your favorite reason to hate microsoft

The function in "Task Manager" that asks if you want to send an "error report" to Microsoft, when you are trying to close a stalled program. At this point in time the computer is already functioning at a snails pace, and the added burden of delivering this "feature" to the screen, makes what used to be a simple procedure of closing an inoperative program take ages.

It used to be very simple CNTRL-ALT-DEL >>> END NOW? >>> ENTER

Problem solved.

Yes, I got rid of it, but it was a pain even finding out how to do it.

On the computers we refurbish for my STARS project [Supplying Technology to At Risk Students] gets Ubuntu on them. Free software and no worries about viruses and the like.

The LUG that does the installs have it set up to save all the documents, spreadsheets etc in a Microsoft format so the kids can take their reports into school and print.

We haven't had any issues with it.

I can PM you my contacts as they love to chat with others., and encourage new users.

We actually got to present at the Ontario Linux conference this fall, on our project.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Michelle:
[b]Oh really?? How DID you get rid of it? I HATE that. No, I do NOT want to send an error report to Microsoft, you're the reason for my misery to begin with!

And yes, I know, I know. Switch to Linux.[/b]

---

Go to Control Panel >>> System

You will get a grey pop-up box. Go to TAB = Advanced, at the bottom right there will be a button that says "Error Reporting" Click, and turn it off.

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you, oh god, thank-you I just did it now thank-you thank-you...

They're diabolical.

The main reason I hate Microsoft is that I cannot get away from it.

The shitty, good-for-nothing laptop that I have is shitty (see above). Under Windows XP it was clunky, slow, bloated and I was terrified of viruses and spyware (having had a mac before). I switched to ubuntu and it was like a breath of fresh air. Even the hilariously complicated installation procedures for some programs (like, say, letting VLC watch DVDs!) were like scraping away sludge off my shitty (see above)laptop. It suddenly ran smoothly, the open source software was superior (OpenOffice, VLC, Amarok) and my conscience was clean (I mailed Bill Gates a cheque each month for awhile, though, it felt so weird not giving him money).

Then it all went pear shaped. It turns out, my shitty laptop's fan is not connected to a hardware function, but a software function (unbeknownst to me). That is, there was a piece of Windows software that told the fan when to go on, not a built in BIOS bit. So, my shitty laptop overheated and fried the Network Card and harddrive. I was forced to go back to Windows.

So now, thanks to Bill Gates, until I can afford another computer, I'm stuck with Windows. Only now I'm stuck with windows with a dodgy hard drive and no network card. Bastard.

My favourite reason to hate Microsoft is the DRM software that comes with Windows Vista. I currently have a laptop with Windows XP, but if I ever have to buy a laptop with Windows Vista (most new laptops come with the latest version of Windows preinstalled),I won't be able to use my computer to play the over 500 songs I downloaded over shareaza. And because of the likelihood of copyright regulations preventing the removal of DRM software, I wouldn't legally be able to replace Windows with Linux to rectify the problem (actually, legislation wouldn't stop someone from removing Windows and installing Linux, how would anyone find out, but guaranteed no computer repair place would do it for you if it were illegal).

A regulation against the removal of DRM software could also make it illegal to reformat your hard drive if it has DRM software on it.

[ 02 March 2008: Message edited by: Left Turn ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by gram swaraj:
[b]This seems like the best section for tech talk...

So, why do [i]you[/i] hate Microsoft Corporation?

I recently got a computer with Windows "Vista Home Premium" (fancy name, big fucking woo hoo!) I have had nothing but problems with it so far. Eg: 15 minutes after being powered on, it shuts down without any warning whatsoever, then starts "configuring updates" - turning off and restarting by itself a couple times - and this goes on for another 20 minutes. And that's just one problem.

I want to try to get the store to install xp, but I'd really love to get away from these Microsoft fuckers once and for all, so Linux is looking attractive.

Does anyone have experience with Ubuntu?

PS- You can give credit to Billy boy and fatass Microsoft Corporation for turning me into a person more apt to swear profusely without reservation.[/b]

---

I have noticed, computers have that ability to inspire some truly inspired strings of expletives.

I have also heard a lot of people making very similar comments about Vista.

I thought Windows really had a good OS with XP. I have one Vista system that I bought because I'm learning speech recognition software, as a dictation tool and to run other software. For that purpose, which relates to making the OS easier for a partially disabled person to use (the speech recognition), Vista is very good.

However, Vista is more complicated. I sometimes start a homework assignment on my Vista system, then flee back to an XP system when I feel the Expletives coming on.

quote:

---

Originally posted by gram swaraj:
[b]

Does anyone have experience with Ubuntu?

[/b]

---

I have a lot of experience with Ubuntu. I use it exclusively on 6 computers I have around here. Fire away if you have any further questions about Ubuntu and I can either answer you directly or point you to where you can find further info.

Cheers.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian White:
[b]
I don't particularly like microsoft.
It annoys me that I cannot play wmv files on linux or play dvd's on it.
The reasons are patent issues not OS issues.
Brian[/b]

---

There is no reason that you cannot play wmv or dvd's on a Linux box. As far as I know, there is no law in Canada preventing you from installing the required codec for wmv, nor preventing you from installing the required libraries to play DVDs.

PS. For those interested in Ubuntu, here's info on doing it:

[url=https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats]https://help.ubuntu....

Other distros will probably have similar ways.

Cheers.

[url=http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8541837412.html?sp=0&kc=EWKNLLIN03250... Windows monopoly is under siege....[/url]