I had to reload my system at work today, and realised that there are certain applications that I won't let near my PC for one reason or another. I was wondering what your most hated apps were and why you won't ever load them.....
My own list....
Corel Draw - any version, because it takes up acres of HD space and causes massive slowdowns of my system
Microsoft frontpage, because it's the worst app ever for making web pages
Gozilla, because if you ever un-install it explorer thinks it's still there, and it writes itself all over the registry
Outlook Express, because it's a complete bas***d to backup your stuff, whereas Outlook is easy, (unfortunately you don't get a choice with this one, it's installed every time you put on anything by Microsoft)
I look forward to seeing what other apps you won't load in a million years!!
:)
NooNoo
October 14th, 2002, 02:37 PM
Bonzi Buddy, Gator, comet cursor
shamus
October 14th, 2002, 02:43 PM
Originally posted by NooNoo
Bonzi Buddy, Gator, comet cursor
god I hate comet cursor....
Dark Millennium
October 14th, 2002, 03:27 PM
DEATH TO COMET CURSOR!!!!!!!!!!!
Also won't touch gator, gozilla, or kazaa, Morpheus, etc....
computertechgrl
October 15th, 2002, 04:56 PM
This may not be popular, but...
I won't be installing anything "Norton" anymore. I've seen it take down more machines than it's saved!
*duck*
..oh yeah, and Windows98 :oP
-computertechgirl
Budd
October 15th, 2002, 06:51 PM
norton isn't that bad, if its just norton av. you get problems with the norton system works or mcafee system works. those programs are all sh!t. i'm with noonoo on comet cursor, bonzi buddy and gator. also i have to add icq(anything past 98b) AOL IM as they are garbage. also not a fan of the Easy CD Creator series
ADS_Tech
October 15th, 2002, 07:11 PM
Bonzi Buddy!!!!
I hate that arse of a purple monkey. My kids keep reinstalling the damn thing on their PC and getting it to talk.
Most hated other than that is all the crap that comes with Kazaa.
Outcoded
October 16th, 2002, 07:34 AM
Outlook, any version, any incarnation - Yeah, this email's got a dodgy looking attachment - Let me just open it for ya.
All the obvious spyware.
Windows Me - I just can't stop breaking it.
Any games - I have better things to do with my time.
ADS_Tech
October 16th, 2002, 09:07 AM
Forgot the most obvious one - AOL.
MacGyver
October 16th, 2002, 09:27 AM
First Aid - install this rubbish, and that's what your computer is going to need!
Any of those game CDs that come in a cereal box.
Sandman72
October 16th, 2002, 09:48 AM
AOL (any version as it is the anti-christ of the internet world)
Bonzai buddy
Gator (I hate gator)
These are pretty much my top 3 most unwanted.
Radical Dreamer
October 16th, 2002, 10:03 AM
Bonzai Buddy
Gator
GAIN especially
Comet Cursor
AOL
All download managers
Netscape
SETI <- the worst
AIM
ICQ
Black Ice defender
anything mcaffee
the list goes on and on
Outcoded
October 16th, 2002, 12:47 PM
Originally posted by Judge__Dredd
Forgot the most obvious one - AOL.
Got it on all my machines.
gazzak
October 16th, 2002, 06:23 PM
I'd never heard of comet cursor before you all started trashing it. I have a PC at the office that I'll be reloading this weekend so I'm going to put comet cursor on to see what all the fuss is about. Then format c: /u
:flame:
Damned Angel
October 17th, 2002, 12:26 AM
Originally posted by Radical Dreamer
anything mcaffee
I second that
Orangeman
October 17th, 2002, 01:04 AM
McAfee Virusscan.
This thing slowed down my computer for years before I figured out what was going on. I Heard they fixed the issue with versions 5 and above but I also heard differently from someone else.
They also fill your computer with alot of STUFF that does nothing to enhance your AV effectiveness except give you alot of extra bells and whistles.
I agree with Frontpage being on the list because they invent their own HTML and it is absolutely incompatible with Netscape. That means that 10% of the webpages won't be able to see it correctly. You also pay about $200 for it.
I don't agree with First Aid. I've been using it for years and while it doesn't solve all your problems, it does troubleshoot well.
Also the New AOL 8.0 has a new spam-block that seems to be working well.
