Why does Windows suck so much?

[Sulaco]

Long post. Didn't read.

It was four sentences.

Perhaps that's why you struggle with basic Windows tasks that don't present themselves like texts from preteen girls.

 

[Muse]

You install a new program and you can't run it because of a cryptic error message. Turns out you need Visual C++ runtime libraries. Isn't that made by Microsoft? Why wouldn't they just include it with the OS?

Okay, let's hunt for that installer. Do I need 2008, 2010, 2012, or 2013? Because they're all completely different and not included in the same installer. No, that would make too much sense. Do you need 64-bit or 32-bit? Because they're also different, incompatible, and not included in the same archive or with the OS.

Oops, I downloaded the update for Visual Studio, not the runtime libraries. Let's go back to that website and hunt through a list longer than my arm. What's SP1? No, I do not want to install the Bing Bar, asshole.

Of course they couldn't just include it with Windows Update. That would be too convenient.

And Windows Update. Man, this piece of crap. You have to run it, download, install, restart, run it, download, install, restart, run it, download, install, restart. Repeat this 20 more times and just maybe you'll have all the necessary updates. Maybe.

I put up with it because I've never run anything but Microsoft OS's. I figure I don't know what I'm missing. Are the open source OS's nice and easy and full featured? The reason I'm stuck in Windows is because I'm using software that won't run on Linux. Well, I might be able to run it but it's against the license agreement (It's MS software, and they make you agree to only run it on Windows! )

I'm pretty good with Windows but there are a lot of features, key features, that I just avoid. I might not avoid them if I knew how to use them, knew my way around them, but I have other ways of doing the things I'm trying to do. For instance, Libraries. That's something going on in Windows that I just don't understand, and I don't know if I want to. I keep my data where I want it, not in My Documents, if I can help it. That way I know exactly how to go about backing up my data. Microsoft's idea of where and how I should maintain my data just rubs me the wrong way. How do you back up My Documents? I'm sure there's a way but it will probably involve backing up some stuff I don't care about. Again, if I knew the whys and wherefores of the system they've pre-designed for me I might want to use it, but I recoil when things are too cookie-cutter from the getgo, I like to have my own sense of control of my data, so I keep it where I like it. I learned DOS before i learned Windows, so I understand directory structures. I suppose most any half-way sophisticated Windows user understands directory structures, but it seems to me that Microsoft has tried to shield its users in recent years from thinking about them, and that bothers me.

Control Panel used to be straightforward but now is convoluted. You can configure it to show icons, small icons, but the list can't be presented vertically in alphabetical order on this Windows 7 machine. IMO, Windows has gotten harder to understand and deal with. It seems to me that they've dumbed down the interface in an effort to provide the user with a sense that they can have a nice day and not have to concern themselves with what's really going on. I don't care for that, I want to know and have a sense of control. I don't want some stupid paper clip icon winking and squiggling at me.

 

[Muse]

I don't recall ever having the problem you're having. Every time I needed any runtime libraries somehow the program or the documentation included with it let me know exactly which one to get or even included it in a folder in on the program's installation media. Windows update never bothered me either. I just let it do it's thing and click the "install updates and shut down" key when I was going to shut down anyway.

That's nice when it works but on the machine I'm using right now (Windows 7 Ultimate) there are two critical updates that fail to properly install every time the OS tries to run its slate of required updates. EVERY TIME! They not only fail, but the OS insists on reverting to its previous state and the entire process takes at least 20 minutes, probably more. So, I have tried to avoid shutting down the machine (I put it in suspend instead), because I'll get dragged through the entire frustrating process again. I don't know any way of fixing this other than reinstalling from scratch, which I suppose I'm going to have to do, I don't think I have a backup. I lost a few of my external HDs to failure. Reinstalling everything is a big process, I'm thinking quite a bunch of hours, I run a lot of programs. Who can I blame but Microsoft for creating an operating system that cannot fix itself, cannot figure out how to install its own updates?

 

[Rakehellion]

That's nice when it works but on the machine I'm using right now (Windows 7 Ultimate) there are two critical updates that fail to properly install every time the OS tries to run its slate of required updates. EVERY TIME! They not only fail, but the OS insists on reverting to its previous state and the entire process takes at least 20 minutes, probably more. So, I have tried to avoid shutting down the machine (I put it in suspend instead), because I'll get dragged through the entire frustrating process again. I don't know any way of fixing this other than reinstalling from scratch, which I suppose I'm going to have to do, I don't think I have a backup. I lost a few of my external HDs to failure. Reinstalling everything is a big process, I'm thinking quit a bunch of hours, I run a lot of programs. Who can I blame but Microsoft for creating an operating system that cannot fix itself, cannot figure out how to install its own updates?

Clearly it's your fault for not being able to solve a difficult problem that's someone else's job to solve in the first place. -Windows Fanboys

 

[IronWing]

Clearly it's your fault for not being able to solve a difficult problem that's someone else's job to solve in the first place. -Windows Fanboys

I hope you didn't go to bed mad. That's not healthy.

