Looking for guide: How to kill Microsoft

~~BMG_Cya=-~~ · Jun 17, 2003, 07:44 AM

Relax. I'm talking about the O/S. In particular, Windows XP Home.

Having had to re-install Windows XP several times, due to MOBO upgrades, Vid-Card Manufacturer changes, system crashes, etc.
it has become more than apparent that MS really invades your privacy, in general is a system resource pig, and an overall pain in the ass.

Looking for at least 5 opinions on some of the best Websites and/or guides, on how to keep MS in it's place.
Looking for answers to things like:

What is a system sub-spooler?

How come if I have a legit copy of a piece of software, but in order to avoid having to wear out my DVD drive, I get a
No-CD crack file, somehow after awhile MS/Win XP somehow knows this, and starts spitting out errors, forcing me
to re-install the software with CD-Key?

How can I keep MS from seemingly knowing every move I make?

How can I identify and shut-down all needless applications? (I know some, but there are other "suspicious" ones I don't know what the hell they do)

You get the idea. :wink:

Thanks ahead of time.

shuki · Jun 17, 2003, 08:19 AM

this might help a little - http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

eyeguy616 · Jun 17, 2003, 07:30 PM

Options:

Get XP Pro. You'll have less of those problems and will actually be able to deal some others.
OR: Get 2000 Pro and only install up to SP2, With SP3, Microsoft added much of the same phoning home things that are already in XP to 2k.
OR: Get 98lite Professional and wack Win98se or WinME with it. Makes it much more stable (NO IE!!!). Just get another browser like Mozilla-FireBird or Opera and you're set.

You should know how to "get" these things.
~eyeguy616

~~BMG_Cya=-~~ · Jun 17, 2003, 08:14 PM

The Viper site was good. Thanks. Any others? Not changing my O/S anytime soon, so...

shuki · Jun 18, 2003, 10:16 AM

http://www.dead-fish.com/articles/Re...esources.shtml

PangingJr · Jun 19, 2003, 06:54 PM

try "xp-AntiSpy" at xp-AntiSpy.de and disable "NetBIOS over TCP/IP" if you dont need it

~~Crash Override~~ · Jun 20, 2003, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BMG_Cya=-
Relax. I'm talking about the O/S. In particular, Windows XP Home.

Having had to re-install Windows XP several times, due to MOBO upgrades, Vid-Card Manufacturer changes, system crashes, etc.
it has become more than apparent that MS really invades your privacy, in general is a system resource pig, and an overall pain in the ass.

Looking for at least 5 opinions on some of the best Websites and/or guides, on how to keep MS in it's place.
Looking for answers to things like:

What is a system sub-spooler?

How come if I have a legit copy of a piece of software, but in order to avoid having to wear out my DVD drive, I get a
No-CD crack file, somehow after awhile MS/Win XP somehow knows this, and starts spitting out errors, forcing me
to re-install the software with CD-Key?

How can I keep MS from seemingly knowing every move I make?

How can I identify and shut-down all needless applications? (I know some, but there are other "suspicious" ones I don't know what the hell they do)

You get the idea. :wink:

Thanks ahead of time.

true XP uses more resources than 9x-2K

but it does alot more what did you expect?

To answer you question about the legit software MS/Win XP doesnt know you are using a no-cd crack

YOU changed something that caused it to do that.....OR the cd patch itself was flawed and only started giving errors after a certain period of time

Most of the system services are there for a reason

when you disable them make ABSOLUTELY certain that you dont need anything ran by that service otherwise it can cause more errors than you can think of

btw why reinstall for vid card changes?

i can see mobo as it usually blue screens otherwise

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jun 22, 2003, 05:44 PM

reason why u have to reinstall XP when installing a new mobo is that the mobo settings are saved within the windows folder in XP/2k, where in 9x/ME u can get a new mobo and go ahead because its smart to replace the older drivers. thats what i have heard.

EcPercy · Jun 22, 2003, 08:20 PM

xp home... heh... i got my wife a new machine and the first thing that i did when i got it home was to format the harddrive and install xp pro to get rid of the emachines bloatware....

i havent had a single problem with the machine.. and i also replaced the video card... cause integrated video sucks! I didnt reinstall the os with the video card update and it worked fine!

one other suggestion ... www.redhat.com

JavaFox · Jun 22, 2003, 08:50 PM

Here is what I do to new WinXP installs, step by step. I hope this is helpful to you. WinXP is really a good OS, but it's best when you know a few things about configuring it.

1) Right-click the Desktop and hit Properties. Click Appearance and switch to Windows Classic. Click the Effects button and turn off "Fade effect" and "Show shadows..."

2) Next, while still in Display properties, click the Desktop tab and then the Customize Desktop button. Make it show My Computer, My Documents, etc. icons on the desktop. (This is optional.)

3) Right-click on the My Computer icon (or, if you have icons disabled: System under Control Panel). Click the Advanced tab and then his the Settings button under Performance. Tell Windows to adjust its visual effects "For best performance." Go back and hit the Error Reporting button. Disable error reporting.

4) Run Atomic XP to disable WinXP zip, update ASPI drivers, etc.

5) Run JavaFox's tweaks.

You can ignore the ones that you don't understand or don't want, but, at the very least, RUN THE FAST SHUT DOWN one. WinXP has a tendency to sometimes hang on shut down, but that Registry tweak should fix it for ya.

6) Next, open up a My Computer window, click Tools on the toolbar, then Folder Options. Click the View tab, and make Windows show you its hidden files, extensions, etc.

7) After having used your PC for a while, run BootVis. It's a MS product that optimizes boot-up time.

8) Run Ad-Aware. Even on a clean install. WinXP has a spyware related Registry key installed called "Alexa," even after a fresh install. Run Ad-Aware right after you've finished configuring your system, and run it every few weeks to clean up.

---

You now have a computer configured just like mine!

Seriously, you don't have to follow these things word for word, but they do a lot to get WinXP hummin' along.

UberLord · Jun 23, 2003, 04:32 AM

Simple solution - Linux!

JavaFox · Jun 23, 2003, 05:09 AM

Linux is neither a solution (to a person that says he isn't interested in switching OSes) nor is it simple.

UberLord · Jun 23, 2003, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JavaFox
nor is it simple.

Sure sure.

My GF who is not very computer literate was away and using my Linux laptop for email, web, word processing and spreadsheets after showing her which icons launched which programs.

Linux is just as simple as Windows when it comes to using it