Ok, so over the years since XP’s release, there are a number of things that drive me nuts. I know that some of these things can be fixed using third party apps, but why should I have to install those? Should some of these things not be part of the core operating system? Anyways, here’s the list:

• When copying or moving files from one location to another, if ANY file errors out, you get a nice error message on the screen, and your ENTIRE copy operation is now broken. Why doesn’t it say “There was an error, BUT, we’ll copy the rest of the files so you don’t have to do it all over again”?
• I need more information on the progress of a copy operation. The time estimation is terrible. XP should show the number of files and the size of the transfer that remains.
• Why isn’t there an option to have Device Manager search sub folders when updating drivers? Instead I have to navigate to the exact folder under the crazy directory structure that manufacturers create when packaging drivers.
• Why do my tool tips for system tray icons some times show up behind the task bar, with no hope in hell of getting them to come back to the front?
• Why do I have to go to a web site to do Windows Updates? I know I can use Automatic Updates, but it would be nice if there was a better featured update app that I could use right from Windows.

Now I know you’re thinking to yourself “But Keith… most of these features are in Vista. Why aren’t you using it?”. Now let me tell you this. In Vista, why can’t I run one single Virtual Machine that uses 512MB of my 2GB available memory, without Vista telling me that my memory is completely used up, and that I must close the only two apps I have open!

I tried with Vista. Just ask this guy and this guy. They both tried as well. It’s just not polished, it’s too slow, and I’d rather put up with the above complaints in XP, than have my computer run like it was built in 1997.

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