Windows 8 Pissed Me Off Again

As I previously stated, I hate constantly griping over anything. However, Windows 8 just keeps on piling on the stupidity. Every consumer I know buys a computer for their use and convenience. Over the years, computer users have become addicted,(yes, addicted)to using their computers to handle routine tasks. From writing letters, answering their mail to balancing their checkbooks, computer users have allowed their computers to handle such matters. That is one of the reasons that laptop computers have become so widespread. They allow people to keep in touch and to speedily execute routine or business tasks. So, imagine my surprise when I could not use my brand new laptop to help a friend. Microsoft locked me out of my computer. I could not sign in to my desktop. Mind you, I am a computer tech. I bought this laptop to facilitate my work, personal as well as business. I am always doing research, writing and solving computer problems presented to me,(sometimes, unexpectedly). I also bought a Windows 8 system specifically because it is Microsoft's latest operating system and I wanted to be fully prepared to assist my customers. But damn! Microsoft's designers and engineers have hit rock bottom on the glaring stupidities of this system's design. Everyone knows that a laptop's main attraction for the consumer is its portability. You can work on the go, almost anywhere. You don't need an internet connection unless you want to do some internet work. Well, not until now. Windows 8 forces you to stay connected to the internet if you want to access your computer! Heaven help you if you have major work pending and you do not have access to a random wifi connection where you are. If you believe (as I did) that a password protected your computer from unauthorized access by others, think again. Windows 8's sign-in account protects your computer from access by you unless you can connect to the internet. Can you tell why I'm pissed off?

I have already written about the inconvenience of Windows 8's indiscriminate automatic updates and the practice of locking you out of your machine in the midst of whatever you are doing at the time. Other consumers have complained to me about other inconveniences they have suffered, and I know that Microsoft has received a lot of criticisms from other consumers and techs around the world. As usual, Microsoft continues to release unfinished programs on the world because it can and to hell with consumers. This practice is not new and, apparently, Microsoft has no intention of changing this behavior any time soon. Although I am not an elite program designer, I do know that designing a computer program should begin with a flowchart outlining the problems to overcome and steps to take to do so. The flowchart should take into consideration the needs of the consumer for whom it is being prepared. To design an operating system that will be used on mobile equipment without considering ease of access is unforgivably inconsiderate. At least inform potential consumers that they will be unable to access their computers if they sign in only with a Microsoft account. That option is not presented to consumers on setup, so many consumers are currently oblivious that they are being held hostage by Microsoft. And many city-dwellers will never become aware of this fact because of the abundance of wifi hotspots in heavily populated areas. My advice to everyone who has only set up a Microsoft sign-in account on their systems is to also set up a local sign in account. This is in the event of having to use your computer in areas without wifi connectivity. Hopefully, you won't find yourself in my shoes; wasted time and effort and unable to complete routine tasks. My advice to Microsoft is to carefully consider the inconveniences they are causing their customers around the world and remedy them as soon as possible. Remember, you are never too big to need your customers.

Sweetpacks Virus vs Avastfree Browser Cleanup Tool

You may have recently encountered a persistent and annoying search program called Sweetpacks on your system. It mysteriously appears as part of your browser and, try as you can, you can’t get it uninstalled, even when you remove it using control panel. Of course, the first reaction is to try various virus removers to root out this sucker. When it still returns, even after doing some registry-cleaning, you throw up your hands and become absolutely frustrated. After all, what program continues to run even after removing its registry keys? Sweetpacks does.

I recently had a bout with Sweetpacks. It sent me reeling against the ropes. It was that tough. I used all the available tools and techniques at my disposal but still could not conquer this beast. It burrowed so deeply into Google Chrome that even Malwarebytes could not find it. Even Avast’s Browser Cleanup Tool could not remove it from my Chrome browser (easy pickings for Mozilla Firefox). I was stumped.

All my internet research was almost of no avail. Step by step instructions from “Malware Tips” could not be easily followed on the latest versions of Chrome, so those did not help. (I did not try Hitman Pro). I rifled through my internet options, changing my connection settings and related items but that did not help. I ran “regedit.exe” to remove all references to Sweetpacks from H_key_Current User (Software) and H_Key_Current Machine (Software), but when I rebooted my machine, there it was again! Other people afflicted with this curse had removed it from their systems, why couldn’t I? I put my thinking cap back on. (Had to take it off my smoking brains for a minute to allow my head to cool down. Lol)

Satisfied that I had done everything possible, I again turned to my antivirus software to see if I had overlooked any features. Malwarebytes said no, but lo and behold, Avastfree Browser Cleanup Tool asked me if I wanted to return my browser to its default setting? I highlighted Chrome and clicked “yes”. Shortly thereafter, I received a message that my browser had been returned to normal. Curious to see if this was so, I restarted my computer (to ensure a clean boot) and checked my offending browser. It was working perfectly now! How do you spell R-e-l-i-e-f?

Had I carefully scrutinized the Avastfree program, I could have restored my browser in a mere fraction of the time I had used working up a lather of frustration. In a previous posting, I have properly commended the produces of “freeware”, and extolled their praises. Once again, I wish to reiterate that some of the most effective programs on the internet are free of charge, including Avastfree Anti-virus. Kudos to Grisoft for making this tool freely available to consumers. I am, hereby recommending Avastfree Browser Cleanup Tool to all and sundry, especially those affected by the Sweetpacks virus.

