can't activate Digital Cable TV -- anybody else run into this problem?

[maya]

hi,

I can't activate Digital Cable TV for my windows Vista Ultimate, it
doesn't accept the product key supplied, I tried numerous times (and
yes, I have the correct one, the one for Digital Cable TV activation..)

I finally called folks where I purchased computer (since I assume it's
impossible to get tech support from MS) and they said this is known
problem, that it's not accepting the product key b/c it got corrupted,
and I have to re-install it.. now the only way to re-install Vista is
to lose all data in my machine b/c -- now where does MS get these
brilliant ideas -- when you re-install Vista form supplied CD it erases
all data in your machine..

before embarking on this, I'd like to know if other users of Vista have
come across same problem and what solution they have found..

(do MS folks ever read this newsgroup? ARE they interested at all in
user feedback? in getting problems reported to them?? I guess MS only
really cares about business users, I don't think they care at all about
individual users..)

thank you..

 

[peter]

Sounds to us like you purchased a Machine on which Vista was
preinstalled...OEM Version....Recovery CD.
I have Reinstalled a Retail Version of Vista by simply letting it install
into the same Directory as I had originally installed it to.
peter

 

[Tim Slattery]

I finally called folks where I purchased computer (since I assume it's
impossible to get tech support from MS)

You probably have an OEM version of Vista on your computer. If it came
pre-installed there's not much doubt of it. OEM versions are supported
by the OEMs, not by Microsoft.

and they said this is known
problem, that it's not accepting the product key b/c it got corrupted,
and I have to re-install it.. now the only way to re-install Vista is
to lose all data in my machine b/c -- now where does MS get these
brilliant ideas -- when you re-install Vista form supplied CD it erases
all data in your machine..

OEMs have to supply you some way to get your machine back to factory
condition. Unfortunately, this usually consists of a "recovery disk"
that will do exactly that: reset every thing to factory specs, delete
*everything* that's been done or put on since your brought it home.
Machines with pre-installed OEM versions almost never have an actual
OS disk.

(do MS folks ever read this newsgroup?

Rarely. This is a peer-to-peer group, softies look in occasionally on
their own time.

 

[maya]

You probably have an OEM version of Vista on your computer. If it came
pre-installed there's not much doubt of it. OEM versions are supported
by the OEMs, not by Microsoft.

this is ridiculous, MS should support all products it manufactures, and
it certainly manufactures Vista and it shouldn't make any difference
whether I installed in my machine myself or if Velocity Micro installed
it.. I wasn't able to even find this problem reported on their MS-Vista
website...

OEMs have to supply you some way to get your machine back to factory
condition. Unfortunately, this usually consists of a "recovery disk"
that will do exactly that: reset every thing to factory specs, delete
*everything* that's been done or put on since your brought it home.
Machines with pre-installed OEM versions almost never have an actual
OS disk.


Rarely. This is a peer-to-peer group, softies look in occasionally on
their own time.

and that's the problem, that you simply can't get tech support from MS..
anytime you pay for a piece of sw you should be able to get tech support
for it FOR FREE from the manufacturer itself.. MS is really getting away
with murder here.. computer manufacturers are doing their work for
them.. THEY should be the ones supporting their messed up product, not
the manufacturers who sell it pre-installed, that's all they do, install
it, that doesn't mean MS shouldn't have to support it..

I shouldn't have to lose all data in machine to re-install Vista, this
is absurd.. (Velocity Micro says that's how Vista comes now, install CD
automatically removes all data from yr machine... another BRILLIANT
Microsoft idea...)

thank you for your response though....

 

[peter]

So when you go to the Garage to get a new Fuel Pump put in your X brand Car
and the Pump is Manufactured by ABC co.....then it malfunctions who do you
complain to..........The person who installed it or the Company that Made
it????
I don't know about you but I go to the Garage that installed the pump....it
is their responsibility to ensure that what they installed works as
advertised.

If you want to take this a step further....a new car you bought breaks down
does the dealership send you to the company that made that part or do they
,who sold you the car.fix it????????
peter