What The Hell Is Wrong With MS?
 

Aaarrrrrgggg! WTH Microsoft! What the HELL?

My computer runs fine, no problems to speak of until Windows updates. Following the restart I discover I can no long access the internet. After hours and hours of trouble shooting I finally decided that the best course of action would be to do a system restore. Well that worked. I must have restarted by computer half a dozen times before the restore trying to get my network card working again. Hell I couldn't even access the DSL Modem/Router, until after I performed the restore.

What the hell is wrong with Microsoft that when updating the update kills your network card? When I called them they wanted me to pay to fix the problem, a problem that THEY caused. HP was a bit more helpful, they recommended the restore and that worked. I had to lie to them to get the help though, but alls fair in the land of Software and hardware.

I do wish that there was a way to get microsofts attention and FORCE those SOB's to be responsible for what their UPDATES do to peoples computers.

Hell my system clock is still messing up and they haven't even addressed that issue yet. WTH?

Re: What The Hell Is Wrong With MS?
 

Because like everything else in America, there is NO ACCOUNTABLITY.

Re: What The Hell Is Wrong With MS?
 

I had the same problem two weeks ago, ironically it was a malformed install and I fixed it with a restore. When I accidentally reinstalled the update it a few days after, it was fine.

Same thing with a video driver fix that screwed it up. It's in large part because microsoft uses a large number of 3rd party drivers and the drivers those 3rd parties supply are often out of date.

As for getting around technical support warrenty issues. I have 2 tricks.

1st I try the Agent route. I call them up and if it's a voice system I keep saying "AGENT" at each menu until it takes me to the right menu or person. I insist to the person I'm a field technician from the local OEM distribution site sent to fix a computer by the company -but I need verification on what is going on. This sometimes works.

2nd one requires me to be totally irrational and upset. I call them up and insist I purchased the extended warranty and I am asking for support under the terms. If they don't find any I tell them I purchased it at the store I purchased the computer and I already went to the store about it and they told me to call the company (microsoft/hp/compaq/dell/etc.). If they still refuse help, I get their full name (making them spell it) and demand to take to a supervisor. I get the supervisors' full name and repeat the situation to him informing him that on no uncertain terms will I tolerate his company or underlings pretending I don't have a warranty.


So far I've successfully replaced by defective Xbox 360 without having to pay the replacement shipping, 2 bad hard drives and got my directv bill cut in half.

It doesn't always work, but these companies are making money from my purchase and then deliver substandard equipment and service from new dehli, I'll be damned if I'm paying for that too.

Re: What The Hell Is Wrong With MS?
 

Now the update wants to reinstall. I am seriously debating whether or not I should go ahead with the re-install.

Re: What The Hell Is Wrong With MS?
 

Updates seem like grocery store purchases to me. If I had some pre-existing item that I want fixed, and a patch comes along that addresses that issue, then I'll get it.

Otherwise, they all read "Warning: You may be at risk! Download our stuff!". Because terrorism sells.

Re: What The Hell Is Wrong With MS?
 

Terrorism no, fear yes. Fear fed by the all knowing fact that MS products are at risk to terrorism of hackers, spy monkeys, and evil doers the world over. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif So when MS says you should fear what will happen to your computer if you don't update, I kinda take it seriously because I know that if MS says I need to be afraid, well then, they know their product best now don't they, therefore I fear and update.

Now we must fear the update too. What hidden things have Microsoft installed onto my once secure and private PC? Authentication software, anti-P2P software, key loggers, ISP trackers, and other hidden nastiness.

Fear the Update.

Re: What The Hell Is Wrong With MS?
 

My computer has never been the same since I tried to upgrade to Service Pack 2. SP2 decided I didn't have a printer....

Re: What The Hell Is Wrong With MS?
 

Yeah, my bad; terror does not equal fear...Much greater quantity. Terror is caused by the bad guys. Fear is merely caused by good guys pointing at the bad guys over there. To quote Douglas Adams, more like just nibbling on the hand that feeds you. Not at all like actually biting. Maybe a gentle chew once in a while, but definitely not a bite.

For instance, Big Lou in the alley behind the tavern: "Hey this alley is a dangerous place; all kind of ruffians about. Wouldn't want to see a fella like you get hurt. What you need is protection. Just look and me! I'm big, and I got this here club--So you ought to hire me for the job. Whatever you got there will be fine."

Re: What The Hell Is Wrong With MS?
 

My personal theory is that Bill Gates is a time traveller sent back to retard our technological development. Imagine where we'd be if all the time and money spent coping with Windows' flaws were spent productively instead. ;-)

Seriously, what's really wrong with Windows is that Microsoft has grown into a sprawling corporate bureaucracy where the 500 left hands don't know or care what the 500 right hands are doing.

Re: What The Hell Is Wrong With MS?
 

Well, you could stop buying their products. It might not change their attitudes (not until tens of millions of other people do the same, anyway) but it will sure as hell save you some stress.

When I get the cash to buy a new PC, I'll be ordering one without an operating system pre-installed so I can install linux. Then I'll dig up an old win98SE CD I have somewhere, and have a minimal win98 partition for playing SE.

I've never actually tried to install Linux before, but from what I've read (mainly on \. admittedly) there are some distros that are really really easy to install. I really ought to dig out my old Toshiba and try to put Linux on there, just to get that nice warm, geeky feeling inside.

Or, if I suddenly get *loads* of cash, I might just buy a mac. Bit of a cop-out I know, but it'll work straight out of the box and it *has* to be better than MS.