More Than 3 Out of 4 Enthusiasts Reject Windows 8

Yep. System restore is cool but not really reliable. Imaging is and has always been reliable since I started using it.

As for "creeping corruption", I suppose it's something for XP, that accumulates absurd errors and trash everywhere as time passes, forcing you to reinstall every now and then. I always thought XP SP3-from-the-start installs were resistant enough to that if properly cleaned with CCleaner and checkdisked once a month. Vista was a sad joke, but on win 7 this is more or less absent.

Layback Bear said:

When I tinker I use restore points when needed and with Windows 7 I haven't had any problems.

Despite not having done more then use the shortcut to create extra points if any install becomes too problematic either an image is restored or if the install is a year or longer the drive is simply wiped! Of course I can still wipe the drive at any time despite down time getting all programs back on like finding an image is too old since everything is regularly backed up on two primary storage drives as I go along.

I never have to schedule any backups using an option or 3rd party tool since updates are stored locally not simply run on completion of download and other things like 3rd party tools and apps are seeing multiple downloads to each drive as I go along. Some are also stored on the main drive there for convenience while limiting that a bit to keep image sizes down.

The one other thing Vista/7 brought in besides stability and security has been built in backup options found to be reliable in most cases! Too bad Vista only saw the image option in the Ultimate and Corporate editions while 7 and now 8 see that in all editions. If you don't have Acronis, Norton Ghost, or some other 3rd party ware no worries MS has you covered there! Too bad they failed on too many other things as far as 8 is being looked at.

I'm not saying a backup or image shouldn't be done. I just stated the restore point works well for me.

Greg where is Panera?

gregrocker said:

An example would be the relatively frequent browser attacks we see from spyware, adware, toolbars and so-called search services that are full-on spyware. These often come in on the average consumer's PC when they download freeware that pays for itself by whoring for this crapware.

Can you be more specific. I am aware of Opencandy which can be avoided on install of the free application or removed afterwards. I assume you are not just talking about tracking cookies.
How does one detect these gremlins. If you cannot detect them how do you know they exist in the first place? Won't Malwarebytes or especially Windows Defender Offline pick them up?

Most of us use freeware and it would be nice to remove unwanted hangers on - any suggestions? What is Panera?
I use Malwarebytes and NIS (which claims spyware protection). I also have Spybot portable which I haven't bothered to use yet.
How does system imaging aggravate this problem?

Almost all freeware-carried malware or unwanted programs/toolbars can be avoided by simply reading the installation screens and declining the 'extras', rather than just automatically clicking 'OK', 'OK', OK'....

If a freeware program won't let me install it without the crapware, I simply dump it and look for an alternative.

There's no shortage of them.


Wenda.