Some of the detractors of Microsoft Vista grumble incessantly about the company’s being a purveyor of defective software. It seems fashionable to bash any leader who has been too successful.

These are the same people who complained also about Windows XP.

Most of them live in the past and parrot what they have heard from alleged gurus.

Let us face it, if everyone was satisfied, and happiness reigned upon the land, it would be the demise of not only the “experts” but most of the software industry. Software thrives on dissatisfaction and it becomes incumbent on us to learn to separate the wheat from the chaff.

I will agree that most code, for competitive reasons is released before it has time to become seasoned. Vista was no exception, but while Microsoft does not want to wear the mantle of incompetence, we must admit that they have been more open than ever before. This is why we have heard so much about it.

This brings us to the point of investigating what changes were really made along the way. At first there were a few corrections on a monthly basis but now this has evolved into the more sensible “sliding” updates, which the company pushes into our computer (with our permission).

Purists revile that procedure, but practical users welcome it. These are not nefarious changes. You can find them in the Control Panel’s Programs and Features, by clicking on View Installed Updates. And if you have great fortitude, you can even selectively uninstall them. I think that would be unwise, particularly for protective patches. Often these updates rely on previously installed corrections.

I have found that most nagging problems with Vista originate because of improper installation of the Vista update over XP or 98. Users expect that by installing the lower cost upgrade software, they will get the same results as with a brand new installation. This is correct, as long as they follow the highly recommended steps of first fixing and devirussing the existing system. Vista is then very stable.

SP1 (Service Pack 1) has now officially been made available to all users.

There is a viable alternative. The use of the OpenOffice suite provides the same functions as Microsoft Office, is compatible with it, and is absolutely free.

You would expect all those who denigrate Microsoft to charge headlong into it. But where can anyone put the blame if something should go wrong?

So most of us just sheepishly slog along with Microsoft.

Background picture

When my children visited, they gave me a nice family picture and put it on my Windows XP desktop computer. Suddenly that picture has changed to something inappropriate (embarrassing). How can I edit or remove it? I am pretty computer illiterate and would hate to break anything. Please be gentle. Grete D.

Dear Grete: What you need to do is change the “Desktop Background.”

Just use your mouse to move to an unused (without icons) area of your desktop. Right click, then click on “Properties,” then click on the Desktop tab at the top of the window. You will now see a list of pictures that you can use. Just point to them, one at a time, until you see a thumbnail of the one that you want. Now click on the Apply button to get a preview of the new background. If it meets with your approval, click on OK.

Next time your kids visit, suggest to them that the offending picture(s) be expurgated from your computer. If they have additional nice family photographs, there is an option in the computer to cycle through them. This can easily be done. In the meantime, there is no reason for the bad background picture to show up again.

Removing thumb drive

I have always been told that I should never pull out a USB Thumb (or Flash) drive without first clicking on the “Safely remove hardware” icon on the task bar. Yet, I have noticed that experts insert and pull out these devices without any keyboard or mouse action. Is there a double standard there? Howard C.

Dear Howard: The recommendation that you received is good advice. It is the safest way.

Only with the advent of Vista did it become OK to “hot swap” USB drives. The Vista system no longer needs prior notification of disconnection.

However, you have to be very sure that there is no writing or other communication going on at the time between the computer and the USB device to avoid catastrophic data corruption. So the recommended procedure remains always the safest way.

Energy hogs

My boys come home from school filled with ideas on how we can save energy. They are upset when they see that my computer is turned on and I get lectured on global warming. How critical is the power consumption of my desktop computer when not in use. Some time ago, it was recommended to leave the computer on, and just turn off the display. I hate to have to wait several minutes for my computer to boot up when all I want to do is just use it to check for e-mail messages. What are your thoughts on this? Anna B.

Dear Anna: Saving energy was always a good idea, but teachers have created a frenetic environment to get our kids involved in something worthwhile. Right now there is a frantic push for saving the planet, most of it based on false science.

I am sure that they walk to school, or at least take the bus to help out. And recommend turning off the air conditioners in the schools.

The EPA has determined that consumer-electronic devices keep taking a heavier share of electric power. It is estimated that 13% for the home power consumption can be accounted for that. You might also recommend that television and blaring audio devices be turned off when doing homework.

The EPA latest efficiency mandate calls for “green” computers to use far less power than present day computers. For instance, it calls for a desktop machine to reduce power in the idle mode to less than 50 watts, or four watts in sleep mode. (My latest machine uses 100 watts).

In your case, it makes sense to turn off the computer, say overnight, but not when you are frequently checking your e-mail. Rushing to efficient machines could be an ecological disaster in disposing of the old computers and using valuable resources for the millions of required new machines.

Computer Corner  1038. Copyright 2008 by Roger Giler. Send questions for this column to P.O. Box 402, Wilton 06897 or e-mail Roger@Giler.com.