• anon (unregistered) in reply to DWalker59
    DWalker59:
    I have used every version of Windows since 3.0, and I have never seen Explorer crash in any version since 2000. Lucky?

    Or else I just know my systems, and I know what I'm installing. I usually build my own computers. When I "help" someone set up a new computer, I either reformat and reinstall only the necessary stuff (and not all of the shovelware) or else I remove most or all of the shovelware. Still, shovelware can crash and slow things down, but it doesn't usually bring down Windows Explorer (not since Windows XP SP2, anyway).

    You're either full of crap or lucky. If you're talking about a single computer (or one computer at a time, ie home user) then this isn't that surprising. Come back and talk when you've managed corporate deployments of a few thousand machines. As I think of it, most of the thing I've seen that kill explorer are domain and/or group policy related, though I have run into issues on home computers from time to time. Hiccups in network connectivity while using mapped network drives is one of the most common ways for it to die. The hell that is Active Desktop (which until Server 2008 was the only way to force a desktop background w/o mandatory profiles) is another prime offender. gpupdate will bring it down for no apparent reason from time to time. However, other times it just dies and there's no explanation. And if you can honestly claim you've never seen this, you really haven't worked on very many Windows desktops.

  • SR (unregistered) in reply to anon
    anon:
    Hiccups in network connectivity while using mapped network drives is one of the most common ways for it to die.

    Hmm. I was wondering about this. So are you saying that the company policy of having 5 drives mapped to letters for all users at all times is a bad one?

  • Bert Glanstron (unregistered) in reply to Severity One
    Severity One:
    SARUMANATEE:
    There's a world outside of the US?
    Yes, and it uses the metric system.

    Dear Severity One,

    In case you can’t tell, this is a grown-up place. The fact that you insist on using your ridiculous measurement system clearly shows that you’re too young and too stupid to be using thedailywtf.com.

    Go away and grow up.

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

  • (cs) in reply to anon
    anon:
    The Admin requirement is partially the fault of poor 3rd Party Software development, but it's partially Microsoft's fault as well. They pretty much required the practice for decades, and even as they slowly lifted the requirements they did nothing to actively discourage the practice. Automatically creating the first user as an Admin and encouraging users to be constantly logged in as Admin just made it easy for 3rd Party Devs to continue their crappy practices, and now 10 years later we're still feeling the effects, and probably will be for another 5.
    There's two causes for "the admin problem". First, most of the early versions of Windows didn't support restricted accounts at all. Windows 3.0, 3.1, 3.1, 95, 98, and Me had no concept of a restricted user and most of the available software was developed without even thinking about permissions. You could call it Microsoft's fault for not supporting restricted users, but its user base and marketing focus mandated it. If Windows were architected like UNIX from day one, we would all be complaining about whatever OS would have dominated in the 1990's, and it wouldn't have been Windows. The second cause was how they introduced restricted users. Microsoft chose two strategies -- to introduce a "Workstation" OS that would have proper security and use it as an application proving ground, and to favor backwards compatibility over security for its consumer OS, which was planned to have been killed before a second version was developed (this was Windows 95). Unfortunately, almost every piece of 3rd party 32-bit software was developed with Windows 95 as a target instead of targeting Windows NT and supporting Windows 95 (explicitly ignoring Microsoft's recommendations). This caused a new generation of applications that Microsoft had to provide backward compatibility for. This went on for five years, with Microsoft constantly telling developers that the 95 product line was soon to be killed, but most developers totally ignoring them and writing software that ignores the security restrictions of Windows NT. When Microsoft finally killed the 95 line with the introduction of Windows XP, they had two choices -- make the default user a restricted user and have security but very little backwards compatibility, or make the default user an admin and have great backwards compatibility and little security. The need to sell software dictated that they favor compatibility. Not exactly the story of an incompetent company, but rather a company that compromised security for market success. Pretty much by definition, the company that compromises everything else for market success best will succeed in the market. So, we were destined to have a market winner that sucked in the security realm until market forces started demanding security as a core feature.
    anon:
    As for the backdoor, it's hard to claim deliberate insertion of backdoors, but if it wasn't a deliberate backdoor, ActiveX was just the dumbest piece of software engineering of all time.
    ActiveX wasn't really technology. Technically, ActiveX is just COM (which was quite old at the time ActiveX was introduced) with a few properties to support embedding a component in Internet Explorer. It was really a marketing move to attempt to convince a large number of developers to build web apps as COM components, so they would only run on Windows. Of course, 99% of developers were smart enough to realize that web apps bound to Windows were a stupid idea. The plan was to divert all this energy being put into developing web applications and make sure that it didn't go into non-Windows technologies. The next step would have been to turn the apps back into desktop apps and kill the Internet. This was a desperate move by a company that saw the power of the Internet way too late. Don't fool yourself into thinking that anyone at Microsoft thought ActiveX ever made sense from a technology point of view. This was one of the big "embrace and extinguish" moves by Microsoft against the Internet.
  • Benjamin Franklin (unregistered) in reply to Jaime
    Jaime:
    Pretty much by definition, the company that compromises everything else for market success best will succeed in the market.

