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The Broken Design of Microsoft's "Fix it" Tool
$luggo writes "Curious about MS Fix It, I recently went hunting in the MS knowledge base for articles that provide the new EZ-button. After locating on few, I decided to click the button to download the Microsoft Installer package containing the executable and/or files that automatically enable the DVD Library feature in Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate — on my XP Media Center. 'Surely, MS will use some scripting, HTTP User-Agent sniffing, or even Genuine Windows validation to verify that I am running Vista,' I thought. It did not and I canceled the download when I received the prompt to save the file. So, I wonder: is there a Fix-it for Fix it? Because I can easily imagine someone doing what I did without scrolling to the bottom of the KB article and verifying that the article applies to their OS/version. This is a great example poor design. Why not simply use the download approach that other articles / fixes / service packs use, whereby the user must select the appropriate OS?"
And if your error is ie related and ie won't for example open new tabs properly AND doesn't report the correct OS version? Not reporting the correct OS version from a hidden string is not something many users would be aware of. For them the link would just not work and keep telling them they have the wrong version. Not to mention if you wanted to download it for a pc that can't or doesn't get on the internet.
There could be many reasons to download it on XP. It's not a fuck-up until a Vista-only MS app installs on XP. Until then, it's just some guy downloading a file on XP.
Reminds of what I went through recently. Lured by all the hype about the new Consolas font (yeah, I get excited about such things), I decided to go download it from Microsoft and have a look. The font is there by default for Vista users, but what the hell, we're all running Windows right, and I don't recall Microsoft ever charging extra for their fonts.
The download went fine. The installation routine, however, required Visual Studio 2005 to be preinstalled so it quit with its error message. Not one to be turned away so easily, I discovered that the font is included with the (free) PowerPoint viewer. Downloaded that, installed it, made a backup of the newly-installed fonts, and uninstalled PowerPoint.
The font, I discovered, is unimpressive.
The moral of the story? Stupid is as stupid does. Self respect comes at a price, and a sane environment (something not available with Windows) is preferrable to chasing the promises of the new.
Slashdot article with virtually all the comments defending Microsoft... Satan must be wearing a heavy coat, and using an umbrella to deflect pig crap.