Free Vista Upgrades, Hey, Where's Mine?!?!

[dke3591]

Windblows did it again. I first buy a PC in Fall of '01 when PC's had
ME, and right after that XP came out. I was so close, but not told
about and/or missed any opportunities of getting an upgrade voucher
that many of the stores offer courtesy of Microsoft. I was so pissed
when I started using ME and found it nothing but a constant BSOD (Blue
Screen Of Death), that I went out and bought a 3rd party version of XP
Pro for a good price only to find out later it was a bootleg when they
started doing the WGA checks. So I had to look up how to get around
that to keep my PC going.

Now, I buy a laptop at CompUSA a few weeks ago, and again found out I
JUST MISSED getting a freaking voucher for a FREE upgrade to Vista! I'm
REALLY pissed now, and the laptop is "Vista Capable". I needed a
laptop pronto when I found out I needed one. So I had to get it then, a
few weeks ago. But again, the stores and M$$$ are telling me I can't
have it free, while they're giving it free to millions of others now,
and I PAID JUST AS MUCH for my laptop with XP MCE2005 as others are now
and getting the free upgrade.

So, if anyone knows where I can get my free upgrade that everyone else
is getting who are buying new Vista capable PC's, please let me know.

Or it's off to the crack sites for me. No wonder people are
distributing/getting "illegitamate" copies of Windows and/or activation
codes, etc., I don't blame them one bit in a case like this. Come on
MS, be fair to EVERYBODY who just bought a Vista capable PC, and maybe
you'll see less pirates when you don't piss people off like that.

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Windblows did it again. I first buy a PC in Fall of '01 when PC's
had
ME, and right after that XP came out. I was so close, but not told
about and/or missed any opportunities of getting an upgrade voucher
that many of the stores offer courtesy of Microsoft. I was so pissed
when I started using ME and found it nothing but a constant BSOD
(Blue
Screen Of Death), that I went out and bought a 3rd party version of
XP
Pro for a good price only to find out later it was a bootleg when
they
started doing the WGA checks. So I had to look up how to get around
that to keep my PC going.

Now, I buy a laptop at CompUSA a few weeks ago, and again found out
I
JUST MISSED getting a freaking voucher for a FREE upgrade to Vista!
I'm
REALLY pissed now, and the laptop is "Vista Capable". I needed a
laptop pronto when I found out I needed one. So I had to get it
then, a
few weeks ago. But again, the stores and M$$$ are telling me I can't
have it free, while they're giving it free to millions of others
now,
and I PAID JUST AS MUCH for my laptop with XP MCE2005 as others are
now
and getting the free upgrade.

So, if anyone knows where I can get my free upgrade that everyone
else
is getting who are buying new Vista capable PC's, please let me
know.

Or it's off to the crack sites for me. No wonder people are
distributing/getting "illegitamate" copies of Windows and/or
activation
codes, etc., I don't blame them one bit in a case like this. Come on
MS, be fair to EVERYBODY who just bought a Vista capable PC, and
maybe
you'll see less pirates when you don't piss people off like that.

So just how far back do you think the offer of a upgrade coupon should
be extended to stop your whining and bitching , just enough time to
cover you or maybe a couple more weeks, how about 6 months or a year
it will always casue someone to miss out - do you see the point?
A line has to be drawn somewhere and you missed that line - therefore
you don't qualify.
Choose to be a thief if you wish - but that is your choice alone; or
buy your upgrade when it is available in January.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

They had to draw the line somewhere.
No matter where it was drawn, someone would have been just the other side.
The upgrades were well known, if you had asked here, you would nave found
appropriate information.
But since you needed the laptop quickly, it seems your quick need did it for
you.
Microsoft nor CompUSA had no control over your short notice need.

"be fair to EVERYBODY"
It is reasonably fair.
Vista release and the free upgrades were well known.
But then again, no one ever said life is fair.

