Windows Bad? I Think Not.

[pomjim 0]

I have been using Windows since about 1993, and have spent a lot of that time puzzling over the “instability” and “dangers” of the O/S.I say puzzling because personally, I have had few problems with any Windows O/S I’ve installed, and have never understood what all the fuss is about regarding these famed “crashes” etc.I have had the dreaded “blue screen” only 3 times in 12 years! I have found that virtually every problem I’ve had has NOT been anything to do with Windows itself, but either a software programme I’ve installed, or my own stupidity, playing around in the registry or something similar.As for safety issues, a firewall and a decent anti-virus programme have kept me virus free over that time, except for one incident, which seems pretty good to me.So, my question: have I just been very, very lucky, or is the Windows instability and danger problem vastly exaggerated?

[vizskywalker 0]

No question about it, the dangersand instability of windows are hyped up. Just like the security of Macs, Linux, and Firefox are. However, windows is not inherently as stable as you make it appear.Granted, many of the windows problems are caused by software, but they are indirectly caused by windows. frequently, once a piece of software starts running, if it is minimized from fullscreen mode, it is placed into virtual memory, then, windows may place a critical process in active memory. When the original program is remaximized, windows may not move the critical process, causing a GPF when the original program attempts to access a piece of data that used to be located where the critical process currently is.Also, a bad batch of Windows ME was released, which was flawed and would cause extremely frequent BSoDs.I'm overjoyed that some people have had almost no problems with windows. For the rest of us, there are some standard issues, caused by OS program interactions that will constantly prove to be bothersome. But these things occur in all OSes (as anyone forced to perform a force quit in Linux or Mac knows), and is not an event isolated to windows.~Viz

[pomjim 0]

Actually, one of the manin reasons I've found with the problems with installed software is that so many people fail to update their drivers. What I do is devote one day a month to giving my machine a good clean up and refresh. This includes disc scanning and checking for new drivers, defragging etc etc. I generally clean out the inside as well, (yeah, I know, bad English usage there!) blowing out all the dust & **** that gets inside the case.

[clagnol1405241508 0]

I don't know how you could have run Windows 95/98 for any significant period of time without encountering many errors. I suppose if you had top-notch hardware, took good care of your file system, and never taxed it with too many processes, then maybe I could see how you suffered few errors. Otherwise, I'd have to see it to believe it.

[abhiram 0]

Well... depends on how you use your system. For example, I rarely have any problems with my windows installation whereas my friends have problems all the time. The hardware is more or less the same and all of us have only one version of Windows XP (the benefits of staying in a hostel ). It all depends on how careful you are. I always see to it that I've got a firewall and antivirus with complete updates running seamlessly and IMO, that is enough for the first line of defence. No need to get all paranoid about security, but these are the basic. It's not just windows.... people have problems with Linux as well. I see people all the time running into 'Kernel Panic' and it used to happen to me when I started out with Linux. But now, it rarely ever happens (didn't have one with slackware so far). The system is only as efficient as it's user.

[finaldesign1405241487 0]

I have had the dreaded “blue screen” only 3 times in 12 years! 

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I think pretty the same. About that BSOD, it's true that it happens in software or hardware malfunctions. But beaware: If you install a software that requires appropriate hardware installed you might get BSOD, and on the other hand if youhave hardware that don't have appropriate software installed you might get BSOD. And finally if you have incompatible components, that's not tested together and certified, in your comp's system you might get BSOD.

 

[+] So, there is lot's of reasons that you might have.

[+] If you have certified buited computer (certified for winxp or win_any_version) there are small chances you will get BSOD

[+] If you have NO luck and buy component (like graphic card) that is not teseted in combination with you motherboard you will probably sometimes get BSOD while you play some games, or use some software.

 

So my advice to all of you is to buy only tested components, or you will end up with lots of troubles.

