Happy birthday, Windows XP!

[Rhodes]

Still use XP!

[Hottentot]

I was using XP until very recently when my old computer blew up and I had to get a new one. It came with Windows 7 installed on it, and I still want to strangle the moron who decided to install it in Finnish instead of English.

Windows 7 is a little too flashy for my liking and it's trying to hold my hand a little too much. Uh, dude, this is my computer, ergo this is my C:\ -drive and yes, that means that I can install stuff in there without asking permission from an administrator that doesn't freaking exist!

Also, building DirectX in the system was just genius. Why oh why would I ever want DirectX 9 on my computer when it already comes with DX 11? Uh, because some of my favorite games require it and refuse to launch without some necessary .dll files it came with? Nah. Impossible. Why would you want to play some stupid old games? You don't want old. You want new! New, flashy, bling-bling! And what's a "classic" anyway? Sounds like some stupid novel. Who reads books when you can have new, flashy, bling-bling?

Otherwise it's OK. I even like many of its simple improvements to some basic programs like Paint and Movie maker. And after I got used to its interface, it wasn't that bad. I suppose I can live with this.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

I was using XP until very recently when my old computer blew up and I had to get a new one. It came with Windows 7 installed on it, and I still want to strangle the moron who decided to install it in Finnish instead of English.

In my honest opinion buying pre-assembled and installed computer is dumb move.

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Windows 7 is a little too flashy for my liking and it's trying to hold my hand a little too much. Uh, dude, this is my computer, ergo this is my C:\ -drive and yes, that means that I can install stuff in there without asking permission from an administrator that doesn't freaking exist!

Then tell it to STFU and do what I want. Being held from hand is not mandatory. You can do so unless moron who installed your operating system opted to lock you out somehow.

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Also, building DirectX in the system was just genius. Why oh why would I ever want DirectX 9 on my computer when it already comes with DX 11? Uh, because some of my favorite games require it and refuse to launch without some necessary .dll files it came with? Nah. Impossible. Why would you want to play some stupid old games? You don't want old. You want new! New, flashy, bling-bling! And what's a "classic" anyway? Sounds like some stupid novel. Who reads books when you can have new, flashy, bling-bling?

I don't see problem here as I can install whatever version of DirectX into it if I want. So far Win7 has been wonderful if you wan't to run some older games.

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Otherwise it's OK. I even like many of its simple improvements to some basic programs like Paint and Movie maker. And after I got used to its interface, it wasn't that bad. I suppose I can live with this.

[Skybird]

UAC in Win7 can be switched off completely if desired. But I would not recommend so, since it makes it much easier for malware that managed to bypass your security shields.


It is also recommended to not browse or run usual operations from the administrator account, but from a user account with limited rights.

Note: be default you get released into the admin account once you have installed Win7. However, Microsoft does not tell you that this Admin-Account already is a limited rights admin account, if you really think you need full Administrator rights indeed, you have to manually unlock them by functions that lay somewhat hidden and are not self-advertising.

Use the default Admin account to install and arrange your system. Then have a user account and manually limit its right for all programs as much as is possible for your needs and purposes. Have both accounts protected by solid codes. Do all your everyday stuff from that limited user account only, especially browsing.

Use payware Virus Scanner and Firewall suites. Use an additional Malwared Scanner specialised to run alongside a Virus Scanner. Limit browser options. Do not install Java. Avoid Active Scripts as much as possible. Keep all your software up-to-date, Secunia PSI helps in that as far as non-games are concerned.

Switch on brain before going online.

All this is no guarantee that btrohble doe snot find you. But it helps to reduce the probability.

In case of infections: do not repair, but format and reinstall.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr

I

I don't see problem here as I can install whatever version of DirectX into it if I want. So far Win7 has been wonderful if you wan't to run some older games.

Yes. Cannot remember to have had any problem with stuff wanting older DirX versions.

[the_tyrant]

PSA: please PLEASE move off IE6, the web development world thanks you

You know, windows xp was hated early in its life, people said it hogged memory, and called Luna "fisher price UI". However, sp2 made HUGE improvements to the os. At the time, people even wondered why Microsoft didn't just call it windows 05 and sell you another copy lol.

