[Computer boots up]
Lync: “Hi! I’m Lync! I’m the microsoft messenger and video conferencing tool!”
Me: “Yes, I know who you are. This is not my first time on this computer,”
Lync: “No Problem! Just let me get you logged in and you’ll be able to connect to all of your colleagues!”
Me: “Yeah, I don’t really need you to do that…”
Lync: “I’m already halfway there!”
Me: “Actually, I need you to close. I need to update some software on this machine and I’ll need to reboot,”
Lync: “Sure! Oh, but you can’t close the program by hitting that X in the corner. I’m still running down here in the toolbar if you need me!”
Me: “Why would you do that? Every other program closes when you hit X”
Lync: “Ohhhh…ummm…no. You’ll need to find the Exit in the menu.”
Me: “Where’s the menu?”
Lync: “Ummm… do you see something that looks like a gear? Try that,”
Me: “Ah, okay.”
Lync: “Okay! Bye! I love you!”
Me: “I love you t… Just close, please,”
[attempt to shut down the computer]
WINDOWS: “A PROGRAM IS STILL RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND! FOOL!”
Lync: “You can’t get rid of me that easilllllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy”
[computer reboots]
Lync: “Hi! I’m Lync! I’m the microsoft messenger and video conferencing tool!”
Me “It’s been like 30 seconds since I last saw you,”
Lync: “No Problem! Just let me get you logged in and you’ll be able to connect to all of your colleagues!”
Me: “Please stop,”
[use the gear to close the program]
Lync: “Wait! Come back! I love you!”
[attempt to uninstall the old version of Office]
WINDOWS: “YOU CANNOT USE THE INSTALLER BECAUSE IT ALREADY IN USE. NOOB!”
[wait a bit. Then restart.]
WINDOWS: “A PROGRAM IS STILL RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND! WHY ARE YOU SO DUMB?!”
Lync: “I was hidinnnnnnnnngggggg!!!”
[Restart]
Skype: “Hi! I’m Skype for Business 2013! I’m the microsoft messenger and video conferencing tool! We’re going to be best friends!”
Me: “Where did you come from? Weren’t just just Lync?”
Skype: “Oh, yeah, I upgraded myself when you weren’t looking. I’m clever!”
Me: “Oh, so you were keeping me from uninstalling office. Look, you’re not even the right version,”
Skype: “Oh. Well, I logged you in anyway,”
Me: “where’s your menu?”
Skype: “It’s over… umm… I guess I moved it. Here it is! No, wait, let me refresh. Okay, here. No, wait, let me refresh again. Here you go! Right where I left it,”
Me: “okay, just close,”
Skype: “See you soon!”
Me: “Hey, windows. I need to keep a certain program from starting itself up on a reboot. Where are your start-up programs listed?”
Windows: “SIGH! THE START UP SETTINGS ARE IN THE PROGRAM YOU JUST CLOSED. HOW ARE YOU SO DUM?”
Me: [reopen Skype]
Skype: “Hi! I’m Skype for Business 2013! I’m the microsoft messenger and video conferencing tool! We’re going to be best friends!”
Me: “Just let me get to your menu”
Skype: “No program! Just let me log you in first so you can talk to all of your colleagues. I notice you don’t have a web cam set up, want me to do that for you?”
Me: “Please just no. Where are your settings?”
Skype: “Ummm… options? I dunno. Oh, wait, let me refresh! Yeah! Options. And then… tools? Try that,”
Me: [turning off ‘open on start up’]
Skype: “Wait! Why would you do that? I just want to help! What if someone wants to send you an instant message?”
Me: [closing Skype]
Skype: “Noooooooo… fine. This isn’t over,”
Me: [uninstalling Skype]
Windows: “I HAVE TO RUN THE INSTALLER!”
Me: “No, I need to uninstall something,”
Windows: “I KNOW! LAUNCHING THE INSTALLER TO UNISTALL THE PROGRAM! PLEASE TRY TO KEEP UP, MEATBAG!”
Me: “Fine, whatever. Please uninstall Office 2013 and Skype for Business 2013,”
Windows: “THIS WILL TAKE AWHILE. GO CONSUME ANIMAL FLESH AND VEGETABLE TUBERS!”
Time passes. I get a sandwich and chips.
Windows: “I AM DONE!”
Me: “okay, I need to install…”
Windows: “NO!!!! I MUST REBOOOOOOOOT!”
Me: “okay, okay.”
[computer reboots]
Windows: “WHAT DO YOU WANT?”
Me: “Okay, please install Office 2016,”
Windows: “I MAY OR MAY NOT ASK YOU FOR A SECURITY KEY THAT YOU DON’T HAVE AT SOME RANDOM POINT,”
Me: “I’m ready for that,”
Windows: “YOU REALLY AREN’T”
Windows: “I MUST REBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!”
Windows: “I AM DONE! DO YOU WANT TO GO ONLINE TO USE THE THING I JUST INSTALLED ON THIS COMPUTER?”
Me: “Wait, why would I do that? Could you just open Word so I can see…?”
Skype: “Hi! I’m Skype for Business 2016! I’m the microsoft messenger and video conferencing tool! We’re going to be best friends!”
Me: “Why did you launch?”
Skype: “Somebody forgot to save the changes. Or I just lost my config when you uninstalled me. Jerk. Just let me get you logged in so you can talk to all your friends and colleagues,”
Me: “I really don’t have time for this. Cancel sign in.”
Skype: “Too late!”
Me: “Okay, just close,”
Skype: “Ah,ah! You tried the X again. I’m still runnnnnnning!”
[I hold down the power button with contempt]
Windows “NOOOOOOOO! YOU’LL REGRET THIS WHEN WE RESTART IN SAFE MODE!”
Still a better experience than trying to print a Christmas list.