It sure is a pos.

Why not just put it behind a router or something and totally forget about security updates? Not running a server nor running it 24/7 it shouldn't be a major prob.. might wanna use mozilla instead of IE and something instead of outlook.. you're golden.

I can't afford a router right now. Plus, why should I have to spend another $100 on top of Windows just so I can run Windows? F*cking ridiculous. I don't understand how people can use this god damn thing. I swear to the gods I'm getting an ulcer just trying to use the OS.

Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean.

Can't afford a router? Obviously that internet is coming from SOMEWHERE! If it's being shared from the g4 or something over a hub you shouldn't have any problem with open ports in the first place (thus firewall not needed), lack of open ports or direct access from the outside world = much harder to get a trojan, installing mozilla/maybe thunderbird for email = no real chance unless you do something signicantly stupid.

:}

press F8 when Windows starts to boot. Select "Safe Mode" boot option. Uninstall Windows updates from "Add/Remove programs pane".

or waste an hour re-installing Windows.

Ad-Aware, Sygate Personal Firewall from Download.com.

And quit whining.

re: Spheric Harlot


Like I was saying...Windows is fuxored and he needs to re-install.

Yes, but that is not the point. One should be able to run Windows without worries. Though I realize that is a pipe dream.

I use that on my PC to block out windows updater too. Works like a charm; haven't been bothered with the annoying thing for months.

Absolutely!! I use Windows Update all the time at work on both 2000 and XP and it works every bit as well as the Apple version.

As per The Godfather: Ad-Aware, Sygate Personal Firewall from Download.com

Check into these as well. The best firewall on Windows is/was ZoneAlarm which I think is still free for the 'base' version - which is all most people need. There could be better ones out there today as I've been out of the home/personal version of Windows arena for a while.

Then go to LeakTest to check on how well the firewall is performing. In fact, almost everything on www.grc.com is very good. It's wordy but this guy knows his stuff and does most of his windows programming in assembler for very small and very fast executables.

Good luck.

I don't think anyone actually cares what windows problems you're always having. Either your hardware is crap, or you're just daft when it comes to working windows.

My XP install has been running smoothly for a year and a half now. Which is surprising cause I usually reinstall every few months to keep it fresh.


Chris

Or, it could be that you're just lucky, and Windows is a POS. From experience, I'd say my theory is much closer to the truth.

XP = crap, just like every other M$ OS. I know, I admined and serviced Wintel for 10 years, I got my MCSE for 2000, 98, XP, and all that other garbage (I am happy I got my Cisco cert.). Finally I washed my hands of the whole damned thing and got a job doing Mac service (and dumped my PCs), and my life has been better/easier ever since. Windows sucks; wash, rinse, repeat.

WHy are you installing windows again, why didnt you go into add and remove programs and UNINSTALL the updates that caused the problem???

One thing I have to give Windows, though...

I wish i could just "roll back" my Mac to a time before I installed an update that brought unforseen consequences. But, that's about all I'll give Windows credit for.

Because I COULDN'T boot into Safe mode. I'd get the f*cking explorer.exe error in Safe mode too. I couldn't do jack sh*t.

[Random Post}

I have been using XP on my new homebrew machine for about 3 weeks now...

I hate to say it, but I am very impressed...

In the end I paid about �550 all in for an Athlon XP2800+ system (in a cool chieftec Blue Dragon case) with all the goodies (including SATA, USB2 etc etc). It has been totally reliable and much quicker at my graphic design stuff than my old G4 based Powermacs (Inc the dualies!).

There are some things I really miss about OS X, but surprisingly some things in XP I really like too (filmstrip view of folders containing graphics and picsm is plain cool...)

Overall I can put up with a few 'hick-ups' on my XP box because it cost me much, much less than even an eMac of much inferior spec here in the UK, and is for my needs more than fast enough...

Peace,

Marc

*Yes, I too can't believe I just typed this post*

Open window. Pick up machine. Throw.

Are those games you play important enough to warrant all these headaches?

Seriously. Throw. Have done with the whole sorry thing.

routers? firewalls? blocking open ports??

People, you can turn off automatic updates and never be bothered again if you so wish. Good grief.

And be very skeptical of installing device drivers from Windows Update. I don't recommend them. Stick to the critical updates and you'll rarely have a problem.

ctrl+alt+del -> file -> new task/run cmd.exe

and if windows wasnt loading at all, you can still access the command prompt and rollback options from the XP cd.


Please don't tell us you have no clue how to work the command prompt?




Chris

Nothing about luck. I just know how to troubleshoot when a problem does occur, and I know how to keep my system functional. I don't care what your credentials are, some admins are better suited to be gas pump attendants (not the kind that run windows ).


Chris

You could also create a System Restore point BEFORE you do any type of a major upgrade like that. I always create one before performing a Windows Update or any software installation. That would save you a great deal frustration.

Windows update sucks. I've tried to download windows updates while trying to do other stuff on a Brand New PC laptop running XP. I froze the machine. I did it on an XP desktop as well and froze the Machine. Some multitasking. I can download OS X updates and still keep working on my Mac.

I am one of those rare people with a good Windows experience.

I agree. Just turn off automatic updates and be done with it.

That is why SP2 will automatically download and install updates.

I tend to wait at least a week before I download updates. If they're broken, I let other people find it out. I can't be bothered to reinstall Windows on everybody's computer, go into the command line, blah blah blah. It's annoying in the extreme. But then again, so is most of Windows.