[the empty calorie 0]

Well, it's not only that. While I must say you have been quite lucky, to a degree, it is also the user as well. I started using Windows in 1989, and back then, there were few problems with it. Keep in mind, back then, Windows was not an OS. It was only a Graphical Interface, with it's underlying operating system, MS-DOS, well, right under it. Windows 3x would give me a share of BSOD messages, but not nearly as much as after Windows 95 came around. As the years progressed, it just got worse. I have observed myself, that Windows has just gotten worse in terms of reliability over the years. Back when Windows was separate from the OS, it worked great, most of the time. Now, it is so unstable that I refuse to use it. I went back and forth between Windows 2000 and Slackware Linux for a few years, until I put the Windows 2000 disk in the trash, where it belongs. (Along with that XP disk I threw out two years ago). Windows, as I have used it, is purely just way too unstable for my uses. Kind of an easy call when after a month, you end up wiing your drives and putting on linux, then a year later, you try windows for another month, and the same thing happens. I'd have to say you are quite lucky indeed, for a Windows user. As long as you don't expect everything to "just work".

[Killer008r 0]

Alot of people have been complaining lately that Windows is bad because they stole ideas from other companys, those ideas ended up working, didn't they?I was walking down the hall in my school when all of a sudden I hear an annoying admin apprentice that knows nothing of what hes doing, telling a teacher that Windows is worthless because they stole the idea, Immeaditly I thought to myself a few things, the first one was "If the Windows OS is so horrible, Why is everyone using it?" that answer came to me quickly, it was for Windows has the most statibility over the 2 major competetors, (Linux RedHat and what ever Mac's os is at this moment). Not to mention the Mac Os dosen't allow a 64 bit processor to be installed unless you want to spend 4-500 more dollars on a crappy computer that your most likely only going to be using for video editing, because thats all it can do with out crashing. The second question was "Isn't Mac's OS based off of a Linux OS?" And I ended out completely correct, so the student that I walked past was nothing but a fraum whom of which knew nothing of what he was talking about. Becides that I use an OS called Linspire Based on all 3 OS's which makes it oh so much better, (In my mind) Since you can easily use all of the software that the Mac, Linux, and Windows OS's have specially designed for them. Oh, isn't that sweet? And now for new news 5.0 is 64 bit enhanced. This Is killer008r Signing out.

[qwijibow 0]

Its the little things that i dont like about windows security.For eample, lets say someon emails me a script or binary program with intent to do damage.For example, a script to format the hard disk, or a porgram that loads up 1000 message boxes that say "you smell"The virus scanner will not pick it up because it doesnt have the "fingerprint" the porgram was written and only used once.. its not known to the scanner.and lets say this script or program is sent in a zip as an attachment or hyperlink in an email.What happens when the user saves the attachment to disk, opens and double clicks it....In windows, your screwed.In linux, i get an error message "You do not have permission to execute this file"So to an absolute computer illiterate idiot, Basic file system execution privilages would have saved them.Remember, there are still alot of users out there who will fall for such social engineering tactics.AND, even if the so called script could execute, it would be locked into that users home directory, leaving the system, and all other users, un-touched.

[xboxrulz1405241485 0]

