Thread: xp pro being discontinued?

Hi

One of MY pet hates about Windows is this.

I choose to shut the system down eg Start> Turn Off Computer > Turn off.

Then some program fails to shut down for any of innumerable reasons. Windows decides that I need to see this message and then shut down the program by ME having to click the "end now" button.

This is a PITA when I have ALREADY told Windows to SHUT DOWN.

Some times - because Windows takes SOOOO long to shut down - I leave the office when Windows is in the process of shutting down, only to return and find the computer still running when I get back.

If *I* want the computer to shut down then THAT"S what I want. I don't WANT to know that Windows is having a problem doing what I ask, JUST DO IT (with respect to Nike )

If there WAS a problem then by all means let me know if necessary by a prompt at the next start up. Then I can check a log file etc IF I need to

MS really needs to get its OS act together for the next release otherwise the MAC or Linux will gain a substantial market share. I have given serious consideration to a change to Linux. The only reason I have not done so is the unavailability of some programs that I use. If they were available on Linux I would change asap - and I would convert all my clients too!

I just read APC's article on KDE 4 (a Linux desktop/GUI ) and it looks good and it seems to work very well. I will be trying it out soon, hmmm? I think there is a bootable version on the APC DVD, maybe I'll try it tomorrow

The current hardware on which I am writing this post, was purchased because windows XP SP2 was becoming a dog to run. I thought, seeing I had to do a reinstall let's do the reinstall on a new FASTER pc.

Did that. For the first week or so, gee it was good. But when I installed the remaining software all the usual problems began to resurface.

Originally Posted by MrFixIt

If I have any item for which I want a newer or better part, I just go and buy it. eg using your analogy if I want to buy a new "sporty sounding" muffler for my car, I don't have to show my car to the retailer to show that I have the right to buy one.

Actually, this is happening for factory parts from the dealer now.

I rang the dealer to order a new shock mount bolt for my 2004 VW and I had to supply the VIN number to order the part. You could construe that VW are doing a bit of standover there, but the reality is that they just want to get the correct part supplied - when I asked, the spares guy said there were at least 6 different bolts used in different variants of the same basic car (Golf)

Microsoft, on the other hand are trying to verify that you actually bought your software and not pirated it. They have a point, it is a lot easier to take a copy of windows than a copy of my Golf I only wish they would start the process assuming innocence instead of the current guilty until proven innocent behaviour.

woodbe.

Then some program fails to shut down for any of innumerable reasons. Windows decides that I need to see this message and then shut down the program by ME having to click the "end now" button.

This is a PITA when I have ALREADY told Windows to SHUT DOWN.

I bet you would be the first one to whinge if it did force a shut down and you lost changes to a document or something.

I suspect you're just taking the mickey now because that's just about the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard you say, and that's saying something.

Hi

Originally Posted by Ron Dunn

MrFixIt, your "sporty sounding muffler" (an after-market accessory) is closer in analogy to buying a new sound card (a 3rd. party accessory) for your computer. That doesn't require any proof of licence from Microsoft.

No it isn't. I am referring to an (analogous) UPGRADE from the original manufacturer of my vehicle, to supply me with a "NEW VERSION" of the muffler, even though my old muffler was still working as designed.

As in the reference to an UPGRADE of a MS windows component. I don't recall which component I was upgrading when the instance occurred.

Ron, neither of us are going to convince the other of our respective points of view. You have a distinct bias pro MS, and in case it is not obvious, I have a distinct bias con MS.

My bias con MS has been developed over many years of seeing MS develop.

I don't have a problem with MS wanting to provide decent software. I do have a problem with their inability to provide efficient decent software and I have a major problem with MS wanting to supply everything, be everything and conquer the world approach to computing.

I really ought to stop reading this thread

Originally Posted by MrFixIt

I really ought to stop reading this thread

Why stop now, it's gotten out to this many pages, largely on your own efforts.

Don't desert us while we're enjoying ourselves!

woodbe.

Originally Posted by MrFixIt

I just read APC's article on KDE 4 (a Linux desktop/GUI ) and it looks good and it seems to work very well. I will be trying it out soon, hmmm? I think there is a bootable version on the APC DVD, maybe I'll try it tomorrow

A colleague and I have had a go at KDE 4 and were very impressed with it. The usability is good and even had computer illiterate's doing basic word processing and web browsing without too much drama.

