Windows 7 Allows You To Turn Features On or Off

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Not only can you turn off Internet Explorer in Windows 7, you can turn off damn near everything else too. It looks like Microsoft has finally figured out a way to include everything they want in their OS and beat the anti-trust complaints at the same time.
 
I don't see anything about turning on/off EventID: 4226 or when Windows Media player is playing music it reduces network speed down to 10%.
 
Better yet, how about the ability not to install it in the first place?
 
Microsoft's next step is to include Advance install options to NOT install those options in along with space savings... a-la vLite.

Nevertheless, this option is RAD!
 
DukenukemX said:
I don't see anything about turning on/off EventID: 4226
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EventID 4225 is simply that... an Event ID, not a part of the OS you can remove. Perhaps you mean the ability to change the number of half-open connections?


DukenukemX said:
or when Windows Media player is playing music it reduces network speed down to 10%.
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What the hell are you talking about? I've never experienced this on any machine.
 
lathode said:
Better yet, how about the ability not to install it in the first place?
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That is a foolish notion and extremely costly. It is much cheaper and more stable to create a SW package with all features and disable what you don't need rather than trying to only install "what you need". With size of modern HDD (especially considering that vista is smaller than win98 respectively)...doing a full install adds no "effective" penalty other than being just needing something to bitch about.
 
This is one of those abilities that makes so much sense, and seems so basic that I'm sure some guy at MS was saying "WHy didn't we do this before"?
The only question I have is in regards to the security ramification of it...
 
Is it just me, or has this always been available? Even before WinXP you can add or remove features. Add/Remove Programs -> Add/Remove WIndows Components
or are they just trying to sucker people into buying this by sticking a label on it as a "new" feature to "remove features"? lol
Maybe I'm missing something?

The truth is there is no way to keep it from being installed. Not sure why there isn't a custom install option like there is on almost all 3rd party software.
 
@ShagnWagn - yep. You are missing something. That list includes stuff like IE, Media Player, DVD Players etc. These have not been removable in the past.
 
Apparently removing IE8 actually removes the executable as well. But I haven't tried the new build for myself. Anyone wanna try and see if iexplore.exe is actually gone?
 
so is vista going away after this is released? i just changed over from xp.
 
Turning off Freecell? how the hell does that work? I thought by simply not opening the program it is by default... off
 
I recall the bigger issue being able to UNINSTALL/REMOVE this stuff.

turning it off is nice tho :)
 
ShagnWagn said:
Is it just me, or has this always been available? Even before WinXP you can add or remove features...
The truth is there is no way to keep it from being installed. Not sure why there isn't a custom install option like there is on almost all 3rd party software.
Click to expand...

That's true. Plus, there is the MsConfig tool for disabling services + startup stuff, and the Application Defaults (?) thing for picking which major application you want to use.

This tool only disables stuff, it doesn't allow you to pick a 3rd-party replacement. So, this would have little-to-no bearing on antitrust stuff.
 
ShagnWagn said:
Is it just me, or has this always been available? Even before WinXP you can add or remove features. Add/Remove Programs -> Add/Remove WIndows Components
or are they just trying to sucker people into buying this by sticking a label on it as a "new" feature to "remove features"? lol
Maybe I'm missing something?

The truth is there is no way to keep it from being installed. Not sure why there isn't a custom install option like there is on almost all 3rd party software.
Click to expand...

You're half right. Even in Vista one of the first things I do with a new install is remove certain added features. Why do I need the Tablet PC functionality? But this is different. Now you can "remove" things like IE and WMP.

This is a welcome addition though. I never use the media center stuff on my desktop PC nor do I use the MS DVD/Movie maker software. Will be nice to remove stuff like that.

After reading the article I have to shake my head at people's comment on the blog. They still bitch about not having the option to not install it at all even after MS comes out and says "based on feedback from the beta we found users wanted a more streamlined setup process so we decided to focus on this instead." Some people will never be happy.