    They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary security, deserve neither liberty nor security.

  • Billy Madison (unregistered) in reply to Mal1024
    Mal1024:
    bill:
    TRWTF is that he exchanged the shirt in September 2010

    Many countries write the date as day/month/year.

    Billy: Man, why did I have so many drinks? I can't remember! What's today? Frank: October?

  • Calli Arcale (unregistered) in reply to Rufus T. Firefly
    Rufus T. Firefly:
    Severity One:
    SARUMANATEE:
    There's a world outside of the US?
    Yes, and it uses the metric system.
    So those were metric dollars?
    <pedantic> No, they were decimalized dollars. The metric system is decimalized, but not all things which are decimalized are metric. The first decimalized currency was the Russian ruble (equal to 100 kopecks), in 1704, but it took a long time to catch on worldwide. As far as I know, the second country to decimalize was one which had a perfect opportunity to do so in that it was a brand new country that had no previous currency to worry about: the United States, which set the US Dollar equivalent to 100 cents in 1792. France followed suit only three years later in its own revolution, definining a franc as equal to 100 centimes. France went *crazy* with decimalization; in addition to the franc and inventing the metric system, they also decided to try and decimalize time. Unfortunately, the motions of the Earth and Moon don't really lend themselves to that, and decimal time ultimately failed, though decimal measures and decimal currencies went on to great success worldwide.

    Today, only two countries use non-decimal currency: Mauritania and Madagascar. Three countries still use non-metric measures: the United States, Burma, and Liberia. </pedantic>

  • tego-tego (unregistered) in reply to Keloran
    Keloran:
    Everyone knows that 3 is the magic number
    Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out.
  • The Nerve (unregistered) in reply to Calli Arcale

    To be perfectly honest, I willing to make the switch to the metric system today. I just have two requirements.

    1. Change "meter" to be the size of my foot.
    2. Change "kilometer" to be 5,280 "meters"
  • Mounted Mounty (unregistered) in reply to Cbuttius
    Cbuttius:
    I want to plug in a disk drive or other device and for it to be available immediately without me having to "mount" it. I don't want anything to start "playing" it or trying to "manage" its media for me though.
    If you can't mount it and play with it at the same time, you're doing it wrong.
  • Job (unregistered)

    TRWTF is paper receipts.

  • Metric Mike (unregistered) in reply to The Nerve
    The Nerve:
    To be perfectly honest, I willing to make the switch to the metric system today. I just have two requirements.
    1. Change "meter" to be the size of my foot.
    2. Change "kilometer" to be 5,280 "meters". 3. Change "meter" to be 12 "centimeters". 4. Change "liter" to be 128 "milliliters". 5. Change "kilogram" to be 16 "grams".
    FTFY
  • Borken (unregistered) in reply to Jaime
    Jaime:
    If Windows were architected like UNIX from day one, we would all be cheering, driving flying cars, and a guy named Linus would not be the famous guy he is today.

    FTFY

  • GM (unregistered) in reply to Borken
    Borken:
    Jaime:
    If Windows were architected like UNIX from day one, we would all be cheering, driving flying Chevrolet Silverados, and a guy named Linus would not be the famous guy he is today.

