Leave Our Defaults Alone!

rants about software vendors

I find that installers from larger companies seem to assume that everyone is too lazy/stupid to modify the default settings, and thus believe that any changes to the settings will have little to no impact.

I’ve always been of the mind that they are “preferences” and you should leave what I “prefer” alone, maybe pop up a dialog referencing new and/or changed things, and if I’d like to en/disable them, but not actually make any of the changes without my permission.

we had an update with server 2003 at work here
and if we change any of the settings they have as default
the server dumps.

So now we are sucking down twice the resources and dumping every two hours. but if we change anything , it dumps instantly.

if there’s anything, computerwise, that i hate is when programs switch your defaults AND auto start when you turn on the computer. like, i use yahoo messenger but i’ll be dag gummed if i want it to load on it’s own.

but anyways, yeah… programs that switch defaults to me lose my interests.

Agreed,who is Microsoft to completely re-arrange you dad’s system like that. I bet you’ll have to be on the phone atleast a couple of hours walking your dad through the fixes. All I see is Microsoft is digging it’s grave deeper and deeper. I hope that one day microsoft wakes up to it’s horrible way to do business.

It’s not just changing the defaults once that really annoys me, it’s the applications that keep an agent running in the background to take back any associations it loses when the user tries to fix things. Quicktime immediately comes to mind. You have to tell new application to no longer retake the associations *before* you reset the defaults to the old one application.

Thats one thing I hate when a program installs and changes what you already have set. Its not a windows only issue it happens on the mac as well If you don’t know exactly what your are doing or clicking on one wrong check box will completely change what programs your computer uses. I have the problem with VLC and Quicktime defaults on video files and Its not just a single click to change the settings back. I know how to change these settings back but the average user does not and will use what ever there system defaults to. If these change a lot of people won’t be able to change it back.

I couldn’t agree more. I cannot stand it when applications switch defaults without me specifying.

Perhaps I am downloading a new browser or email client to try out. I find it very agitating when it switches itself to the default.

Definitely the software’s fault!

Well I do understand why you are upset.. how ever this Problem could have been avoided by the simple process of (RTFM) I have done the update myself .. and found that it was spelled out very clearly as to what it would do .. however what I do not understand is why they put that in there in a patch file. The intent is Clear I think, but my word to the wise is read the installation instructions during the installation process.. DO NOT just click next next next.. The only reason the defaults where changed is because the user gave permission for that to be done.
the resault this time was not so drastic However it could have been worse.

Absolutely correct.
These types of issues seem to be proliferating. The latest Java runtime updates are coming with Google freaking toolbar which is set to “install” by default. Likewise, many other packages are now coming with this superfluous, privacy invading crap such as the Google and Yahoo toolbars.

Ya I got the same update and I had my windows live messenger set up how i wanted it. I had it so it wouldnt make a noise when someone sent me an IM but since i downloaded the update I had to do into the settings again and change it back. Its really annoying considering that it looks like all the update did was change the theme of the messenger.

Yeah it seems like every 5 minutes I’m helping my brother, sister, cousin, uncle, or roommate with another problem; that was caused directly as a result of updates. The upgrade of wireless drivers is one of them. It always is a pain to set up. However, it is also an issue getting them TO upgrade. I look around in my college class filled with Acer laptops and Dell Inspirons and I see Internet Explorer 6 all over. I hvae even run into seveeral Xp installations with SP1 as of late. And I see them entering sensitive bank information, probably easily seen over the wifi. This is all the reason to move to Mac and not deal with this.

Unfortunately, Microsoft has yet to learn that some decisions belong solely to the end-user. Rather than simply asking the end-user if they would like to reset certain program settings to “Default,” Microsoft simply initiates these changes under the guise of acting in the best interest of their customer base. While this keeps tech support guys (such as myself) employed by our ever-growing list of clients, it still remains one of the foremost disservices from Microsoft, as well as numerous OEMs.

Until the course is changed, individuals who grow weary of having to change back their previous settings after every upgrade of a built-in “features” will continue to look for alternative Operating Systems which cater to their user’s needs and expectations and preferences. –Timothy Kline / Envisionocity

I just hate that. Everytime i Install a Update like Java I always have to do the Advanced install so that I dont get the Google Toolbar. I never add Toolbars to My Browser. I like my Browser to be clean and Uncluttered. Theres people who have there Browser Blocking 1 forth of the Screen with Toolbars. I hate that.

