Windows Woes
p2pnet.net News View- Here’s a reader’s tale of Windows Woes. It’s from a comment post on what’s definitely going to become the Vista slash WGA Saga.
And since the original item, we’ve added another comment.
Read on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A couple years back my grandmother ordered a new computer from Dell. If she had asked me, I would have taken her to Fry’s and put something new together that was twice as good, and half as expensive; but she “didn’t want to bother me”.
So she gets the computer and, thanks to it running Windows XP, has to reformat and re-install after it gets hopelessly bogged with malware. Not to worry, she has a Bill-given copy of XP thanks to Dell… And of course it doesn’t work. “The CD key you have provided is not valid”, I believe the message was.
So she goes to Office Max, and foolishly buys a new copy. And of course it STILL doesn’t work. FINALLY she calls me, upset and almost in tears over having spent over $2000 and STILL not having a working computer. All thanks the insane Windows registration protocols that DO NOT WORK!
Thank the gods for p2p networks, and hackers with too much free time.
A friend of mine had DL’ed a hacked copy of Windows XP, which I borrowed and installed for her … no validation code required. I would have preferred installing something GOOD, but it is what she wanted
And I STILL have to fix her computer about every 4-6 months!
=========================
Since the post above, we’ve had another Reader’s Write Tale of Woe.
Read on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My story is almost the same, except it was when I tried to activate it. When I went and tried doing that I got the message that it was invalid. I call up Microsoft (I take the paid one) the idiot then tells me that it was a stolen copy and that they will not activate it.
This computer too was from Dell so I doubted that the Windows XP copy was stolen. I ask to put me on the line with the manager who also told me he won’t activate it. Now at this time I was pissed. It was the matter of principle that they won’t activate the Windows I told them even that it was bought from Dell and scanned the sticker.
I call up my lawyer and tell him the situation. He quickly writes Microsoft a letter and threatens them with a lawsuit. I will make this short. They finally activated and he also made them apologise to me.
The best part of it all was the apology because they now know one more person wasn’t going to be pushed around.
Updated July 31, 2005
========================
Something you think we should know? tips[at]p2pnet.net
See:-
Vista slash WGA Saga – WGA: Pros, 0, cons, legion, p2pnet, July 29, 2005
July 31st, 2005 at 12:57 am
July 31st, 2005 at 12:58 am
July 31st, 2005 at 1:06 am
July 31st, 2005 at 1:21 am
July 31st, 2005 at 1:30 am
thats what the telephone number on the registration page is for. Give them a call and as long as you have a legal copy, they are more than happy to activate it for you
July 31st, 2005 at 2:55 am
The software wasn’t stolen.
When you “purchase” software you are actually paying for a “license to use X copies” of the software. Normally X = 1, but there are some instances where X = (>1) such as site licenses etc.
She had purchased a “license to use 1 copy” of xp with the original dell pc. Which particular copy of xp she uses on this pc is irrelevant. Remember every single cd with an OS that pc makers put out is an identical copy of each other. The only difference in them is what number is printed on a piece of paper that comes with it.
Therefore the license to “use a copy” doesn’t necessarily mean the exact copy that came with that pc. After all, if that was the case, you’d need to get a new license after installing service packs, or other updates to the OS. As the OS is changed by those updates, it’s no longer the original copy is it? But MS doesn’t (yet) make you pay for a new license for the OS after each and every update you install “onto” the OS.
The only thing she could get into trouble for is circumventing the copy protection scheme. As long as she didn’t then use that cracked copy on another computer without first obtaining a valid license for it. Tho if the license was for xp home edition, and the cracked version of xp was professional or another “version” of xp. Then she’d be in trouble, but only for having an incorrect license.
There was no theft in the situation as it was reported.
July 31st, 2005 at 3:07 am
July 31st, 2005 at 3:08 am
No no no. What you mean is “…as long as they can be CONVINCED that you have a legal copy…”. ;o)
She was probly too upset to read the entire screen and see the phone number. She would have been far too focused on the big “invalid” error msg to look anywhere else on the screen.
I doubt that some indian call centre operator would have understood a panicked elderly lady talking at high speed anyway. Assuming she could understand them that is.
July 31st, 2005 at 3:11 am
You appear to be intent on engaging me in a battle of wits.
Can i suggest that you arm yourself first?
July 31st, 2005 at 3:15 am
It’s quite obvious that his brain is as empty as his posts.
July 31st, 2005 at 3:45 am
This is another story of how WinBlows.
July 31st, 2005 at 4:34 am
Actually, if you call Microsoft Tech Support, they’ll be happy to solve the problem for you. I’ve done it before.
