I have just read your article on Windows Vista (PCW November issue). I started computing in the 80’s with a zx81. On this I became accomplished in z80 machine code and eventually designed and built and programmed my own serial interface for this which connected to a 300 baud rack modem modified and put into a case by me.

This let me access the world by accessing widely published passwords to the then university network (later the internet). I then learnt 6502 assembly on the beeb and z80 assembly on the Amstrad 664. The Amstrad was a fantastic machine to program as its routine addresses were in ram and could be easily redirected. I designed and built an eprom programmer for this. I have used CPM and Dos. I have gone through Windows 3.1, 95, 98 and now XP.

I have written programs using Visual basic and Delphi. So along comes Vista and Microsoft believes they need to protect me from breaking my operating system. Who do they think they are? I do not need to be a protected administrator. I want to be able to access and change any file on the system that belongs to me. I want to be able to delete any file that I think fit and alter any registry setting that suits me.

If I break the operating system all well and good, its only a computer and it can be reloaded and you learn from your mistakes. It annoys me when Microsoft play god and think we need protecting. An example of this on XP is cookies/ index.dat. I can replace this file with the default on any of my family users settings but it will not let me do my own.

I have to restart in safe control mode and delete the file with a dos command. It’s the same for other index files that grow and grow. Listen Microsoft I don’t want protecting. Provide the facility by all means for those who do but don’t force it on those that don’t. I won’t even start commenting on DRM yet!! Time to get the Amstrad back out of the cupboard.

Malc Parr