I totally agree, Chris. Defaults should be user-set only. Almost all windows programs do that. Erks me!!! Too bad I’m stuck with Vista…

There you go, this is other of the many reasons that made me switch recently.

In my opinion i say that they should leave our defaults alone because we take the time to set up our computers as we like them and is a complete hassle for when they deside to reset our computers as they see fit. but as the user you must pay attention to those little checkboxes they have u click or else your in a world of hurt.

It’s not asking too much. This kind of thing is what is causing people like you to switch over to the Mac. It’s this lack of attention to detail that is causing the MS machine to breakdown enough to cause people to abandon the platform.

when is windows vista service pack 1 coming out to the public???

This is precisely one of the “tactics” used on the Windows operating system by developers that drove me away from Windows for good. I had been using Macs and Windows for a few years and was, for the most part, indifferent. I used them side-by-side at work.

Then I installed Real Player on my Windows machine and all hell broke loose. Icon in the task bar, in the start menu, on IE, on the desktop. They changed the default media playback to Real. They did everything I didn’t want them to do. Follow that horror story with other software programs that did it exactly the same way and I just got sick of it.

When I install software on my Mac, that stuff doesn’t happen. Unless it’s Microsoft Office (which puts 4 icons in my dock that I don’t want in my dock) or Real player (the last time I tried was probably around 2003 and they pulled the same crap as on Windows). Funny how the only developers that try and pull that crap on the Mac are people who make Windows software first. Terrible way of designing your software and truly infuriating.

That is truly shocking.

I myself use Live Messenger quite a lot and have noticed recently a message saying that a new version is out. I’m inclined not to update after hearing this; and I seriously suspect that Microsoft are becoming software control freaks.

They seriously need to empathize more with the user. Microsoft’s PR has never been so low.

“Leave defaults alone!”

XD But I’ve had similar problems in the past. Something as simple as an MSN or WMP update can effect defaults and other settings without you knowing and without warning you at all 0.o

Plus afterward you tend to get little alerts like “Try this now” or “Click here to update…” which even after I’ve handled seem to come back.

I hate when during the installation I am being asked for some specific settings. If I will need to change them, I will do that via the software options and NOT during the installation. It’s even worse if these options are only available during the initial installation. Just hate it when it happens :(

Hope you fixed your dad’s computer ;)

Good point!

I hate it when you have to untick more, than you have to tick.

If I want MSN Search, I’ll tick the box, kthx.

Leave Our Defaults Alone! That could be the start of a new facebook group. Hmm. I wonder if there is one already?

grrrr I HATE how most programs will do this when you download them. For instance, yahoo msg. I you download it and your in a rush, and lest say you forget to uncheck the stupid stuff like “would you like yahoo to be on ur adress bar”. Its stuck there. grrrrrr its get me angry

As much as I would like to say ‘I agree with you, Chris.’, I can’t. There has to be some sort of compromise on the matter. Yes, the homepage, search engine and such really should be left alone. But for your average user (accepting the fact that pretty much everyone who reads this blog is above-average. Moreso in the realm of Experienced to Advanced than anything else), changing the defaults can often be a good thing.

For example; you download OpenOffice. You install it, and run it. If the defaults hadn’t been changed, it would either be going down the FILE – OPEN route every time, or going through an overly complicated process (in Windows) of changing the default program it opens with. Sure, it’d be easy for you or I, but for the average user, it’d be another Tech Support issue, which rends money from your average Joe.

Another example using a program you praised recently; Launchy. Launchy changes your default startup programs by adding itself, so when you DO want it, it’s already there. If it didn’t change your defaults, you would have to open the program first, then do ALT + SPACE, thus pretty much negating the purpose of the program entirely.

We need to have some sort of agreed standard, by which a small image will appear on the installer (a la Nintendo’s Seal of Quality), which means that program will only change default file-type associations, and your startup programs; leaving settings in other programs alone.