 

[Rakehellion]

If I need a copy of Flash, is Adobe going to tell me "Nah, bro. You mean that didn't get installed with Firefox?"

 

[SunnyD]

Civilization: Beyond Earth.

It isn't my job to make sure Windows doesn't suck.

What are you doing to make the MSVCR get fucked up? Civ:BE's installer has the proper MSVCR dependency included and will install it if needed. Your machine is reporting to the installer that it doesn't need it. You obviously installed something that screwed up the dependent MSVCR that Civ:BE is expecting at some point in time - that's on you, not Windows.

ie: It's your job not to install stuff that fucks up Windows in the first place.

 

[schmuckley]

If you think Windows is bad, you should see the other options. *shudders*

I kind of like the Linux.
It does things my Windows won't do.
(because i turned off some feature for security..and can't remember where it is.)
Windows updates? pah! Turn those off @ 1st boot.
It will update your Windows until you need a fresh install.

 

[Rakehellion]

What are you doing to make the MSVCR get fucked up? Civ:BE's installer has the proper MSVCR dependency included and will install it if needed. Your machine is reporting to the installer that it doesn't need it. You obviously installed something that screwed up the dependent MSVCR that Civ:BE is expecting at some point in time - that's on you, not Windows.

ie: It's your job not to install stuff that fucks up Windows in the first place.

As I said, it attempted to install. The installation failed.

And this ignores the dozen other apps on my machine that don't have installers.

 

[Rakehellion]

What is perfect in this world?

Apparently Microsoft. They have transcended this mortal coil to achieve absolute perfection. None of their products have bugs or flaws of any kind. All who doubt the iron fist of Billy Boy are inferior specimens and must be destroyed.

 

[IronWing]

Apparently Microsoft. They have transcended this mortal coil to achieve absolute perfection. None of their products have bugs or flaws of any kind. All who doubt the iron fist of Billy Boy are inferior specimens and must be destroyed.

In school, you always got the round tipped scissors, didn't you?

 

[waffleironhead]

I hope you didn't go to bed mad. That's not healthy.

He had angry sex with Rosie, most likely.

 

[Rakehellion]

In school, you always got the round tipped scissors, didn't you?

All hail the creator of software free from imperfections. Microsoft. Our savior in this world of whimsical meatbags.

 

[SunnyD]

As I said, it attempted to install. The installation failed.

And this ignores the dozen other apps on my machine that don't have installers.

Maybe the bold/font size will help this time around.

ie: It's your job not to install stuff that fucks up Windows in the first place.

 

[Rakehellion]

Windows is fucked up out of the box.

Hey, I'll sell you a brand new car! Brakes are a free upgrade but you'll have to pick them up in Vermont and install them yourself.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Click here to find out why Microsoft HATES him!!

 

[SunnyD]

Windows is fucked up out of the box.

Hey, I'll sell you a brand new car! Brakes are a free upgrade but you'll have to pick them up in Vermont and install them yourself.

You've made up your mind then. None of this can remotely be attributable to anything you may have done.

I'm sorry, but if you took the time to read through the chaff in your bullshit thread I had already given you your answer. The problem isn't Windows at all. Enjoy your PEBKAC. You're beyond fixing, so carry on complaining just for the sake of complaining.

 

[dougp]

You've made up your mind then. None of this can remotely be attributable to anything you may have done.

I'm sorry, but if you took the time to read through the chaff in your bullshit thread I had already given you your answer. The problem isn't Windows at all. Enjoy your PEBKAC. You're beyond fixing, so carry on complaining just for the sake of complaining.

I think this is more of an ID-10-T error.

 

[waffleironhead]

You've made up your mind then. None of this can remotely be attributable to anything you may have done.

I'm sorry, but if you took the time to read through the chaff in your bullshit thread I had already given you your answer. The problem isn't Windows at all. Enjoy your PEBKAC. You're beyond fixing, so carry on complaining just for the sake of complaining.

You do realize he is trolling right? He agreed with me that win7, an os from 2009 should have shipped with a 2013 distributable.

 

[zephyrprime]

Most programs install all the runtimes they need automatically. In fact, they usually come with them.

 

[cbrunny]

What was the game/program? The only thing I've tried to install that gave me similar errors was GTA IV on a Win8 machine. Never did get it working.

 

[SunnyD]

You do realize he is trolling right? He agreed with me that win7, an os from 2009 should have shipped with a 2013 distributable.

Most of his "rant" posts are trolls. But this one is one of the stupider one. It deserves untrolling.

 

[waffleironhead]

Most of his "rant" posts are trolls. But this one is one of the stupider one. It deserves untrolling.

Balance in the force is important. Carry on.

 

[Rakehellion]

You've made up your mind then. None of this can remotely be attributable to anything you may have done.

Because you aren't able to demonstrate that to be the case outside of your bias and selective replies.

 

[IronWing]

Windows is fucked up out of the box.

Hey, I'll sell you a brand new car! Brakes are a free upgrade but you'll have to pick them up in Vermont and install them yourself.

A good troll knows to step away from his creation and let it simmer. Other posters will fill the vacuum. Check out a Braznor thread. The man knows his trolling.