[PCWorld]

Post your comments for The Most Annoying Things About Windows Vista here

[cyanna]

The black screen on UAC is called "Secure desktop". In order to still have UAC but not the secure desktop: Orb>control panel>Administrative tools>Local security policy>local policies>security options. In the right pane scroll down to "User account control:Switch to secure desktop...." Right click and disable. Icons and their sizes: Click in an empty area on the desktop, press control and scroll with the wheel. The icons will resize and the settings are per user and consistent between reboots.Now try to use several adapters to connect to the internet/intranet and make Vista tell you when a specific one has lost connectivity. That I really miss from XP. I also miss my printer software and Zone Alarm free. When in Home premium I miss the ability to scan documents (printer software won't install and the built-in is only available in Ultimate). Virtual PC 2007 doesn't install either.....My 2 pennies: Vista is a nice product, it's just not ready for mass consumption.

[dibblebill]

I run Vista Home Premium and I haven't had problems with these yet- I got used to UAC using Ubuntu Linux (which still uses the same method, and others, that I contend that Vista ripped off). In fact, I have only strange problems. During boot-up, It won't load the log-in screen (just stays and says "Please wait" on the blue/green background) or won't log in (either same thing as before or a black screen). It's only occasional, though, so that's a plus. It may have something to do with the fact that my Laptop is barely meeting minimum requirements for Aero though.

[Dougrrr]

You guys missed a big one: None of Apple's software works with Vista. This is according to Apple on it's website. I don't think they are in any hurry to fix it.AND.....Vista is slower than XP. M$ want's me to pay money for this? No Mr. Ballmer, it's not Pirates causing slower than expected Vista sales. It's from people reading articles like this. Wake up M$!!!!!!After reading your article, and coupled with what I know from people who use it, I'll pass on Vista. Maybe when Vista SE comes out, I'll reconsider. I can't believe that after 5 years and 6 Billion dollars this is the best that M$ could come up with.

[NyoraiWest]

You forgot to mention one of the most annoying things about Vista, "Where's the heck is the file menu?"While Vista may be end user, it certainly is not tech friendly. If you expect to search your computer and change your folder settings, and mess with the stuff Microsoft doesn't think you should be playing with, think again. You know have to search around your screen looking for where to find the settings you want to change.It's not just Vista, Office 2007 is just as bad. In fact I've only gotten complaints from customers saying how confusing the new Office07 is because they have way too many options to play with. Hey, there're not too many more "toys" in 2007 as 2003, they just decided to basically "vomit" them all over your screen and put them in these fancy things called "ribbons." Firefox anyone? Old Billy is showing his ability to take from the rich to take from the poor.

[chuckchuck]

I can't see any reason to upgrade to Vista. The "new directory system" that was never developed and the "new security" (which you can take care of yourself with a good 3rd party firewall/antivirus/anti-spyware prog) and the pretty interface (which users can implement through other 3rd party shells) all leave Vista lacking.

Any article that talks about Vista performance will (or should) note that maxed out RAM is super imporant for it to function well. So, why bother with Vista? I haven't and don't ever intend to, and as a Windows 2000 user, I have no need to go any further with M$

[ccnewcomb]

Quoted from the article:"but the number of games that are flat-out unplayable is just ridiculous. And we're talking popular games here, too: Unreal Tournament 2004, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Need for Speed: Most Wanted, to name just a few.The problem has even spawned a possible class-action lawsuit by nVidia-equipped gamers upset that the DirectX 10-ready GeForce 8 series boards they spent hundreds of dollars on won't even run older games on Vista."This is NOT true. I have Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit with an ASUS 8800GTS video card. I have the default resolution set at 1280*1024 and run Oblivion, Quake 2, Quake 4, Doom3, Warcraft III with NO problems at all. Perhaps you should actually test your system again.

