www.trendmicro.com/cwshredder/ Hijack This! (Free!) http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html (Log Analyzer: http://hjt.networktechs.com/ ) Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner (Free!) http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/ (How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate3 ) Ccleaner (Free!) http://www.ccleaner.com/ (I suggest the 'slim' version: http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds ) Browser Security Tests (Free Tester) http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/ Popup Tester (Free Tester) http://www.popuptest.com/ The Cleaner (~$49.95 and up) http://www.moosoft.com/Sometimes you need to install the application and reboot into SAFE MODE inorder to thoroughly clean your computer. Many applications also have(or are) immunization applications. Spybot Search and Destroy andSpywareBlaster are two that currently do the best job at passivelyprotecting your system from malware. None of these programs (in theseeditions) run in the background unless you TELL them to. The space theytake up and how easy they are to use greatly makes up for any inconvenienceyou may be feeling.Please notice that Windows XP SP2 does help stop popups as well.Another option is to use an alternative Web browser. I suggest'Mozilla Firefox', as it has some great features and is very easy to use: Mozilla Firefox http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/This does not replace the need for the above applications and anoccassional scan of your system - but it does help somewhat.Also - Internet Explorer 7.x is much better with the security than6.x was. If you have not gone to Internet Explorer 7.0 and you are havingtrouble with spyware/adware - consider going now. Cleanup with thetools above *first* however.So your machine is pretty clean and up to date now. If you use the sectionsabove as a guide, it should stay that way! There are still a fewmore things you can do to keep your machine running in top shape.Tip (11):You should periodically check your hard drive(s) for errors and defragmentthem. Only defragment after you have cleaned up your machine ofoutside parasites and never defragment as a solution to a quirkiness inyour system. It may help speed up your system, but it should be cleanbefore you do this. Do these things IN ORDER... How to use Disk Cleanup http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312 How to scan your disks for errors http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265 How to Defragment your hard drives http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848I would personally perform the above steps at least once every three months.For most people this should be sufficient, but if the difference you noticeafterwards is greater than you think it should be, lessen the time inbetween its schedule.. If the difference you notice is negligible, you canincrease the time.Tip (12):SPAM! JUNK MAIL!This one can get annoying, just like the rest. You get 50 emails in onesitting and 2 of them you wanted. NICE! (Not.) What can you do? Well,although there are services out there to help you, some emailservers/services that actually do lower your spam with features built intotheir servers - I still like the methods that let you be the end-decisionmaker on what is spam and what is not. I have a few products to suggestto you, look at them and see if any of them suite your needs. Again, ifthey don't, Google is free and available for your perusal. SpamBayes (Free!) http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/ Spamihilator (Free!) http://www.spamihilator.com/ MailWasher http://www.mailwasher.net/Another option - utilze some service that already does a FINE JOB oneliminating the spam from your mailbox (plus a number of other benefits.) Google Mail (gmail): http://www.gmail.com/ (Set it up for your email client of choice - using POP: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=13273 ) Windows Live Hotmail (formerly just "Hotmail"): http://get.live.com/mail/optionsThere are many others. Email from anywhere with a computer, lots ofspace for your emails/attachments, free services and if you change ISPs -your email doesn't change!As I said, those are not your only options, but are reliable ones I haveseen function for hundreds+ people. Feel free to search for your ownsolutions!Tip (13):ADVANCED TIP! Only do this once you are comfortable under the hood of yourcomputer!There are lots of services on your PC that are probably turned on by defaultyou don't use. Why have them on? Check out these web pages to see what allof the services you might find on your computer are and set them accordingto your personal needs. Be CAREFUL what you set to manual, and take heedand write down as you change things! Also, don't expect a large performanceincrease or anything - especially on today's 2+ GHz machines, however - Ilook at each service you set to manual as one less service you have to worryabout someone exploiting. Service Configuration Tips http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks6.htm Configuring Services http://smallvoid.com/tweak/winnt/services.html Task List Programs http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm Processes in Windows NT/2000/XP http://www.reger24.de/prozesse/There are also applications that AREN'T services that startup when you startup the computer/logon. One of the better description on how to handle theseI have found here: Startups http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.phpIf you follow the advice laid out above (and do some of your own research aswell, so you understand what you are doing) - your computer will stay fairlystable and secure and you will have a more trouble-free system.--Shenan Stanley MS-MVP--How To Ask Questions The Smart Wayhttp://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

[steve]

On Nov 26, 12:37 pm, steve <effac...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> What refund? A complete no show. It's been over a month and nothing.
> Parr for Bill Gates and MS. But you'd think they'd do something right,
> just once. Knowing MS & that idiot Gates, I'd be more surprised if it
> eventually shows up. I'll keep you posted, but don't hold your breath.

The MS Vista refund finally. Arrived 5 weeks, but hey they even
included the tax. So apparently Gates knows Vista blows enough to
offer a refund and keep his word. In Gates defense, few software
companies allow refunds and many peddle
even more worthless, antiquated, user-unfriendly software than Vista.