Despotic browsers keep crashing, reach new lows

How changed have the things at Microsoft! I went installing IE8 on my 2 xp machines (an Asus and an HP laptop) and as usual it set itself as the default browser despite firefox having been set default and IE7 access having been removed with the default programs tool. It's nice to know that  the only way to prevent IE8 from setting itself as your default browser is using a command line option (/nodefault) on the setup: it's not even going to give a choice during the setup or warn you that it's going to set itself as the default browser like IE7 the first time it starts.

Then I went to update flash and discovered that it keeps crashing on both machines on different ActiveX controls: on a machine it crashes at the adobe flash download page, on the other it crashes on microsoft update. All this with no extensions of any kind loaded and both the laptops with with zero software or hardware in common beside office 2003. Nice testing! And before the usual "MY BRRRRRROWSER IS FINE YOU IDIOT, YOOR BRAINZ DOES NOT F-ING W3C VALIDATE!!!!!" crowd comes here attacking me read the amazing IE8 user experiences in the comments of this page before claiming I'm just only one with IE8 issues.

Update #1: How kewl! On my vista machine I just tried to open the sidebar and it keeps crashing and restarting.

Problem exists between keyboard and chair

Maddus Mattus said:

Problem exists between keyboard and chair

Yes, yours.

Evil SEO said:

Maddus Mattus said:

*snip*

Yes, yours.

Mine what?

I have no problems, running IE8 for some time now,..

Maddus Mattus said:

Evil SEO said:

*snip*

Mine what?

I have no problems, running IE8 for some time now,..

I have been using IE8 since the early betas without any major problem and since I moved to the final version I have been running without a glitch.

giovanni said:

Maddus Mattus said:

*snip*

I have been using IE8 since the early betas without any major problem and since I moved to the final version I have been running without a glitch.

Contratulations: both of you won the internets! Now print this badge and stick it on your PC display!

So, Flash crashing is Microsoft's problem?  Wouldn't that be Adobe's?  Just admit you're a Microsoft bashing troll, and we'll move on, OK?

Works like a charm here. Sorry, the failure is yours.

wkempf said:

So, Flash crashing is Microsoft's problem?  Wouldn't that be Adobe's?  Just admit you're a Microsoft bashing troll, and we'll move on, OK?

O RLY? I didn't realize Adobe made Windows Update, but now I know, and knowing is half the battle! The other half of the battle instead is learning to never stop reading after the word "Adobe"... did you win that battle?

Evil SEO said:

wkempf said:

*snip*

O RLY? I didn't realize Adobe made Windows Update, but now I know, and knowing is half the battle! The other half of the battle instead is learning to never stop reading after the word "Adobe"... did you win that battle?

Run IE without extensions, does it still crash?

Bas said:

Works like a charm here. Sorry, the failure is yours.

Great! So many internets won today! Enjoy the badge! But please, don't let the Microsoft know their browser works too well, or they may restore some user-friendy practices as:
- disbanding the IE team, again
- stop releasing standalone IEs like they announced in 2001 to force users to buy new OSes to upgrade the browser

ZippyV said:

Evil SEO said:

*snip*

Run IE without extensions, does it still crash?

There are no extensions loaded, no toolbar, anything. The only extensions I found was the skype addon that I updated with skype 4 and then deleted. I tried reinstalling IE8 and restored default settings but tabs keeps crashing on many websites without it even sending an error report.

Evil SEO said:

Bas said:

*snip*

Great! So many internets won today! Enjoy the badge! But please, don't let the Microsoft know their browser works too well, or they may restore some user-friendy practices as:
- disbanding the IE team, again
- stop releasing standalone IEs like they announced in 2001 to force users to buy new OSes to upgrade the browser

I've stopped using that badge since I can use my XBox avatar.

Seriously, you fail at computers.

Rambling here about how you screwed up your Vista box and your Windows Mobile phone will get you no sympathy here.

