Well, the saga continues. Here's what has transpired in the past couple of days:
Well, UPS did come and pick up the bad cd like they were supposed to. My wife had agreed with the Journey Education supervisor that we would get a full refund. Late today we received a ship notification that we were receiving a replacement for the bad cd. In all of our contact with these two companies we have NEVER discussed a replacement for the bad cd. We are so far past that now. Still, all anyone brings up is replacing the damn thing. We have been vehement in requiring a refund. It has been agreed to and now they're shipping a replacement.
Does anyone know of a lawyer who will sue for us pro bono? With 4 kids, two in college, money is really tight and I can't stand being bent over this way.
Right now my wife and I are composing a letter to Journey Ed that will be copied to all parties at Microsoft and the BBB, where complaints against both companies have been filed. We're going to contact the AG's in the three states involved to see if someone will prosecute for internet fraud at this point.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
The End of the Journey??
On the following Monday I received another call form Microsoft, this time from 'Charles'. He purported to be the same tech I talked to and who emailed me. So now I have three names, none of which are the real name of the person who I spoke with. Whether this person was in Redmond or not, I can't say. The accent was Indian though. I told him that I had called and asked that the case be closed after the media was marked bad, and asked why he was calling me, since the issue, I thought, was closed on their end. He had no real answer, and I wasn't on the phone all that long, he woke me up, seeing as he called almost a week after he said he would and in the middle of my night to boot. My wife tried again to get a supervisor at Journey Ed to speak with her, to no avail, and no one would call back.
At 6:54 AM on 9/6 I received an email from the BBB that the complaint had been forwarded to MS and:
"Microsoft indicated it may take some time to research your complaint and respond."
Really? They're not jumping right on it??? What a surprise. I had a voice mail from a MS tech on my cell phone when I woke up that evening and this email in my Inbox from 6:49 PM that evening:
********************** The message for you follows ************************
Randy,
I am the engineer who will be working with you on this case you have opened with Microsoft. You can reach me using my contact information below.
My goal is to make certain that you are totally satisfied and your issue is resolved. If you are not satisfied, please contact my manager, Tim xxxxxx at XXX-XXX-XXXX, or via e-mail at xxxxxx@microsoft.com.
I look forward to talking with you,
Doak xxxxx
Consumer Support Engineer
I called Doak back the next morning and again explained everything I had gone through with everyone and what I needed from him. To wit - mark the media bad and pass the information on to Journey Ed when they called. He assured me that he would, that nothing could be deleted from a case file once entered in (I expressed my opinion that Chris/Richard/Charles had deleted information in an attempt to cover his ass). I told him that I had made other arrangements for Zacks PC and that I did not want, nor require a replacement cd for the bad one I had. Just that MS needed to pass the bad media info to Journey Ed when they finally called. When I got to work that evening I had 2 emails from Doak that completley blew my mind. They are as follows:
3:49 PM
********************** The message for you follows ************************
Randy,
It was my pleasure to work with you on your Windows XP issue. I hope that you were delighted with the service provided to you. I am providing you with a summary of the key points of the case for your records.
Based on our last conversation it appears that this case is ready to be archived. If this is premature or you are not very satisfied with all aspects of this case, please let me know as soon as possible. Otherwise, I will archive this case at the close of business on 9/07/06. Thank you for choosing Microsoft.
My goal is to make certain that you are totally satisfied with my service today. If you are not satisfied with my support, please contact my manager, Tim xxxxxx at xxx-xxx-xxxx, or via e-mail at xxxxxx@microsoft.com.
Problem
Not able to upgrade to XP Pro
Resolution
Bad media. Will have to get the cd replaced
Sincerely,
Doak Moore
Consumer Support Engineer
4:08 PM
Randy,
I found out thru are escalation offices that we replace the retail copies of XP when purchased thru a 3rd party vendor. So what I need from you is a physical address that I can have the XP Pro upgrade disk sent to.
Just email me the address and I will get it shipped out to you.
Doak xxxxx
Windows Consumer Frontier Team
Email: xxxxxxxx@microsoft.com
Phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Delighting our customers is our top priority. We welcome your comments and suggestions concerning the support we provide to you. Please e-mail us at mailto:xxxxxxxx@microsoft.com Subject=Consumer Support Feedback:Windows XP.
Here is my response:
Doak,
Unfortunately you think that I want a replacement CD for the bad one I have. You put it into the email quoted below. I thought I had thoroughly explained that I had made other arrangements for my sons computer after I started getting the run around from JourneyEd and then Microsoft. I also thought I had made myself more than clear that all I wanted at this point was a refund of my money. At no point in our conversation did I say that I wanted a replacement cd for the bad one. Where did you pull this information from? It surely wasn't from me. You were to mark the media bad in the case, I was to contact JourneyEd and they were to get the information from you that the media was bad. Then I could get an RMA from them to send this disc back and receive my refund. Why are you insisting that I want a replacement CD? Why is everyone making this any harder than it has already been? I'm ready to send you and JourneyEd a bill for my time. Between your two companies I have wasted approximately 3 hours of my time on the phone trying to get the authorization for a simple return of a defective product. Not to mention my time (2 hours driving) and expense of driving back and forth to my son's school trying to work with your 'support' on getting the upgrade to work. Or is it the Microsoft corporate opinion that anyone who purchases your products can't be intelligent enough to install them properly unless held by the hand and walked through each and every step. Since you contacted me after my BBB complaint, I thought someone would have noticed that my resolution for this issue was a refund. Period.
Do not send me any replacement cd(s). I will consider this an unsolicited mailing and keep them no matter what the eventual outcome of this issue.
Got it? Is this clear enough? Do I have to go further to make you understand?
By the way, 20 minutes after the email I have quoted below, you sent another saying that you could ship me the replacements, when I told you and we had agreed that the issue was resolved on your end, and that all that was necessary from Microsoft was passing the information on to JourneyEd when they called to verify it. Why open up this avenue when you KNEW I was not interested in it? Just to muddy the waters a little more? So that this information was there and JourneyEd could then say that I didn't require a refund since Microsoft was going to send me replacements? Thanks, make it harder for me once again. JourneyEd already has their own BBB complaint for this very same issue to respond to. Again, muddy things up a little more for everyone.
If my $90 means that much to you, Microsoft, Bill & Melinda Gates (along with their charitable foundation), Steve Ballmer and the rest, then keep it, but don't try to let on that anyone there is interested in education, since you have been actively trying to screw a middle-class college student.
Just remember, Microsoft is not the only choice out there. Next time - IBM, and since you have no idea of what I mean this was the winning entry a long time ago to re-name the IBM PC. IBM - I'll Buy a Macintosh. And this is what I will do. I have had it.
This whole episode will be made available on my blog, as soon as I can get it posted. I will do everything in my power to let everyone know what it is like trying to get a straight answer from Microsoft, and how they don't listen to a thing that their customers say. In fact, they make things up and try to make it look like the customer was involved in the process and agreed. Thanks, but no thanks.
Let me give you some advice. When you and a customer have really agreed on a plan, don't 'go the extra mile' afterwards. The issue at that point has been handled and in doing so, you can make things worse.
