Beta - unable to let Microsoft know problems.

[DugUK]

Though it's called a beta, I haven't been able to find a
way to report the bugs, flaws and ... 'features' back to
Microsoft.

Can we presume Microsoft is not interested in the problems
with this software, and the only reason that it is called a
'beta' is that it contains too many bugs to be legally
'ignored' with an EULA?

I thought that in software development, a "beta version" of
a product is one that is still in development but is
published for testing purpose. The testers report any bugs
that they found, features they would like to see in the
final version, etc.

Obviously Microsoft have redefined things again for us,
just like PNG, CSS, HTML, (need I go on?)

Dug
dug at gilberd dot com

 

[John]

Any chance you have read the FAQ that is listed in these newsgroups?

This is the place to list those bugs as well as a special form listed in the
FAQ.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Help, about, reads as follows in the beta build we're both using:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
BETA SUPPORT POLICY
-------
Important Information: This is pre-release (beta) software distributed for
feedback and testing purposes. Microsoft does not provide technical support
for beta products (see below for information about how to gain access to
peer-to-peer newsgroups). If Microsoft AntiSpyware is causing an issue with
your system we recommend removing it by using Add or Remove Programs and
even using System Restore if the problem persists.

support
-------
For more information on the Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta) product, visit the
Microsoft Spyware page at
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/product.

Assisted support for this beta product is not available. Once the final
release of Microsoft AntiSpyware has been made publicly available, customers
will be able to contact Product Support Services for help. In the meantime,
we have provided online support resources to help you try out the Microsoft
AntiSpyware beta.

Please visit one or all of these peer-to-peer newsgroups at
http://communities.microsoft.com/newsgroups/default.asp?ICP=spyware&sLCID=us
------------------------------------------------------------------
You are in the right place. The feedback here is read by Microsoft,
although individual responses are rare.

This is not a limited technical beta with formal bug reporting and direct
interaction between the participants and Microsoft staff.

This is a public beta--code deemed stable, (although perhaps not polished!)
enough for use by a broad spectrum of customers. The last stat I read
indicated that 6.8 million downloads of this product have been made, and of
those, about 3 million are participating in the Spynet feedback system.

 

[Hogan's Goat]

Here's a cheerful little earful from DugUK:

Though it's called a beta, I haven't been able to find a
way to report the bugs, flaws and ... 'features' back to
Microsoft.

Can we presume Microsoft is not interested in the problems
with this software, and the only reason that it is called a
'beta' is that it contains too many bugs to be legally
'ignored' with an EULA?

I thought that in software development, a "beta version" of
a product is one that is still in development but is
published for testing purpose. The testers report any bugs
that they found, features they would like to see in the
final version, etc.

Obviously Microsoft have redefined things again for us,
just like PNG, CSS, HTML, (need I go on?)

Dug
dug at gilberd dot com

Yeah, that's got to be a fair assumption - Microsoft, after spending
millions of man-hours and millions of dollars creating their software,
just simply doesn't care about the problems you're having with it. Maybe
that's why they created this newsgroup, the FAQ, the KB, and the toll-
free technical support - they just aren't all that interested in fixing
bugs.

Wait - I almost fell into your trap.
You're really Bill Gates, aren't you?

 

[James]

I agree wholeheartedly doug. Once again microsoft delivers
another crapola product. Already I'm noticing simply
inconsiderate "features" such as closing my browser
windows and canceling a download for me that I was half
way through so that it could remove some spyware, AFTER
THE SPYWARE INSTALLED. Why didn't the program just block
installation in the fist place? Of course they don't
provide anywhere for feedback. Heavan forbid they hear
what REAL CUSTOMERS think. We shouldn't destroy the
develepers little world. Once again microsoft delivers a
crappy product. At least we didn't pay for it. This time
microsoft didn't make us bend over and grab our ankles
while they took their payment out of our hide for us to
find out their crap doesn't work.

James

 

[John]

Any details on what spyware installed itself first and then what spyware
MSAS stopped a download over? Or is this just bloviation?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

The behavior you describe is definitely buggy. Thanks for the report.

 

[grolch]

microsoft is collecting the bug reports through windows
xp, and through the spynet collection.
I am allowing my information to be sent to spynet.
Trust me they are probably collecting more info than they
should be.

 

[Steve Dodson [MSFT]]

Also, we are watching and posting to the newsgroups. The best way to get
information to us is in the newsgroup and to send suspected spyware reports
to us.

--
-steve

Steve Dodson [MSFT]
MCSE, CISSP
PSS Security

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