Hey,

Well this is not surprising to me. Most software vendors are doing this. But if you dad went from pervious Messenger to the new Live environment – believe you me – this is just the tip of the ice burg. A colleague at work (who is a Sr. Software Designer Fellow upgraded to the dreaded ‘live’ messenger system and after that whatever he was working on, development wise, had ‘inconsistent’ results, even at build – and link level, so you can imagine what was happening during debug sessions. It got to a point that he had to reinstall his machine from ground up. We estimate for a Software developer – you need more than 20 hours of time to bring the machine to it’s original state and it can not be configured by IT Dept. We have many horror stories like that at the higher tech level also, so it is not just ordinary people. Incidentally, if you ever find out who at Microsoft has to billed in cases like this – Please let me know – we have a bill with 6 figures to send him/her. BTW, most people in the chat like your Dad, so be cool to him! LOL…

that the main reason i dont bother with updates either slows your machine down or messes with your setting for an example im still using the older version of AIM and internet explorer 6.0

That’s why I always do a custom install when downloading and installing programs on Windows. There are a lot of programs out there that want you to change your default web browser’s home page to their own website. If I wanted my home page changed, I’m pretty sure I know how to do that through internet options in the control panel or directly from my browser. Also, most if not alll programs that you download and install on Windows want to add two shortcuts for their program on your computer. One in the task bar and one on the desktop. But isn’t the shortcut for the program already stored in my “Programs” folder? How many shortcuts do you think I need? Thanks, but no thanks.

I agree fully, I’m tired of programmers and software companies acting like they own my system and that they have a god given right to change any of my settings without permission. If a setting must be a certain way for the program to work, then give me a message about it and let me choose, maybe, just maybe I’ll decide your damn software isn’t worth jacking my system up.

I’ve had similar issues with Windows, but trust me, Microsoft doesn’t have a monopoly on updates removing defaults/settings. I’ve updated programs in both OS X and Linux (neither times was it part of the OS, or made by the OS manufacturer) and lost settings and had defaults changed. The only thing I can think of, is that in the install, maybe the program looks at another settings folder or file for the whos, whats, and wheres. Then again, it could be that the programmers want people to try new features, so it kind of overwrites the settings file.

Wow, that stinks. I haven’t run into this problem, though, because I make sure to read all of the installer. Some people have fallen into a routine with installing, such as “I Agree, next, next, next, next, finish”. That is usually the root of problems like this. Another reason why routines like that is that when you hit “I Agree”, you don’t exactly know what you are agreeing to. Anybody who has played through Guitar Hero III knows the infamous manager gets them to sign their soul away. So, make sure you read while you’re installing.

Aha! One of my pet peeves! I get SO tired of having to go and re-check and re-set program settings because updates change them! You go, Chris! Set ‘em straight!

The update yesterday was the worst yet that Microsoft has imposed on me. I had to restart my computer 3 times in order to set a default printer (MS removed my setting but not the printer; also I couldn’t play my favorite game until the third restart, Windows was running it hidden and I couldn’t see it.). It changed size and order of start menu icons. It changed all settings on how I open items in the start menu. It now prevents links in emails and documents from opening my browser; I have to copy and paste. I downloaded a picture, but the option to choose location has disappeared — and I can’t find it, it didn’t go anywhere that makes sense to me. I’ve spent 45 minutes so far correcting the changes but don’t know when I’ll get everything back the way I want it—probably not before their next “You have to do it OUR way” update.

Since this company does not offer any kind of useful support for its overpriced products, I expect to start getting getting calls from my friends to fix their computers. The local computer repair places should make a fortune out of this!

I absolutely agree. I find it hard to keep track my defaults whenever I install a program. Winamp and Windows media player like to steal your defaults whenever you play a video or music files. I stopped using those programs now, and have now have not needed to continuously set my defaults.

I keep getting paniced calles from my fiance when she tries to do an email, only for MS Office to try an take over. She is a beginner and likes to stay with Outlook Express for the time being, but since Office was pre-installed on the computer, once a month the computer tries to insist she use Office instead. I would uninstall it, but she is already using some of the other features, she just finds Outlook too overfacing at the moment.

Personally, I hate those that hijack all the file associations without warning. That’s usually an automatic uninstall and a life-long banning from me and all the systems I control. Usually they don’t restore the file associations on uninstall either. Ho hum… Hit companies in the pocket, it seems to be the only way to make them treat their “clients” with a modicum of respect.