[ivorycruncher]

Okay, I am reading waaaaay too many flaming comments here to let this go unchecked. PC World, I have to say I am disappointed. I expect you to present the facts with a little bit of opinion mixed in in order to give a good viewpoint on the topic. But your claims in this article are completely over-exaggerated. Let's go through them (sorry, this is gonna be a long read).

1. Vista Home Basic is NOT completely useless. If somebody needs to buy a new computer but only needs basic capabilities like email, internet, word processing, etc., there's really no need for fancy 3D effects and media center apps and such. This version allows them to get a low-end computer at a reasonable price, and they still receive all the new security benefits that Vista has to offer. And for the record, Home Basic still comes with an interface that mimics the glass effect of Aero, even though it's not true 3D translucency, so it doesn't look like complete crap.

2. Quit ragging on UAC, please. Is it the best possibly way to gently hold the hands of all the security-challenged users out there? Perhaps not. Does it get their attention and get the job done? Yes. I can't believe you are slamming a feature so badly simply for the way it looks. The benefits of such a feature FAR outweigh any aesthetic issues. Seriously, this gripe is completely over-exaggerated.

3. I agree with you on this one a bit. Why they decided to supersize every icon in sight is beyond me. The fix, however, is even simpler than you think. While viewing your desktop (or any Explorer folder for that matter), hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and scroll down (or up) with your mouse's scroll wheel to adjust the size. If you already selected the "classic icons" for your desktop, scrolling down one notch past that downsizes those annoying little shortcut arrows so you can see most of the icon again.

4. Again with the versions, sheesh. Home Basic is designed for people at home. It has advanced multimedia capabilities and parental controls. Most people will want this. Business focuses on productivity, which includes more advanced networking features, and has no need of things like media center or parental controls. The only people who will be using this at home are most likely techies or people with separate computers just for work who need to connect to resources at their workplace. Ultimate gives you the features of both if you need the best of both worlds. Although I agree the pricing has gotten ridiculous, it's only logical that the Ultimate edition will cost more because you are getting more functionality than the other versions by themselves. The biggest reason anybody would want this is if they have a single PC and want media center stuff, but also desire better networking features like remote desktop. I personally fall into this category. The versions make sense, so please keep your gripes to the actual pricing where it belongs.

5. Agree with you on this one. Microsoft is really starting to look bad by pushing this DRM crap so far. It's an insult to the vast majority of people who legally acquire their digital media and just want to enjoy it without any hassle. The concept of "a few bad apples ruin it for everybody, so deal with it" does not work on this scale. Technology like this only serves to alienate your userbase. This fact is being proven by the increasing number of people switching to Mac OS.

6. Again, I agree with you here. Not being able to do a clean install with previous version disc verification is a very unfair way of selling people an upgrade. And the sheepish way in which they finally revealed this information just shows that they knew it was a bad idea but they did it anyway, for apparently no good reason whatsoever. Wake up Microsoft. Your perfect world where people only buy Windows with new PCs is never gonna happen. You need to allow the growing number of enthusiasts to enjoy your products, not try to stop them from going outside your miserable little concept of fair use.

7. I think you are misinterpreting this one. That statement sounds to me like if you ALREADY have your copy of Vista Home whatever installed on a physical computer, you cannot also install it in a virtual environment as a second copy. The way I understand the license agreement, with Enterprise and Ultimate (I would have to do some reading to confirm this with Business), you can install your copy on one physical computer and also in a virtual environment on that same PC (not a different PC). If you buy one copy of Home Basic or Home Premium and install it in just a virtual environment and not on a physical PC, you should be okay. However, I would not recommend this unless you have a very powerful, PC because virtualized systems take a lot of system resources and never run as fast as non-virtual installations do. Also, don't expect Aero to run in a virtual environment, because it will never happen. In any event, home users aren't really going to benefit from virtual environments like business users would. If they were the type of people to need a second virtual copy of Vista running, they'd probably be the type of people to be running Business or Ultimate anyway, so it's pretty much a moot point.