We even rip on MVP's for not being able to keep their box running!
(Some of them even admit that their spouses are more adept in computing then they are)

Maddus Mattus said:

Evil SEO said:

*snip*

I've stopped using that badge since I can use my XBox avatar.

Seriously, you fail at computers.

Rambling here about how you screwed up your Vista box and your Windows Mobile phone will get you no sympathy here.

We even rip on MVP's for not being able to keep their box running!
(Some of them even admit that their spouses are more adept in computing then they are)

"Seriously, you fail at computers."

Yes, I certainly fail at expecting Microsoft to actually test their products on a decent number of configurations before rushing them to market.

"Rambling here about how you screwed up your Vista box and your Windows Mobile phone will get you no sympathy here."

OK, another one who doesn't know how to read. First those were 2 XP machines, second I never screwed up any of my phones: the posts I made were about how crappy WM is and most if not all of the flaws I listed are widely recognized. All you answered with was your usual "ITWORKSYOUIDIOT", you didn't even bother countering none of my statements: it looks like denying the facts was too hard even for you. Your count of valid arguments is still 0. Keep trying, and in the meanwhile don't forget to use the task manager or you may run out of memory.

"We even rip on MVP's for not being able to keep their box running!
(Some of them even admit that their spouses are more adept in computing then they are)"

Yes, you would be a fantastic linux advocate. Things don't work = users are n00bs. Keep living in your small elitist world, my lord!

IE8 asks if you want it to become the default browser on the First Run dialog page.  It's in the Express settings or on a page if you choose Custom.

There is no such command line switch as "nodefault".

Evil SEO said:

Maddus Mattus said:

*snip*

"Seriously, you fail at computers."

Yes, I certainly fail at expecting Microsoft to actually test their products on a decent number of configurations before rushing them to market.

"Rambling here about how you screwed up your Vista box and your Windows Mobile phone will get you no sympathy here."

OK, another one who doesn't know how to read. First those were 2 XP machines, second I never screwed up any of my phones: the posts I made were about how crappy WM is and most if not all of the flaws I listed are widely recognized. All you answered with was your usual "ITWORKSYOUIDIOT", you didn't even bother countering none of my statements: it looks like denying the facts was too hard even for you. Your count of valid arguments is still 0. Keep trying, and in the meanwhile don't forget to use the task manager or you may run out of memory.

"We even rip on MVP's for not being able to keep their box running!
(Some of them even admit that their spouses are more adept in computing then they are)"

Yes, you would be a fantastic linux advocate. Things don't work = users are n00bs. Keep living in your small elitist world, my lord!

If you would come here and ask for help, everybody would do their best to help you.

But you come here just to take a swing at Microsoft and their products.

You reap what you sow.

BruceMorgan said:

IE8 asks if you want it to become the default browser on the First Run dialog page.  It's in the Express settings or on a page if you choose Custom.

There is no such command line switch as "nodefault".

"IE8 asks if you want it to become the default browser on the First Run dialog page.  It's in the Express settings or on a page if you choose Custom."

You mean revolutionary features such as "Suggest websites" (IE6 just called and wants its alexa-based feature back) get their own wizard dialog but the default browser setting doesn't even get a tiny checkbox unless you go through the full configuration wizard? Interesting.

There is no such command line switch as "nodefault".

Forgive me! It's no-default! Will you say there's no no-default switch now because I forgot the backslash?

Evil SEO said:

BruceMorgan said:

*snip*

"IE8 asks if you want it to become the default browser on the First Run dialog page.  It's in the Express settings or on a page if you choose Custom."

You mean revolutionary features such as "Suggest websites" (IE6 just called and wants its alexa-based feature back) get their own wizard dialog but the default browser setting doesn't even get a tiny checkbox unless you go through the full configuration wizard? Interesting.

There is no such command line switch as "nodefault".

Forgive me! It's no-default! Will you say there's no no-default switch now because I forgot the backslash?

I'd imagine that suggest websites would turn itself on automatically under express, except there would be legal issues (privacy) so they can't.

Anyway, you get what you ask for. If you select express you're saying don't give me all the options, just get on and work!