    FTFY

    FTFY2

  • (cs)

    The process monitor designer was one short default away from being lauded as a poet:

    Quoth the raven, "The application was; but nevermore."
  • ÆÃ (unregistered)

    MONTH/DAY/YEAR

    Because calendars are organized by month/day, not by day/month.

  • Your Mother (unregistered) in reply to ÆÃ

    Let's try using our inside voices, ok?

  • 2300 (unregistered) in reply to Borken
    TRWTF is when Explorer crashes for no apparent reason. TRWTF is taking 20 minutes to start up and then still busy doing something that doesn't show up in the Task Manager but pre-empts any prompt use of programs. TRWTF is requiring internet connectivity to view help files. TRWTF is disk defrag. TRWTF is the blue screen of death when I plug in a mouse. TRWTF is releasing a version where the firewall was disabled by default. TRWTF is running everything as an Administrator TRWTF is leaving back doors to the operating system open and not thinking anyone will find them.
    You forgot to mention that a file cannot be opened twice.
  • CAPTCHA: Secundum (unregistered) in reply to Bert Glanstron
    Bert Glanstron:
    Severity One:
    SARUMANATEE:
    There's a world outside of the US?
    Yes, and it uses the metric system.

    Dear Severity One,

    In case you can’t tell, this is a grown-up place. The fact that you insist on using your ridiculous measurement system clearly shows that you’re too young and too stupid to be using thedailywtf.com.

    Go away and grow up.

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

    +100

  • (cs) in reply to Stuart MacDonald
    Stuart MacDonald:
    Ken B.:
    Cbuttius:
    Sexchanging a shirt means moving the buttons from the right side to the left side or vice-versa, and the buttonholes the other way.
    That's a simple process. Simply pull it into the 4th dimension, flip it over, and return.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_Who_Reversed_Himself
    Thank you! I read that book years ago, and everything but the name has stuck with me ever since. I've been trying to remember the title, but without success.
  • Mike (unregistered) in reply to Ken B.
    Ken B.:
    Cbuttius:
    Sexchanging a shirt means moving the buttons from the right side to the left side or vice-versa, and the buttonholes the other way.
    That's a simple process. Simply pull it into the 4th dimension, flip it over, and return.

    Couldn't we just turn the shirt inside-out? Or, better yet, just turn and face the other direction?

    Yes, I know it doesn't work.

  • yername (unregistered) in reply to SR
    SR:
    SR:
    L. Aughter:
    TRWTF is spelling it "Labor"

    That's how it's spelled.

    SR DKS

    FTFY

  • enim lla enim (unregistered)

    FYI twitter.com/yourname does exist...

  • Mike (unregistered) in reply to Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward:
    I take it you've never needed to run iTunes..

    No. I run Windows, with an ipod. And I still don't use itunes. Why would I install that unnecessary garbage?

  • (cs) in reply to Borken
    Borken:
    Jaime:
    If Windows were architected like UNIX from day one, we would all be cheering, driving flying cars, and a guy named Linus would not be the famous guy he is today.

    FTFY

    Nope, if Windows were architected like UNIX, both Bill Gates' and Linus Torvalds' offspring would have a 2% desktop market share and we would be complaining about GEM or some other 1980's piece of crap.

    The consumer market demanded crap in the 1990's, it is not possible for good software to win in that environment.

  • Bert Glanstron (unregistered)

    Being bored on a Friday I was doing some ego-surfing and I discovered this site. So why are y'all posting stuff using my name?

    Bert Glanstron

  • Bert Glanstron (unregistered) in reply to Bert Glanstron
    Bert Glanstron:
    Being bored on a Friday I was doing some ego-surfing and I discovered this site. So why are y'all posting stuff using my name?

    Bert Glanstron

    Dear Bert,

    Frankly, I am shocked. I have no idea why "Bert Glanstron" is showing up in the messages. The comments clearly indicate that no handles are allowed, and I don't have a choice as to what name is displayed on the posted messages.

