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Windows is really so bad, bad, bad

StoneJack

StoneJack

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Dec 19, 2009
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Well, I built a PC. Nothing special, Intel i5 10600, RX5500, 16GB of RAM, Asrock mainboard.
In a month I had to install Windows 10 twice. I have all legit MS software, Office, etc. but the software really sucks.
Applications disappeared, apps I bought from MS Store, disappeared from the store's my account so I can't install them,
GPU drivers conflict, USB wifi loses connection, Acrobat installation brought McAfee, which borked my install, Windows update is really sh*tty
In short, I got reminded how bad, bad, bad Windows still is.
 
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Weird. Very weird. I’ve been lifelong windows user back in windows 3.11 days, never encounter such horrible experience or need to majorly reinstall OS on a weekly/monthly basis. It has BSOD from time to time yes, but nothing major. System still works just fine. Granted I’m using windows 10 on my laptop but still. To me macOS is no better than windows in Terms of stability. They are neck to neck in That regard.
 
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Shirasaki said:
Weird. Very weird. I’ve been lifelong windows user back in windows 3.11 days, never encounter such horrible experience or need to majorly reinstall OS on a weekly/monthly basis. It has BSOD from time to time yes, but nothing major. System still works just fine. Granted I’m using windows 10 on my laptop but still. To me macOS is no better than windows in Terms of stability. They are neck to neck in That regard.
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yeah, I assembled first PC (AMD Athlon) back in early 2000, actually in Tokyo :). I had witnessed Windows crumble before, but not at that rate. New install borked in few days. Apps just disappeared from the Windows installation. I nuked the SSD and reinstalled Windows but the MS apps (namely Age of Empires 2 and 4) start like 5-10 minutes (slow launch, never seen before). Sleep was also not very functional on the new install. I couldn't even find my apps in MS Store under my account and I have few like the games and MS Office subscription and also have purchased some apps from there. This is first time I see bugs like that. I guess I have to reinstall Windows. for the third time, but honestly, I'd just stay away from Windows for a while. While we all criticize Apple, I also now appreciate more the robustness of Mac ecosystem.
 
I recently re-installed Windows 11 twice after an SSD upgrade. I did it twice because, for whatever reason, PC GamePass (Xbox App AND Windows Store both) fail to install games properly. Even the Minecraft launcher fails to install. I have done everything I have read online and even formatted and reinstalled. I have no idea why its a big issue.
 
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I built my PC about 6 years ago I think, maybe a little less. i7 with a 2070. Moderate gaming computer. I have not once had to reinstall Windows in all that time. Still not a huge fan of Windows, but I have not had those same types of problems.
 
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Ethosik said:
I recently re-installed Windows 11 twice after an SSD upgrade. I did it twice because, for whatever reason, PC GamePass (Xbox App AND Windows Store both) fail to install games properly. Even the Minecraft launcher fails to install. I have done everything I have read online and even formatted and reinstalled. I have no idea why its a big issue.
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That was actually similar to my experience when I had problems with PC. I had to reinstall GamePass, Xbox app and only then some my apps reappeared in the store. However, after downloading them, they did not launch even properly. So the PC is now gathering dust awaiting for the third reinstall of Windows which I don't want to spend time on
 
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Hmm, had similar issues, and also random blue screens, with my previous HP ZBook 16 Fury G9 (Windows 11). It turned out to be a motherboard issue that was causing everything. After it was swapped, under warranty, the OS ran rock solid thereafter.
 
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Ethosik said:
I recently re-installed Windows 11 twice after an SSD upgrade. I did it twice because, for whatever reason, PC GamePass (Xbox App AND Windows Store both) fail to install games properly. Even the Minecraft launcher fails to install. I have done everything I have read online and even formatted and reinstalled. I have no idea why its a big issue.
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This is purely because the Microsoft Store and Game Pass are trash.

Had the same issue, and I had to use the Windows repair command in CMD. Fixed the issue and allowed the games to install again.

