Fiducially

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I’m one of those people who against good advice went out and bought Vista. I built a new PC, something I’ve been doing for years and wanted the best working machine I could get. I opted for the ‘Ultimate’ version of Vista – not sure why, and purchased the OEM version as I didn’t want the fluffy packaging, just the CD.

Vista installed ok and I was reasonably happy with my purchase initially. Then I found out that Outlook 2000 didn’t work properly on Vista. It kept losing all the email account information. As I have a lot of email accounts, it was essential that my email client remembered its settings. So I had to upgrade Outlook, and along with it, Office to the latest versions.

Then I found out that my legitimate copy of Visual Studio .NET won’t work on Vista - also an essential part of my collection. I got round this by installing Microsoft Virtual Machine which allows you to install other operating systems such as XP on the same PC – not a bad piece of software.

Vista is not really very backward compatible. When you buy Vista, you pretty well have to upgrade lots of other software too – particularly Microsoft software – which is probably part of their plan.

Ok, this is a good enough reason for many not to buy Vista – but there is more.

The crunch came when my Asus motherboard died. I ordered a replacement, the exact same model. When I booted up my system with the new motherboard, Vista wanted re-activating. Why? I’m guessing because it realized the motherboard had changed and suspected I was installing Vista on a second machine. So I went through the steps to re-activate Vista. The online activation wouldn’t work and it suggested I call Microsoft, which I did. They have a semi-automated voice activation system which allows you to ‘speak’ the numbers into the telephone handset. This works ok, except for a couple of digits – guess the system wasn’t ready for a British accent! Anyway, I went through the process, which takes around 15 minutes, only to be told it couldn’t issue the activation code. So I tried again, from scratch - with the same result.

Next I try getting through to an actual person. After waiting for ages, I get put through to a call center somewhere in the Far East. I struggled to understand the person, who spoke vaguely passable English, and he struggled to understand me. He tried to get me an activation code using a similar process. He asked me if I was installing Vista on more than one machine. I said no – just the one machine and explained about the change of motherboard. He seemed to keep forgetting he’d already asked me, and asked me again at least four times. Each time I gave the same answer. Maybe this was a cunning ploy to see if I’d change my story – but no, I was telling the truth.

After another 15 minutes, he said “No” – no activation code for me.

Why?

If his computer says it won’t issue me a code – that is that – end of story.

I explained in detail that I’d just purchased a legitimate CD from an online supplier and could fax him the invoice and license if it would help. No, that wouldn’t help.

So now, I have spent over $200 on an operating system and Microsoft is saying I can’t use it, because they suspect I have installed on more than one machine? I haven’t.

I rang Microsoft back the next day and after several telephone conversations managed to cajole a Microsoft employee into providing me with my activation code.

But now I’m really not happy.

I shouldn’t have to go through such rigmarole, and defend myself from accusations of software piracy just to install the software I’ve legitimately purchased. If I’d got a pirate copy, I wouldn’t bother ringing Microsoft – would i?

Now I have an even more serious problem. My PC only boots up into safe-mode. I didn’t change anything, but all the usual fixes such as deleting drivers and installing newer/or older ones doesn’t help.

I’ve tried swapping out memory, graphics card, removing all anciliary devices, but it doesn’t help. Occasionally Vista boots up normally (for no reason), then for the next week back to in safe-mode again.

The solution? Re-install Vista. But if I do that, it will likely want re-activating – and then I have to spend half a day on the telephone arguing with Microsoft to get my activation code.

I really haven’t got the time.

Now I have a very powerful machine relegated to doing little more than collect emails. Most other applications don’t work properly in safe-mode.

When I get the time I’ll re-install Vista – but not today.

Meanwhile I back on my older machine with XP. Thanks Microsoft – for relieving me of my cash and giving me nothing in return – aside from agro!