I have had it with Windows. I have been on a computer since I was 2 (two) years old, I am 14 (fourteen) now, after 12 (twelve) years of Microsoft's crap, this is they're last chance! This makes about the 100th time I have reformatted my computer. Your probably thinking this guy has no idea what he is doing if he has this much trouble. Well I know EXACTLY what I am doing on PC's. No, I do not have a crappy computer either, its just Microsoft, they cannot live up to how much I use the computer. I am on the computer more then anything, I am currently running 5 (five) websites, I can program in VB, C#, some Java, and web languages. I am a download junkie, but my computer has plenty of space on it, I always scan for viruses, malware, ad ware, anything. My computer is extremely slow on startup, I have removed everything on the startup list, the only thing that opens when my computer boots up is normal windows stuff and my virus protection. I have had the worse experience ever with Microsoft, and this is there last chance! If it cannot handle it this time, here I come Ubuntu!

P.S. If you are ever thinking about getting Windows, if you do not already have it, do not get it! It is TERRIBLE!

I would like to hear your experiences with Microsoft. Maybe someone can convince me it'd be worth buying Vista.

EDIT: Heres another problem, I just got done reformatting just installed MSN messenger, FIRST START OF IT, "We're sorry, we cannot start the conversation with the selected contact." It does that to EVERYONE on my list.

Congratulations on having terribly bad luck with you corporate OSs.

And do you shut down by holding down the power button?

No, that would mess it up even more. Like I said, I was on a computer when I was 2 years old. I think I know how to shut it down. (Not trying to be a jerk, just getting a point across)

I wasn't implying that you didn't know how, but some people (such as I) do it because it's faster

Lol. It is much faster, thats why I only do it on school computers .

Try and take care of your computer, being a download junkie is never good since shareware is usually flooded with spyware and viruses. I have been a windows user for most of my life, I occasionally use and deal with linux/unix mainly unix for its advanced security features. I can say that I have always trusted and respected Microsoft, I only ever reformat if I feel that I have trashed my install somewhat (through advanced edits).

My advice, if your not willing to maintain your windows install try a linux distro, they tend to last longer.

Also, you should try and create a custom image for reformatting your PC if your having that much trouble.

Also don't use just hit the shutdown button it hangs services

I am sorry for my mis-understanding, but you know some programming so use linux. (I reccomend Ubuntu or Debian, use Wine if you feel like using a Unix based system.)

Also, I would reccomend to dual boot if you want to use Linux and Windows.

When I said 'download junkie', I didn't mean I download loads of crap, I meant I download and use a lot of programs, but the computer should be able to handle it.

It depends on how old your computer is.

It's not that old.

By you saying that your computer should be able to handle it doesn't mean anything in this forum. Give us your system specs if you want us to help. But keep that in the Computer Help board.

Sure i've had my fair share of bad experiences with Windows OS computers but I also enjoy working with it because it has been very beneficial and enjoyable for me to use. Most of the problems I encounter today are caused by my own mistakes. The computer is only as smart as the user. If you think you know what you're doing and you're having so much trouble, you should reconsider your thought process. Saying that you've been using a computer since you were two doesn't mean anything either. A baby can smash keys and move a mouse, but a baby can't understand what is going on and respond to the prompts so I don't consider that using a computer. Here is a rule of thumb, if you're reformatting multiple times a year, you're doing something wrong. If you're doing it year after year, you're a fool because you don't understand your problem and find the only result is to reformat.

Go to Start, then go to Run, and type "DXDIAG". When the DirectX Diagnostic is complete, press "Save All Information". Then, save the text file with your DirectX Diagnostic to your desktop, go to that text file on your desktop, and just copy and paste everything in it into a reply box and post it here. That way, we can see your drivers and all of your system specifications.

I assumed that you're running Windows XP. If you're running Windows Vista, type "DXDIAG" in the Search Box in Start.

EDIT: Corrected a grammatical error.

If you really are fed up with Windows, I recommend Mac. I'ved used windows for quite a while (5 years, I think), and a while ago I bought an iMac. They're very user friendly, fast, productive, secure and they have lots of cool features. You can also run Windows on it using the built-in Boot Camp, or you can run Windows inside of your Mac OS by using stuff like Parallels desktop.

I'm not advertising, I just strongly recommend it.

More info: www.apple.com

-Knight Haleth

I wonder why I've never had any of those symptoms on my PCs. Maybe you're just doing something wrong? Surely, if Windows was so screwed up, it wouldn't be the biggest OS till date.

I was thinking the same thing

The only time I have to reformat is if I really screw something up, and by that I mean manually while editing files, not downloading a bunch of things from the internet.

Actually a debian basis isn't a bad idea. You should try out ubuntu, easy to install/uninstall apps and its a lot cleaner then windows. But their is an easy solution, stop downloading random rubbish

One funny thing I've found about your story--I've been a Microsoft user for about... 14 years--nearing 15. Yes--ever since MS-DOS 4.01 or so (what we had at the time). Funny thing is I've never had to reformat that often (come to think of it--I've had a total of about... 4 reformats and reinstallations in running machines in 15 years (on average about 4 years per machine)--including my gory stupid "download everything that pops up" spree in ~2001). You're doing something wrong.

Anyways--go with Linux--but be aware that your C programming won't be nearly as smooth. If you're really looking for a stable OS that's fully supported and compatible--your choice is Windows XP--and be aware the Service Pack 3 is coming up.

In other news--have you disabled all but the most basic programs launched at startup? Doing that should really bolster the startup "problem".

the answer to alll questions is to get a mac. they rock!!! i have 4 of them and they never get any slower, no matter how much stuff is on them.

Why would Microsoft release another XP Service Pack when they have Vista? You'd think they would try to improve that instead.

The corporate world won't let Microsoft dump XP so quickly--they demanded extended support by their no-buy policy on Vista (in 99% of corps). Anyways--they've always released at least 3 SP's in recent memory.

My Windows computer never gets slow.

The only thing I see is the RAM. Not the best in the world but not the worse.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 11/28/2007, 06:06:15
Machine name: ********
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: AWARD_
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Sempron™ 2400+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.7GHz
Memory: 224MB RAM
Page File: 385MB used, 825MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

The only way you can slow down a PC by the amount of stuff is to get one 6 years old and fill up the hard drive completely, no small task.

You said: "No, I do not have a crappy computer either"

From those specs your posted, I would say that the above statement is false.

since recommended specs for XP is 256mb of ram i'm not suprised you can always up the page file limit. But i would recommend going for Xubuntu. XFCE runs well on low RAM computers, and is a lot lighter then gnome

Please keep the computer problems within that board and the discussion of the actual topic (see post 1) in this thread.

Adding 1GB of DDR RAM would speed up your machine--for <$35 too. Anyways--I'd say stick to Windows XP--you'll have to use it to use about 99.5% of your purchased software.

Seeing as you know more about Programming than me, I'll probably feel retarded asking this. But, do you ever Defragment your HDD? This tends to help a lot

Mac and Linux are gaining market share.

So? That doesn't make Windows a worse OS. To be honest, I find both Linux and Mac to be unprofessional, low quality operating systems. Surely, Mac is more user friendly, but if you're a bit more tech savvy like me, you'll be most likely more interrested in how the OS performs, and what is compatible with it. Both points are where Linux and Mac are failing. Although Linux has got it's Windows ports, it's still nothing like an actual Windows OS.

And don't start about Bootcamp on the Mac. That's just acknowledging Windows is needed for a Mac to be fully utilized. I've never heard of anyone needing to install Mac or Linux for a program to run, unless it's something of lower quality, or importance. (Ergo, iMovie, Garageband, etc.)