Adventures in Windows 7

[Farmer Mike]

The wife got an HP Mini 210 netbook for school, then decided she didn't like it. So she gave it to me.

This weekend I decided to start making it more useable. I intend to make it dual boot with a light Linux distro like Antix. But in the short run I intended to fix up Windows. I was going to put Open Office on it for word processing, and FireFox to use instead of IE8.

So I start downloading software. And a reminder pops up to set up backup, taking up the whole screen and on top of the browser. I had to go to task manager to kill it. Then the trial version of the internet put up a window wanting me to update it and buy a subscription. Next, some HP utility that monitors the computer's health started scanning and slowed everything down. And during all this, the backup reminder returned a couple times. I finally got the downloads done despite Window's resistance and left the thing sit for a while. It was time to feed the horses.

I can understand maybe a subtle reminder and background processes, but not reminders that demand you accomodate them now and utilities that sieze control.

I guess from my experience "Where do you want to go today?" has been replaced by "You're not going anywhere, we're in charge.".

[MASONTX]

How about: Where do you think you're going today?

[elija]

Or: Where are we going to let you go today?

[Bemk]

The wife got an HP Mini 210 netbook for school, then decided she didn't like it. So she gave it to me.

This weekend I decided to start making it more useable. I intend to make it dual boot with a light Linux distro like Antix. But in the short run I intended to fix up Windows. I was going to put Open Office on it for word processing, and FireFox to use instead of IE8.

So I start downloading software. And a reminder pops up to set up backup, taking up the whole screen and on top of the browser. I had to go to task manager to kill it. Then the trial version of the internet put up a window wanting me to update it and buy a subscription. Next, some HP utility that monitors the computer's health started scanning and slowed everything down. And during all this, the backup reminder returned a couple times. I finally got the downloads done despite Window's resistance and left the thing sit for a while. It was time to feed the horses.

I can understand maybe a subtle reminder and background processes, but not reminders that demand you accomodate them now and utilities that sieze control.

I guess from my experience "Where do you want to go today?" has been replaced by "You're not going anywhere, we're in charge.".

If you want to see Windows how it was intended, you should:

C:\>format C:

and reinstall it from the disc you purchased in the store (or maybe downloaded fro m the web, *hoping Brein doesn't read this*)

[vitalka]

Open office = cool
Firefox = cool
Backup Reminders -> can be turned off by going to Control Panel -> Action Center. And in my opnion its a good thing it bugs you. I'm tired of people who think that they'll be fine up until their drive breaks and then they run to me for recovery.
Trial Programs -> not really Windows 7's fault or MS's fault for that matter. Blame laptop manufacturer.

Overall it comes down to how well you know what needs to be done to make it work, just like on Linux.

[techieMoe]

Open office = cool
Firefox = cool
Backup Reminders -> can be turned off by going to Control Panel -> Action Center. And in my opnion its a good thing it bugs you. I'm tired of people who think that they'll be fine up until their drive breaks and then they run to me for recovery.
Trial Programs -> not really Windows 7's fault or MS's fault for that matter. Blame laptop manufacturer.

Overall it comes down to how well you know what needs to be done to make it work, just like on Linux.

I agree with vitalka, and I'm closing this thread on that sentiment.