You ask if I am delighted at the service I have received. Most Definitely Not. From all levels of this support problem I have been sorely disappointed, angered and put-out. No one has listened to a thing I have to say and actively make up non-existent 'facts' about my case. How could anyone be delighted with this kind of service? Put yourself in my place, would you be ranting and swearing at me had I lied and made things up and wasted your time? Exactly, you would be at the point that I am. Ready to completely lose my temper with anyone who calls or emails me about this and makes things just a little bit worse instead of resolving a simple matter.
Let me re-iterate: Don't send me any replacement cd(s). Do what we really agreed on and pass the bad media information on to JourneyEd. It's that simple. Think you can handle it?
Randy xxxxx
I think I finally struck a nerve or got someones attention. Here is the reply I received:
Randy,
I apologize for the confusion. I will close your case per your request.
My wife was finally able to get supervisor on the phone at Journey Ed too, he knew nothing about our problem, after numerous calls and voice mails and messages from his own reps with callback info. Sure. Then why wouldn't ANY CS rep get him back to us? That isn't how business from where I come from is done, but it seems that customer service is a thing of the past, for the most part.
Once my wife unloaded on the JourneyEd supervisor, he agreed to take the upgrade cd back, finally. UPS picked it up today, we'll see how long it takes for the refund now.
It's almost resolved, and it's only been 3 weeks or so!!!
Remind me to tell you about McAfee and their BS sometime.
At 6:54 AM on 9/6 I received an email from the BBB that the complaint had been forwarded to MS and:
"Microsoft indicated it may take some time to research your complaint and respond."
Really? They're not jumping right on it??? What a surprise. I had a voice mail from a MS tech on my cell phone when I woke up that evening and this email in my Inbox from 6:49 PM that evening:
********************** The message for you follows ************************
Randy,
I am the engineer who will be working with you on this case you have opened with Microsoft. You can reach me using my contact information below.
My goal is to make certain that you are totally satisfied and your issue is resolved. If you are not satisfied, please contact my manager, Tim xxxxxx at XXX-XXX-XXXX, or via e-mail at xxxxxx@microsoft.com.
I look forward to talking with you,
Doak xxxxx
Consumer Support Engineer
I called Doak back the next morning and again explained everything I had gone through with everyone and what I needed from him. To wit - mark the media bad and pass the information on to Journey Ed when they called. He assured me that he would, that nothing could be deleted from a case file once entered in (I expressed my opinion that Chris/Richard/Charles had deleted information in an attempt to cover his ass). I told him that I had made other arrangements for Zacks PC and that I did not want, nor require a replacement cd for the bad one I had. Just that MS needed to pass the bad media info to Journey Ed when they finally called. When I got to work that evening I had 2 emails from Doak that completley blew my mind. They are as follows:
3:49 PM
********************** The message for you follows ************************
Randy,
It was my pleasure to work with you on your Windows XP issue. I hope that you were delighted with the service provided to you. I am providing you with a summary of the key points of the case for your records.
Based on our last conversation it appears that this case is ready to be archived. If this is premature or you are not very satisfied with all aspects of this case, please let me know as soon as possible. Otherwise, I will archive this case at the close of business on 9/07/06. Thank you for choosing Microsoft.
My goal is to make certain that you are totally satisfied with my service today. If you are not satisfied with my support, please contact my manager, Tim xxxxxx at xxx-xxx-xxxx, or via e-mail at xxxxxx@microsoft.com.
Problem
Not able to upgrade to XP Pro
Resolution
Bad media. Will have to get the cd replaced
Sincerely,
Doak Moore
Consumer Support Engineer
4:08 PM
Randy,
I found out thru are escalation offices that we replace the retail copies of XP when purchased thru a 3rd party vendor. So what I need from you is a physical address that I can have the XP Pro upgrade disk sent to.
Just email me the address and I will get it shipped out to you.
Doak xxxxx
Windows Consumer Frontier Team
Email: xxxxxxxx@microsoft.com
Phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Delighting our customers is our top priority. We welcome your comments and suggestions concerning the support we provide to you. Please e-mail us at mailto:xxxxxxxx@microsoft.com Subject=Consumer Support Feedback:Windows XP.
Here is my response:
Doak,
Unfortunately you think that I want a replacement CD for the bad one I have. You put it into the email quoted below. I thought I had thoroughly explained that I had made other arrangements for my sons computer after I started getting the run around from JourneyEd and then Microsoft. I also thought I had made myself more than clear that all I wanted at this point was a refund of my money. At no point in our conversation did I say that I wanted a replacement cd for the bad one. Where did you pull this information from? It surely wasn't from me. You were to mark the media bad in the case, I was to contact JourneyEd and they were to get the information from you that the media was bad. Then I could get an RMA from them to send this disc back and receive my refund. Why are you insisting that I want a replacement CD? Why is everyone making this any harder than it has already been? I'm ready to send you and JourneyEd a bill for my time. Between your two companies I have wasted approximately 3 hours of my time on the phone trying to get the authorization for a simple return of a defective product. Not to mention my time (2 hours driving) and expense of driving back and forth to my son's school trying to work with your 'support' on getting the upgrade to work. Or is it the Microsoft corporate opinion that anyone who purchases your products can't be intelligent enough to install them properly unless held by the hand and walked through each and every step. Since you contacted me after my BBB complaint, I thought someone would have noticed that my resolution for this issue was a refund. Period.
Do not send me any replacement cd(s). I will consider this an unsolicited mailing and keep them no matter what the eventual outcome of this issue.
Got it? Is this clear enough? Do I have to go further to make you understand?
By the way, 20 minutes after the email I have quoted below, you sent another saying that you could ship me the replacements, when I told you and we had agreed that the issue was resolved on your end, and that all that was necessary from Microsoft was passing the information on to JourneyEd when they called to verify it. Why open up this avenue when you KNEW I was not interested in it? Just to muddy the waters a little more? So that this information was there and JourneyEd could then say that I didn't require a refund since Microsoft was going to send me replacements? Thanks, make it harder for me once again. JourneyEd already has their own BBB complaint for this very same issue to respond to. Again, muddy things up a little more for everyone.
If my $90 means that much to you, Microsoft, Bill & Melinda Gates (along with their charitable foundation), Steve Ballmer and the rest, then keep it, but don't try to let on that anyone there is interested in education, since you have been actively trying to screw a middle-class college student.
Just remember, Microsoft is not the only choice out there. Next time - IBM, and since you have no idea of what I mean this was the winning entry a long time ago to re-name the IBM PC. IBM - I'll Buy a Macintosh. And this is what I will do. I have had it.
This whole episode will be made available on my blog, as soon as I can get it posted. I will do everything in my power to let everyone know what it is like trying to get a straight answer from Microsoft, and how they don't listen to a thing that their customers say. In fact, they make things up and try to make it look like the customer was involved in the process and agreed. Thanks, but no thanks.
Let me give you some advice. When you and a customer have really agreed on a plan, don't 'go the extra mile' afterwards. The issue at that point has been handled and in doing so, you can make things worse.