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

  • Bert Glanstron (unregistered) in reply to Bert Glanstron
    Bert Glanstron:
    Bert Glanstron:
    Being bored on a Friday I was doing some ego-surfing and I discovered this site. So why are y'all posting stuff using my name?

    Bert Glanstron

    Dear Bert,

    Frankly, I am shocked. I have no idea why "Bert Glanstron" is showing up in the messages. The comments clearly indicate that no handles are allowed, and I don't have a choice as to what name is displayed on the posted messages.

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

    Dear Bert Glanstron,

    You are an idiot and should be banned from your mommy and daddy’s modem

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

  • Bert Glanstron (unregistered)

    OK, first of all to you two fake Berts, I'm the real Bert. And you should know that we're all required to use our real names around here, so you are acting immature.

    Now get off my lawn.

    Bert Glanstron

  • Alex Pampadampolis (unregistered) in reply to Bert Glanstron
    Bert Glanstron:
    Bert Glanstron:
    Bert Glanstron:
    Being bored on a Friday I was doing some ego-surfing and I discovered this site. So why are y'all posting stuff using my name?

    Bert Glanstron

    Dear Bert,

    Frankly, I am shocked. I have no idea why "Bert Glanstron" is showing up in the messages. The comments clearly indicate that no handles are allowed, and I don't have a choice as to what name is displayed on the posted messages.

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

    Dear Bert Glanstron,

    You are an idiot and should be banned from your mommy and daddy’s modem

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

    Since it is my responsibility to ensure the appropriate name is sent to thedailywtf's comments, I would like to apologize. It is my fault for not synching properly, and I can assure you that it won’t happen again.

  • Bert Glanstron (unregistered) in reply to Alex Pampadampolis
    Alex Pampadampolis:
    Bert Glanstron:
    Bert Glanstron:
    Bert Glanstron:
    Being bored on a Friday I was doing some ego-surfing and I discovered this site. So why are y'all posting stuff using my name?

    Bert Glanstron

    Dear Bert,

    Frankly, I am shocked. I have no idea why "Bert Glanstron" is showing up in the messages. The comments clearly indicate that no handles are allowed, and I don't have a choice as to what name is displayed on the posted messages.

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

    Dear Bert Glanstron,

    You are an idiot and should be banned from your mommy and daddy’s modem

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

    Since it is my responsibility to ensure the appropriate name is sent to thedailywtf's comments, I would like to apologize. It is my fault for not synching properly, and I can assure you that it won’t happen again.

    Dear Alex,

    This forum is exactly what’s wrong with thedailywtf.com! They are dragging down the whole system with their idiocy! I insist that they are cut from thedailywtf.com completely!

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

  • ÃÆâ€℠(unregistered) in reply to Alex Pampadampolis
    Alex Pampadampolis:
    Bert Glanstron:
    Bert Glanstron:
    Bert Glanstron:
    Being bored on a Friday I was doing some ego-surfing and I discovered this site. So why are y'all posting stuff using my name?

    Bert Glanstron

    Dear Bert,

    Frankly, I am shocked. I have no idea why "Bert Glanstron" is showing up in the messages. The comments clearly indicate that no handles are allowed, and I don't have a choice as to what name is displayed on the posted messages.

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

    Dear Bert Glanstron,

    You are an idiot and should be banned from your mommy and daddy’s modem

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

    Since it is my responsibility to ensure the appropriate name is sent to thedailywtf's comments, I would like to apologize. It is my fault for not synching properly, and I can assure you that it won’t happen again.

    ALEX!!! Your write better comments than articles...

  • Chris (unregistered) in reply to Borken
    Borken:
    Grant:
    TRWTF is that you're apparently still using Windows XP.

    TRWTF is that you're willing to pay for an operating system that's worse in every way than one you can get for free.

    1. not all linux distros are free
    2. your claim is TRWTF. IF, and it's a big if, you are willing to take the time to properly setup a linux box, it is easier than any other system, but out of the box, mac wins, closely followed by windows.

    In the interest of full disclosure, I do use Ubuntu 8.04.

