Posted on 06/19/2005 6:41:20 AM PDT by Willie Green
Wow, Microsoft should be able to code around faulty cables? Please explain these advancements in software that can overcome electrical connections to the disk drive being broken.
I appreciate the time you took to look into this. But I really don't have the time / money to replace, one by one, each piece of hardware until the problem is discovered.
You're welcome. That's why I only buy my systems from top manufacturers, and don't have problems like these very often. I would advise others do the same, just don't buy anything labled IBM, their PC business is owned by the Chinese government now, in case you haven't heard.
"And nothing has happened in those last five years to make Windows their official O/S either. It's Linux, which isn't about to change, since they get way too many benefits for free to ever switch. Amazing how you accuse me of disinformation, while you try to hide the story of Red Flag in China"
I was being sarcastic in calling Windows their official OS - to demonstrate the silliness that there is ANY "official" OS in China.
The Red Flag website sure doesn't say anything like that, only that the ChiCom gov has supported Linux. Of course, so has ours.
http://www.redflag-linux.com/egyhq.html
I'm also willing to bet that our government has more puters running Linux than the Chinese do.
I don't know why you think I hate Microsoft. I'm using their Windows XP right now.
See? :)
$ uname -a
CYGWIN_NT-5.1 noir 1.5.13(0.122/4/2) 2005-03-01 11:01 i686 unknown unknown Cygwin
"Wow, Microsoft should be able to code around faulty cables? Please explain these advancements in software that can overcome electrical connections to the disk drive being broken."
Stop dissembling, his point was that something as critical as the Registry should use a COMMIT/ROLLBACK type metaphor, back it's self up, and restore it's self easily.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
>I was being sarcastic in calling Windows their official OS - to demonstrate the silliness that there is ANY "official" OS in China.
And you would, of course, be wrong. From 2004:
http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2004/02/26/linux_distros.html
Red Flag Linux comes from the Chinese government's decision that its country needed an official operating system with transparent code. The Academy of Science of China built Red Flag Linux atop the latest Linux kernel code, and named it Red Flag Linux.
Here's where it was first announced, back in 1999:
http://slashdot.org/articles/99/11/10/1457205.shtml
YAHOO UK is reporting that the People's Republic of China will be naming Linux as its "Official Operating System". The story is repeated with more details and notes that government officials are "enthusiastic about the community ethos behind the open source community."
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/feb03/02-28gspchinapr.mspx
Microsoft and China Announce Government Security Program Agreement
Beijing, China, Feb. 28, 2003 — Representing the China government, the China Information Technology Security Certification Center (CNITSEC) signed an agreement with Microsoft at the State Development & Planning Commission (SDPC) office to participate in the recently announced Government Security Program (GSP). Mr. Wang Chunzheng, Vice Chairman of the SDPC presided over the signing ceremony. Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates briefed Chinese President Jiang Zemin on the GSP agreement signed between the two parties during todays reception of Mr. Gates by the President.
The GSP is a global initiative that provides national governments with controlled access to Microsoft Windows source code and other technical information they need to be confident in the security of the Windows platform. The China Government is one of the first governments around the globe to sign the agreement. Russia, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Kingdom announced GSP agreements with Microsoft last month. Microsoft is in discussions with more than 30 countries, territories and organizations about their interest in the program. The signing of the GSP is also a deliverable of the Memorandum of Understanding "On Strengthening Software Industry Cooperation" Microsoft signed with SDPC June 2002.
The CNITSEC was authorized by SDPC to sign the GSP with Microsoft. Dr. Wu ShiZhong, Director of the CNITSEC reaffirmed that information technology security as part of the process of information transfer was a key issue for the government. "Microsofts GSP provides us with the controlled access to source code and technical information in an appropriate way. It also establishes cooperation between China and Microsoft. Microsoft has taken a great step forward to let us understand its product security."
The Government Security Program is tailored to the specialized security requirements of governments. The program is a no-fee initiative that provides program participants the ability to review Windows source code using a smart-card-based secure online access and subject to certain license restrictions. Under the GSP master agreement, the government agency can also authorize the sponsored agencies to undertake research projects in the field of information security. In addition to source access, the GSP provides for the disclosure of technical information about the Windows platform, enhancing governments ability to build and deploy computing infrastructures with strong security technologies in place. The program also promotes increased communication and collaboration between Microsoft security professionals and program participants, providing opportunities to visit Microsoft development facilities in Redmond, Wash.; review various aspects of Windows source-code development, testing and deployment processes; discuss existing and potential projects with Microsoft security experts, and generally interact with and provide feedback directly to Microsoft staff.
Microsoft's Gates said: "As part of Microsoft's commitment to creating a Trustworthy Computing environment, we are pleased to have signed this agreement. As a government trusted partner, we are committed to providing the Chinese government with information that will help them deploy and maintain secure computing infrastructures. We see this agreement as a significant step forward in Microsoft's relations with the Chinese government."