8. I agree that the number of prompts to download and install software is starting to get excessive. This is one instance where Microsoft is just throwing up more trenches and barricades, when what they really need to do is build a new fort. However, annoying as they may be, they do serve a purpose. All those prompts would make it very difficult for a malicious program to automatically download and install itself in your computer. If you are at all concerned about spyware or other forms of malware, do NOT turn off UAC or any other security prompts. If you have kids, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT turn it off. :lol: I myself have not had a single piece of spyware infect any computer I've owned in the last couple years, and I'm still going to leave UAC turned on, because once again, the benefits, in my opinion, outweight the annoyances.

9. I think this is just one of those things you're gonna have to deal with. I know I certainly don't like the way they rearranged certain things. However, as I am getting used to the changes, I can see why they did what they did, to a certain degree anyway. Basically they are trying to make things less complex and easier to understand for the average joe, and in the process are actually making things more complicated for us techies. I do like the way they've changed the old "Add or Remove Programs" thing, but I think they kind of messed up stuff like the display and desktop settings. There are way too many instances where some of the old dialogs have been completely redone to the new Vista look, and then you click a button and all of a sudden an old, mutilated version of an XP dialog box pops up. This is not a finished UI, in my opinion. I seriously hope the next refresh of Windows will fix this problem. The new UI should have been all or nothing.

10. I totally agree with you on this. The new search feature doesn't fit my concept of reality at all. Most of the time, when I search for a file, I'm actually looking for a program or system file, not a personal document. I already know where all my own documents are at. If you don't, you are probably unorganized, or lazy, or both. In XP, there's a registry hack that will return you to the good ol' Windows 2000 search box, but I doubt that's still around in Vista. Furthermore, Microsoft's idea of searching for text within files is that the only files that will be search inside of are recognized file types that are known to have text in them. Even in XP, If you have files with oddball extensions (software developers have TONS of these) or no extension, you have to use registry hacks (or the above-mentioned Windows 2000 search box) to make those files searchable for text inside the file. This is completely unacceptable.

11. The current selection of gadgets is indeed pathetic. Several of the available ones are completely and utterly useless. Hopefully this will get better with time as enthusiasts start firing up their creative juices.

12. This new version of the old Network Neighborhood is pathetic. On the network where I work, if I open this, I have to wait for like 2 minutes or so for this to populate every single friggin' computer on the network. This is a worthless piece of crap. I know a TON of people, both work and home users, that will be seriously peeved at this. The old Network Places needs to come back.

13. This one really isn't fair. Driver compatibility isn't Microsoft's problem, it's the problem of the video card manufacturers and game software developers. Microsoft told developers to use RC1 as a basis for making their apps and drivers compatible, and that was quite a while ago now. Because of this problem, I would say unless you really can't wait to try out the latest and (supposedly) greatest thing, wait until this summer or fall before you spring for that new computer if you want to get Vista. By then, app and driver support should be caught up a bit. Vista will eventually surpass XP in compatibility and hardware support, but it's going to take time, and nothing will change that.

Having only used Vista on my main PC for a few days now, I haven't had time to really develop my own list of annoyances, but one in particular stands out. What the heck happened to the File Types dialog where you can modify file extensions? It is just plain GONE! In order to change what program a particular type of file opens with, you have to open the properties of a file of that type and click the Change Program button to select a new program. You can't modify any other right-click settings like Edit, Print, etc. this way. Also, the file type registration method most programs use when they want to take over file types no longer works. If you install a media player, you have to manually change the setting for all media types away from Windows Media Player. This is ridiculous, and uncalled for. To me, this looks like another attempt by Microsoft to discourage the use of third-party apps that want to yank ownership of file types away from Microsoft software.