Don't Box Me In

Hate to keep on  griping about stuff, but Microsoft's Windows 8 is a travesty foisted upon millions of people just because it could be done. The poor design and thoughtlessness of this program outranks all  of the other stupidities suffered by Microsoft consumers through the years. I understand the fact that most of the world's computers run on the Windows operating system. Microsoft should, therefore, be mindful that any changes they introduce into the computing environment would quite practically affect the lives of millions of people all over the world.

So many people depend upon their computers to organize their lives and businesses, that the inability to use their computers as they choose (as opposed to how Microsoft dictates) is truly frustrating. Windows 8 makes performing routine tasks, such as downloading and installing .apk apps utterly impossible unless they are provided by the Windows store. To me, that is a travesty that should not be allowed anywhere, regardless of how huge the company that does it. In my opinion it is akin to shooting fish in a barrel. It gives Microsoft a virtual monopoly over users of Windows 8 unless they are techies and hackers.

Another disrespectful feature of Windows 8 is the upgrade process. Previous versions of Windows notified users of the presence of new upgrades to their programs and allowed them to activate them at their own leisure. Microsoft has taken away that autonomy from Windows 8 users.Without warning and with no regard for what you may be doing, Microsoft will seize your computer to perform its upgrades. Microsoft assumes total control of your machine and there is nothing you can do about it! It's like you bought Windows 8 but it owns you. I, for one, hate other people controlling my personal computer. And so do my friends and customers.

As a computer professional, I know that I am offended when Windows 8 brings up its cynical dialogue to ask me what program should it use to install or open an app. How much more offensive can it be to an occasional user to face this same query from his/her trusty machine? For many years, consumers have trusted their machines to work for them and spare them the gritty details of installing and using the programs they want to use. Why burden them with that now? Is Microsoft suggesting that every computer user suddenly become technicians in order to use a computer? Isn't that a throwback to the earliest days of personal computing when one had to learn DOS (at least) to use a computer? Shame on you Microsoft.

Like I said, I hate to keep griping about stuff but Microsoft has to understand that, in this age of freedom, it cannot foist intellectual narrow-mindedness on the world. Year after year I have dealt with Microsoft's mistakes and problems associated with them in my capacity as a computer tech, but Windows 8 is intolerable. What is Microsoft's hidden agenda? To restrict computing to only the technically savvy? To monopolize the .apk market or censor what .apk programs should be available to the world? C'mon Microsoft, we have come too far to allow a technological tyrant to take over the world. Don't try to box me in! Allow Windows 8 to process any .apk app that consumers want to use on their computers without censorship.

Windows 8..Can' t play a dvd?

Windows 8 continues to frustrate me and my friend. People who personally know me will tell you that I am a very patient man. I have to be. I've been repairing computers for quite a few years. And I've been teaching people to use computers for a very long time.

Most people are happy to be able to use their computers to play a few games and to operate their favorite programs. They will not truly understand my frustrations with Windows 8. Others are content to have the latest operating system on their machines. They don't really care how long it takes them to perform their regular maneuvers. When they become frustrated, they walk away and blame themselves. I don't want to be in either group. I work on "ill" computers and I can't walk away when I become frustrated. Time is money. Work is a joy unless it becomes frustrating. This brings me to the latest incident.

My friend wanted to watch a movie on the new laptop. She popped it in, the drive whirred a few times, then...nothing happened. The screen showed its usual tiles, but where was the movie?? Of course, she brought it to me to solve the mystery of the invisible movie. I popped the drive and reinserted the movie. Again, nothing but whirring. No indication of a player or anything. I checked the tiles for one of the players shown there. Nothing. My friend is now looking at me as if to say "what the hell? Where is my movie?" Understand that she is used to just popping in a dvd and the movie begins playing. Windows 8 now makes you have to work for it. I admit, I am perplexed. I switch to the desktop, no movie, no drive, no notifications of what is required. My friend walks out of the room. I wanted to get back to what I was doing originally, but I couldn't let her down. This is what I did.

• I opened the desktop
• Clicked desktop assist
• Clicked computer
• Right-clicked drive to show options
• Pinned the drive to the start tiles
• Exited to start screen
• Clicked the drive tile and chose a program to play dvd
• Played the movie.

I was pissed as hell! All that work to play a doggone dvd. Who is the genius who thought of that? How many computer users want to go through that sequence to play a simple dvd?  What happened to ease of use? Microsoft spent a lot of time and money to train people to accept and use its Windows operating systems. Why, after all these years, would it deviate from everything its consumers have learned to introduce a rather complex learning curve with this totally alien system? I must admit that I am totally perplexed.

I am not saying that I am not impressed by some of the features of Windows 8. The ability to use both android and "regular" programs is pure genius. But "ease of use" is more important to me than any other feature. Windows 8 (and Microsoft) is sadly lacking this feature. Having to switch between apps to get to and continue a job is a serious time-waster.  I hate to be a naysayer, but I feel at this point that Windows 8 was not properly planned and executed and I believe that I am not alone in this feeling.