funny, my experiences with Windows is completely opposite, and I do help out manage my dad's company's computer and it IS the exact opposite. Windows is by far the worst operating system I have seen and used. It crashes often, Microsoft Office generate weird errors, Windows XP reports a problem while there were none, Windows XP has an underlying spyware built by the corporation itself to monitor what programs you have on the computer. Windows has a poor permission system that can be broken through if the person tries to do it. I secure it like any other, but why o why does it keep failing? I have been fed up with Windows since when I was 8 years old. I have the latest antivirus scanner, antispyware, pop-up blocker and anything people to do to secure their computer.The reason why people use this kind of trash is because it is known to many people, some are force to use the crappy operating system because most of the software written out there are for this piece of crap. Drivers sometimes don't co-operate with Windows XP on a new installation (funny, eh?). I just don't get how many people take out CAD $120 for this piece of crap and help this illegal business practicing corporation to do more evil things. They try to squash competition so that you will only use their operating system. Vista will degrade OpenGL performance on purpose because they want manufacturers to only make their cards for DirectX and squash OpenGL, rendering other operating systems helpless.Other things wrong about this OS is that it makes the user kinda dumb and not knowing how to use the computer. Point and click which was developed by XEROX and Apple, was stolen by Microsoft and made people around the world to be lazy (yet useful), but people rely on it too much. Microsoft is practically not letting you use the computer, it's just suggesting what you should do. It is chaffeuring you, you're not actually using the computer, you're just telling Windows to do the dirty work for you. What does that mean? Ignorance. It maybe good for a short period, but when something happens like a BSoD, you don't know what to do. Linux and other FOSS will eventually teach you how a computer work and you can fix the problem, so you don't need to get frustrated. This is all for free. Compared to the frustration when you acutally paid for the software.Remember, the GUI was just a helper, not a reliance in order to make the computer work, which Microsoft has made most people to do. This also harm people who is more computer-oriented a bad name because they think we know to much and tag us as nerds or geeks; when really they are the ones who don't know what they are doing.Why do pro-Windows users think Linux is just jealous that Windows has more users and Windows is the uber operating system?Linux is never jealous of Windows having more users, the goal of Linux is not to have it on every desktop system, it is for people who want to actually use a computer rather having been chaffeured around. Also, Linux is also for people who are willing to learn how to be independent and acutally learn how to use a computer. Windows could be the uber operating system, if it had the GUI as an option, that it has a better core instead of the DOS or NT core, if it had a better permission, and file system. If it doesn't have a software built-in to check on you and most importantly the highly useless Windows Genuine Advantage (clearly, it's not for the consumer's advantage). Also, the disadvantage of Windows is that it takes too much maintenance just to run a simple operating system that really chaffeurs you. Linux and other FOSS only requires you to set it up (there are vendors who ease this process by at least 90% like Linspire, Mandriva, SuSE, Fedora Core, Ubuntu) and then you rarely need to maintain the operating system unless you were doing experiments (highly dangerous ones) or if your hard drive is full. You don't need to maintain your computer if you were just using your computer as a gaming, internet or a workstation.That is why Windows, IMO, is a bad operating system. Sorry if I looped some ideas.That's what I have to say for now. If it doesn't make sense, please quote it and I'll try to rephrase it, I dun try to have my grammar all correct on forums.xboxrulz

[Grafitti 0]

well i'm not exactly of that opinion. I do think that Windows inherently is a bit weak, but you can take steps to rectify that problem. I never had Office giving me errors, and rarely do i get a blue screen. Sure there's spyware in Windows, but you can et into the registry and delete or disable that. And who's to say that other OS's don't come bundled with spyware as well? Just because we don't know @ it doesn't mean that for sure there's nothing there. If you set it up right, the permissions and security is safe as any other program. Are we saying now that windows is the only poor security OS?
And maybe it's true that Windows dosen't do much to educate the average computer user as to how the program works, but so what? Most people don't have the ability or time to learn. Plus it's a lot easier. Why do most people in the states drive automatics? Stick them in a car with manual gears and they won't get anywhere. that doesn't mean that automatics are bad, or that the people using them are ignorant drivers. It's simply a means of getting more people to get more places faster. Then for the ones in the know, and those whose passion is motors, we have stick shifts. Sure we possess an advantage over the automatics users, but it doesn't make them dummies.

Its the little things that i dont like about windows security.For eample, lets say someon emails me a script or binary program with intent to do damage.

For example, a script to format the hard disk, or a porgram that loads up 1000 message boxes that say "you smell"

The virus scanner will not pick it up because it doesnt have the "fingerprint" the porgram was written and only used once.. its not known to the scanner.

and lets say this script or program is sent in a zip as an attachment or hyperlink in an email.

What happens when the user saves the attachment to disk, opens and double clicks it....

In windows, your screwed.

That's possible if you're simply running windows and nothing else. If you have good 3rd party antivirus and DEP protection, you don't have to worry about that. NOD32, for example, has an extremely high virus detection rate, even for unknown ones, and super heuristics. Scanning your mail as it downloads, it doesn't let stuff install.
And tiny pro firewall will ask you for a confirmation anytime it senses some program is going to install, send or write stuff to the registry. That's safe enough in my opinion.

[qwijibow 0]

That's possible if you're simply running windows and nothing else. If you have good 3rd party antivirus and DEP protection, you don't have to worry about that. NOD32, for example, has an extremely high virus detection rate, even for unknown ones, and super heuristics. Scanning your mail as it downloads, it doesn't let stuff install.And tiny pro firewall will ask you for a confirmation anytime it senses some program is going to install, send or write stuff to the registry. That's safe enough in my opinion.

