LLoyd, this is just a note to commend you on the class response you gave
about your problem (see below). For history, I got Win XP the first week it
was out. Same with Win 95, 98, ME (ouch). I used Win 2000. They have all had
their bumps. This past year, I beta tested Office 2007, MS Office Accounting
2007, and used the Vista beta RC-1 until installing Vista Ultimate last
week. I am an architect (building, construction, etc) and just get a kick
out of working new software.
All that being said, I know how frustrating things not working is. If you
stop for a moment and consider what Microsoft is doing, it is really
something. The Apple Mac commercials are interesting in that the 'cool'
Apple computer shakes his head being sympathetic with the Windows computer
who is going thru transition and growing pains. It's pretty easy it would
seem to be smug if you're propritary with you 'innards.' Microsoft, on the
other hand, offers an operating system that tries to anticipate and plan for
every possible scenario of hardware and software configurations in the
non-Apple (non-Linux, etc) world. They're doing this while hackers try to
tear it apart. Because it's Microsoft. Not really for the challenge, but
because it's MS. I'm sure that flaws, holes, etc are in all other
non-Windows OS's, but it's stylish to tear down the successful. It's
remarkable that success spawns those who would tear down the success simply
because of the success. Perhaps if those who spend their time tearing down
were to focus that same time, energy, and intellect on improving, things
would be better.
Sorry for the soap box tangent. I get frustrated reading some of the
trash-talk considering both of the argument. Every organization will have
those inside who don't care, etc. That's true anywhere. My experiance over
the last 15-20 years has MS with pretty decent tech support. Ultimately, MS
is made of people who generally try to offer the best product they can for
the time and cost available. The 'public' is pretty unforgiving, but most
everyone does the best they can to provide the best service or product in
their field, profession, etc. Personally, I think it is really remarkable
that an OS can be made available and meet the needs of systems.
Oops, soap box tangent again. When I installed Vista Ultimate, I used the
upgrade from Win XP Pro route. Save $$$ when I can. Had to install XP, then
I installed Ultimate from XP. Chose to do a clean install. Have just gotten
in the habit when installing OSs. That went smoothly. It found, read, and
installed everything I have connected, including broadband modem (from
Comcast). It was about the least painful OS install I've ever done (and I've
done many, multiple times). Since about Jan 06, I did my homework, got the
new Vista drivers, and things went great. My system is one I have put
together. I have made sure that the components were major brands with
documented plans to support Vista. My experience over the last 15+ years is
that scrimping on hardware usually has very short lived cost benefits. The
cheaper items sometimes don't keep up with driver-to- OS updates. That will
mess with a system more than anyone realizes.
OK, no more soap, except to say, MS does a prety decent job overall. I know
I couldn't begin to develop an OS, or any of the other software MS offers.
This goes for the other software and hardware developers also. This doesn't
mean that any of them should slack off, but at least some understanding and
a little gratitude for the work that is done and the products that usually
work pretty well would not be bad. I think there's just a bit much MS
bashing that really doesn't accomplish much. To the Bashers, want to have a
voice for real? Get into the beta testing programs. Put those
gripes/suggestions to work.
I didn't really help or have much for your problem. Sorry. Just needed to
talk a moment. I've run into the problems you mention. I've tried the
solutions mentioned. With persistance, one or more will work.
Well, good luck, stay positive, treat the tech support folks like you would
want to trated, and with persistence your system will calm down and work
right. It's frustrating in the mean time, I know.