That's just my opinion...for what its worth.:p
silencio
October 17th, 2002, 01:11 AM
Originally posted by Radical Dreamer
Bonzai Buddy
Gator
GAIN especially
Comet Cursor
AOL
All download managers
Netscape
SETI <- the worst
AIM
ICQ
Black Ice defender
anything mcaffee
the list goes on and on
What problem do you have with SETI? I run it on 5 multiprocessor machines and 4 single processor machines with no errors.
Orangeman
October 17th, 2002, 02:06 AM
For me personally SETI crashed my computer incessantly. It kept on interfering with sending information when I didn't want it to.
Of course I also have an AMD k6/2-500, and older processor. It would probably work fine with a newer system.
ADS_Tech
October 17th, 2002, 02:15 AM
Originally posted by Outcoded
Got it on all my machines.
Mainly my dislike with AOL is because of all the calls I get cause people cant install it, or cant get on line.
BUT. My wife is a credit fraud officer working with a credit card company. She is assigned to dealing with AOL. She mediates between customer and AOL after theyve had their "free" trial but been billed three months regardless of the fact that theyve not agreed to accept the service.
Andy Roberts
October 17th, 2002, 11:40 AM
Originally posted by Judge__Dredd
BUT. My wife is a credit fraud officer working with a credit card company. She is assigned to dealing with AOL. She mediates between customer and AOL after theyve had their "free" trial but been billed three months regardless of the fact that theyve not agreed to accept the service.
I had the same experience with AOL when I first got on the Internet years ago. I singed up to there free 10 hour trial and was told by the AOL guy on the phone that once the 10 hours were up I would be disconncted. I went happliy using the service for about a month and half on and off thinking nothing about it (I was only 12 at the time) when one day my mom screams at me for a bill of £120 from AOL!!! We arguied it and arguied it with AOL but never got anything back from them so surprise surprise, I don't ever let people I know use it!
AOL! :flame:
Outcoded
October 18th, 2002, 07:04 AM
Originally posted by Judge__Dredd
Mainly my dislike with AOL is because of all the calls I get cause people cant install it, or cant get on line.
BUT. My wife is a credit fraud officer working with a credit card company. She is assigned to dealing with AOL. She mediates between customer and AOL after theyve had their "free" trial but been billed three months regardless of the fact that theyve not agreed to accept the service.
Yeah - you have to be careful if you ever want to cancel, it's always amazed me that they've gotten away with this stuff for as long as they have.
I just use it because it works utterly anywhere.
Andy Roberts
October 18th, 2002, 08:24 AM
I did actually like it when I used it but after the charging issue, no more AOL for me! :)
Matridom
October 18th, 2002, 12:32 PM
programs listed are on my list, I do run SETI, and have never had an issue. If your experiencing issues when running that, then you have an unstable system.
The only thing i'll add to the list is ISP software of any sort. never use what they give, get something better :)
All those and Real One Player, Easy CD Creator, MIRC, Evidence Eliminator! Jees the list is endless!
I use frontpage contary to others here but i need some of the abilities it provides. I do use Dreamweaver as first choice however.
SCHTUDE
October 18th, 2002, 02:01 PM
I've used Notron products and have thought they are quite useful, as long as you set them not to run on startup.
Comet Cursor: Found out about this one when I logged on to my PC at work and had a Brontosaurus staring me in the face
Gator: See this on our user's PCs all the time. Hey user...select NO when they try to install something you never heard of!
Bonzai Buddy: Pardon me ma'am, what the F*#& do you need a purple gorilla on your screen for?!?!?! You like hearing a computer generated voice murder the pronunciation of your name that much?
Macaffee: Hey, there is no reason to use an inferior product.
Any Screen-Saver program: Hey, if I don't want a burned-in image I'll hit the power button. It takes all of 1 second!
mrwilhelm
October 21st, 2002, 08:47 PM
Just a few comments on those already mentioned...
1. AOL - Why anyone would even think about getting an ISP that doesn't support POP3 e-mail or standard Windows DUN is beyond me. No autodial? No thanks.
2. Norton - Never had a problem with it as long as you take the time to configure it properly and make it behave. I would never go with the default settings and give it free reign of a system however.
3. McAfee - They've been the solution to WAY too many of my PC troubleshooting sessions for it to be a coincidence. I would never recommend their products.
4. Gator - The most despicable app in the history of software. There are some viruses I'd take over it if given a choice. Anyone even remotely affiliated with this outfit deserves to burn in hell forever. Bonzi Buddy and Comet Cursor certainly fall into this catagory, but Gator wins the Gold Medal since it's nearly impossible to spend anytime on the internet at all without this piece of dung trying to install itself on your machine.
