no 64 bit upgrade support

[John]

I upgraded to 64 bit vista home premium about 3 weeks ago. When I
entered the id for email support it said the product had expired so I
have to pay $59.00 for support. I think that's a ripoff. My 32 bit disk
is working just fine. The 64 bit is a new system and less than 90 days old.

Have had access denied error since creating the 64 bit when trying to
set a restore point. I've tried everything I can find on the web
including all Microsoft news groups. The 32 bit and 64 bit disks are
pretty much Identical in content, programs.

I suppose I can at least return the 64 bit update disk for $10.00 refund?

John

 

[Dave Warren]

In message <[email protected]> John

I upgraded to 64 bit vista home premium about 3 weeks ago. When I
entered the id for email support it said the product had expired so I
have to pay $59.00 for support. I think that's a ripoff. My 32 bit disk
is working just fine. The 64 bit is a new system and less than 90 days old.

A couple things jump out at me here -- Is the 64-bit system a brand new
purchased copy of Vista, or a copy that you purchased at some point in
the past and just switched from 32-bit to 64-bit?

You need to be aware that you only have one licensed copy of Vista, and
can use it in either 32-bit or 64-bit mode, but only on one PC, and as a
result the support policy is based on the original installation,
switching from 32-bit to 64-bit or back again doesn't reset your license
or support agreement.

 

[Dave Warren]

In message <[email protected]>

This might be of help:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/10/13/how-to-activate-windows-vista-by-phone-activation/

Where does he mention activation issues?

 

[nomore]

Save your $59.
The last time I paid for Microsoft support it was because an early version
of Excel kept yielding a simple mathematical error.
They said it was impossible.
The next version of Excel specifically addressed the situation where that
error could crop up.
If Microsoft offered adequate support then groups like this would not exist
and many IT professionals would be out of jobs.
If the Microsoft KnowledgeBase were not the oxymoronic equivalent of
military intelligence then users would find clear answers to common problems
instead of wrong answers or, more commonly, no mention in the Knowledge Base
of problems that return thousands and thousands of hits when searched on the
internet.
This is not Microsoft bashing, simply the way it is for a company that
considers individual users the icing on the cake for their main customer
base in the business realm.
For what its worth Apple support is even worse, and Apple's customer base is
individual users and not businesses. Consider the Apple pretense that there
are not serious structural problems with an OS that is patched more often
than Vista. The upcoming Snow-leopard is even more of a service pack than
Win7 as I believe it primarily addresses the false claim that the Apple OS
has been functionally 64 bit all these years.

 

[John]

I disagree. I have had wonderful experiences with Microsoft support in
the past year and a half. They are diligent, informed, patient and
helpful once you get them on the phone. After my first emails they also
work hard to make phone contact.

I do agree that Microsoft documentation has always been and continues to
be an abject lesson in how NOT to deliver useful information to a
non-technical audience.
John

 

[Dave Warren]

In message <[email protected]> "nomore"

Save your $59.
The last time I paid for Microsoft support it was because an early version
of Excel kept yielding a simple mathematical error.
They said it was impossible.
The next version of Excel specifically addressed the situation where that
error could crop up.

I trust you got a refund?