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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.
Slashdot article with virtually all the comments defending Microsoft... Satan must be wearing a heavy coat, and using an umbrella to deflect pig crap.