You ask if I am delighted at the service I have received. Most Definitely Not. From all levels of this support problem I have been sorely disappointed, angered and put-out. No one has listened to a thing I have to say and actively make up non-existent 'facts' about my case. How could anyone be delighted with this kind of service? Put yourself in my place, would you be ranting and swearing at me had I lied and made things up and wasted your time? Exactly, you would be at the point that I am. Ready to completely lose my temper with anyone who calls or emails me about this and makes things just a little bit worse instead of resolving a simple matter.
Let me re-iterate: Don't send me any replacement cd(s). Do what we really agreed on and pass the bad media information on to JourneyEd. It's that simple. Think you can handle it?
Randy xxxxx
I think I finally struck a nerve or got someones attention. Here is the reply I received:
Randy,
I apologize for the confusion. I will close your case per your request.
My wife was finally able to get supervisor on the phone at Journey Ed too, he knew nothing about our problem, after numerous calls and voice mails and messages from his own reps with callback info. Sure. Then why wouldn't ANY CS rep get him back to us? That isn't how business from where I come from is done, but it seems that customer service is a thing of the past, for the most part.
Once my wife unloaded on the JourneyEd supervisor, he agreed to take the upgrade cd back, finally. UPS picked it up today, we'll see how long it takes for the refund now.
It's almost resolved, and it's only been 3 weeks or so!!!
Remind me to tell you about McAfee and their BS sometime.
Monday, September 11, 2006
More Microsoft hoops jumped through...
After I got home I checked my email, and lo and behold there was an email from Microsoft:
********************** The message for you follows ************************
Hello Randy,
Thank you for contacting Microsoft Windows XP Technical Support.
I am Richard, and this mail is regarding your Case XXXXXXXXXXXX.
Based on the information shared by us on the call, here is the outline
of the steps that we had agreed upon as a resolution to our issue. I would
appreciate your time and efforts in performing the steps before we can contact you.
Steps:
*****
Will have to speak with the Compaq Technical Support and then would iniate a call back to check whether everything is working fine.
I will ensure a follow-up call within the next 24 hours to see to continue working with you on the call
We have recorded your availablity as below:
Available Days :MON - FRI
Available Times:11:00 - 13:00
Time Frame :11:00 - 13:00
Time Zone :EST
If you have any further questions regarding your issue; please push an email
to compmail@microsoft.com including your case number,XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
line or call us back.
If you have any feedback regarding Microsoft support, we would be glad to hear from you.
If you would feel more comfortable speaking with someone else regarding my service, my manager,Arvind,
would be very happy to hear your comments and suggestions. You may reach my manager by sending an email to
managers@microsoft.com
Thank you in advance for your time and patience
Have a pleasant day!!
Sincerely,
Richard
v-6antr@mssupport.microsoft.com
8 am - 5 pm PST
When replying, please include your SR number, name, email address and phone number. Thank you.
Is your PC secure? For more information on how to protect your PC, please visit:
www.microsoft.com/security
Now, imagine my surprise that we had discussed an action plan! It was all news to me. We never talked about a callback, 'Chris' (on the phone) now 'Richard' (in email) was supposed to stay on the line when I talked to HP tech support, but dropped off without notification. I never discussed my availability for a callback, especially at the times listed. I work a night shift and these times are right in the middle of my night. Chris/Richard was taking the time that I called on a Monday as being my availability on all weekdays. I called MS at 11:00, so of course I am available every day at that time, right? Chris/Richard did not call back the next day either, it was a week before someone called me back.
The next morning I called Microsoft back to see what I could accomplish this time in talking to them, especially after going through all of what you have read. To my utter shock, when I got someone on the line she actually spoke English as a primary language! She understood me and I didn't have to repeat anything a couple of times to make sure the thought or information got through. I gave my case number and explained what I had been through and what I was looking for from a tech. This nice lady was appalled when I told her that I had received an email from the tech with false information in it, and entered this information into the case. She asked me if she could connect me with media replacement, and I told her that it was purchased from a third party and they needed the bad media information in the case information to issue an RMA. She entered the bad media information and asked that the case be closed after Journey Ed called to verify the info. I thanked her and we hung up.
I then called Journey Education and waited through their phone hell until I could get someone on the line. Once I finally did I explained that the information they needed was in the MS case info and gave the case number. The CS rep verified the email address to send the RMA to and we hung up.
This should have been the end of the ordeal, right? Anyone who thinks clearly would, but that was not the case. I brought my wife up to speed on where we were in the process of getting the RMA, and she was on the lookout for the email from Journey Ed. Since it didn't come in that day, she checked the next morning and it wasn't there either. She called Journey Ed and asked to speak with a CS rep. At this point she was informed that she would have to speak to a supervisor (!??!) since he was now handling the case. WTF? She left a voice mail and call back information, and then we waited - again.
Since we are now about a week into things, we had to wait until the beginning of the next week to do anything else. I wasn't going to sit around all weekend, when I went in to work on that Friday night, I started looking into filing Better Business Bureau complaints. I did just this, one against Journey Education, who is not a BBB participant and one against Microsoft, who is a BBB participant. That took most of my free time that night at work. More hoops to jump through.
And still more hoops to come...
********************** The message for you follows ************************
Hello Randy,
Thank you for contacting Microsoft Windows XP Technical Support.
I am Richard, and this mail is regarding your Case XXXXXXXXXXXX.
Based on the information shared by us on the call, here is the outline
of the steps that we had agreed upon as a resolution to our issue. I would
appreciate your time and efforts in performing the steps before we can contact you.
Steps:
*****
Will have to speak with the Compaq Technical Support and then would iniate a call back to check whether everything is working fine.
I will ensure a follow-up call within the next 24 hours to see to continue working with you on the call
We have recorded your availablity as below:
Available Days :MON - FRI
Available Times:11:00 - 13:00
Time Frame :11:00 - 13:00
Time Zone :EST
If you have any further questions regarding your issue; please push an email
to compmail@microsoft.com including your case number,XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
line or call us back.
If you have any feedback regarding Microsoft support, we would be glad to hear from you.
If you would feel more comfortable speaking with someone else regarding my service, my manager,Arvind,
would be very happy to hear your comments and suggestions. You may reach my manager by sending an email to
managers@microsoft.com
Thank you in advance for your time and patience
Have a pleasant day!!
Sincerely,
Richard
v-6antr@mssupport.microsoft.com
8 am - 5 pm PST
When replying, please include your SR number, name, email address and phone number. Thank you.
Is your PC secure? For more information on how to protect your PC, please visit:
www.microsoft.com/security
Now, imagine my surprise that we had discussed an action plan! It was all news to me. We never talked about a callback, 'Chris' (on the phone) now 'Richard' (in email) was supposed to stay on the line when I talked to HP tech support, but dropped off without notification. I never discussed my availability for a callback, especially at the times listed. I work a night shift and these times are right in the middle of my night. Chris/Richard was taking the time that I called on a Monday as being my availability on all weekdays. I called MS at 11:00, so of course I am available every day at that time, right? Chris/Richard did not call back the next day either, it was a week before someone called me back.
The next morning I called Microsoft back to see what I could accomplish this time in talking to them, especially after going through all of what you have read. To my utter shock, when I got someone on the line she actually spoke English as a primary language! She understood me and I didn't have to repeat anything a couple of times to make sure the thought or information got through. I gave my case number and explained what I had been through and what I was looking for from a tech. This nice lady was appalled when I told her that I had received an email from the tech with false information in it, and entered this information into the case. She asked me if she could connect me with media replacement, and I told her that it was purchased from a third party and they needed the bad media information in the case information to issue an RMA. She entered the bad media information and asked that the case be closed after Journey Ed called to verify the info. I thanked her and we hung up.
