Filed under: rants, technology

One of my curses (some see it as a gift) is knowing computers in and out -- at least, when it comes to reformatting, configuring and setting Windows XP up as cleanly and efficiently as possible. I'm asked all the time to help people with their computers, most of the time without any expectation of getting paid. (Mind you, it's not my job to fix computers, but a little money here and there wouldn't hurt either.)

I've been doing this for people for about 10 years now, maybe a bit longer. I've been doing it for AgencyNet for almost 4 years now, especially when some employees really muck up their computer. (Cough.)

With each new reformat/reinstallation, I've come to the conclusion that Windows is just a broken mess of software that really needs to be managed. Yeah, that's what I said.

Take this last example, I'm helping a coworker out with a computer for a kid he's a Big Brother to. The computer had all sorts of rootkits and trojan viruses on it, what a mess. It got to the point where after I cleaned it out and thought it was all set, it just popped up again. Safe Mode couldn't help me, updated virus definitons and Windows Defender definitions couldn't help me, nothing could, except a reformat.

So I reformatted, and then once Windows was up and I was sure the virus was gone, began the expected lengthy process of updates.

Since Windows XP Service Pack 2 came out in August of 2004, there have been about 125 updates or so that have come out since then. The problem with these updates is they have to be installed in stages, restarting in between. This causes for no less than about 12 restarts, checking for more updates, seeing new updates made available because you installed some software or technology that has updates after that, lather, rinse, repeat. This brings just the Windows installation process to about 3 hours alone.

Good God.

Microsoft is dragging their feet on releasing Service Pack 3 (which has been due any day now) because of some compatibility problem that affects a small percentage of consumers. If I had access to this, this would have cut the installation down to just under an hour.

This only makes me want to move far away from Windows with each reinstallation I do. There's got to be a better way...