It’s good to know that in this age of immediate and easy customer feedback that there are still companies that steadfastly refuse to listen to the people who have to use their products. Case in point: Microsoft.

The Verge pointed to this post on the Microsoft Developers Network blog that talks about the many changes coming to Windows Explorer in Windows 8. The part that made me want to give up Windows forever comes near the end when Ilana Smith, a lead program manager on the Engineering System team, starts talking about the Ribbon.

If you haven’t been following this saga, Microsoft revealed a while back that the Ribbon found in Micosoft Office and other MS programs like WordPad and Paint is now coming to Windows Explorer as well. Did you need those extra pixels at the top of the screen? Too bad for you.

I hate this Ribbon with the burning passion of a thousand suns. And I am gratified to know I’m not alone:

“We had expected the introduction of the ribbon to Explorer to spur conversation, and it is fair to say the voluminous response was in line with our expectations,” Smith says. “[T]here is a set of people who have an entirely negative reaction to the affordance and have been telling us about it in no uncertain terms.”

And what is the official reaction to the font of hatred the Ribbon engenders is most right-thinking computer users?

“Our view is that we do need to move the user interface forward and accept that a vocal set of customers are just not happy with the direction we’re going.”

I have never wanted to switch to Mac so badly in my life.

I’m sorry, but I have to be blunt: what is this crap? You’re just going to do what you want no matter how much your customers hate it and how vocal they are in telling you so? This strategy may work for Facebook, but that’s because people can leave Facebook or interact with it through third-party programs. Oh wait, that’s Microsoft’s solution, too:

“We remind folks that there are third-party tools available… that provide a number of different interface paradigms. We do embrace the notion that third-party tools play an important part in the Windows experience.”

Yes, they do, because you keep making stupid decisions.

I don’t buy Smith’s assertion that a majority of users like the Ribbon and are more productive with it. I think the Ribbon beats people down until they just stop trying to look for more advanced functionality because it’s too difficult to find. And now they’re bringing that same genius to the Explorer, one of the most used areas of Windows.

Aside from that, it also takes up too many pixels. Bad enough we now live in a world where 16:9 displays are normal so people don’t have to see black bars when watching HD content and companies find 1366 x 768 an acceptable standard for screens as large as 15 inches, now even Explorer is using up horizontal pixels for no good reason.

I fear the only way to put a stop to this madness is to hijack a TARDIS and go back to 2005, find the person who came up with the idea of the Ribbon, give him or her 5 million dollars to retire to a small island with no phone or Internet service so they can’t be contacted, and inject a virus into the computers in Redmond that will destroy all references to it.

Barring that, perhaps a Change.org petition?

Microsoft, Enough With The Ribbon Already is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

Since the release of Windows 2000 and XP, Microsoft included the limited Recovery Console which was used to diagnose and recover from serious errors which may be preventing Windows from booting successfully. The problem with Recovery Console (although it was very handy), was its complexity and use of the Command Line. Using it required remembering obscure commands and knowing how to apply them properly. If you were not careful, you could seriously cause further problems. Today we take a look at the improved Recovery Options Windows 7 provides. With the release of Windows Vista Microsoft introduced significant improvements to diagnosing problems that might occur with a Windows installation, called the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), it features a graphical user interface with a wealth of options for diagnosing and solving problems. These include:

• Startup Repair – Automatically finds and fixes boot errors in the Windows Vista Startup Process (including corrupted Boot Configuration Data files).
• System Restore – Utilizes the Volume Shadow Copy service to restore the computer to a previous state or restore point. 
• System Image Recovery – Restores a Complete PC Backup disk image you created earlier.
• Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool – Analyses the computer memory (RAM) for hardware memory problems.
• Command Prompt – Gives full command-line access to the file system, volumes and files, unlike the Recovery Console, which was limited in operation.

In Windows 7 if the OS refuses to load properly, it will recommend to automatically load the Start-up Repair tool, which will scan your PC for issues (such as corrupt registry and system files or an invalid Boot Configuration Database).

Built in utility just for creating a System Repair disc.

A few months ago, one of my Vista systems was in limbo, I resized its partition from within Windows XP using Acronis Disk Director. When I booted into Windows Vista, Windows Explorer refused to load with an error message popping up informing me that the file ‘rundll32′ was missing or the path to it cannot be found. I tried to repair this issue without having to resort to reinstalling Windows. Although the Windows Vista DVD provides a Start-up Repair utility it was not going to be of any help in this case. I was able to start the OS and reach the desktop, just that Windows refused to work properly by not loading Windows Explorer. To make matters worse, my optical disk drives are not working in the system and I could not repair by launching setup from a Vista image since it would be choosing to reinstall instead of booting into the System Recovery environment, and I am unable to boot from a recovery disc itself.

Starting the Recovery Environment (click to enlarge)

Windows 7 automatically transforms current experiences like this in Vista by doing a number of things, automatically it installs Start-up Repair tool onto the operating system partition, so you’ll always have access to it, no more booting from a DVD necessary. To access the System Recovery Environment in Windows 7, simply boot your PC, just before the system loads the Windows operating system, hit the [F8] Function 8 key on your keyboard which will launch the Advanced Boot Options menu. There you will see a new option ‘Repair Your Computer’, select this option and hit ‘Enter’ on your keyboard.

Logging on to your Windows Installation is required (click to enlarge)

Once this is done, Windows will load the necessary files to start the System Recovery process, the major difference here, you are doing this all without the need for your Windows DVD. For persons who might be using a Netbook which often does not include a built in optical drive or even an external one, the new Windows 7 Recovery options make scenarios like this less of a chore. In addition to these options, Windows 7 provides the option to create a ‘System Repair disc’ which you can use to boot your computer, it also contains all the System Recovery tools discussed earlier. To create your System Repair disc, click Start > All Programs > Maintenance > Create a System Repair Disc. Insert a blank DVD or CD and click the Create disc button.

Windows 7 even makes itself a cinch to reinstall (click to enlarge)

In addition to these options, Windows 7 includes advanced recovery options that can guide you through the ‘reinstallation of Windows’ and restoration of personal files and settings. This will require that you have an available Windows 7 installation disc or Recovery Image, which will assist with the reinstallation. You will have to restore your files from a backup, programs must also be reinstalled. Most OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturers) such as HP, Lenovo and Dell install a hard drive partition customized with additional tools such as a separate system recovery tool for restoring the computer back to its original state. Advanced Recovery also includes the option to backup files before starting this procedure. You can find the Advanced Recovery option in Control Panel > Action Center > Recovery > Advanced recovery methods.

The Windows Team has thought through the end to end experiences, Windows 7 provides a sophisticated level of ease use when it comes to maintaining your Windows PC and protecting your digital investments. If the need every arises, you know that Windows 7 has got you covered.

Resources

Windows RE Notes : Introducing Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE)

Windows Recovery Environment Team Blog

Improved Recovery Options in Windows 7 is a post by Andre from Notebooks.com.