  • Drew (unregistered) in reply to Chris
    Chris:
    1. not all linux distros are free 2. your claim is TRWTF. IF, and it's a big if, you are willing to take the time to properly setup a linux box, it is easier than any other system, but out of the box, mac wins, closely followed by windows.

    Get three identical brand new computers. Remove the manufacturer's preformatted hard disks and install three identical blank disks. Install Windows on one, MacOS on the next and Linux on the third. Yes you can start them in that order; the Linux install will still be done first. It'll boot and log in faster too.

    The thing is, most Windows and Mac users pay someone else to do the install, so they think it is easy and "just works" "right out of the box". And if you want to pay someone, you can get Linux that way too.

  • Borken (unregistered) in reply to Chris
    Chris:
    Borken:
    Grant:
    TRWTF is that you're apparently still using Windows XP.

    TRWTF is that you're willing to pay for an operating system that's worse in every way than one you can get for free.

    1. not all linux distros are free
    2. your claim is TRWTF. IF, and it's a big if, you are willing to take the time to properly setup a linux box, it is easier than any other system, but out of the box, mac wins, closely followed by windows.

    In the interest of full disclosure, I do use Ubuntu 8.04.

    For those who don't know, Ubuntu's distros are numbered as [year].[month]. For Chris' sake, why don't you upgrade? You're two LTS' back!

  • a (unregistered)

    Zee wall! It haz been overran with zee Linux zealots!

  • Dude (unregistered)

    On the plus side, if we were able to talk everyone into using Linux, this website wouldn't have so much great content.

  • Bert Glanstron (unregistered) in reply to Borken
    Borken:
    Chris:
    Borken:
    Grant:
    TRWTF is that you're apparently still using Windows XP.

    TRWTF is that you're willing to pay for an operating system that's worse in every way than one you can get for free.

    1. not all linux distros are free
    2. your claim is TRWTF. IF, and it's a big if, you are willing to take the time to properly setup a linux box, it is easier than any other system, but out of the box, mac wins, closely followed by windows.

    In the interest of full disclosure, I do use Ubuntu 8.04.

    For those who don't know, Ubuntu's distros are numbered as [year].[month]. For Chris' sake, why don't you upgrade? You're two LTS' back!

    Dear Chris,

    In case you can’t tell, this is a grown-up place. The fact that you don't understand how to upgrade Ubuntu clearly shows that you’re too young and too stupid to be using Linux.

    Go away and grow up.

    Sincerely, Bert Glanstron

  • (cs) in reply to Borken
    Borken:
    Chris:
    In the interest of full disclosure, I do use Ubuntu 8.04.

    For those who don't know, Ubuntu's distros are numbered as [year].[month]. For Chris' sake, why don't you upgrade? You're two LTS' back!

    TRWTF is that a distro from Year 8 is only "two LTS' back".

  • Borken (unregistered) in reply to da Doctah
    da Doctah:
    Borken:
    Chris:
    In the interest of full disclosure, I do use Ubuntu 8.04.

    For those who don't know, Ubuntu's distros are numbered as [year].[month]. For Chris' sake, why don't you upgrade? You're two LTS' back!

    TRWTF is that a distro from Year 8 is only "two LTS' back".

    It's only a WTF if you fail to understand what an LTS is and what it is used for. For the answer to that question, I suggest Google.

    How does your foot taste?

  • vovo (unregistered)

    Five days ago I plugged a usb power cable into my Windows 7 machine and got a BSOD. So, something hasn't been fixed yet.

  • Esteamed Historian (unregistered) in reply to Borken
    Borken:
    da Doctah:
    Borken:
    Chris:
    In the interest of full disclosure, I do use Ubuntu 8.04.

    For those who don't know, Ubuntu's distros are numbered as [year].[month]. For Chris' sake, why don't you upgrade? You're two LTS' back!

    TRWTF is that a distro from Year 8 is only "two LTS' back".

    It's only a WTF if you fail to understand what an LTS is and what it is used for. For the answer to that question, I suggest Google.

    How does your foot taste?

    I think he was referring to the fact that Year 8 was 2002 years ago.

