i dislike windows xp. it runs my games, and it is generlly ok, but i have a few problems with it. first, it is so open to spware its unbeleivable. the os is like a metaphor for an open door. it gets all kind of viruses , its ridiculous. also, there is not an easy way to save files. there are multiple directories holding the same thing for each user on the computer, that soaks up so much space. i have 1 gb of music, but because it is replicated twice more, i end up using 3 to save music that should only take up 1. its sucha a hassle to have to go in and clean that crap out fso i have space on the hard drive again.
There are two sets of preferences, policies and registry keys for every user; a common set (system) and a user (your id). In the folder structure you have two as well:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\
C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\
( %username% is a variable, replace it with your profile name )
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Your folders are applied in two different fashions
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1) Cascade - (Start Menu, Desktop, Favorites, etc)
some folders cascade and so there doesn't seem to be any difference to the user. If you put 3 links into All Users\Favorites, and 3 into username\favorites, you will see 6 favorites, and all other users will see the 3 in the all users folder. You'll never see a second start menu. If you want to see the difference in your start menu, right click and Explore, and then right-click on it again and Explore all users.
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2) Individual location (My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, etc..)
So you have your own Music in My Music, and The All Users\My Documents\Music folder can be accessed FROM your profile by going to Shared Music (link on the left while in your OWN music folder).
This Shared Music folder is in essence the All Users\Music folder\ and so ALL users have it. If you want to share your stuff, this lets you do it.
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Your system preferences (located in the registry) are also individual:
In the registry they're represented as:
HKEY_Local_Machine (HKLM) and HKEY_Current_User (HKCU)
HKLM is stored with the other "common" hives in SYSTEM.DAT
HKCU is stored in the user profile folder in USER.DAT
The registry (just like security policies) will cascade. This means that the system is applied first, and then the user settings is overlayed.
Since you can make your login private (from the user management section), it means you can keep YOUR stuff private and still share files with other users on the same PC.
It's not a bad thing.
Windows XP isn't just an OS; it's a NOS (network operating system). It's ultimately designed for multiple users.
As for the open door; it's that they're the biggest target. If I were to write a virus I'd want the biggest audience; IE and Windows have a (modest) >85% market penetration. Yeah; I'm not gunning for MAC.
I see what you are saying in the file area, but when I back up my files onto a seperatly created drive because I am so scared of losing everything, I end up having 3. I en up telling things to go to my D: drive (my crash drive) and i still end up with things in C: that I shouldnt have.
I was fully aware of the windows virus prevalanc when I made that comment. However, despite almost all of the viruses being written for windows (because its so widely used), Bill Gates and XP have decided not to try to add any extra security features and IE is downright terrible.
I will add however, that once a ran Ad-Aware and Norton antivirus for a straigh week and I installed Service Pack 2 onto my xp, the performance is better and I dont have many problems. My biggest problem right now is that I have other users on the computer and I cant monitor what they are doing all the time, so I would like it if windows tried at least alittle to protect itself.