I then called Journey Education and waited through their phone hell until I could get someone on the line. Once I finally did I explained that the information they needed was in the MS case info and gave the case number. The CS rep verified the email address to send the RMA to and we hung up.
This should have been the end of the ordeal, right? Anyone who thinks clearly would, but that was not the case. I brought my wife up to speed on where we were in the process of getting the RMA, and she was on the lookout for the email from Journey Ed. Since it didn't come in that day, she checked the next morning and it wasn't there either. She called Journey Ed and asked to speak with a CS rep. At this point she was informed that she would have to speak to a supervisor (!??!) since he was now handling the case. WTF? She left a voice mail and call back information, and then we waited - again.
Since we are now about a week into things, we had to wait until the beginning of the next week to do anything else. I wasn't going to sit around all weekend, when I went in to work on that Friday night, I started looking into filing Better Business Bureau complaints. I did just this, one against Journey Education, who is not a BBB participant and one against Microsoft, who is a BBB participant. That took most of my free time that night at work. More hoops to jump through.
And still more hoops to come...
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Continuation of: My journey to receive a refund from Microsoft...
I started the upgrade process by placing the cd in the tray and waiting for the autorun to take over. It did and the options came up. I selected the one to upgrade the installation to XP Pro. It went through some steps and started actually to install the upgraded OS, then we ran into a snag. The installation stopped on a blue screen saying that there was a problem with the initial install of XP Home and that I had to remove the cd, reboot and follow the instruction that would come up to fix the problem. I did all of this and when the computer rebooted it came back to an OS choices menu asking what OS I wanted to boot: XP Home, the recovery console, or the XP Pro upgrade setup. Not having what was supposed to happen actually happen (this is a Microsoft product, remember) I chose the XP Home boot since supposedly that was where the problem was. That was as far as things went for a while. XP Home would not come up, and XP Pro setup would not start either. The only option that was available to me was to recover the PC back to factory spec. This I did and after waiting for this to complete I tried again. Guess what, I got the same blue screen error and the OS that was installed and running just fine was trashed once again.
I recovered the PC again and ran diagnostics on the PC, checked the system for any hardware problems, you know - made sure that everything was in good working order. Everything was fine from all of the ways that I could check. The hard drive did not have any problems, all of the other hardware was working properly and there was no apparent problem with XP Home. Applications opened and closed properly and the system utilities ran fine. Other utilities that I had with me also did not show any problems.
At this point I had to leave Zack with the computer the way it was, so we hooked it up to the college network, got him online and left him a cd that had some other software to install (Opera, Firefox, OpenOffice, IM programs, Quicktime, RealPlayer, etc.) Just as an aside, this PC has been running on the existing XP Home install with NO problems for the past couple of weeks.
The next day I called the vendor, who was recommended by WVU, Journey Education, based in Dallas, TX. When I finally got a customer service rep on the phone, I was told that for them to issue me an RMA to return the bad install media I would have to have Microsoft open a case and have the bad media information entered into the case. Journey Ed would then be able to get this info from Microsoft and issue the RMA.
Now the real fun begins. I drove back down to WVU from Washington, PA (a 50 minute drive, one-way) and got on the computer with the media in hand, because I knew that I'd have to jump through a number of hoops for Microsoft, before they would admit any culpability. I disconnected the PC from the college network and called MS. After going through their phone hell and waiting around 10 minutes for someone to free up, I finally got 'Chris' on the phone. 'Chris' is a tech support rep for MS's Operating system install support section. I explained ALL of the steps I had already taken to try to upgrade the XP Home installation. Of course 'Chris', following his canned set of instructions had me try the upgrade with him on the line. I warned him that the upgrade would trash the existing installation, and I'd have to recover the OEM software when the boot process failed. 'Chris' didn't believe me, so I went through the process again. When I got to the blue screen, I again followed the instructions that don't work and ended back up at the OS choices menu that won't boot an OS.
'Chris' then had me try any number of times to boot off of the upgrade CD, change BIOS boot parameters to make sure that CD would boot before trying to boot from the hard drive, 'clicking' on the XP Home choice, then 'clicking' on the XP upgrade choice. I, in my estimation, was very patient in dealing with this complete and utter moron who was asking me to use a mouse when no kernel or mouse drivers were loaded. I explained that the mouse would not be functional until a kernel and drivers were actually loaded, that the upgrade had trashed the existing installation. I also followed the idiotic instructions that the keyboard needed to be unplugged and replugged, since obviously, the keyboard wasn't working. I told 'Chris' that the cursor was moving when I was changing boot parameters and the enter key was working. The keyboard was fine. He didn't believe me on this either. Innumerable boots from the cd and hard drive were tried, all to no avail, unsurprisingly to me. 'Chris' was trying to get me to bring up an alternate boot menu, for safe mode I believe, when he was telling me to press F8 when the computer first booted. This didn't work on the PC I was using, I really don't know which function key to use, this is an unshown option in this PC's boot sequence. F12 and F2 are the options that are shown. When I was unable to bring up this menu, 'Chris' decided that the cd drive was bad and HP technical support needed to be conferenced in. This is 1 hour and 30 minutes into our call. My patience was worn thin and I suggested that the media was bad. In no uncertain terms I was told that the media could not be bad and that the cd drive was broken, non-functioning, whatever he said at that time. I really can't remember his exact terminology. I then explained that the cd was working before the failed upgrade attempts, because I had played a music cd to test the speakers, and that I could hear the drive spinning up in the boot check for boot-able media. No, 'Chris' said, the cd drive is bad. At this point I was placed on hold while he connected to HP technical support. While I was on hold, I gathered together the PC specs and serial number, because I knew HP would need them.
When an HP tech came on the phone, I explained the issues I was dealing with and asked 'Chris' to speak to the tech. 'Chris' was gone. I gave the HP tech all of the PC information he needed and he verified that the machine was under warranty. Not surprising to me, since we had bought it just a few days before. I explained the failed upgrade process and what I had been through with MS to get the issue resolved and what 'Chris' had decided. I expressed my opinion that the media was bad and told HP that I would recover the PC once again, and verify all of the hardware was working properly. We discussed all of the steps I would go through, so I wouldn't have to waste any more of HP's time on a not-their-issue call. The HP tech said that Microsoft DOES THIS ALL OF THE TIME. Blames the hardware vendors for their software problems. I find this repugnant, but not surprising from MS. I thanked the HP tech and hung up. I followed all of the steps to get a functional PC once again, and re-installed the software I needed to for Zack to be able to use the computer. I verified once again, that all of the hardware was installed and working properly and that there were no apparent issues with the XP Home install. Then I drove back home.
To be continued, again.
I recovered the PC again and ran diagnostics on the PC, checked the system for any hardware problems, you know - made sure that everything was in good working order. Everything was fine from all of the ways that I could check. The hard drive did not have any problems, all of the other hardware was working properly and there was no apparent problem with XP Home. Applications opened and closed properly and the system utilities ran fine. Other utilities that I had with me also did not show any problems.
