Stomp out annoyances with the topics on this site. Check out the various Annoyances books for more advanced, in-depth solutions. Use the discussion forums (links to your left) to talk annoyances and solutions with other annoyed users.

The solutions at Annoyances.org cover a wide variety of Windows versions, so you should make note of the platform(s) covered by each article you open. You can also filter out articles that don't apply to you using the controls at the bottom of certain category pages, although you may not want to miss something that might be helpful.

Thanks for visiting Annoyances.org!

News and Highlights:

• May 9, 2010 - the latest and greatest Annoyances guide is now available - get Windows 7 Annoyances today and make your PC perform like you never thought possible!

• May 9, 2010 - new forum: Windows Server 2008 Annoyances

• February 11, 2010 - Windows 7, Vista, 2000, and XP users: if you're getting the Blue Screen of Death after installing Windows Update KB977165 (MS10-015), you're not alone. According to reports the problem isn't so much the update but rather an existing malware infection. To repair your PC, follow these instructions, and read more about it here and here.

• February 27, 2009 - Warning to all Firefox users: the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 update, pushed through the Windows Update service to all recent editions of Windows, installs the Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant firefox extension without asking your permission. This update adds to Firefox one of the most dangerous vulnerabilities present in all versions of Internet Explorer: the ability for websites to easily and quietly install software on your PC. Since this design flaw is one of the reasons you may've originally choosen to abandon IE in favor of a safer browser like Firefox, you may wish to remove this extension immediately. Unfortunately, Microsoft, in their infinite wisdom, has taken steps to make the removal of this extension particularly difficult - open the Add-ons window in Firefox, and you'll notice the Uninstall button next to their extension is grayed out! Here's the complete removal procedure.

• January 9, 2009 - Microsoft has officially made the first public beta (consumer preview) of Windows 7, the successor to Windows Vista, available for download. Naturally, you'll want to pay a visit to our new Windows 7 Annoyances Forum to share and discuss your problems, solutions, hacks, and discoveries related to Microsoft's newest operating system!

• July 22, 2008 - Microsoft finally acknowledges that Windows Vista has shortcomings, and promises to improve the product as Windows XP is put to sleep for good. But why wait? You can solve Vista's problems today with Windows Vista Annoyances!

• March 18, 2008 - A year after Vista's debut, Service Pack 1 has been released to address many of its shortcomings. Although SP1 is specifically designed to improve performance, don't expect anything earth-shattering. SP1 is available through Windows Update, but if you want to install it on your own schedule rather than letting the update hijack your PC, use the standalone installer.

  Tip: Don't want SP1? Just use the Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool to keep Windows Update from installing it.

• January 2, 2008 - Windows Vista Annoyances, the book, is now available! After months of digging, testing, hacking, and exploring, the best guide for fixing and improving Microsoft's latest operating system is here - get your copy today!

• January 30, 2007 - Windows Vista and Office 2007 make their debut today. Are you ready? Check out our Windows Vista Discussion Forum to ask questions and share information.

• July 1, 2006 - Microsoft isn't the only company that's doing it to us. Thinking of cancelling (or gasp... signing up for) AOL internet service? Watch this video of how AOL treats its customers, and then think again. This is what's in store for you. -->

• March 15, 2006 - A new type of Annoyances book, Fixing Windows XP Annoyances, is out! It's shorter and easier to use than the Geeks book, and has tons of Internet and Multimedia tips not found elsewhere. And at under 15 bucks (street), it's an affordable guide to the best troubleshooting and performance-enhancing secrets for Windows XP! Get your copy today!

• July 26, 2005 - On the heels of Microsoft's recent announcement that the successor to Windows XP, previously known as Longhorn, would be called Windows Vista, Annoyances.org is proud to announce the Windows Vista Annoyances forum. Also new: the Windows 2003 Server Annoyances forum.

• January 6, 2005 - For the first time, Microsoft is taking the spyware issue seriously (or at least is making appearances in that fashion). Microsoft's new Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) software is now available for free download. Note that you shouldn't stop using products like Spybot - Search & Destroy and Ad-aware (both of which are free, by the way) just because Microsoft has entered the "market."

• November 1, 2004 - Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks, Second Edition, the latest Annoyances book, is now available! This latest book, part of the bestselling Windows Annoyances series, includes extensive coverage of Service Pack 2, spyware, wireless networking, and more! Get your copy today!

• August 10, 2004 - Windows XP users: Service Pack 2 is now available. In addition to a collection of all the security fixes to date, SP2 also comes with improved support for wireless networking, better firewall software, and more secure default settings. You can get SP2 via Windows Update, but for the most reliable upgrade, download the executable and install it manually.

  For full coverage of Service Pack 2, get latest Annoyances book: Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks, Second Edition. And see our Windows XP Forum for other users' experiences with SP2.

  Some news about SP2:

  • Applications that will work "differently" after SP2
  • SP2 Halts 15% of Systems, Survey Says
  • SP2 already getting bug fixes

• April 20, 2004 - PC Magazine has named Annoyances.org as one of the Top 100 Classic Websites.

• December 14, 2002 - New for your pocket - from the author of Windows XP Annoyances, the Windows XP Pocket Reference is the compact, pocket-sized book with only the most essential Windows XP information!

• September 10, 2002 - New feature at Annoyances.org: Your Compu-scope.

• May 1, 2002 - check out the new selection of visual styles at Annoyances.org.

• April 25, 2002 - A Microsoft executive, Christopher Jones, testified today that using a personal computer would turn into a confusing and frustrating experience if antitrust sanctions were sought against Microsoft. Hmmm... Isn't the PC experience already frustrating and confusing, thanks to Microsoft?