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr

In my honest opinion buying pre-assembled and installed computer is dumb move.

I was so sure someone was going to say that already when I was writing that post. To which I have but one answer: there are many things which I can do, am willing to learn and have time to spend. Assembling a computer that to me is primarily a functional work station is not one of them.

Then tell it to STFU and do what I want.

Which is exactly what I did, thank you very much. The point was that I never had to tell XP to STFU.

I don't see problem here as I can install whatever version of DirectX into it if I want.

So do I. So I did. The fact still is that I first had to find out what the problem was, then go download and install a separate package and then have it work. It didn't accept me installing the required DX along with the games' installer much like, I don't know, XP always did. This is how I found out about it being directly build in in the first place.

Seriously, I said it's OK and pointed out a few things I didn't like. That's no reason to chastise me.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Which is exactly what I did, thank you very much. The point was that I never had to tell XP to STFU.

Because XP did not have that security feature. Mind you, it is a security feature, like there are also some more security features that 7 has and XP not.

Seen that way, W8 is superior to W7 in certain internal memory handling security features as well, I read. I must admit it although I have no love for W8. But by feature descriptions on memory, it should be better equipped to battle some trojan and rootkit issues haunting XP and W7.

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Because XP did not have that security feature

Or it expected me to have a brain.

[the_tyrant]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Or it expected me to have a brain.

UAC is a major security feature man

The idea is, you should not run your os as an administrator all the time, instead, you should run as a limited user, than escalate to administrator when needed.

This is a common feature in all OSs, and it does do a lot for security

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Or it expected me to have a brain.

Some time ago I was reading in a forum on malware, and there was this user who seriously boasted with that the never uses firewall and anti-virus, instead avoids threats by practicing what he called "intelligent surfing."

No, he did not receive much laughs or mockery, instead some very angry replies, and well-deserved, because this fool helps to spread inflections via his system without even being aware of his system being infested, and things like rootkits and drive-by-downloaded malware he obviously never had heard of. You must not even executer some file anymore by clicking or opening something to have these things going active. Just landing on a site is enough - not more is needed.

"Intelligent surfing". Well, I'm all for it. And part of intelligent surfing is to have a firewall, antivirus and malware solution on guard, always. And I mean commercial packages with the full allways-active feature set, not some downgraded testing versions with manually launched HD-scans only.

UAC is part of an overall strategy as well.

Most people whose systems are infested, are not aware that they are infested. Most involuntary members of zombie networks do not know they are part of a zombie network.

I am quite certain that if all subsim-member'S systems would be checked all at once for security breachings and malware being present, a very huge group, probably even the majority would have an unpleasant Aha!-experience.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

I was so sure someone was going to say that already when I was writing that post. To which I have but one answer: there are many things which I can do, am willing to learn and have time to spend. Assembling a computer that to me is primarily a functional work station is not one of them.




Which is exactly what I did, thank you very much. The point was that I never had to tell XP to STFU.




So do I. So I did. The fact still is that I first had to find out what the problem was, then go download and install a separate package and then have it work. It didn't accept me installing the required DX along with the games' installer much like, I don't know, XP always did. This is how I found out about it being directly build in in the first place.

Seriously, I said it's OK and pointed out a few things I didn't like. That's no reason to chastise me.

Sorry. My dissatisfaction towards pre-assembled and installed computers boiled over badly. Experiences I have had from them are not most positive.

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr

Sorry. My dissatisfaction towards pre-assembled and installed computers boiled over badly. Experiences I have had from them are not most positive.

Meh, it's not like I had the best day either yesterday. Which showed in more than this thread.

It's just that I use each and every computer quite literally until it blows up for good and it's simply not worth the trouble to fix it anymore (which I have learned to do, since it saves lots of money). I replace a computer maybe once per decade. Therefore, even if I learned to assemble one from scratch, I'd have forgotten half of it the next time I needed the skill. And the technology would have possibly left me behind as well.

[Darren418]

After using Windows 7, I'm back to Windows XP now for the last 6 months. Windows XP is still the best. No problems whatsoever. No driver issues, no viruses, just OS sweetness. Viva la Windows XP!