The Government Security Program is a crucial element of Microsofts efforts to address the unique requirements of governments around the world. In 2001, Microsoft launched the Shared Source Initiative, expanding its long-standing efforts to make Windows source code more transparent to trusted partners and customers. In 2002, the company announced its Trustworthy Computing initiative, placing security at the core of all Windows development efforts.
The Government Security Program also supports and builds on the Common Criteria (CC) certification. Windows 2000 achieved CC certification -- a globally accepted, independent standard for evaluating the security features and capabilities of information technology products -- last October for the broadest set of real-world scenarios yet achieved by any operating system as defined by the Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation (CCITSE). Whereas the CC certification provides a common set of requirements that enables customers worldwide to objectively evaluate the security functions of IT products and systems, the GSP takes this a step further by providing national governments with the information they need to conduct robust security analyses and audits of Microsofts Windows products.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" ) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft and Windows either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Yes, I know, Microsoft is granting the chicoms peeks at their source code. That is of course not to be confused with giving them the full and free access to all the source code, since for some of it the chicoms have to travel to Redmond Washington (USA) and can't take any of it back with them. Nor can they modify that code, or resell, redistribute, much less rename it Red Flag. Obviously, this was a response by Microsoft to the chicom use of Linux, which I felt went too far, but they apparently felt pressured into it. It still in no way provides them anywhere equivalent access, or free use, nor is Windows their official O/S like Linux is.
You should know better than to try to hide your Microsoft-branded kneepads around here.
The PRC has complete and total access to the Windows source code at any time they wish with a direct connection.
They didn't just "peek." They don't have to take come to Redmond to look at it. They've got all of it, every day, all day.
Nor can they modify that code, or resell, redistribute, much less rename it Red Flag.
True, since their version of Linux is called Red Flag, that would cause confusion. Rather, they can take the Windows source code, remove the backdoors that Microsoft put in for the NSA and then use that on their government computers.
Which is exactly why they wanted the code.
Obviously, this was a response by Microsoft to the chicom use of Linux, which I felt went too far, but they apparently felt pressured into it.
By who? Not by US Government agencies, who loudly protested the action.
It still in no way provides them anywhere equivalent access, or free use, nor is Windows their official O/S like Linux is.
The PR move of naming Linux the "official OS" of the PRC is a bit like naming a state bird. It doesn't help the bird, it's just publicity.
But you'll stoop to anything to bash Linux, won't you?
So, on the one hand, you have Linux. It's source code has always been freely available, from day one. It's not like the PRC came asking for it and Linus said, "Sure, fellow traveler. Anything for a comrade!" It was out there for everyone.
On the other hand, you have Windows. It's source code has always been a carefully guarded secret. Security professionals that wanted a peek were told "no", but Billy Gates and Co. bent right over for their commie buddies and coughed up the code, over the objections of the US intelligence organs.
Spin away, kneepadder. But it won't change the fact that Microsoft intentionally sold out to the commies.
As I have said numerous times, reading and writing to files is not rocket science! Read what you need at startup and close the file (or as needed). If a change is needed, open, change, close. It is INSANE to have the entire registry in volatile memory and to try to write all back to disk at shutdown. ANY fault in the system, be it hardware or software, which causes an abnormal end will automatically result in a failure to write the registry to disk, thus leading to corruption. Furthermore, why even write to disk, if NO CHANGES have occured in the file?
Also, if it were faulty power/communication cables to the harddrive, why does everything else get written to the HD correctly? It is only during the system power off procedures from Windows where this occurs, not during normal operation!
Face it, this is crappy programming.
BTW, I DID account for the fact that a catastrophic situation (such as a lose of power during a write operation) obviously can NOT be fully protected against.
You may think I am an MS Basher, but you would be wrong. I have been using MS products since the 80's and I am generally "happy" (especially since MS has improved it's Customer Service!!)
Lastly, the PC is a HP Pavilion, no changes except a supplier installed memory upgrade at Christmas.
Yes, that is exactly my point.
Wrong, like pretty much everything from you.
Nice to know, but irrelevant to the actual point of my posts. I originally posted this problem as an example of how MS ceases to be user friendly as soon as problems occur. The user is forced to rely on internet searches/fiddling with things which he does not understand.
Linux has many advantages, but is not very "freindly" to the common user.
Not if it's faulty hardware, as you very own links indicated was the actual problem.
Okay, thanks again for your help. Don't really feel like entering a pissing contest.
Quite sickening. According to the article he went to Boeing first, and will be meeting with President Bush next, with trips to MIT and Harvard along the way. Apparently trade is going to be allowed with Vietnam, but it shouldn't be, in my opinion. They're not going to buy much MS software anyway, just like in every other communist country, Linux and open source is their government standard.
http://slashdot.org/articles/03/10/30/1435248.shtml
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