At this point I had to leave Zack with the computer the way it was, so we hooked it up to the college network, got him online and left him a cd that had some other software to install (Opera, Firefox, OpenOffice, IM programs, Quicktime, RealPlayer, etc.) Just as an aside, this PC has been running on the existing XP Home install with NO problems for the past couple of weeks.
The next day I called the vendor, who was recommended by WVU, Journey Education, based in Dallas, TX. When I finally got a customer service rep on the phone, I was told that for them to issue me an RMA to return the bad install media I would have to have Microsoft open a case and have the bad media information entered into the case. Journey Ed would then be able to get this info from Microsoft and issue the RMA.
Now the real fun begins. I drove back down to WVU from Washington, PA (a 50 minute drive, one-way) and got on the computer with the media in hand, because I knew that I'd have to jump through a number of hoops for Microsoft, before they would admit any culpability. I disconnected the PC from the college network and called MS. After going through their phone hell and waiting around 10 minutes for someone to free up, I finally got 'Chris' on the phone. 'Chris' is a tech support rep for MS's Operating system install support section. I explained ALL of the steps I had already taken to try to upgrade the XP Home installation. Of course 'Chris', following his canned set of instructions had me try the upgrade with him on the line. I warned him that the upgrade would trash the existing installation, and I'd have to recover the OEM software when the boot process failed. 'Chris' didn't believe me, so I went through the process again. When I got to the blue screen, I again followed the instructions that don't work and ended back up at the OS choices menu that won't boot an OS.
'Chris' then had me try any number of times to boot off of the upgrade CD, change BIOS boot parameters to make sure that CD would boot before trying to boot from the hard drive, 'clicking' on the XP Home choice, then 'clicking' on the XP upgrade choice. I, in my estimation, was very patient in dealing with this complete and utter moron who was asking me to use a mouse when no kernel or mouse drivers were loaded. I explained that the mouse would not be functional until a kernel and drivers were actually loaded, that the upgrade had trashed the existing installation. I also followed the idiotic instructions that the keyboard needed to be unplugged and replugged, since obviously, the keyboard wasn't working. I told 'Chris' that the cursor was moving when I was changing boot parameters and the enter key was working. The keyboard was fine. He didn't believe me on this either. Innumerable boots from the cd and hard drive were tried, all to no avail, unsurprisingly to me. 'Chris' was trying to get me to bring up an alternate boot menu, for safe mode I believe, when he was telling me to press F8 when the computer first booted. This didn't work on the PC I was using, I really don't know which function key to use, this is an unshown option in this PC's boot sequence. F12 and F2 are the options that are shown. When I was unable to bring up this menu, 'Chris' decided that the cd drive was bad and HP technical support needed to be conferenced in. This is 1 hour and 30 minutes into our call. My patience was worn thin and I suggested that the media was bad. In no uncertain terms I was told that the media could not be bad and that the cd drive was broken, non-functioning, whatever he said at that time. I really can't remember his exact terminology. I then explained that the cd was working before the failed upgrade attempts, because I had played a music cd to test the speakers, and that I could hear the drive spinning up in the boot check for boot-able media. No, 'Chris' said, the cd drive is bad. At this point I was placed on hold while he connected to HP technical support. While I was on hold, I gathered together the PC specs and serial number, because I knew HP would need them.
When an HP tech came on the phone, I explained the issues I was dealing with and asked 'Chris' to speak to the tech. 'Chris' was gone. I gave the HP tech all of the PC information he needed and he verified that the machine was under warranty. Not surprising to me, since we had bought it just a few days before. I explained the failed upgrade process and what I had been through with MS to get the issue resolved and what 'Chris' had decided. I expressed my opinion that the media was bad and told HP that I would recover the PC once again, and verify all of the hardware was working properly. We discussed all of the steps I would go through, so I wouldn't have to waste any more of HP's time on a not-their-issue call. The HP tech said that Microsoft DOES THIS ALL OF THE TIME. Blames the hardware vendors for their software problems. I find this repugnant, but not surprising from MS. I thanked the HP tech and hung up. I followed all of the steps to get a functional PC once again, and re-installed the software I needed to for Zack to be able to use the computer. I verified once again, that all of the hardware was installed and working properly and that there were no apparent issues with the XP Home install. Then I drove back home.
To be continued, again.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
My journey to receive a refund from Microsoft....
Let me tell ya'll a little story. One you will probably believe, but maybe not. It's all true, and I don't change names. There are no innocents here.
Before we get into anything else, let me tell you a little more about myself, so you'll know why this whole clusterf*&% pisses me off to no end.
Way back in '79 one of my high schools groups took a field trip to a local college, California State College, which the younger generations around me will know now as Cal U. It's in SW PA, don't get the wrong idea. This field trip was to the Colleges computer room. For me this was fascinating, and that day was what set me on my lifelong geek path. I've been working on and playing/tinkering with computers since I could get my grimy little hands on one, but that was a couple years later. I spent a year in real college studying engineering, but that wasn't for me, computers still had the draw, and I dropped out and went to a Pittsburgh area computer technical school, Computer Systems Institute. After graduation I ended up working in a Savings and Loans computer room as a mainframe computer operator. The job entails a lot - from running the jobs that need to be run to troubleshooting hardware failures. I've been doing this job for most of my adult life, in a few different companies and areas (of the industry), so I know just a little about the differences between hardware and software problems.
I got my very own computer in 1983, I believe, a Commodore 64. I moved up to a PC a couple years after they hit the market, and I could afford one. There was a lot more involved in the early home PC than there is today. Hardware was a lot more challenging to install and software was sometimes arcane in more ways than one. So like everyone else, I tinkered with just about every aspect of these, now primitive, 16-bit low-powered computers. You learn a lot by doing this, not that I know it all, by a long shot. I've kept up all through the continual hardware and software race to todays equipment and OS's. So after being in the industry, so to say, and being an avid hobbyist in the same vein, I feel pretty confident that I know just a little about 'computers'.
Now to the real meat of this little story.
My wife and I have a son going to college now, he is in addition to our daughter already in college. We had to buy him a computer, and the school recommended Windows XP Professional. Now I'm no stranger to Windows and its' various incarnations, but I don't like Microsoft and its' products in general. Since the school wanted it, and Zack will be there for a while, we wanted to make sure he had the most compatible software for the school as possible. The school, WVU, has on its Technical Dept (IT) site a link to a company called Journey Education, based in Dallas, that sells software at a discount to students. Great, a discount, we're always up for that, and the school recommendation, good too. My wife ordered the upgrade CD in plenty of time to make sure we had it before Zack had to be at school. Indeed, it did come in a timely manner. The trouble started when we tried to upgrade the operating system (OS).
We bought Zack a brand new computer and took it down to the school. I unpacked it and set it up, made sure it was all done with its initial Win XP Home setup and that everything looked good with it. Nothing was running on the system and it wasn't plugged into the school network. So basically a brand-new-out-of-the-box-computer, clean install of the OEM software and no changes made or done, no other software installed, no pre-existing software removed. Pretty easy to do an upgrade at this point, with this set-up, right? Wrong, pure dee wrong.