I don't care if the files still exist in a compressed state so I don't have to find my DVD to install it again. Drive space is horribly cheap. The netbook SSD and space limitation comment is worthless as well. SSD's are a niche market right now and they're getting cheaper and bigger every month. Why worry about something that really isn't an issue right now much less an issue 6 months from now?
 
Personally I would love to see a selective installer that can just skip installing the programs. I would also love to see it skip installing drivers not needed for the system, laptops/netbooks do not change hardware very often if ever, why have 1,000,000 different drivers that will never be used, just supply the default mode drivers and let people install the manufactures drivers.

I would also love to see windows say you don't use this service, do you want to disable it. I have not owned a printer in 7 years yet printspooler is there running in the background unless you turn it off.
 
This is no different than advertising the Windows Key + Tab function as new. It's not new it just a flashier Alt+Tab, big deal.

All this is, is a nother iteration of the "Add/Remove Windows Components". So they added to the list and when you uncheck some of them it actually removes the exe... big deal.

Windows had always been quite customizable. It seems though that to many people never take the time to look deep and understand what can be done. Further they don't understand that there will always be limitations.

The real big reason people shouldn't complain... YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE IT. While in the past alternatives were lacking in many ways, today's alternatives are more complete than ever.

And really if you are required to use it at work or for some other small reason... suck it up already.
 
DukenukemX said:
I don't see anything about turning on/off EventID: 4226 or when Windows Media player is playing music it reduces network speed down to 10%.
Click to expand...

Huh? I play music with Windows Media Player all the time and have never seen a drop in network performance... and believe me I would notice because I'm always downloading stuff and monitoring speeds. Are you high or are you just talking about some bug that was fixed years ago? :rolleyes:
 
ive been using this with vista since it came out. The remote differential compression slows performance of *nix file sharing.
 
BloodyIron said:
I recall the bigger issue being able to UNINSTALL/REMOVE this stuff.

turning it off is nice tho :)
Click to expand...

Since hard drives have become so big and cheep, I haven't heard anyone complain about bloatware. I would rather have that screen come up at the beginning of the install, so I can decide what to install or not. After all this is the operating system which i will be using all the time vs a third party that I might get rid of.
 
Glad to see Microsoft is finally getting a clue, some very welcome additions to the list, but they still fall short. They have a ways to go in providing true customization and control over your computing experience.
 
Trepidati0n said:
That is a foolish notion and extremely costly. It is much cheaper and more stable to create a SW package with all features and disable what you don't need rather than trying to only install "what you need". With size of modern HDD (especially considering that vista is smaller than win98 respectively)...doing a full install adds no "effective" penalty other than being just needing something to bitch about.
Click to expand...

Foolish and extremely costly? They did it with Windows 98. Apple does it with OS X, and Linux does it. When you install a program like Nero or Office you have the option to not install all components. Ya i'm really bitching because I don't want to have stuff on my PC that I don't want :rolleyes:
 
Vermillion said:
After reading the article I have to shake my head at people's comment on the blog. They still bitch about not having the option to not install it at all even after MS comes out and says "based on feedback from the beta we found users wanted a more streamlined setup process so we decided to focus on this instead." Some people will never be happy.
Right, because having a button to select "add/remove programs" would make the process ohh soo difficult for people. Can't give people options! They won't know what to do! And going through the process of removing features once they're installed is much more convenient. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
lathode said:
Ya i'm really bitching because I don't want to have stuff on my PC that I don't want :rolleyes:
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See, that's where you're confused. It's not your PC, it's Microsoft's PC. Once you understand that you'll stop having these foolish ideas about choosing what gets installed on the computer or how you use the computer.

There is only one correct way and that is the Microsoft way. If you think that the interface layout in IE7 and IE8 is ridiculous then you are wrong! If you think the Windows Classic theme is superior to Aero you are wrong! If you think the old task bar works better than the Windows 7 task bar you are wrong! Conform! Obey!

