"The WOES Start Now" by Mike Cope
There’s an old public relations adage that says, “There’s no such thing as bad press.”
I wish the same were true for bad software.
From CNET News.com Staff Writer, Ina Fried:
Activation trouble |
Some bumps on the road to Vista
By Ina Fried
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: February 7, 2007, 4:05 AM PST
To read the complete article, click here.
For the record, I'd like to be clear that I have no personal or professional issue with Microsoft, other than the fact that they falsely advertised their Windows Vista Upgrade product (OR, that they commercially released their operating system with a major software bug that prevents users, like myself, from using it as advertised). The six hours I spent trying to install Vista included time spent on the phone speaking with Microsoft Customer Service and Technical Support workers, and I sincerely applaud Microsoft on the quality of the service I received.
However, the software glitch should never have existed.
It was not until several days after the publication of the CNET News article that I received a personal phone call from a "higher ranking" official at Microsoft. Ironically, the solution that they offered me was the same "loophole" that I already discovered -- Note that this is also the same "workaround" that a Microsoft representative is quoted in regarding to. Their only other solution was for me to return the upgrade software (for a full refund) and then purchase a FULL VERSION license. That's right, they wanted me to pay more for their mistake! As mentioned above, the upgrade installation issue is not unique to only my purchased copy -- All upgrade copies (at least, those sold during the initial release) do NOT allow a legally purchased upgrade to be "clean installed."
Yet according to Microsoft's Windows Vista: Upgrade Paths from Previous Version website ...
SCREENSHOT: Upgrade Paths from Previous Version (highlighted)
Since I legally qualified for the upgrade software (as advertised online and on the software packaging), I decided to keep the upgrade copy, and hope that I never need to re-install Vista again. Needless to say, I have no doubt that my next computer will be a Mac.
Stay TOONed!
- Mike Cope
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