July 31st, 2005 at 4:55 am
“So to make it as reliable as possible, I also installed Firefox, AVG Antivirus, Spybot, Ad-Aware, and Peer Guardian. All set to load when windows loads, and automatically update then as well”
I suggest you get rid of Windows XP and put something else in that box. Lots of people don’t know how to work XP right and you seem to be one of them. You don’t need all that garbage to make XP safe, you missed the most important thing you can do to make XP work, work well, and keep the malware out: run on a limited user account.
My XP runs fine and has been running fine for years without any AV or malware clean up tool. I surf the web, do some gaming, do lots of development in C++ and C# and the thing runs like a dream. Only thing I do is defrag it every month which automatically happens on the last sunday of every month thanks to the task scheduler.
Switch to Linux or OS X and let the people who can handle XP do so. That way we dont have to hear your complaints anymore. You won’t be missed.
Toodles!
July 31st, 2005 at 6:50 am
he dosent have anything to back himself up, hence why his comments are limited to titles
July 31st, 2005 at 6:53 am
how cute, someones never dealt with customer service b4, please have a problem with something, talk to a useless rep and become increasingly agitated and upset, then id like to see you talk so high and mighty of them
July 31st, 2005 at 6:56 am
id love to see grandma compile and install a .rpm package, or even better a src.rpm only to find out that shes missing the proper compiler. watching grandma in terminal would also be a laugh. if someone has a hard time running XP properly then Linux is pritty much suicide.
July 31st, 2005 at 12:17 pm
maybe the fact that your granny hasnt a fucking clue about computers doesnt help matters!
July 31st, 2005 at 1:11 pm
Ok you’ve managed to confuse me, well done. I’m assuming you think i’m bagging customer service staff, specifically indian call centre employees.
I’m just pointing out the following.
She’s upset, and most likely confused as all hell. She’s not going to be able to figure out what most ppl with any kind of unfamiliar accent is saying. Not to bag older ppl, but they do require more time to work out what’s going on when faced with something unfamiliar. It’s just something that happens as you age. Considering the call time restrictions placed on call centre staff, they’d have been hurrying her up the whole time she’s trying to get them to slow down so she can work out what the hell they’re saying.
When you add the fact that these call centres all have crappy phone lines making the call centre staff even harder to understand, it would make it even harder on her.
Also call centre staff are burdened with scripts… Wonderful, restrictive, utterly useless scripts which they are required to stick to or they get penalised. Being a call centre employee, i know exactly what this is like. It becomes a game of “how do i say something that anybody listening in on this call thinks is close enough to the scripts so i don’t get in trouble, but is also going to be actually useful to this customer?”
So basically what i’m saying is this. Grandson should have called customer service to get the problem fixed. Grandma would have found herself struggling to get any help. For the reasons listed above.
July 31st, 2005 at 1:12 pm
It’s possible he just doesn’t realise you can type in the big box as well as the small one? Or just a really really short attention span?
July 31st, 2005 at 2:10 pm
Looks like she’s payed for two copies of Windows XP so far.
I think Bill owes her a refund for one of them.
He should get some of his 50 billion and send poor Grandma a check today.
July 31st, 2005 at 2:44 pm
The latter I think
July 31st, 2005 at 2:47 pm
blah, I can’t even get that far, tells me to contact the manufacture of my PC for support – and they weren’t able to tell me why explorer.exe just crashed on all limited accounts. Windows update went wrong…….
July 31st, 2005 at 2:49 pm
…………..run on a limited user account………..
erm, thats not ideal for some people, including me. I install / uninstall programs often and wouldn’t want to be switching between limited and admin accounts just to install programs.
July 31st, 2005 at 4:07 pm
It’s the new RWCD (Reader’s Write Condensed Post) !!!
And it’s highly popular with trolls
Cheers!
July 31st, 2005 at 7:17 pm
My story is almost the same, except it was when i tried to activate it. When I went and tried doing that i got the message that it was invalid. I call up microsoft (i take the paid one) the idiot then tells me that it was a stolen copy and that they will not activate it.
this computer too was from dell so i doubted that the windows xp copy was stolen. i ask to put me on the line with the manager who also told me he wont activate it. now at this time i was pissed, it was the matter of principle that they wont activate the windows i told them even that it was bought from dell and scanned the sticker.
i call up my lawyer and tell him the situation, he quickly writes microsoft a letter and threatens them with a lawsuit. i will make this short, they finally activated and he also made them apologies to me. the best part of it all was the apology because they know knew one more person wasnt going to be pushed around.