To Be Continued...
Before we get into anything else, let me tell you a little more about myself, so you'll know why this whole clusterf*&% pisses me off to no end.
Way back in '79 one of my high schools groups took a field trip to a local college, California State College, which the younger generations around me will know now as Cal U. It's in SW PA, don't get the wrong idea. This field trip was to the Colleges computer room. For me this was fascinating, and that day was what set me on my lifelong geek path. I've been working on and playing/tinkering with computers since I could get my grimy little hands on one, but that was a couple years later. I spent a year in real college studying engineering, but that wasn't for me, computers still had the draw, and I dropped out and went to a Pittsburgh area computer technical school, Computer Systems Institute. After graduation I ended up working in a Savings and Loans computer room as a mainframe computer operator. The job entails a lot - from running the jobs that need to be run to troubleshooting hardware failures. I've been doing this job for most of my adult life, in a few different companies and areas (of the industry), so I know just a little about the differences between hardware and software problems.
I got my very own computer in 1983, I believe, a Commodore 64. I moved up to a PC a couple years after they hit the market, and I could afford one. There was a lot more involved in the early home PC than there is today. Hardware was a lot more challenging to install and software was sometimes arcane in more ways than one. So like everyone else, I tinkered with just about every aspect of these, now primitive, 16-bit low-powered computers. You learn a lot by doing this, not that I know it all, by a long shot. I've kept up all through the continual hardware and software race to todays equipment and OS's. So after being in the industry, so to say, and being an avid hobbyist in the same vein, I feel pretty confident that I know just a little about 'computers'.
Now to the real meat of this little story.
My wife and I have a son going to college now, he is in addition to our daughter already in college. We had to buy him a computer, and the school recommended Windows XP Professional. Now I'm no stranger to Windows and its' various incarnations, but I don't like Microsoft and its' products in general. Since the school wanted it, and Zack will be there for a while, we wanted to make sure he had the most compatible software for the school as possible. The school, WVU, has on its Technical Dept (IT) site a link to a company called Journey Education, based in Dallas, that sells software at a discount to students. Great, a discount, we're always up for that, and the school recommendation, good too. My wife ordered the upgrade CD in plenty of time to make sure we had it before Zack had to be at school. Indeed, it did come in a timely manner. The trouble started when we tried to upgrade the operating system (OS).
We bought Zack a brand new computer and took it down to the school. I unpacked it and set it up, made sure it was all done with its initial Win XP Home setup and that everything looked good with it. Nothing was running on the system and it wasn't plugged into the school network. So basically a brand-new-out-of-the-box-computer, clean install of the OEM software and no changes made or done, no other software installed, no pre-existing software removed. Pretty easy to do an upgrade at this point, with this set-up, right? Wrong, pure dee wrong.
To Be Continued...
My family, South Park style.
My family, well really the kids, have found the South Park way of portraiture. They created us, as SP characters. Here they are:
My Wife:
Our kids, from oldest to youngest (if that matters):
And finally, me:
My Wife:
Our kids, from oldest to youngest (if that matters):
And finally, me:
Thursday, May 11, 2006
When do "We the People of the United States" take back our country?
Congress passes $70 billion tax cut, for the wealthy.
NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls, that is NOT spying on the citizens of America.
Illegal Immigration (see any of thousands of reports) is to be allowed, when citizens lose more and more of their rights and freedoms every day.
At what point does it become necessary for the modern citizens to exercise the duty bestowed upon them by the Founding Fathers? The Declaration of Independence states (emphasis mine):
WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great- Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.
The first point made (speaking of their King George, coincidence??? hmmm.) is:
HE has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.
Hasn't it come to light in the past weeks that our President will just disobey any law that he doesn't agree with (From the Boston Globe, full story here):
Bush challenges hundreds of laws
President cites powers of his office
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | April 30, 2006
WASHINGTON -- President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.
Is this what we want from our elected officials? I say "NO", resoundingly and loudly. Too much is is at stake to let all of our rights to be taken from us, a little at a time. We must do something. I am not advocating a violent overthrow of our existing government as happened in the Revolution, but some way must be found to return the government to the people and not leave it in the hands of the wealthy, lobbyists, PACs, business, etc.
What I hear, from varied sources is the same; disillusionment, disappointment, discouragement, disgust and a sense of fear that we are leading up to a civil war in this country. All of this resentment is over what the government is doing to we citizens in the name of National Security, the (undeclared) War on Terrorism, the search for Bin Laden/al Quaeda, and making more money for his friends.
Where will it stop? Will it stop? Will George leave office at the end of his term? There is a provision that I and many others think that he will try to exercise, in effect allowing George to retain the office of President while the country is at war. Even though it is not really a war, having never been lawfully declared by Congress. George thinks we are in World War III (another and another), and he is just the man to run it.
We need to rethink our entire country, it is all out of control.
Running out of time, will post more when able.
NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls, that is NOT spying on the citizens of America.
Illegal Immigration (see any of thousands of reports) is to be allowed, when citizens lose more and more of their rights and freedoms every day.
At what point does it become necessary for the modern citizens to exercise the duty bestowed upon them by the Founding Fathers? The Declaration of Independence states (emphasis mine):
WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great- Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.
The first point made (speaking of their King George, coincidence??? hmmm.) is:
HE has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.
Hasn't it come to light in the past weeks that our President will just disobey any law that he doesn't agree with (From the Boston Globe, full story here):
Bush challenges hundreds of laws
President cites powers of his office
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | April 30, 2006
WASHINGTON -- President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.
Is this what we want from our elected officials? I say "NO", resoundingly and loudly. Too much is is at stake to let all of our rights to be taken from us, a little at a time. We must do something. I am not advocating a violent overthrow of our existing government as happened in the Revolution, but some way must be found to return the government to the people and not leave it in the hands of the wealthy, lobbyists, PACs, business, etc.
What I hear, from varied sources is the same; disillusionment, disappointment, discouragement, disgust and a sense of fear that we are leading up to a civil war in this country. All of this resentment is over what the government is doing to we citizens in the name of National Security, the (undeclared) War on Terrorism, the search for Bin Laden/al Quaeda, and making more money for his friends.
Where will it stop? Will it stop? Will George leave office at the end of his term? There is a provision that I and many others think that he will try to exercise, in effect allowing George to retain the office of President while the country is at war. Even though it is not really a war, having never been lawfully declared by Congress. George thinks we are in World War III (another and another), and he is just the man to run it.
We need to rethink our entire country, it is all out of control.
Running out of time, will post more when able.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Tech Update
In Tech news today: What's the next security threat? from c|net news. Another article that shows the importance of using and maintaining a firewall. It also underscores the need for adware/spyware protection and being vigilant in NOT responding to requests for information received in email that would expose your personal information. Read it.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
We should be ashamed.....
Read the above article, this lady is not being helped by the police, she is BEING ARRESTED
Well, it seems that we have sunk about as low as possible. Really, prosecuting a group of grandmothers for exercising their Constitutionally protected rights. What next America????
Isn't it just about time for we citizens to take the country back?
Well, it seems that we have sunk about as low as possible. Really, prosecuting a group of grandmothers for exercising their Constitutionally protected rights. What next America????