Alternatively you can switch to Linux which is what I intend to do after trying the Windows 7 beta. Fortunately XP will be supported for many years to come, allowing for a progressive transition. I'm starting with my HTPC and going from there.
 
Wow someone has been drinking too much of the kool-aid I think. Granted Microsoft isn't the most user friendly on what is installed and whatnot but no where near as bad are you are making it out to be. But hey, enjoy Linux, it is all just a personal choice after all.
 
Mr Milquetoast said:
Alternatively you can switch to Linux which is what I intend to do after trying the Windows 7 beta.
Click to expand...

Wait, you are planning to switch to Linux after trying the Win7 beta? So why bother with trying the beta if you have already decided not to use it once it hits retail?

Anyway, I hate to break it to you, but there are few better options for a HTPC's PS than Windows Media Center. Trust me, I've tried most of them...
 
In XP you can turn off (remove) IE, media player, outlook express, windows messenger. So most of that isn't new. However for some reason most of that was not in Vista. So they really are just adding it back and adding more to the list like others said.
 
Exavior said:
In XP you can turn off (remove) IE, media player, outlook express, windows messenger. So most of that isn't new. However for some reason most of that was not in Vista. So they really are just adding it back and adding more to the list like others said.
Click to expand...

You can't actually remove these things afaik. There are too many dependencies on IE and MSN components. Outlook probably can be removed. Some of what you may be referring to is the ability to switch the default application for web browsing, email etc, and remove icons.
 
Does this mean remove, or merely disable? There is a very significant difference between the two and if "removing" Internet Explorer keeps the files on disk and its functionality and vulnerabilities available, then I don't see much point.
 
Mr Milquetoast said:
See, that's where you're confused. It's not your PC, it's Microsoft's PC. Once you understand that you'll stop having these foolish ideas about choosing what gets installed on the computer or how you use the computer.

There is only one correct way and that is the Microsoft way. If you think that the interface layout in IE7 and IE8 is ridiculous then you are wrong! If you think the Windows Classic theme is superior to Aero you are wrong! If you think the old task bar works better than the Windows 7 task bar you are wrong! Conform! Obey!

Alternatively you can switch to Linux which is what I intend to do after trying the Windows 7 beta. Fortunately XP will be supported for many years to come, allowing for a progressive transition. I'm starting with my HTPC and going from there.
Click to expand...

have fun on linux, my time is too precious to be spent dicking around to make something work on an operating system that expects you to finish making it. I have ubuntu booting on one of my systems, it's nice, but for what i do at home it's not worth the hassle. Besides if you run linux don't you have to conform to the concept that you are somehow superior for throwing off the "shackles" of windows and are running an operating system "your" way? Obey the penguin! conform to douchism!

seriously, dedicated server? linux is great... damn near anything else... it's not conforming it's using a program the fucking works... Hell even osx doesn't expect you to finish it. It just works.
 
Mr Milquetoast said:
See, that's where you're confused. It's not your PC, it's Microsoft's PC. Once you understand that you'll stop having these foolish ideas about choosing what gets installed on the computer or how you use the computer.

There is only one correct way and that is the Microsoft way. If you think that the interface layout in IE7 and IE8 is ridiculous then you are wrong! If you think the Windows Classic theme is superior to Aero you are wrong! If you think the old task bar works better than the Windows 7 task bar you are wrong! Conform! Obey!

Alternatively you can switch to Linux which is what I intend to do after trying the Windows 7 beta. Fortunately XP will be supported for many years to come, allowing for a progressive transition. I'm starting with my HTPC and going from there.
Click to expand...
You need to shut up and look at the bigger picture of why Microsoft is doing this. They're doing it because this removes the headache that system administrators of small/medium/large companies & governments have when it comes to setting up machines. You on the other hand may have the time to jack off and set up the machine YOU want but these system administrators don't.

Alternatively, I think you're just a douchebag and need to realize Linux is not a viable option for the business world. There are just simply too many people out there that can't and won't work with anything other than Windows.
 
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