Why is it that Microsoft makes it so difficult to get even the simplest update? Used to be that all you had to do to get an update for Microsoft Word was to hit Microsoft's BBS or FTP site and snag the file you wanted. They even supplied a database that made it easy to look up what file you needed. Now they make you jump through all sorts of hoops and ask many invasive demographic questions just to let you have the privilege of a simple download.
For me the whole thing goes a little deeper than frustration. It's the fact that over and over again a simple little task turns into a lengthy, frustrating exercise in futility. It's not enough that I've registered at the site before and can log in with my email address and password. Now I have to come up with a login I.D. and another password. That makes two I.D.s and passwords that I have to keep track of just to log in to their site to download a file.
All told this rabbit-trail cost me 45 minutes going round in circles on the Microsoft site, filling in forms and trying to find a login I.D. that I could remember and that hadn't been chosen yet by someone else.
By the time it was over I had lost my train of thought and all the momentum on the project I was working on originally. There has got to be a better way! Along these lines Fred Langa published a handy URL in his October 21 newsletter, which lets you bypass the Windows Update wizard. This is a great time saver and you can use it to browse the available updates and download them directly, without any goofy registrations either! Be sure to check out Fred's newsletter if you aren't already a subscriber.
Direct Windows Update:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/
corporate.asp
Visit Fred Langa's site and check out his newsletter:
http://www.langa.com
Visit the Annoyance Update at:
http://www.PRIMEConsulting.com/annoyances/
officeupdate.html