Isn't it just about time for we citizens to take the country back?
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Time for George et al. to go
Please read this article: US steps up plans for possible Iran attack: report
Are you as incensed about this as I am? If you aren't, you should be. Since when does the United States of America launch pre-emptive nuclear strikes?? This is simply unthinkable. Where does this administration think (I know that it doesn't most of the time) it can get away with tactical nukes in a strike in Iran that will not draw retaliation from every single person in the world? Not to mention the nuclear retaliation WE would be under from every country possessing nukes? Or what about the precedent it would set? If the US can launch nukes against Iran, then India and Pakistan can have a little nuclear border skirmish, and the US wouldn't be able to say anything about it. Or China could drop a couple little nukes on Tibet, just to bring them back into line. Or, France could nuke their own citizens, just for protesting against a labor law. Where would it end? Would it end? Only when the earth was a smoldering cinder.
Having grown up under mutually assured destruction in the Cold War, and living in very close proximity to a Nike Site in my youth (less than a mile in a straight line), I know that I don't want to go back to living under that possible mushroom cloud.
I think it's time for the people of this country to march, en masse, on Washington and demand that the administration step down. From George on down, just get them out of office and control of the country. Haven't we been lied to, scrutinized, manipulated, screwed and taxed enough for ONE administration? Now, if we don't step up and take a stand, we will be even more of a pariah state than we already are. How much further down the road to complete destruction of the country will we allow this man to take us?
Are you as incensed about this as I am? If you aren't, you should be. Since when does the United States of America launch pre-emptive nuclear strikes?? This is simply unthinkable. Where does this administration think (I know that it doesn't most of the time) it can get away with tactical nukes in a strike in Iran that will not draw retaliation from every single person in the world? Not to mention the nuclear retaliation WE would be under from every country possessing nukes? Or what about the precedent it would set? If the US can launch nukes against Iran, then India and Pakistan can have a little nuclear border skirmish, and the US wouldn't be able to say anything about it. Or China could drop a couple little nukes on Tibet, just to bring them back into line. Or, France could nuke their own citizens, just for protesting against a labor law. Where would it end? Would it end? Only when the earth was a smoldering cinder.
Having grown up under mutually assured destruction in the Cold War, and living in very close proximity to a Nike Site in my youth (less than a mile in a straight line), I know that I don't want to go back to living under that possible mushroom cloud.
I think it's time for the people of this country to march, en masse, on Washington and demand that the administration step down. From George on down, just get them out of office and control of the country. Haven't we been lied to, scrutinized, manipulated, screwed and taxed enough for ONE administration? Now, if we don't step up and take a stand, we will be even more of a pariah state than we already are. How much further down the road to complete destruction of the country will we allow this man to take us?
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Death of a Small Town - Washington PA
Death of a Small Town - Washington PA
Here is a new blog from someone who can think!!!!
Anyone in the Washington, PA area should read this and get involved!!!!!
Here is a new blog from someone who can think!!!!
Anyone in the Washington, PA area should read this and get involved!!!!!
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Back again
OK, so I haven't posted anything in a long time. Sue me. I'm back now and I may even keep posting, if I have something to say.
I'm at work now and it's our End of Year. What fun. Not too much happening but that's good.
I'm at work now and it's our End of Year. What fun. Not too much happening but that's good.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Security update
Well, I just read an article that I think everyone should read. Click here for the article. Read the Talkback comments too, this just applies to Windows users. If this is not frightening enough for the average person to seriously think about switching operating systems, then I don't know what will do it. No matter what you do on the Net, you need to have a lot of defenses up so that your computer, personal information, identity, life is/are not hijacked.
I know my computers (the ones that I have personally, and the ones that the responsibility has fallen to me to maintain (family, friends, etc.)) are firewalled, anti-virused, anti-spywared, etc out the wazoo. This still does not keep them completely safe. Anyone who goes to a website that contains any kind of questionable content on it is at risk of downloading a malicious program, or having a 'browse-by' download happen. This doesn't take into account the email scams, phishing, attachments and all of the other crap that we have come to regard as the 'norm' in our online lives.
I admit, I am an advocate of “Anything But Microsoft”. Let's get that out of the way right now. If I didn't have to see/use/hear about anything having to do with MS and Windows ever again, I'd be a happier camper. Unfortunately, I live in the real world. Linux, MAC OS, Solaris, UNIX, the BDS's and the rest of the alternative OS's are far superior to Win, but the mainstream public, and industry/business are for the most part MS centric. Even our public schools are MS centric. Try sending a child to school with anything other than MS experience and see what happens. I use Opera as my browser of choice, and have raised my kids and wife to use and prefer it. We used to use Netscape (way back when), but for the past 6 or 7 years it's been Opera. The kids are forced to use Internet Explorer in school, along with the plethora of MS products that are out there. The only reason IE is even on my computers is so that I can perform Windows Updates. Otherwise I would break its functionality. A fall-back if Opera is unable to open/display a page (rare), or the web-designer has used too many IE specific coding is Firefox. Ask at your school if they have ever heard of anything that isn't MS. I'll bet you get a deer-in-the-hedalights-look.
So, what are our options?
Change the operating system you use. This isn't as hard as you think. Linux on the desktop has come a long way in the past couple of years. Just about everyone knows a geek they can ask for help too. The learning curve is a little steep, but if all you're going to do is browse the web, email, word processing, etc. (the basics), then Linux and a little time can save you a lot of headaches and money (from the constant MS/spyware/adware upgrades).
1a. Move to MAC OS. This falls under changing OS type, but also right now, under a hardware change. MAC OS is based on a UNIX variant called BSD. It is inherently better and safer than MS. The learning curve isn't as steep as Linux, but the hardware costs are a little more, especially if you're not planning to upgrade anytime soon.
Become a security expert and keep up with all of the changes in bad/malicious programs and how you can stop them at your front door. This is a lot harder and time consuming than it is worth most of the time. I do try to keep up with computer security issues, but not being an expert, it is hard and becoming harder every day.
Firewall your computer/network. A hardware firewall in conjunction with a software firewall on each computer is the best bet. Have any old computer sitting around? Install SmoothWall on it and the free ZoneAlarm firewall on each computer you have. READ the manuals, help files and any other documentation you have to familiarize yourself with the programs and get to know how to use them and what is/isn't a threat.
Install, use, and keep these programs up to date. Use them religiously:
AdAware
SpyBot Search and Destroy
AntiVir Personal Edition Classic
Either that, or you can stop connecting to the Internet.
Sorry that this post meanders so much. My mind works at about 1000% that my fingers can type.
I know my computers (the ones that I have personally, and the ones that the responsibility has fallen to me to maintain (family, friends, etc.)) are firewalled, anti-virused, anti-spywared, etc out the wazoo. This still does not keep them completely safe. Anyone who goes to a website that contains any kind of questionable content on it is at risk of downloading a malicious program, or having a 'browse-by' download happen. This doesn't take into account the email scams, phishing, attachments and all of the other crap that we have come to regard as the 'norm' in our online lives.