So in other words, what you are saying, Is that on its own, windows would fail my little hyperthetical test. and needs 3rd party help, where linux has it all built in, and installed by default.

Im talking about the OS itself, not the ability to patch the holes with 3rd party, NON MS applications.

[pomjim 0]

Phew, well that was quite a rant! Sorry, but I disagree with your post regarding the fact that Windows makes people rely on it as an o/s instead of learning more about how they work etc.Because that is (to me and most people in the world who use computers) the whole point about Windows! I DON’T want to know how the thing works, I just want it to work. If we all went with your way of thinking we would be typing code all day just to send an email. Simplicity in a computer o/d is the key to usage. The majority of people use their computers for email, instant messaging, game playing and camera related things. For none of these do you want anything but the thing to be easy to us and effective. Remember that it was Windows 95 which led to widespread computer use. And why? Because it made it easy to use, as simple as that.

[qwijibow 0]

Simplicity in a computer o/d is the key to usage

I agree,
Once our family PC broke down. so my mum, used my computer (linux).

She has only used a computer twice in her life, the first time, i showed her how to use windows to write a letter and rpint it out, write and recieve email, and browse the internet.

On her 3rd use of a computer, she sat infront of Linux, having never seen it before.

Wthout any help, using common sence, she opened the web browser by clinking the main menu bottom left, then licking internet, then clicking "web browser"

she was also able to fine the email clientThunderbird, AND the office program Opppen Office.

Having never even seen this OS before, and having only 1 10 minute lesson on windows, she managed to use linux without even noticing the differance.

whats could be more simple ???

Nobody is saying windows is bad... its just not the best.
Its the OS with the best marketing, no doubt.
and no doubt Bill gates is an EXCELLENT buisness man.

But windows is not some miracle of software engineering.

Every major feature in windows, was already around in anouther OS before.

For example, *nix beat windows to True Multi-Tasking by a decade or 2.

*nix has had anti root-kit for a long time too, windows is only just started getting such utilities.

*nix beat windows to multi-cpu support, and 64bit technology.

*nix beat windows file access rights, which were introduced to NTFS, but tuned of by default.

*nix beat windows to networking,

I hear windows Vista will support the ability to run applications with different / reduced access rights to contain [possable intrusions through thins like a web browser...

*nix has been going this since the beginning. windows get this feature 30 years later.

Windows is good... Just a little behind on key *nix features.

Widnows file shareing,, thats anouther that *nix was doing long before windows..

thelist goes on..

Everything you had to wait for in windows, was available first in Unix/Linus/*BSD.

[ebbinger_413 0]

i cant deny that i use microsoft windows...cause i do, i actually have every version of windows (from 1 - vista beta) and i only use windows xp pro. but i dont really like windows, windows has a lot of problems...i suppose lots isnt the best word...maybe countless is a better word. i could list a few:1) competitors software doesnt work well with windows2) windows comes with spyware on install cd (alexa spyware - monitors and reports back to microsoft your surfing habits)3) windows comes with anti-virus software made by microsoft - which cant protect your computer if the virus was competent4) you get a virus within a few minutes of being online with windows because of (3)5) all the software that windows includes (e.g. messenger, I.E., Outlook, Works/Office) is all made by microsfot and their programs are made to run on windows, yet their programs take up twice as much memory as their compettitors programs (both with ram and hard drive space) because their software comes with all this extra crap that the average user would never think of touching.6) there are innumberable viruses out there for windows (in fact each hour of each day someone has written a new virus for windows)7) the sole purpose of windows (microsoft) is to make money. they do not put the user first when it comes to their software. competetitors do and their os's are better (e.g. linux based off of unix - open source - user comes first...and is a whole lot better)8) bill gates suxs ...i could come up with a whole lot more and with proof to back it up...how many times a day does your windows computer fail to meet your needs because of windows and because its a piece of **** os...but i still cant get away from the fact that it is one of the easiest os's to use...and i still use it every day...and probably will untill linspire 5.0 comes out...which is in about, wow, a few hours