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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?"
Semantics, semantics. My point was that User-Agent detection is *not* the right way to handle the problem.
As long as the setup program (EXE, MSI or otherwise) handles the detection prior to installation, it meets the requirement I stated: "That way, the setup program could *authoritatively* determine what OS was in use, and block installation onto any invalid systems".
...it's entirely unpossible...
I suppose unpossible could be a word, un- being the prefix for opposite, but i think you meant impossible. Now I've had my grammar-naziing for the day. I'm good. The other 211 spelling errors on this page can go unnoticed by me.
"Unpossible" is a perfectly cromulent word!
Life is wet, then you dry.
Yes it is, without a prompt that you are not running the correct OS.
Would it really be so hard to detect the OS? And then churn out the message:
This file is for Windows Vista. You are using Windows XP. What would you like to do?
[ ] View all similar files for my operating system.
[ ] View all similar files for Vista.
[ ] View all similar files for all Windows operating systems.
[ ] Download the file anyway.
Please check all that apply. Each selection will open in a new tab.
Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)