I agree with OP in that Windows is pure trash. The sheer amount of technical expertise required just to get the core OS and apps that you use working properly is excessive. By properly, I mean without slowdows, hitches, stutters, crashes, etc.

FWIW, I have to do this with Android on my Pixel as well. I don't even install apps anymore and stick to Google's stock apps. I use Chrome for everything, including banking. My bank updated it's app around a month ago, which caused repeated system crashes, and the app itself refused to launch anymore. Uninstalled, bye bye. System stability went back to normal.

People can criticise Apple all they want for being restrictive, but not letting apps have full OS access is a very good thing and I hope for the people who use Apple devices this never changes. From what I know, this is just down to MacOS and iOS apps being sandboxed?

For Windows v Mac OS stability, completely agree that they are neck and neck for how poor overall stability is. The main difference is that a single app on MacOS is unlikely to bring the entire OS to it's knees.
 
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StoneJack said:
That was actually similar to my experience when I had problems with PC. I had to reinstall GamePass, Xbox app and only then some my apps reappeared in the store. However, after downloading them, they did not launch even properly. So the PC is now gathering dust awaiting for the third reinstall of Windows which I don't want to spend time on
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The simple fix is to not use Game Pass or the Store. They're a scam. If anything, use an app like RevoUninstaller to remove both of them from your PC entirely.

Most of the Game Pass games themselves are also worse versions of those you can buy on Steam etc due to lack of updates and support.

As a dedicated PC gamer, I'd actually recommend a cheap Xbox Series X on eBay if you really want the whole subscription game service thing.

With how heavy handed Microsoft are becoming, and the EU seemingly not caring for some reason, I'm very close to going full Linux.
 
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JuicyGoomba said:
The simple fix is to not use Game Pass or the Store. They're a scam. If anything, use an app like RevoUninstaller to remove both of them from your PC entirely.

Most of the Game Pass games themselves are also worse versions of those you can buy on Steam etc due to lack of updates and support.

As a dedicated PC gamer, I'd actually recommend a cheap Xbox Series X on eBay if you really want the whole subscription game service thing.

With how heavy handed Microsoft are becoming, and the EU seemingly not caring for some reason, I'm very close to going full Linux.
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I bought at MS Store full versions of Age of Empires 2 DE, Age of Empires 3 and Age of Empires 4. Downloads is almost hundred GB and cost hundred of dollars. And yes, they all disappeared from MS Store. Downloaded, they won't launch on a new install. Damn MS. My last purchase from Windows world.
 
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JuicyGoomba said:
The simple fix is to not use Game Pass or the Store. They're a scam. If anything, use an app like RevoUninstaller to remove both of them from your PC entirely.

Most of the Game Pass games themselves are also worse versions of those you can buy on Steam etc due to lack of updates and support.

As a dedicated PC gamer, I'd actually recommend a cheap Xbox Series X on eBay if you really want the whole subscription game service thing.

With how heavy handed Microsoft are becoming, and the EU seemingly not caring for some reason, I'm very close to going full Linux.
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The problem is the Minecraft launcher even from the website forces the Store install. So yes I can’t even get Minecraft to install with the official links.
 
Have you checked to see if there is a update for the motherboard itself in terms of firmware? Don't understand you will lose your programs from the MS store but with the technical failures sounds like the board maybe the culprit or that it hasn't be bricked. Only way to tell is to look at your bios and see what is the latest one you have running.

You can also look using run then type cmd then wmic bios...you must be logged in as administrator.

ASRock > BIOS Version Finding

www.asrock.com www.asrock.com
 
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Built my PC about 4 years ago I think, have not had to do a single reinstall. Originally had Windows 10, then added a TPS module to my motherboard and updated to Windows 11. Stable, runs quick for the few games I play. I don't do anything intensive with it, just some games. Mainly built it out of curiosity to do one from scratch. Been a solid machine for what I do. Anything serious I stick with Mac.
 