5. SETI - Never had a problem with it. Of all the apps that most techs consider to be frivolous (games excepted) this is by far my favorite. It's on all my machines at home.
6. RealOne - The epitome of software bloat. Run it and watch your system resources go bye bye.
7. Kazaa and most other peer-to-peer file sharing apps - Most are loaded with parasite-ware that the less savvy user will unknowingly install. If you must, then go with Kazaalite.
As far as apps not mentioned...
1. Just about any software firewall - I know they're a necessary evil for those with broadband that don't want to go with a hardware solution, but somebody wake me when someone developes the perfect one (because it doesn't exhist yet). Even the two best available on the market (Zone Alarm Pro and Norton Personal Firewall) have caused a myriad of problems on various systems I've worked on.
2. MSN Explorer - I guess the fact that Microsoft is trying to appeal to AOL users explains why the buttons take up half your screen. The favorites menu is a joke. There's no way to automatically alphabetize them, and when you import them from IE it creates a jumbled mess. It boggles my mind that Microsoft has never bothered to fix that. A completely useless app unless you want to dump AOL but keep your internet training wheels. I can't believe Microsoft is actually going to try charging for this when version 8 comes out.
Kymera
October 22nd, 2002, 09:35 AM
To add to the list : Webshots. I hate that program with a passion.
Any dedicated Streaming Radio program, like ClickRadio.
You know that commercial where the guy gets a call from a telemarketer at 6:00am, then he flies over to the office, rips the phone from the wall and jumps on it. I'd love to do that to whatever development server has the code for RealOne/Bonzai Buddy/Gator. I dreamed about it last night.
joelen
October 22nd, 2002, 12:05 PM
Bonzai Buddy
Gator
Comet Cursor
Gozilla! and the like
AOL
ICQ
msn messenger
savenow
AVG
mcafee
Kazaa, morpheaus, etc. (*kazaa lite is ok)
ANY system "utilities" (disk doctor, etc.)
webshots
ANY Registry 'cleaner' (trasher) program
Seti
Juno
ANY ISP software- if it aint broadband or DUN, get away.
ms works
printer monitoring software
ATI catalyst drivers (untill they learn how to write drivers again)
Netscape version 6 and up
Radical Dreamer
October 23rd, 2002, 07:12 AM
Originally posted by silencio
What problem do you have with SETI? I run it on 5 multiprocessor machines and 4 single processor machines with no errors.
Because its pointless and has made absolutely NO progress.
www.uniteddevices.com and Folding@home are the only distro computing programs that are worth the time spent making them
....oh and did I mention on machines where multiple people login, it annoys the hell outta them trying to get them to register seti
vlad_ds9
October 23rd, 2002, 12:14 PM
New.net has been left off this list. Its total trashware.
Seti works fine. But Ive also chosen to run the command line version. Never had a problem with it.
mrwilhelm
October 23rd, 2002, 08:12 PM
Originally posted by vlad_ds9
New.net has been left off this list. Its total trashware.
Ah yes... how could I forget? That little parasite proved to be a one-way ticket to PC Hell for me one time. It took me two days of hair pulling and head banging before I found it.
Suddenly my machine couldn't connect to several download servers. These were mostly update servers of certain apps I had installed such as Symantec, MusicMatch, etc. I also had intermittent touble downloading regular files. It drove me nuts and I was getting ready for a clean install when my nth internet search paid off and I discovered it was a buggy release of New.net causing the problem.
That's nice... an app I never heard of and didn't want had somehow managed to covertly install itself on my machine and goof up Explorer to the point that I couldn't download anything because it had a serious bug in it.
Get a rope...
format c:
October 24th, 2002, 01:47 AM
Originally posted by Radical Dreamer
anything mcaffee
the list goes on and on
I will third Mcaffee, slows you down to a crawl
Norton is Ok just don't have it all load on start up, I do a custom install and only run NAV , Saved my butt a few times
I hate download managers, Why do I need one with broad band
Any music sharing SPYWARE
Flaky, clunky cd burning software, I had Stomp and I get staticy CDs so I uninstalled it and wiil try Roxeo 5 out ( Came with my burner ) Nero has a bug extracting audio, Cdrwin does not like my LG burners or complains about my ASPI layer
Bonzai is not my buddy, How many times do I have to pull it from my Dad's system because it installs in the back ground
Any software that hijacks your file associations and when you remove it messes up your system
:flame:
gazzak
October 24th, 2002, 06:49 AM
At the end of this week I will compile a top ten of Apps that won't get near your PC's from all the posts so far. It's not too difficult to see who's going to be top!
