Stealing XP > Vista - Microsoft doesn't know how to feel

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:17 am

So here's a good news/bad news situation for Microsoft. The good news is that people aren't pirating Vista as much as XP. The bad news is that people are pirating XP twice as much, meaning that even when given a choice between each for free, people are sticking with trusty old XP. They can't even get people to steal Vista, right?! Well, not really.

To be fair, this probably has a lot to do with the fact that Vista is a lot harder to pirate than XP, which is pretty much cake to get for free. I mean, what kind of pirate would willfully put up with Windows Genuine Advantage when they could just not worry about it and use XP? But yeah, I'm sure a lot of people are pirating XP for the same reason people are still buying new computers with XP: Vista is still scary.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/piracy/pirat ... 329794.php

WoodLark · Post by **WoodLark** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:54 pm

Actually, I'd rather have Windows 2000 Pro than either XP or Vista! :roll: Then again, Slackware beats them all.

Tipperton · Post by **Tipperton** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:10 pm

I'll take XP Home edition, thank you.

In the three years since I installed it, it's never crashed or needed refreshing (repairing) or reloading and it still runs as smooth as it did the day I installed it.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:28 pm

Tipperton wrote: In the three years since I installed it, it's never crashed or needed refreshing (repairing) or reloading and it still runs as smooth as it did the day I installed it.

Totally agree, my computer with xp on is still running smooth after a couple of years. My new computer with vista has been reinstalled once already but that was to get rid of all the HP crap that it came with.

mrjiles · Post by **mrjiles** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:38 pm

I reinstall XP every year or so because I'm a neat freak. I don't like all the extra registry entries, files, etc. that are left over after uninstalling software. But, it's never crashed!

Rook Zimbabwe · Post by **Rook Zimbabwe** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:59 pm

You see... Microsoft tanked the new OS when they changed the name from LONGHORN... a name with solid, strong, Texas connotations... to VISTA which sounds more like a feminine hygene product!

XP Pro for me. 4 years so far and nary a wiggle... I had Vista Enterprise at t he office... sucked!

Of course MS insists on installing Genuine Software program crap every three months... Idiots! NO one without it would download updates!!!

PB · Post by PB » Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:47 pm

> I don't like all the extra registry entries, files, etc. that are left over after
> uninstalling software

Freeware: http://www.ccleaner.com/features

Just be sure to uncheck any Yahoo Toolbar option with the Setup.exe program.

WoodLark · Post by **WoodLark** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:57 pm

PB wrote:> I don't like all the extra registry entries, files, etc. that are left over after
> uninstalling software

I used to be a System Administrator for a network of about 300 Windows computers. I got fed up with Registry issues, that's why (one of several reasons) I prefer Slackware.

PB · Post by PB » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:01 pm

WoodLark wrote:
PB wrote:> I don't like all the extra registry entries, files, etc. that are left over after
> uninstalling software

Actually, it was mrjiles that said that; not I. I was just quoting him.

mrjiles · Post by **mrjiles** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:06 pm

PB wrote:> I don't like all the extra registry entries, files, etc. that are left over after
> uninstalling software

Freeware: http://www.ccleaner.com/features

Just be sure to uncheck any Yahoo Toolbar option with the Setup.exe program.

I actually use CCleaner already but nothing runs as smooth and fast as a fresh install.

Another good tool is Spybot S&D. It has an excellent feature for managing startup programs.

Tipperton · Post by **Tipperton** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:36 am

That has always been one of Windows biggest annoyances.

Unless you stay on top of it, Windows does like to collect all kinds of garbage.

Mistrel · Post by **Mistrel** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 7:36 am

I use Startup Monitor. It's one of my all time favorite tools. Stop unwanted startups before they're even added to the operating system.

http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml

gnozal · Post by **gnozal** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:50 am

Mistrel wrote:I use Startup Monitor. It's one of my all time favorite tools. Stop unwanted startups before they're even added to the operating system.
http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml

Another useful tool is AutoRuns.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysint ... oRuns.mspx
Imho, nothing beats the sysinternals tools (all free).

Tipperton · Post by **Tipperton** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:51 pm

Mistrel wrote:I use Startup Monitor. It's one of my all time favorite tools. Stop unwanted startups before they're even added to the operating system.

If you have it enabled, SpyBot S&D's TeaTimer will do this too as well as prevent a number of other things like browser home page hijacks.

For actually managing startup programs I use Mike Lin's Startup control panel applet, it's also available as a stand-alone EXE (both free).

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml