I know there are those on here that say "I never have problems" and I'm sure many don't, but it seems as if I do whether it be Windows, supporting Windows, or Linux.
I have no provable explanation of why I've had so few problems with Windows 7 or 10.
I'm one who consistently reports few, if any problems with Win7 and Win10, and it's not because I only use my computers for simple stuff.
My wife's work sometimes gets rather complex, with a web-based server application (via VPN) that manages student submissions and adds a "marking layer" to student documents. There's also a couple of instances of MS-Word, MS-Excel and MS-Outlook all running together. Typically, this runs all day. The only glitch occurs when the server chokes on ridiculously large documents compiled by inexperienced students (e.g. 180Mb MS-Word documents only 50 pages long).
I do have a suspicion that some of the users with the worst problems have messed up their system with registry "cleaners", "optimisers", and other software with potential to corrupt the registry and services, but I don't doubt that there are users with problems who haven't damaged their system.
When setting up a new OS such as Win10, I tend to take a conservative, almost naive approach, and imagine that I'm a new user with no prior knowledge. In the past, I've found that this reveals potential problems that customers are likely to experience.
In the case of Win10, I've rarely had to use any "muscle" to get things working smoothly, and most of my computers are completely standard, except for some minor adjustments to remove unwanted software or utilities.
They are real, time consuming, invasive and non-productive.
I have no solution for problems I haven't faced.
Computing seems to be so keen on "look at what we can do now" that sight is lost on "this is unbreakable".
Where software is concerned, I doubt "unbreakable" is attainable on consumer PCs, and perhaps only in a few very-high-priority systems, if any.
And some folk want to go to driverless cars. Can't even keep planes up in the air safely!
My attitude there is I want my car to warn me of potential danger, but I will refuse any system that actively controls the car and can't be disabled.
The very idea of driverless cars alarms me. I've been in a few situations (not of my own making) where only the most radical evasive actions have saved me from disaster.
A very annoying feature of my wife's car is the "Idle-Stop-Start" system that turns off the engine to supposedly save fuel. It only activates at the most inconvenient times (e.g. stopping briefly to unload passengers) and I calculate that we would save only minimal fuel with our usage. The feature can be turned off, but this has to be done every time you start the car.
The maker won't disable the system permanently, partly because there's an elaborate and time-consuming procedure for battery replacement to support the stop-start system. They will tell you that an very expensive battery is mandatory, and helpfully have one to sell you. Thankfully, there's a "secret switch" that will disable the system permanently, so that the car operates normally and only requires a standard battery.