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Shirasaki said:
Weird. Very weird. I’ve been lifelong windows user back in windows 3.11 days, never encounter such horrible experience or need to majorly reinstall OS on a weekly/monthly basis. It has BSOD from time to time yes, but nothing major. System still works just fine. Granted I’m using windows 10 on my laptop but still. To me macOS is no better than windows in Terms of stability. They are neck to neck in That regard.
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Sounds like you’ve got it right. Honestly, I prefer using Windows for day-to-day home tasks. I especially appreciate the aspect ratio, where the desktop and menu items are displayed at a size that’s easy on the eyes—unlike the ultra-high resolution Mac where everything looks like it’s in tiny 6–8 point text. 🔎
 
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Shirasaki said:
Maybe because most developers working inside Apple are young with spectacular eyesights lol. :p
With that being said, macOS interface scaling is better than windows in that regard imo.
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ONG yes. MSI Afterburner doesn’t scale, and I can’t read it it is so tiny. I hate how Windows handles high resolution.
 
I haven't had those issues with Windows, but I prefer Mac OS and Linux over Windows. Windows 11 is pretty stable these days and I can't remember when I last got a blue screen or had to reinstall for any reason. I'm currently using Fedora Linux, but only because I prefer the experience.
 
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As a long-time Windows user (from Me, XP to 7, 10 and now 11, skipping the infamous Vista and 8, all the while using MacOS every now and again, right now trying to get back to it hence my presence on MR), I'd have to say that I have never experienced such series bad events despite yeah the rare BSOD (at least not from Win7 on, maybe the best OS ever in some sense) - but I'm no gamer, and it looks like it makes quite a difference.

Anyway I thought I should leave a note here to sort of balance the initial impression from the thread title and 1st post.

Now having said that, Windows has gotten TERRIBLE in some related aspects :
  • at OS install time, tries to force you into going on-line to create a M$oft account
  • modifies your setup without asking permission, heck without even just TELLING you
  • installs bloatware every now and then - again without asking permission
  • updates the OS whenever they please, and there's no way out you can't chose not to update
  • continuously sends information to their servers ("telemetry") about your machine and what you do with it
  • apparently plans to launch a *mandatory* app that will take regular screenshots on your screen (!!!) and do god knows what with that data (presumably to "enhance" their AI capabilities...)
and I'm probably forgetting some other stuff of the same caliber.

This is why I have embarked a project to progressively move all my activity from Windows to Linux, or at least to reverse the Win/Linux mix in favor of the latter (afraid it'll be difficult to completely erase Win11 from my PC, still some stuff that do require this OS).

(as for MacOS, I'm just playing around with my 2004 Powerbook more for fun and out of nostalgia than anything else, although I'll definitely want to spend more time on it in the future once I've been able to set it up S/W-wise in a reasonably usable state)
 
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StoneJack said:
Well, I built a PC. Nothing special, Intel i5 10600, RX5500, 16GB of RAM, Asrock mainboard.
In a month I had to install Windows 10 twice. I have all legit MS software, Office, etc. but the software really sucks.
Applications disappeared, apps I bought from MS Store, disappeared from the store's my account so I can't install them,
GPU drivers conflict, USB wifi loses connection, Acrobat installation brought McAfee, which borked my install, Windows update is really sh*tty
In short, I got reminded how bad, bad, bad Windows still is.
Click to expand...
No matter how you slice and dice it, that's a hardware problem. McAffee is definitely one to be shot of, however, terrible resource hog.
 
DCBassman said:
No matter how you slice and dice it, that's a hardware problem. McAffee is definitely one to be shot of, however, terrible resource hog.
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Yeah aside from stuff crashing due to my aggressive GPU overclocks, I don't get how folks have so many problems with Windows.
 
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Have to be careful while installing an app/program in Windows, we tend to push the "OK" button too quickly without reading what the installer is going to do just to have the install done asap - and bam ! here's McAffee installed and running on your PC. 😅

Windows key -> enter "Programs" and select "Add or remove programs", you might be surprised with how much bloatware is installed in your system - some of which Windows refuses to uninstall. 😡
 
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