Is Windows a Virus?
No, Windows is not a virus. Here's what viruses do:

1. They replicate quickly - okay, Windows does that.
2. Viruses use up valuable system resources, slowing down the system as they do so - okay, Windows does that.
3. Viruses will, from time to time, trash your hard disk - okay, Windows does that too.
4. Viruses are usually carried, unknown to the user, along with valuable programs and systems. Sigh... Windows does that, too.
5. Viruses will occasionally make the user suspect their system is too slow (see 2) and the user will buy new hardware. Yup, Windows does that, too.

Until now it seems Windows is a virus but there are fundamental differences: Viruses are well supported by their authors, are running on most systems, their program code is fast, compact and efficient and they tend to become more sophisticated as they mature.

So Windows is not a virus. It's a bug.

I predict Si will come along and make a big joke out of this. Then Metritutus will come along and move it, right after Skillers trashes it

1 is flawed... Since when does Windows send and install to all your contacts?

2 everything uses up system resources.

3 Windows has never trashed my HDD. Hardware failures and power cuts during operation (not Windows fault) do that.

4 Windows is known to the user.

5 so Crysis is a virus aswell? Windows perormance is actually pretty decent on a fresh install if your comuter is halway decent (IE, from a time frame similar to the version of Vista, installing Vista on a P2 is pointless, and installing a 9x on a Q6600 will waste your money). True, the registry will get messed up over time, requiring a reinstall to return perormance, but it doesn't mean you need new hardware.

Also, how are viruses supported? You can't submit bug reports, you can't complain it doesn't work. The author doesn't release patches (they just release new versions).

Yes, Windows can be a bit poor at times, but consider that it has to run on every hardware coniguration, be able to control siad hardware, be able to run millions of programs etc and you see it's not too shabby.

Please assume that I am an idiot who knows very little about stuff like this. Then see it from my view and see it as a JOKE!!!!!!!!

said that to me just after i joined.
he's been very true to his word