I admit, I am an advocate of “Anything But Microsoft”. Let's get that out of the way right now. If I didn't have to see/use/hear about anything having to do with MS and Windows ever again, I'd be a happier camper. Unfortunately, I live in the real world. Linux, MAC OS, Solaris, UNIX, the BDS's and the rest of the alternative OS's are far superior to Win, but the mainstream public, and industry/business are for the most part MS centric. Even our public schools are MS centric. Try sending a child to school with anything other than MS experience and see what happens. I use Opera as my browser of choice, and have raised my kids and wife to use and prefer it. We used to use Netscape (way back when), but for the past 6 or 7 years it's been Opera. The kids are forced to use Internet Explorer in school, along with the plethora of MS products that are out there. The only reason IE is even on my computers is so that I can perform Windows Updates. Otherwise I would break its functionality. A fall-back if Opera is unable to open/display a page (rare), or the web-designer has used too many IE specific coding is Firefox. Ask at your school if they have ever heard of anything that isn't MS. I'll bet you get a deer-in-the-hedalights-look.
So, what are our options?
Change the operating system you use. This isn't as hard as you think. Linux on the desktop has come a long way in the past couple of years. Just about everyone knows a geek they can ask for help too. The learning curve is a little steep, but if all you're going to do is browse the web, email, word processing, etc. (the basics), then Linux and a little time can save you a lot of headaches and money (from the constant MS/spyware/adware upgrades).
1a. Move to MAC OS. This falls under changing OS type, but also right now, under a hardware change. MAC OS is based on a UNIX variant called BSD. It is inherently better and safer than MS. The learning curve isn't as steep as Linux, but the hardware costs are a little more, especially if you're not planning to upgrade anytime soon.
Become a security expert and keep up with all of the changes in bad/malicious programs and how you can stop them at your front door. This is a lot harder and time consuming than it is worth most of the time. I do try to keep up with computer security issues, but not being an expert, it is hard and becoming harder every day.
Firewall your computer/network. A hardware firewall in conjunction with a software firewall on each computer is the best bet. Have any old computer sitting around? Install SmoothWall on it and the free ZoneAlarm firewall on each computer you have. READ the manuals, help files and any other documentation you have to familiarize yourself with the programs and get to know how to use them and what is/isn't a threat.
Install, use, and keep these programs up to date. Use them religiously:
AdAware
SpyBot Search and Destroy
AntiVir Personal Edition Classic
Either that, or you can stop connecting to the Internet.
Sorry that this post meanders so much. My mind works at about 1000% that my fingers can type.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Random thought
I can end this whole Darwinism/Evolution vs. Intelligent design/Creationism debate right here and now. Look at our fearful leader G.W. If that isn't proof that intelligence wasn't in the design, then nothing is. It also goes to prove that not everyone is at the same level of evolution...
A workday rant
NO, I will NOT fix your computer!
God, I'd love to say those words to some people! Working in a corporation and having to deal with people who shouldn't be near anything more technical that a dishrag can be frustrating, to say the very least. At most, you KNOW why some people go postal. And it's not just for the notoriety, but the satisfaction (I can only imagine...). OK, OK, I'm kidding. Geez...some people. I don't have these violent fantasies, but sometimes you have to wonder.
Why does anyone accept a job and then not know the least little thing about working with the equipment? Who hires these people too, that's another question. I know that in our HR dept., technology is a long way from something they're familiar with. So I guess it's not surprising that the people they hire couldn't find the button side of a mouse. But still...in this day and age, shouldn't the least familiarity with a computer be something that is expected when applying for or hiring for an open position. Especially when you're going to be sitting in front of that computer for most of your work day. Maybe sitting in front of is the operable phrase here, not using or trying to understand what that box actually does. Or how you have to remember your password, and IT WILL CHANGE occasionally. Then, you have to remember the NEW one for a period of time. Is that so hard to figure out????
Can you tell my work days are positive and fulfilling????
God, I'd love to say those words to some people! Working in a corporation and having to deal with people who shouldn't be near anything more technical that a dishrag can be frustrating, to say the very least. At most, you KNOW why some people go postal. And it's not just for the notoriety, but the satisfaction (I can only imagine...). OK, OK, I'm kidding. Geez...some people. I don't have these violent fantasies, but sometimes you have to wonder.
Why does anyone accept a job and then not know the least little thing about working with the equipment? Who hires these people too, that's another question. I know that in our HR dept., technology is a long way from something they're familiar with. So I guess it's not surprising that the people they hire couldn't find the button side of a mouse. But still...in this day and age, shouldn't the least familiarity with a computer be something that is expected when applying for or hiring for an open position. Especially when you're going to be sitting in front of that computer for most of your work day. Maybe sitting in front of is the operable phrase here, not using or trying to understand what that box actually does. Or how you have to remember your password, and IT WILL CHANGE occasionally. Then, you have to remember the NEW one for a period of time. Is that so hard to figure out????
Can you tell my work days are positive and fulfilling????
Background Info...
OK, so I guess a little background might be useful. I turned 'The Answer to The Ultimate Question Of Life, the Universe, and Everything' this year. Meaning that I was born at the ass-end of the baby boom, and I have been referred to that many times in the course of my life. And, I guess I've always been a geek, even when I didn't know it. If the above doesn't explain it, then I don't know what does.
Anyway, I'm in my second marriage (yes, some geeks DO indeed have the social skills needed to attract a mate), my longest term of employment for a single entity (over 7 years and counting), my first house, and my last nerve. So much happens so fast these days. Who can keep up? It's these modern conveniences that make our lives so much easier that take away all of the time that our forebears had in seeming abundance. If you're reading THIS, then you know exactly what I mean. If the 60's ands 70's had Television as the 'boob tube', then the PC has morphed into just that for us. Hell, when I got my first personal computer (Commodore64), no one saw me after I got home from work, then when I moved into the PC stage, and had a modem, no one saw me at all.
I'd leave my computer operations job (mainframes) and go home, fire up the PC, and surf the bulletin boards all morning, I work midnights so just call me Drac. From BBS's to the Internet, I've been a slave to the computer at work and home for a LONG time.
Enough for now, I have to actually start my job for the night.
Anyway, I'm in my second marriage (yes, some geeks DO indeed have the social skills needed to attract a mate), my longest term of employment for a single entity (over 7 years and counting), my first house, and my last nerve. So much happens so fast these days. Who can keep up? It's these modern conveniences that make our lives so much easier that take away all of the time that our forebears had in seeming abundance. If you're reading THIS, then you know exactly what I mean. If the 60's ands 70's had Television as the 'boob tube', then the PC has morphed into just that for us. Hell, when I got my first personal computer (Commodore64), no one saw me after I got home from work, then when I moved into the PC stage, and had a modem, no one saw me at all.
I'd leave my computer operations job (mainframes) and go home, fire up the PC, and surf the bulletin boards all morning, I work midnights so just call me Drac. From BBS's to the Internet, I've been a slave to the computer at work and home for a LONG time.
Enough for now, I have to actually start my job for the night.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Inaugural post
Well here is my experiment into whether anyone is interested in reading and/or commenting on the semi-coherent, semi-literate ramblings of a self-professed geek. I can't promise any kind of frequent updates or any life altering wisdom, but it just might be fun to tag along every now and then as I let my mind out for a stroll.
Hope you enjoy the ride...
Hope you enjoy the ride...
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