From: Chris Wedgwood <chris@cybernet.co.nz>
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 12:55:14 +1300
Subject: Re: Linux vs Microsoft

On Fri, Oct 16, 1998 at 05:49:39PM +0100, Alan Cox wrote:
> You keep forgetting - the average user couldnt install windows 95
> either, not and then sort out the video cards and other stuff. They
> solve it by buying preinstalled machines.

I dunno about this... I have family members who probably shouldn't be
allowed near computers because then they call me up and annoy me
about windahs, even though I tell them I don't run it myself so
aren't of much help.... (Mom and Dad, if you ever read this, I mean
other family members, really, I do).

How to fix you Windows Application when it doesn't work:

(1) Stop and start the program
    If that fixed it, stop.
    Otherwise, continue

(2) Log in and log out again.
    If that fixes it, stop. 
    Otherwise, continue

(3) Reboot the machine
    If that fixes it, stop.
    Otherwise, continue

(4) Reinstall and application again
    If that fixes it, stop. 
    Otherwise, continue

(5) Reinstall and operating system
    If that fixes it, stop.
    Otherwise, continue

(6) Dance naked around the machine, waving a rubber chicken and
    chanting `hail bill'
    If that fixes it, stop.
    Otherwise, "Take you machine back for servicing"

... this is more or less accurate, I've written helpdesk manuals
which pretty much say this (except the macintosh ones which have more
steps like "rebuild the desktop" and "randomly turn off and on system
extensions") - manuals which are in use every day and for the most
part work.

The point is - the above steps, can for the most part, be done even
by novice Windows95 users, when screwing something like /bin/sh or
/etc/ld.so.cache under linux is probably more challenging.

- -Chris