Argh! Windows!!!!!

I am living in a Linux world - I have been 'Windows Free' for almost a year now. However, sometimes the best tool for the job is Windows software. In this case, it was Dreamweaver.

I am working on a website, and like to use WYSIWYG editors to get the basic structure and such banged out real quickly. Setting up pages is just much faster than hand coding everything, plus the added advantage of being able to see how thing are working on the page makes WYSIWYG the easy way to get started. After trying several Linux based options, I decided that Dreamweaver was the best tool for the job, so I decided to reboot into my Vista partition.

On the whole, I don't think Vista is as bad as advertised. My problems are with Windows overall and the way it hogs resources, requires 40 different helper apps to start everytime, etc. Just way too much overhead that eats up everything that should make my computer faster.

Before I got into coding, I had to do a little housekeeping, since I hadn't booted into Vista in over 4 months. Like the nag screen from my expired anti-virus subscription. I don't use it much, so I really wasn't worried about viruses, but wanted to update to be sure. So I disabled the anti-virus and downloaded Avira (free-av.com) - the url says it all. I also had some updates that needed to be downloaded (fix all those security holes), removed some of the crapware that came pre-loaded on the system, and updated Firefox as well.

An hour and a half later ..............................................my system scan with the anti-virus is still not done. I just don't have these issues on my Linux box! Argh! The windows update needs a reboot ....this thing is killing me. I spent two hours (at least) doing all the housekeeping - not optimization or serious upgrading, housekeeping - on this Windows box, and still have not accomplished a damn thing.

Finally, around lunch time, after all the scanning and rebooting was done, I was able to get to work. Happy Time. Productivity ensued. Much work was completed, and before I knew it, it was time to go home. Click on shut down and install updates (more updates - I thought I......oh well, sure).

Installing update 1 of 17 - do not turn off or unplug your computer. Ok, I have a couple minutes before I have to go, let me run to the john.

Installing update 1 of 17 - do not turn off or unplug your computer. Your kidding, right? I washed my hands and everything! (stomping away in disgust).

Installing update 1 of 17 - do not turn off or unplug your computer. All right - SCREW THIS! I have to go, it's a laptop, I am taking the damn thing.

When I got on my train, I opened the laptop to find it on update 7. After a total time of NO LESS THAN 40 MINUTES, it finished all the updates..........then failed on something and proceeded to spend another 10 minutes rolling back the changes.

Windows. ARGH!!!!

P.S. Yes, I am going to install it in Wine.