Smart Screen & Other Windows Annoyances 1

Dennis is upstairs swearing right now, while I am being annoyed in my office downstairs. No, we have not had a lover’s quarrel (as if!). We are both irritated – with Windows.

Windows seems to have been designed with the philosophy that, really, most people are too stupid to use computers *

Of course, there is the constant attempt to protect you from yourself by blocking just about any software that is not made by a company traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

We tried to make Fish Lake and Spirit Lake so easy that a hamster could do it. This was our plan.

1. Click on a link to download
2. Go to your downloads folder
3. Double-click on the installer once downloaded.
4. Click on the arrows marked NEXT.

But no-o- o

First of all, some systems are set up not to allow you to download .exe files to prevent installation of malware. Fine! We added an option on our log in screen for a zip file. It then became this.

1. Figure out that you need the .zip file, not the .exe file
2. Click on a link to download
3. Go to your downloads folder
4. Right-click on the downloaded file and select EXTRACT ALL
5. Open the folder that was just extracted into (the one without the zipper)
6. Double-click on the installer
7. Click on the arrows marked NEXT.

But no-o-o

Because now there is the humorously named smart screen that blocks apps from opening, so now, for some people, the steps became this

1. Figure out that you need the .zip file, not the .exe file
2. Click on a link to download
3. Go to your downloads folder
4. Right-click on the downloaded file and select EXTRACT ALL
5. Open the folder that was just extracted into (the one without the zipper)
6. Double-click on the installer
7. When you get the message from smart screen saying you are being protected, click on the MORE INFO link (click here if you want to see it in pictures)
8. Click the button that says RUN ANYWAY
9. Click on the arrows marked NEXT.

We apologize. None of this was our doing.

* There are days when I agree with this assessment