[matchbox2022]

For the drivers, well, only time will tell, backward compatability is a must these days. I must say the network feature is a wee bit disappointing, i was hoping ms would make it easier for me, turns out it hasnt really changed. And I have to call bullcrap on the fact that you've never had spyware on your computer. If you were running microsoft, you have some spyware, use spybot in conjuncture with Lavasoft Ad-Aware, and you'll find plenty. If you have internet, unless you clean it everytime you do a freaking google search you have some kind of ware on that box.
Also, I hope that vista isnt too much of a RAM hog, thats not gonna be good for lappy users using PC2700 still. Anythiing in that size is gonna be expensivvvvve in 2GB chips.

(Btw, how do you find the time to write so much?? :P )

[ivorycruncher]

Find the time? I type really fast. That took me all of about 15 minutes to do.

As for spyware, seriously, I don't get spyware. I use Firefox, first of all, which prevents a LOT of crap from getting through when I'm going to unknown sites. Also, I don't go downloading and installing stupid programs unless I know what they are. Once in a rare (and I do mean rare) while I find something that triggers an antivirus alert, but it always gets disinfected right away. I also keep a watch on my task manager to see what stuff is running in the background. I do run a spyware scan every so many months, and it never finds anything of consequence, beyond your basic tracking cookies and whatnot, which you'd have to be extremely paranoid to worry about. I have had spyware get onto computers I own in the past (MySearch bar comes to mind), but like I said, it's extremely rare. And ever since I started using Firefox (when FF 1.0 came out), I have not had one single piece make it into my computer. I have cleaned out tons of computers ridiculously full of spyware, so believe me, I know what to look for.

And for that matter, what makes you think just doing a Google search puts spyware on your computer? If you're talking about tracking cookies, those aren't really spyware pursae. I'm referring to stuff that does driveby installs, downloads and installs even more malware, spits out popup windows all over the place, runs keylogging programs to steal passwords, etc. I have had nothing like that on my computer in over 2 years, and that's the honest truth. See that's the thing, people think Windows is so insecure that you will get full of spyware and viruses no matter what, and that's simply not true. It's just a matter of how informed you are when it comes to dealing with your computer's security.

[Jeannie]

Spyware? I can't match ivorycruncher's sqeaky-clean claim altogether, but in the past 6 months, maybe half a dozen minor bits of spycrap only. And that's using free ZoneAlarm, free Spybot, free Ad-Aware, and free No-Ads apps. And Avast! for viruses, which I never get at all. That's in an AMD 2400+ system running at 2GHz with an GeForce4 MX 440 vid card, not a bad rig for 2003. It's part of a LAN coming thru a Microsoft wireless hub which has its own hardwired firewall.

These security bits are being transferred to my new Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 system (running on an ASUS P5B mobo with eVGA 7950GT vids in an AeroEngine case) beginning today. Am I using Vista on my bright 'n' shiny new 'puter? No, no, and no. Despite MS's "generous" upgrade coupon (with a March 31st deadline!), from what I can see, read, hear, Vista is very pretty but it's unfinished, unco-operative, paranoid, buggy and the best example yet of MS cobbling together a (very) few good, if late ideas of their own with others adapted from the Mac OS (with a different "look and feel" to avoid copyright infringement) under the death-grip control of Hollywood and the music industry moguls. And too expensive to boot (literally!). I, too, will wait for Vista SE while I enjoy excellent Aqua dock pretties (free download from China) and 3d windows display (also free from - guess where? - China). And it will still run faster than Vista, less encumbered than Vista, and with much less frustration than Vista.

Hey, Billy Gee, are you listening?

[johnybbad]

Oh pleaseeeee!! You guys or the PC World should think "WHY O' WHY MICROSOFT CAN THINK OUT OF THE BOX FOR GOD'S SAKE" these microsoft people are still babies wanting to follow other softwares and worst of all, "THE complaints, annoying message, patches all througout the year, our software will never complete on time, troubleshooting worst problem at the worst time and etc AWARDS" should certainly be microsofts biggest assets.

[reu348370]

You guys should not really be writting about Vista at all.How about holding in the ctrl key and rolling the mouse wheel to change the desktop icon sizes. Oh! I guess you haven't yet graduated to a mouse with a wheel.Same goes for text size in Internet Explorer.