However what is interesting so far is how some people really hate some applications that others seem to love!
McAfee virus scan is one mentioned lots that personally I have had no problems with. Also webshots was recently mentioned, it's actually one of my personal favorites, you only get the crap when you download new images, but the system seems to get along with it just fine!
At least everyone seems to agree on gozilla, I thought it was just me!:eek2:
Outcoded
October 24th, 2002, 12:33 PM
Way today's going - Anything ending in .exe, .com or .bat :(
Quiet Thunder
October 24th, 2002, 05:27 PM
While, I've seen some great items added to this list, don't forget that stupid freaking screan savers thing. There's a few of them, similar to webshots, where it'll automatically download new screen savers. Also, that stupid American flag program that became popular after 9/11. I'm all for national pride, but that program, just trashed computers. Not only would it completely embed it's self into windows, but it took over your processor (always a scary thing when a small app suddenly sucks the life out of a cpu), and it completely crippled the computer.
Why oh why do people demand to do this ****?
Six Eyed Smily
October 25th, 2002, 10:57 PM
joelen, whats your problem with ati catalyst drivers? 2.3 is rock solid (on a clean windows install, anyway), and fast too.
i hate coreldraw, but need the fonts it provides, so am a bit stuck with that one.
frontpage is garbage designed to remove netscape from use, dreamweaver is lots better (particularly mx) but i still find it as buggy as hell with table layout (they never align when they should)
anything with real in the name should be avoided, as it does everything but actaully move the ouse for you, and assumes that all you want to do with that nice 5 grand box is use real player :(
pro/e is so horrible i am cosidering setting up an app server jst to run it. the program consists of tens of thousands (no exageration) of small files which royally fragement and disrupt any know hard drive.
unfortunatly, i dont think i can really avoid using it, as would not get an awful lot done tyring to use windows paint instead :(
windows 98 and me. niether has the faintest idea how to cope on a network, or run porfessional apps, yet people cling to them like thier mothers :(
windows xp. just horrible. tried to come up with the meaning of xp, and all i could think of that was true was xtreme poo.
redhat 7.2 - it formatted my hard drives without bothering to ask me first. this was just week before i finally got round to ordering a new cd-r drive, so i had not been able to back up for about a month. i lost unbeliveable amounts of stuff that i desperately needed. the computer narrowly escaped being launched out the window.
any anti-virus software at all. i do not access the net from my work machine, nor can anyone on the network write anything to it at all without express permission. it does not need an antivirus program deciding to attempt a full sytem scan while I am trying to do a final render of a model that needs to be completed very soon (yes, its happened :( )
oh yes - microsoft office xp. i utterly fail to understand what anyone could possibly add to office 2k (other than stability and workflow, which are not exactly m$s trademarks) that would ever be used.
free software - as far as i can work out, there is no useful free software at all. not one piece has remained on my hd for more than 2 weeks.
MmmmM
October 26th, 2002, 12:35 AM
I don't know what you are talking about with free software, but if you look around, you can find the most incredible software around!! i.e. ethreal, there is more but you just have to look and ask questions. But I do agree there is a lot of crap free software out there too....:eek2: :eek2:
meatwad
October 26th, 2002, 01:15 PM
Anyone remember a little app called webhancer? I had a computer that would not go online in the shop once. First time I'd run into spyware. What a pain in the @$$.
Anything McAfee. Anything Norton's except PC Anyware. Gator...I sense a pattern with these Posts. :P.
AudioGalaxy. Too many to list.
Six Eyed Smily
October 26th, 2002, 07:33 PM
well, maybe all free software is a bit extreme, but i would say at least 90% is useless.
exact audio copy is one of the few exceptions, and when i meant free i did not mean open source linux stuff.
Orangeman
October 27th, 2002, 12:29 AM
Two more come to mind:
Internet Explorer 5.5 & Windows ME.
IE 5.5 and WinMe together were the most unstable pieces of $h*T that had ever wasted space on a hard drive. As far as I'm concerned Microsoft invented it just to convince the courts that it was capable of making a business mistake (and to take it easy on them.) It crashed so many times that after six days I deliberately reformatted my hard drive just so I could go back to '98. Don't ask me what was wrong with it, I'll just use its nickname.....
