[Tfug] My experience "recovering" Windows compared to installingDebian

[Glen Pfeiffer]

On 07/28/2007 05:17 PM, johngalt1 wrote:
> Glen Pfeiffer wrote:
> 
>> I rebuilt a computer for a family member on Thursday, and
>> renewed my dislike of Windows.
> 
> Why was it necessary to rebuild the computer? Why not fix
> it?

Just to be sure that my use of the word rebuild did not cause you 
to think I rebuilt the hardware, let me clarify; I meant rebuild 
in the software sense.

Why did I recover the Windows operating system instead of fixing 
it?

I believe that once you put a Windows computer in the hands of an 
average home user, you should never trust it again. This 
particular computer was given to my in-laws by their neighbors. 
There was no anti-virus, firewall (hardware or software), spyware 
protection, security updates, etc., and they had an always on 
internet connection.

It is, AFAIK, impossible to take that computer and restore 
Windows to its "from the factory" condition without using the 
recovery media. You can reinstall, or you can recover, but you 
can't fix it. I would have preferred to format the drive and 
reinstall. But there was no install CD, only a recovery 
partition.

The Windows registry is a mess. Even with all the correct 
measures taken to secure it, the simple act of installing and 
removing software builds up cruft in the registry that slows down 
the computer. And before you tell me about "Registry Mechanic" or 
one of the others, yes I am aware. But believe me, they aren't 
perfect and often break currently installed software.

I have been running Windows OS's since 3.1 (I know, I am a 
newbie). Ever since Windows '95 I have been reinstalling my OS 
every few years because they degrade in performance and 
stability.


> What kind of PC is it? Mfg? Older or newer?

It is a Hewlett Packard 2Ghz Celeron.


>> One hour after starting the recovery process I had a 
>> supposedly "clean" Windows XP Home install.
> 
> Recovery, meaning what? - Wiping the drive and starting
> over? I hate when OEM's do that.

It does not wipe the drive. In this case, there is a recovery 
partition. You boot into the partition, and initiate the recovery 
process. It will overwrite the existing Windows installation and 
supposedly put it back in the "from the factory" state. Some 
manufacturers include both destructive and non-destructive 
recovery processes, but some don't.


>> But we know it was far from clean. It installed 20 or so 
>> useless software packages and about 5 unnecessary services. 
>> Since there is no way to remove them all at once, I spent the 
>> next two hours removing them piecemeal
> 
> Why remove them?

Resources and Security. Did you notice that I said *unnecessary* 
services? Would you leave them? What about the crippled "demo" 
software? Would you leave them too? Do you trust them? I don't.


>> Then after installing AntiVirus and AntiSpyware software,
>> I began the "update" process. Windows Update is not able to
>> perform a complete system upgrade in one shot like apt. It 
>> took 5 iterations of:
>>    1. Run Windows Update.
>>    2. Reboot
>>    3. Windows Update notifies me that there are updates
>>       available.
>>    4. Repeat.
> 
> Did the recovery disk include Service Pack two?

Nope. That one took at least an hour.


> What kind of internet connection was it? Fast or slow?

8Mb down from Comcast. And that's pretty fast. However, I believe 
the Windows servers were quite slow. It seemed to take forever to 
download a 50MB update.


>> Finally I came to the good part. Install Debian and make
>> it dual boot.[1] A complete install with all the packages that 
>> I think they will need, took me about two hours. And that 
>> included the time I spent configuring user accounts and their 
>> gnome desktops.
> 
> This install was from CD or the Internet?

CD.


>> Oh, and the new Debian installer .... I am amazed. The
>> last time I installed Debian Etch it was in testing and there 
>> were still some issues with the it. But this time it 
>> recognized all my hardware flawlessly. I did not have to tell 
>> it anything about my video card or monitor.
> 
> What version of Debian Etch? You downloaded it at that time?

Debian 4.0_r0 and I had already downloaded it. I used the install 
option "installgui" so I could use the new installer.


>> [1] I am trying to convert them over to Linux, but just in
>> case they gripe too much, I decided it is better to have
>> Windows setup already.
> 
> Why on earth would they ever gripe?

Quicktime; WMA; Realplayer; printers; hardware. These users are 
mostly internet users. But let's admit that there are some media 
formats that are not handled well, such as WMA 10; and there are 
lots of printers that aren't supported. In fact, their printer is 
not supported. And I need to help them find a new printer now.

I do not expect them to complain. But if they do, it is their 
computer and they have a right to have it back with Windows.


> It's not necessary to defend the evil monopoly, because I
> think they suck too. But, this thread sounds like a skewed
> comparison.
> 
> Or, is this an example of "Linux Marketing" to compete with
> Windows BS?

I thought that it was obvious my email was relaying *my* 
experiences and was not intended to be an objective comparison, 
or marketing. I think it is probably more balanced than you think 
it is, but since I did not intend it that way I have no 
motivation to defend that position. If you think it is a "skewed 
comparison", or crappy marketing, that's your choice. But it's 
not how it was intended.

I realize that you are just asking questions, and not attacking. 
And my responses are not meant to be a defense or offensive. Just 
stating my interpretation of the facts.

-- 
Glen