[whiwo]

Minor things bugging about the Vista: Has major issue with Flash...While certain things are correctible others so far are not.Napster, doesn't work???The arrangement of Program Files in the start menu sucks! Folks, this is not easier, just more work to get to something I haven't already pinned.What the hell happended to the "copy to" and "move to" from the side bar? Putting it up in the "Edit" section is useless. Unless I'm missing something, put it back!

[JoReneA]

I posted this in another forum, but I find it more than annoying that MS left out the ability to fax from Vista Home Premium. I've looked all over for a replacement application and can find NONE that will run in Vista. And I refuse to pay for a business version just to get fax cabability, expecially since I have an Express Upgrade of Home Premium coming for free...if and when they ever decide to mail it out. That is also an annoyance: that it is taking so long to get the upgrades to those who bought computers at the end of 2006. But I'll have to either run as a dual boot or keep XP on at least one of my computers, as I occasionally need to fax something.

[Levi]

I own Windows Vista Ultimate and I don't like it. I wish I had just stuck with Windows XP Professional. Most of my games which played great on XP don't play well at all on Vista. My system crashes when I play some videos.

I'm rethinking my "slavish" attitude towards Microsoft particularly when I have to call in for reactivation when I had XP. I only use windows due to the games I can play on it. Otherwise, Apple would serve me just fine for all the other things I do. Now with game consoles proliferating the next computer I get just might be an Apple and if I want to play games I'll get a console.

I feel like a fool paying the price of an appliance for something as unfinished and buggy as Vista. I guess it is true a fool and his money are soon parted.

[Skeetersmum]

I must be in the minority but I LIKE Vista. I have a Fujitsu laptop with Vista Ultimate and I think it's awesome. The graphics are superb. Yes, there are some annoying features like lack of some drivers, but didn't we have the SAME trouble with XP???

[ThaLLama13]

I love Vista, but here are my gripes:The UAC is to dumb. If I put in a cd to install something, it should recognize that and not ask me if it is ok.When a program has an error vista tries to "solve the problem" for you. When firefox failed to load vista told me the solution was to download an available update for firefox and the problem would go away...only I already had the update downloaded. When IE failed to launch it blamed my wacom tablet even though I'm using the vista drivers for it. Vista is like a bad kid blaming everyone else for its problems. My wireless connection peaks at 60% now, when it used to always be at 100% with xp. I'm sitting 5 feet from the router so it isn't like my signal strength should be affected.Other than those things so far, I really do like vista, even if it is a lot like OSX.

[luvduchovny]

You guys obviously didn't try the networking "features". I'm testing vista at work on a few machines. It can see the network (kind of... it does take forever to populate as another reader mentioned). However, it won't allow me to connect to the server I use most often at my job. I never realized how dependent I was on that particular server until I started getting the obscure, "the server is named wrong" messages. I can't connect to it via IP either, or any other form. It sits on my network list mocking me. And Microsoft's help file is a joke. It's all geared for wireless networking and in this building we are very much wired.

Oh and heaven forbid you have a driver that is not compatible with Vista. The sonic DLA driver that comes with Dell machines ... hates Vista. You get a pop up message that won't go away for at least 5 minutes. Literally. You close it and it pops up again. Thank goodness, Google is my friend and I found a fix by uninstalling the driver in safe mode (because it wouldn't let you uninstall it otherwise. I know I tried for DAYS to do so).

It's very pretty, but I seriously doubt I'll upgrade my pc at home with it. At least not until a few service packs have been sent down the pike.

[davebarnes]

What a stupid, irrelevant article.

When the dust settles in 3-5 years, 90% of the PCs in the first world will be running Windows Vista.

Vista's flaws will make no difference.

And, I say this as an Apple FanBoy with only Macs in my home-based business. Yes, I think Mac OS X is better, but that is not important.

Windows Vista will dominate. Totally.