Comments on: Leave Our Defaults Alone!

By: TK_M

TK_M — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:16:00 +0000

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.

By: Aoshi

Aoshi — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 02:15:49 +0000

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.

By: Demon in Levi's

Demon in Levi's — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:20:45 +0000

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!

By: DreamingFox

DreamingFox — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:15:03 +0000

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!

By: Marty (SMB)

Marty (SMB) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:26:21 +0000

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.

By: SpiralArchitect

SpiralArchitect — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:23:02 +0000

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.

By: John

John — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:42:46 +0000

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.

By: OmniDragon

OmniDragon — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:30:51 +0000

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.

By: Darrell Hylton

Darrell Hylton — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:23:51 +0000

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

By: PooPsTech

PooPsTech — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:44:33 +0000

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…

By: kPod

kPod — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:36:53 +0000

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.

By: Shutout

Shutout — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:57:22 +0000

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

By: Dennis Bjørn Petersen

Dennis Bjørn Petersen — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:56:28 +0000

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?

By: DoubleZed

DoubleZed — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:13:23 +0000

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 ;)

By: Mr_Chito

Mr_Chito — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:42:29 +0000

“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.