When I set up a computer, I set it up for my use. I customize it, I make necessary changes, and say appropriate magic words in the hopes that the operating system will run and continue to perform the way I want it.
Keep in mind that I don’t use XP a whole lot and that I use XP the most of all Microsoft operating systems. I tend to forget some of the finer points, otherwise known as Reasons I Want to Commit Grievous Bodily Injury Upon Something that Looks Like Bill Gates.
I have a term called Bill’s Will. This is when somebody (from Redmond) has decided that they know much better what you need than you do. As a result, the operating system that you told not to download updates for, updates itself anyway: it’s Bill’s Will. (ok, lately it’s Ballmer’s will, but stick with me)
It is widely known that the XP firewall is a piece of crud (that’s a technical term and I’m being polite). I turn it off as a matter of course and use a third party firewall.
So my not terribly often-used XP box has gotten a bit…. weird. I’m trying to diagnose it. While I’m checking services, I notice that the firewall service is on. All of the sudden I remember what happened at work; the same thing. Unfortunately this happened to production servers. It was Bill’s Will.
I’m not positive that re-turning off the firewall has fixed the problem but the OS is motoring along fine at the moment.
Memo to Gates, Ballmer, et.al.: You might know more about marketing. You might know more about OSes in general. But you don’t know better than me what I want and how I need my system to function. Cut it the $*&# out.
P.S. The movie Kill Bill was aimed at Mr. Gates.
