How long should you expect Windows...

[MrWhiteUK]

...to run without a single error atall. I don't mean just BSOD but IE hicups etc.

Presuming the machine is used all day.

I have been running XP pro solid for 2 months and have a had 1 application error and 0 BSOD's.

Would it be optimistic for a windows machine (used daily with variety of software) to run for a year or more with absolutley no errors atall?


Dom.

 

[tcrosson]

That's a tough question to answer the way you have it worded. More things then just Windows crash. Applications can freeze forcing a reboot (which many times isn't Windows fault), drivers can cause major hiccups, and problematic hardware can cause major pains - all requiring frequent reboots.

I've had Windows 2k since it launched. I've never had a major crash once. I've had programs running in Windows crash - but as far as I can remember I didn't even have to reboot. The only problems I've had are driver related or hardware incompatibilities (VIA/SBLive issue, ATI's drivers). So to answer your question I've never had Windows 2000 cause crash so Windows itself has run perfect since I've owned it. However, drivers and hardware problems have forced me to reboot and uninstall/reinstall many devices repeatedly in the past. Now that my VIA/SBlive issue is solved (or so I hope), my computer should have no reason to need a reboot. So, yes, I can optimisticly say that my Windows 2000 machine should run forever without rebooting. 🙂 😕 :Q 😎

Knock on wood for me guys!

 

[Elledan]

From what I've seen, a professionally managed Windows system (NT, 2k or XP) can easily run for half a year without any major problems, perhaps even a year or more. This time depends mostly on the hardware and the kind of applications the system is used for, though. A workstation running Windows won't last as long as a file-server will.

I've yet to crash any of my Linux systems, though. The only downtimes so far were caused by lack of electricity and reboots after installing patches and updates.

Main advantage *NIX and similar OS's have over Windows OS's is that the system is much better protected against any crashing or malfunctioning programs and drivers. This increases stability quite a lot.

Also, if the system does freeze, often you can still Telnet into the system and kill the offending process. Try that with Windows 😛

 

[MrWhiteUK]

I can see a windows box running for ages with out a MAJOR problem, blue screen etc. but what about minor errors.

Could you run a windows box and half a dozen programs and not get a single error from anything for a year? This includes, IE, all the software and all the software that comes with the os and the OS itself. Or is that too much to expect.

 

[Elledan]

<< Or is that too much to expect. >>

Well, what do you think?

No, it's not possible unless it's a clean install of Windows, with no additional programs and stuff installed and no one ever touches the system.

Or you must have so much luck that winning the lottery is as easy for you as buying a single ticket =)

 

[duroned]

my work computer at my last job I managed to get windows 98 se running so well that i ran it for a year and a half never had it lock or crash... I think that was a once in a lifetime thing tho...

 

[marat]

Sorry to disappoint you guys, but if you seriously try to screw it - you will. I don't mean server (that is used for file sharing only and nothing else), but if it is a workstation and you use it all the time it's just a matter of luck (or lack of it).

 

[tcrosson]

The only Mircosoft OS I've had problems with was Windows 98 (SE or not). Windows 98 was the worst (I've never had the privelage of owning ME 😉 ). Every 6 months or so I had to format and reinstall. It never mattered how much I used the computer - it was just like clockwork; the 6 month routine.

Since then I've had Windows 2k and once a few issues were ironed out through driver updates, BIOS patches, and a few software updates - the system is rock solid. I have a few friends that would testify to that about their systems too. After you get the bugs out of 2k/XP that straight 32-bit kernel really makes a difference over 9x/ME.

Anyways, I understand a lot of people are constantly installing/uninstalling software/demos. I'm very picky with what software goes on my system. I read reviews and user-feedback to find potential problems (mainly off of these forums) before I install. I'm not one that likes to install unnecessary software or stuff that might just sit on the hard drive. Also I'm the only one using this computer in the household so I guess it's "taken care of". I have a few IE windows, Outlook, a couple of Audigy applets, AIM, ATI MMC, FreeCell ( 🙂 ), PSP7, ACDsee, and MusicMatch 6 always running in on my computer (it almost never gets rebooted). When I play a game I close everything. Every now and then (say once a month) an IE window will crash but I just click "END NOW" and I'm all set.

I guess if you try to screw up your computer (but who does?!?) then your going to screw it up. If you use caution with software you download and install then your chances of having less headaches is proven in time.

 

[chutwig]

My general experience indicates that the more common and well-supported your hardware is, the less likely you are to have stability problems. This computer has quite well-supported hardware, so I almost never have any stability problems with XP. Other computers here have slightly more esoteric chipsets (like the workstation with the god-forsaken SiS 530), and therefore are a little less reliable. The SiS one, in particular, is guilty of randomly blue-screening on startup with a KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED, which seems to be a problem with the IDE controller not resetting itself properly. SiS, being on the level of ATi with their Windows 2000 drivers, provide nothing even remotely useful. Oh well. My computer, at least, has run for weeks with nary a hitch. The little Qube here only needs to be restarted in the event of major upgrades or power outages.

 

[marat]

<< I guess if you try to screw up your computer (but who does?!?) then your going to screw it up. If you use caution with software you download and install then your chances of having less headaches is proven in time. >>



My mistake - I used wrong words.

If you keep running IE and Notepad - it is unlikely to crash your system. But if you install a few resource hungry games and try to use some nice features - to many variables are coming into play. Heck - consider VIA and NVIDIA incompatibility problem - it was fixed in service pack 2 only (I can dig you a link)! Before that, I could freeze my win2k if I run 3d intensive app (I have A7V133 and one of GeForce cards). Windows 2000 is great - it's by far the only product I like form M$, but absolute stability (Probability of failure=1) is impossible. Even if your computer will survive a year - it won't prove anything.