  • Another Historian (unregistered) in reply to Esteamed Historian
    Esteamed Historian:
    Borken:
    da Doctah:
    Borken:
    Chris:
    In the interest of full disclosure, I do use Ubuntu 8.04.

    For those who don't know, Ubuntu's distros are numbered as [year].[month]. For Chris' sake, why don't you upgrade? You're two LTS' back!

    TRWTF is that a distro from Year 8 is only "two LTS' back".

    It's only a WTF if you fail to understand what an LTS is and what it is used for. For the answer to that question, I suggest Google.

    How does your foot taste?

    I think he was referring to the fact that Year 8 was 2002 years ago.

    Ubuntu 8.04: the distro that Jesus used!

  • Just me (unregistered) in reply to da Doctah

    That's almost a rolling release. One LTS version per 1000 years.

  • Esteamed Historian (unregistered) in reply to Another Historian
    Another Historian:
    Esteamed Historian:
    Borken:
    da Doctah:
    Borken:
    Chris:
    In the interest of full disclosure, I do use Ubuntu 8.04.

    For those who don't know, Ubuntu's distros are numbered as [year].[month]. For Chris' sake, why don't you upgrade? You're two LTS' back!

    TRWTF is that a distro from Year 8 is only "two LTS' back".

    It's only a WTF if you fail to understand what an LTS is and what it is used for. For the answer to that question, I suggest Google.

    How does your foot taste?

    I think he was referring to the fact that Year 8 was 2002 years ago.

    Ubuntu 8.04: the distro that Jesus used!

    The only problem is, it hangs when you run crucifix.exe...

  • (cs) in reply to Esteamed Historian
    Esteamed:

    I have the eSteamer, too. AKA "the old egg in the microwave trick".

  • Chris (unregistered) in reply to da Doctah
    da Doctah:
    Borken:
    Chris:
    In the interest of full disclosure, I do use Ubuntu 8.04.

    For those who don't know, Ubuntu's distros are numbered as [year].[month]. For Chris' sake, why don't you upgrade? You're two LTS' back!

    TRWTF is that a distro from Year 8 is only "two LTS' back".

    LOL. 8.04 is still supported, and I don't think the later releases have any significant new features, or at least ones that are significant enough to warrant upgrading. But if there are any major benefits, let me know.

    and yes, I know 10.04 starts up quickly, but damn does it look ugly, and i've heard it doesn't play nice with older versions of gnome.

  • Cornfused (unregistered) in reply to Esteamed Historian
    Esteamed Historian:
    Another Historian:
    Esteamed Historian:
    Borken:
    da Doctah:
    Borken:
    Chris:
    In the interest of full disclosure, I do use Ubuntu 8.04.

    For those who don't know, Ubuntu's distros are numbered as [year].[month]. For Chris' sake, why don't you upgrade? You're two LTS' back!

    TRWTF is that a distro from Year 8 is only "two LTS' back".

    It's only a WTF if you fail to understand what an LTS is and what it is used for. For the answer to that question, I suggest Google.

    How does your foot taste?

    I think he was referring to the fact that Year 8 was 2002 years ago.

    Ubuntu 8.04: the distro that Jesus used!

    The only problem is, it hangs when you run crucifix.exe...

    Why would you run an exe file?

  • Solution (unregistered) in reply to Cornfused
    Cornfused:
    Esteamed Historian:
    Another Historian:
    Esteamed Historian:
    Borken:
    da Doctah:
    Borken:
    Chris:
    In the interest of full disclosure, I do use Ubuntu 8.04.

    For those who don't know, Ubuntu's distros are numbered as [year].[month]. For Chris' sake, why don't you upgrade? You're two LTS' back!

    TRWTF is that a distro from Year 8 is only "two LTS' back".

    It's only a WTF if you fail to understand what an LTS is and what it is used for. For the answer to that question, I suggest Google.

    How does your foot taste?

    I think he was referring to the fact that Year 8 was 2002 years ago.

    Ubuntu 8.04: the distro that Jesus used!

    The only problem is, it hangs when you run crucifix.exe...

    Why would you run an exe file?

    Because Jesus created Wine!

  • Chris (unregistered)

    Btw, it's only one lts release back https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases

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