My previous post on Windows Update disabling FireFox attracted over 10k readers and I guess it generated enough noise that Microsoft approached me for specifics.  Kudos to MS for that!  Clearly the issue wasn’t very widespread, but several users reported experiencing it on this reddit thread.

Then today I just had the inclination to check my blog in IE7.  For about two minutes I was staring at a black screen, while the little “Phishing filter is checking website” indicator was flashing at the bottom.  I thought turning the auto-check off would resolve the issue, but no – IE7 simply does not load my blog, while I can happily see it in FireFox.  This is the first time I’m experiencing this, and also the first time I started up IE7 after the update.

I’ve had enough.  I don’t work for Microsoft, but given the amount of time I spend fixing their products (and trying to keep my PC healthy) I feel they should pay me.  Time is money, even for me.  So I’m done here. I will not try to figure out what went wrong with IE, just like I won’t bother fixing the reoccurring archive problem that’s slowly killing my Outlook.  I simply can’t afford “working” for Microsoft.

My new Microsoft Policy: whatever dies, dies. I won’t bother fixing it, I will let MS Bugware slowly die, and move on to better alternatives.  Online, whenever possible.