Captain's Log - Stardate: April 8, 2014
Okay, I've been using Windows XP since about 2003, and for the most part, I've warmed up to it. Sure, it has it's quirks, but so does every other operating system. When it comes to compatibility, though, you just about can't beat it, unless all of the games you run are made for DOS (but that's another post for another time).
Anyway, a few months back, I bought an analog TV tuner (I didn't notice the signal type at the time, but now the $30 price tag makes sense-again different story for a different post). The point is, under Windows XP, it runs great, the software it came with runs spectacularly, and I even have sound output on it. Not too bad for $30.00, right?
Then I tried it on Windows 7......
First off, the first method I used was Windows Media Center, which, with only 1GB of shared memory, ran like I was using MS Office 2010 on XP SP3 with less than 1GB of RAM (again, another story for another post). It was almost perfect for DVDs, but that didn't satisfy me. I tinkered around with the settings, and I could sort of get a TV signal with just the cable line, but around that time we got these new boxes called "digital adapters" so we could get back some channels that we lost (another rant for another post) and it almost worked with Windows Media Center on Windows 7, but not to my satisfaction.--Oh, and don't even get me started on "User Account Control" (those that have used Windows 7 know what I am talking about and are welcome to explain it to confused readers in the comments).
So, to remedy this, I decided to track down the software that came with my TV tuner. Since the drivers were already set up on Windows 7, this meant all I had to do was to try to find the TV decoding software: an easy task, in theory, but every search engine will deliver about 10 useless results for every one good one (maybe worse than that?). Anyway, after a few days, I come across the website of the distributor for the software I need, and I see that they have a "free trial". Naturally, my first thought was something along the lines of "seems harmless, right?" Well, at first, everything was fine.
I got the install executable downloaded and ran, and along the way, the separate piece of software pops up ready to install. My reaction to this is: "Yea. Another FREAKING recommended toolbar." In retrospect, though, I found out later at work that I was not the only person to fall victim to this. Anyway, Everything installs without a hitch, and I go about my daily life.
Then, I try to use the brand new piece of software that I installed....
STRIKE ONE: the website for my software said that it was "Version 2.0", but in reality it was a trial version of the software I had on the other hard drive that ran Windows XP.
STRIKE TWO: which, refers to my "victim" comment mentioned above: A few days later, I turn my monitor on, and there's my Windows 7 desktop, and for the most part, everything looks fine, except that I find this little blue shield in my system tray (notification area for those of you not familiar with Windows 9x) and I think "Huh. That wasn't there before. It must have installed a toolbar without my consent." And sure enough, after some more digging around on the internet, I found out that I was a victim of a "drive-by download", (which, is another form of malware that installs itself alongside another piece of software without prior consent). Anyway, a few months after this whole mess unfolds, I supposedly get the software off, and I find the original disc I was looking for in the first place. Fine.
STRIKE THREE (and, of course, the big "strikeout"): Once I finally locate the disc that came with my TV tuning card, I pop it in and install the correct software that I try to find on the internet. It even has the product key on the disc that I remember entering in Windows XP, so theoretically, my problems should be over, right? Nope. Turns out, that the box was a big fat lie, (well, almost) and that the software I want to use doesn't work on Windows 7 at all (by this time, my semester class has ended, and so I decide to bite the bullet and boot my XP drive and install Microsoft Security Essentials in place of AVG 2014). So, by a means of last resort, I power down my computer, re-set it up either in or near my room, and boot Windows XP, and, to no surprise at all, Windows XP boots with minimal issues, and everything is fine.
LESSON LEARNED: If you are that paranoid about the XP doomsday philosiphy, don't upgrade to a newer version of Windows. Switch to a variation of Linux that contains similar, if not better features, such as Ubuntu or Fedora.
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