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Computer Discussion => Operating Systems => Topic started by: Chandler on March 28, 2009, 06:12 hrs

Title: So sick of Windows XP
Post by: Chandler on March 28, 2009, 06:12 hrs
I've had it with Windows XP.

It's been the same since I started using it in 2002 - after a Service Pack it's perfectly stable but as soon as you start installing updates from Windows Update, it gets progressively more and more unstable.  My main PC is now in a state where it crashes intermittently when accessing network shares (mapped to a drive) or even when I go into My Network Places.  This only started after the latest round of Windows Updates.

For a long time I avoided installing updates on my XP machines and ignored security updates.  The only updates I ever installed were the ones that were important, such as fixes for broken video renderers.  I never got infected by a virus, never got infected with malware and hardly ever had system instability.  But recently I decided to follow the good-practice and let WU auto-update my machines.  Ever since making that decision I've had a crash-happy machine.

You can't even use the System File Checker.  My current installation is from a Windows XP SP2 installation disc.  This has since been updated with Service Pack 3 and then the subsequent Windows Updates.  If I run sfc /scannow then it asks for an XP SP3 CD-ROM for pretty much every system file.  Why it can't manage to compare updated system files from Microsoft to what's on the system is beyond me.  I can't even let it install the XP SP3 files like it wants to because I don't have an XP SP3 disc and it's incapable of referring to a folder (only a CD).  As a result the SFC is absolutely and completely useless.

After 2 years with Windows Vista, it is still rock solid.  Say what you want about Vista but the update system in particular is just more refined and in my experience it performs better than XP on equivalent hardware (given sufficient memory).  It's almost as if Microsoft want everyone to ditch Windows XP by making it unusable.  Today I've had one Explorer crash too many.  Sure, they're only a few seconds of inconvenience but I don't like the feeling of walking around on egg-shells whenever I want to browse files.
Title: Re: So sick of Windows XP
Post by: Bill on March 28, 2009, 06:42 hrs
That's the best argument I've heard in a long time for "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"  I have always taken a head in the sand approach, if it works out of the box, the first time, I leave it alone.
Warnings be danged.

Bill
Title: Re: So sick of Windows XP
Post by: Chandler on March 28, 2009, 17:08 hrs
I hate XP so much.  It has managed to corrupt several music files by crashing Explorer whilst moving files.  I'm at a loss to understand how a crash of the shell can result in file corruption.

For me this is the final nail in the coffin for XP.  I don't have anything running, I don't have any malware, I don't have any viruses.  Just Explorer running by itself will manage to crash itself.  Furthermore, IE7 is equally crash-happy, but in mshtml.dll.

I'm tired of this nonsense and tomorrow Vista will be going on this machine - if it can manage to copy my files without Explorer crashing out!
Title: Re: So sick of Windows XP
Post by: halokid on March 29, 2009, 07:23 hrs
i always cripple windows xp right out of the box.. disabling automatic updates is the first thing i do. It would be nice though to have a update system that doesn't break your install or slow it down. Windows xp sp2 is the sweet spot imo.. the prime of the ol' girls life. anything after that might be slowing your computer to get you to buy vista.. i mean i hate to think that way but hey .. its possible.

oh Linux ! get better soon, for all our sakes.
Title: Re: So sick of Windows XP
Post by: Chandler on March 29, 2009, 15:42 hrs
I could just SCREAM!  I spend all day reinstalling Windows Vista, Office 2007, Service Packs.  Then I go to Windows Update and it's stuck in a loop of not being able to install the updates and "reverting changes".

I'm seriously losing it with this computer now.
Title: Re: So sick of Windows XP
Post by: pat on March 29, 2009, 16:54 hrs
Perhaps a scan with memtest86 or memtest86+ is in order as well as a drive scan.

Seems like errors are migrating along with the different operating systems.
Title: Re: So sick of Windows XP
Post by: Chandler on March 31, 2009, 08:08 hrs
I bumped up the memory voltage to 1.9V (from 1.8V) and so far so good.  I imaged the XP installation and it's still unstable, but Vista seems to be running fine now.

I don't know why it's suddenly started playing up at 1.8V because it's run fine that way for over a year but there you go.  I don't think I'll be buying another MSI motherboard; this motherboard has had the most issues out of any I've owned in over 10 years.
Title: Re: So sick of Windows XP
Post by: Bill on March 31, 2009, 08:25 hrs
I am curious about what led you to play with the voltage?

Bill
Title: Re: So sick of Windows XP
Post by: Hoot on September 01, 2009, 06:09 hrs
^Sometimes when SPs willl simply not install (or fully install) or you consistently get file transfer errors those are in-obvious to the lesser experienced eye and sometimes it is indeed votage/timing/memory latency related. What's more it can also be an HDD going bad but it 'acts' a bit different initially. This is why you test with memtest86, monitor voltages with speedfan or another app, runs HD tests etc ... etc ...
Title: Re: So sick of Windows XP
Post by: Chandler on September 03, 2009, 15:17 hrs
For the past 6 months, this computer has been working great.

The only annoyances I've had with it since installing Vista are:
- An issue with Outlook 2007 corrupting the PST file. Resolved with an Office Update which is now in the latest Service Pack too.
- An issue with Windows Media Center and video playback. Resolved by rolling back to an older ehplayer.dll file. Still awaiting fix from MS.
- Acronis True Image 2009. Not a fault of the computer or Vista - True Image 2009 is a terrible product compared to previous releases. Support were not able to resolve my problem, so I worked around it instead.