<u>W</u>hy Me:flame:
joelen
October 28th, 2002, 10:33 AM
My problem with the catalyst drivers, is that ATI has not come out with anything yet that does not cause one of a number of issues in windows xp. Maybe if you are just playing games, you are fine, but when doing video capture and so forth, the catalyst drivers need some work. Im sticking with the MS logo certified ones for now. Im sure ATI will get their act together soon.
As i see from your post, you don't like windows xp, so you would not be aware of the issues, or you would most likely blame them on windows anyway.
gazzak
October 28th, 2002, 05:07 PM
OK folks, this list has been out a while now and here are the winners....
1st Bonzai Buddy, gator & AOL
(each with 9 votes)
5th Gozilla
6th Seti
7th Frontpage, EZ CD Creator, Netscape, ICQ, Real Player, Kazza & Webshots
Honourable mentions to CorelDraw, Outlook Express, Norton Utilities, Windows ME, AIM an new.net
I dare anyone to load all of these apps on to one PC!!!!
format c:
October 29th, 2002, 01:51 AM
I have an extra PC here to torment, I may just do that and see what happens, Any one care to donate a copy of Macaffe virus scan
I am seriously thinking of this :D
joelen
October 29th, 2002, 09:12 AM
we get about 3 systems in a week with all that and more on it.... :)
KINGofBLEH
December 26th, 2002, 01:23 AM
Windows......j/k :p
Anything McAfee or Norton. I also hate most Virus scanners because they suck up mage resources are only exist to idiot-proff your PC. Well....if you eliminate the idiot....
Of course the usual suspects: Comet Cursor, Webshots, Gator, Morpheus, Bearshare, Gnutella, Netscape, AOL, etc, etc.
ScooterWad
December 27th, 2002, 12:44 PM
My vote goes for Gator and AOL.
Seems we've left out Time manager and Date Manager.
I have no use for these little utilities
This is doubly hilarious cause just had to deal with a comp with a nausea inducing theme fully set up. Full on Barney icons, sounds, color scheme, and wall paper. Never before have I considered tripling my bill on the spot more than with that pc.
peterpam
January 7th, 2003, 08:15 PM
TO PUT A FINGUER ON THE ISSUE: subscribe all:
Bonzai Buddy
Gator
GAIN especially
Comet Cursor
AOL
All download managers
Netscape
SETI <- the worst
AIM
ICQ
Black Ice defender
anything mcaffee
NORTON (everithing indeed!)
Macafee... brrrrr
Thouse nasty Microsoft Extensions on Office...
Microsoft Shares all alike, specially Internet Connection Sharing...
I HATE THEM!
cgonzo
January 8th, 2003, 03:23 PM
here's a real old hated app: AfterDark!
Archangel42069
January 8th, 2003, 05:20 PM
Originally posted by cgonzo
here's a real old hated app: AfterDark!
Lets not forget Interactual and any other DVD software wthats comes on DVD . i mean come on your DVD player and or you video card players are are you need
NEPATEC
January 11th, 2003, 01:39 PM
My vote goes to Cygwin
shawno
January 11th, 2003, 02:41 PM
anything ".NET"
peterpam
January 11th, 2003, 05:08 PM
Too soon to bee talking about .net... Look at XP...
Greetings from a sunny and cold country
Shairel
January 11th, 2003, 06:04 PM
You do all know that most of this crap, gator, webhancer, etc etc, can be ripped out of your computer and the damage undone by running a little program called ad aware from www.lavasoft.de
jaeger
January 15th, 2003, 12:40 AM
Originally posted by Shairel
You do all know that most of this crap, gator, webhancer, etc etc, can be ripped out of your computer and the damage undone by running a little program called ad aware from www.lavasoft.de
Actually adaware and its reference files are dated. Spybot (http://beam.to/spybotsd) is much more current.
tjj
January 16th, 2003, 02:03 AM
microsoft's "bob" !!!!!!!!!!!
8-}
spdycml
January 20th, 2003, 12:33 AM
must....think......hard.......GATOR F'n SUCKS.....it seems that every webpage you go to now wants you to install gator!!!! Yet most users don't know what gator is and they install it thinking it will help their multitasking/internet performance! ARGGGGGGHHHHHHH..........Gator USED to be a decent program that sped up your downloads if you were on dial-up. now it is nothing but a waste of electricity to keep it in RAM(since it seems to be running 24/7):mad:
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