July 31st, 2005 at 7:58 pm
I’ve got to say, the pirated software thing is not really worth it. The pirated XP version is a pain in the ass – no updates (maybe there’s a way to get around it, but who cares?). Plus the whole virus issue. Never mind the piracy thing … It really tears me up when I hear M$ fat cats bemoan piracy … *cough* …. ;P
I’ve switched to Open Office ( http://www.openoffice.org ), better than M$ office, and its …. FREE! Besides, why pay $1000+ for a full office suite when you’ll never use (if you’re a typical user) more than 90% of its features anyway? Fully compatible with M$ also.
I’ve also switched to firefox, and I’m thinking of trying out thunderbird. And I’m cautiously working my way towards the freedom of Linux ….
July 31st, 2005 at 8:13 pm
You are hitting on the same things that got me fed up with Windoze. One day, I said enough! I am on the Ubuntu Linux with this post. I have spent the last few months trying different flavors of Linux. I figure I spent years learning Windoze. Well I know a good bit about a program riddled with security holes. In the end, it is still a program that has holes, no matter how well you learn it.
Do try the Linux. Download Knoppix Live CD. Burn it to disc and try it out. It doesn’t need installing so nothing will change on your computer. It runs of the cd. That will give you a test of whether your machine will run linux or not without any sort of changes to your machine. Almost everything runs linux so don’t expect issues but it is easier to go this route “just to see”.
Like you I run Open Office (and I don’t have to worry about macro viruses). I run Mozilla Firefox, but have no need of the Thunderbird or I would run it also. As I become accustom to the Linux I like it better and better.
To Tony,
I’m still looking for that sign…
August 1st, 2005 at 1:29 am
I’m doing the same.
I’ve gradually started using more and more open source software. So far I’ve switched from MS to using OpenOffice.org, Firefox and Thunderbird. All great alternatives that don’t cost a thing, have fewer security issues and are updated regularly.
I installed Ubuntu on another computer 3 days ago to see what that was like. Apart from Shareaza and the fact I can’t use my modem in Linux (at least last time I tried), I don’t think there’s anything I’ll miss a great deal and would be quite ready to make the change completely.
While I’m at home my second computer will be on loan to my sister. I shall see what she makes of it, being someone with limited computer knowledge…
August 1st, 2005 at 3:14 am
Troll Police unit established. Said trolls only reflect ethical view points, most disconcerting for digital thieving, pilfering and plundering.
August 1st, 2005 at 3:18 am
hey buddy or girly bad spellin and granma aint no crime
August 1st, 2005 at 5:10 am
August 1st, 2005 at 5:14 am
The Trolls win a resounding victory without lowering themselves to petty bitch slapping unlike the pirates.
August 1st, 2005 at 5:17 am
Q: Where does a pirate keep his buccaneers? Ans: Under his bucking hat.
August 1st, 2005 at 6:05 am
After Dell informed us that ALL of their computers are supplied with preinstalled and ACTIVATED Microsoft XP or XP Pro software, the said ficticious “Granny” in the original story admitted the whole story was a sham to try and justify other ongoing rampant, blatant, theft on P2P networks. Speak to DELL and check your sources like any decent journo does. P2P myths will continue to crumble in the light of the true facts.
August 1st, 2005 at 7:09 am
Try reading the material in question, before you attempt (badly) to debunk it.
The grandma had to reformat becasue her version went the way of all Winblows XP installs…to malware hell. New installs of LazyXP, even if previously activated, have to be ACTIVATED. And in that comes the problem…
August 1st, 2005 at 2:29 pm
I’ve worked in a call center myself, and what the previous poster has said is absolutely true. I also want to point out that trying to use the call center’s tech support reference tools (required) becomes an excercise in slowness and frustration. I worked for Sykes Enterprises which provided “tech support” for SBC. That is before they closed our call center and sent our jobs to the Phillipeans. We tried to provide excellent customer service IN SPITE of the handicaps placed on us by SBC and Sykes management.
5 minutes to talk an old lady through setting up her Internet connection is insufficient time (You have to explain each click to them and wait for them to find what your asking them to click on). I can understand the customer’s frustration. This is another example of customer abuse by the cartels. They ought to have computers preinstalled with Linux so that these poor old ladies can do what they want on the computers while at the same time remain free from all the malware.
August 1st, 2005 at 2:33 pm
That is a good reason to use SuSE. I have a friend that is 68 years old, and she downloads and installs software. She also had a hard time running Windows. She feels more comfortable with Linux (after her third crash). She learned how to use it after about 4 lessons.