Considering my next system will be a custom built without OEM Windows I think I will be going this way .

Hi

Originally Posted by silentC

I bet you would be the first one to whinge if it did force a shut down and you lost changes to a document or something.

I suspect you're just taking the mickey now because that's just about the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard you say, and that's saying something.

No, I think you misunderstand me.

I have deliberately selected to shut down the pc AFTER closing any of my documents, programs etc. The pc is more or less in a state were *I* have no programs running. Obviously there are assorted programs running in the system tray etc and windows own housekeeping, but nothing on which I am depending for data.

At this point I don't want the pc to "hang" I have specified to shut down, that's it.

The last time this happened I am quite sure it occurred because Outlook 2007 is set to check a mailbox when it shuts down. After closing Outlook 2007 I attempted to shut down the pc and the system displayed the "end now" dialog.

Originally Posted by woodbe

Why stop now, it's gotten out to this many pages, largely on your own efforts.

Don't desert us while we're enjoying ourselves!

woodbe.

Glad to help and be of service

...but people might get the impression I don't like Microsoft

On more than one occasion I have told Microsoft what I think, though I think my comments were made to the same deaf ears I mentioned earlier.

I do realise and appreciate that MS have done a great deal to improve the computer users "world". They did certainly remove much of the need to develop screen and printer drivers etc for many disparate systems. This was a GOOD thing. But now they have, to some extent, reversed the situation by requiring all/many the screen and printer drivers to be rewritten over and over again with new OS releases.

oh look, I've done it again, written yet another post in this thread

Hi

Originally Posted by Wood Butcher

A colleague and I have had a go at KDE 4 and were very impressed with it. The usability is good and even had computer illiterate's doing basic word processing and web browsing without too much drama.

Considering my next system will be a custom built without OEM Windows I think I will be going this way .

How about an update in the computers forum when you have KDE4 up and running?

Peter,

We just used the live version on the CD and upon the advice in the article are going to wait until v4.1 is released. The ultimate decision will come down to whether or not we can still play all our games on KDE

‘I have been a Windows user and software developer since 1992, and a DOS user and developer since 1984. I used to hate Macs and as recently as 9 months ago my avatar on one of my forums was John Hodgman (the PC guy from the Mac ads).

Now I really enjoy using my Mac and am drifting away from Windows as a platform. Here's why:’

To read the rest, go to...

http://www.davidalison.com/2008/04/m...res-why-i.html

------

MrFixIt... see attached, it seemed very appropriate to your situation (and others, and mine - I too must sometimes use MS. My god I hate it).

The last time this happened I am quite sure it occurred because Outlook 2007 is set to check a mailbox when it shuts down. After closing Outlook 2007 I attempted to shut down the pc and the system displayed the "end now" dialog.

Yes I understand. I've had that on a rare occasion too. In defence of that behaviour, the operating system doesn't know whether you want that application abnormally terminated or not. All it knows is that for whatever reason, the application has not responded to the 'terminate' request that has been sent to all running applications when you clicked 'Shut down'. If the O/S made that decision, it would have to be based on some logic (because that's how computers work). Unfortunately "Mr Fixit doesn't know why this app is running in the first place" is not going to cut it.

I think one of the fundamental requirements of an operating system is that it doesn't allow loss of data to occur. So Windows' way of handling that is when it encounters a running app that hasn't responded to the terminate event in the predetermined time, it notifies you, the user, about it and asks you what you want to do.

What you seem to be suggesting is that Windows should either somehow know that you don't care about it, or that it should arbitrarily just shut it down without telling you. I'm not sure that would be considered polite.

Interested in how you think it should be handled.

If you really need to shut down in a hurry there is always the BRS.

Originally Posted by silentC

I bet you would be the first one to whinge if it did force a shut down and you lost changes to a document or something..

My machine occasionally wont shut down either, no apps running just a prompt to close explorer.exe
Unfortunately we have no macs at work as I'd like to try some CAD software (That often crashes (not the OS) on my core 2 duo PC) Probably get Autocad fro mac but not 12D