Have you contacted the laptop manufacturer?
The manufacturer and not Microsoft determines specific eligibility for their
products.
Can you return the laptop?
Most manufacturers have a 3 -4 week return policy.

"No wonder people are distributing/getting "illegitamate" copies of Windows"
Not really, that is simply the excuse the thieves use to justify their
activities.
Thieves will steal at any price.
Thieves steal because it is in their nature.

 

[R. McCarty]

You make a series of ill-informed purchases and come here looking
for exactly what ?

Take the notebook back and get a refund, wait a day or two and
re-purchase to get the coupon.

What's interesting about your post is that all the things you blame
on bad luck or timing where all things a little research could have
avoided.

Buying 3rd-Party copies of XP is risky no matter who you get it
from. And you come to a MS hosted newsgroup to report you
worked around WGA/Notifications ?

Finally, Anyone who uses derivative the spellings of Microsoft
and Windows needs a Robin Williams course in "Quick Thinking
and Witty Sayings."

 

[Pop`]

Or it's off to the crack sites for me. No wonder people are
distributing/getting "illegitamate" copies of Windows and/or

....

No wonder you're having troubles; they're going to get worse, too. It's fun
watching the crooks and pirates squirm, actually. BTW, if you think you're
writing to MS here, you are not. It's just a newsgroup.

 

[dke3591]

I kinda figured I may get the repsonse I did from everyone. Sorry, I
had to vent after being burned twice. Actually burned 3 times after I
bought that copy of XP Pro that was installed on my PC by a computer
shop. I didn't know it was fake, and I paid my money for it, why should
I have had to put out money again for XP Pro, some people do not have
that kind of money to rebuy something like that. I do not think enough
public notice is made, as I probably would have tried to wait. I was
hoping someone would know of a site or something I could go to and
prove I bought the laptop when I did and maybe I'd be eligeable, and
maybe came across the same SNAFU and found a (legit) solution from MS
or a vendor. I didn't hear of the special coupons until after I bought
mine, and others bought their's from other places around the same time
I did, and they got the coupon. I will try contacting Toshiba (thanks
for the tip) as I know someone else that got the same exact computer
around the same time I did and got the voucher. Bet when this happens
to you, you'll be bitching too. Yep, I realize crack sites will be
trouble, and with WGA and stuff like that it wouldn't be worth it. Just
stating the frustration and one reason why people do sometimes resort
to that.

 

[dke3591]

PS If I could've returned the laptop and re-bought it, I would of. Only
14 day return on laptops, and that's with a 15% re-stocking fee.

 

[dke3591]

One more comment, actually a correction. My sister was with me when I
bought the laptop, I just called her, and she recalls the salesman
telling me that I should get a voucher when I bought it! I vaguely
remembered another incentive at the time, couldn't just remember what
it was. I called Toshiba, they directed me to a certain webpage that
says the purchase must be made after 10/26. So the salesmen was not
fully informed of the details. It's hard to remember everything they
told you or didn't as there's so many things to think about when buying
a PC. I intend to take this up further with Toshiba. Guess I should
have remembered and looked in the box for any literaure, but didn't and
just assumed it was there until today when I figured Vista is coming
out.

 

[HeyBub]

I kinda figured I may get the repsonse I did from everyone. Sorry, I
had to vent after being burned twice. Actually burned 3 times after I
bought that copy of XP Pro that was installed on my PC by a computer
shop. I didn't know it was fake, and I paid my money for it, why
should I have had to put out money again for XP Pro, some people do
not have that kind of money to rebuy something like that.

Say you buy an RCA TV from the trunk of someone's car. The police ultimately
confiscate the set as stolen. Do you think RCA owes you a new TV?

With off-market sales (dodgy computer shops, Ebay, car trunks, etc.), you
pay your money and you take your chances.

If it's any comfort, we Microsoft stockholders appreciate your efforts.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Windblows did it again. I first buy a PC in Fall of '01 when PC's had
ME, and right after that XP came out. I was so close, but not told
about and/or missed any opportunities of getting an upgrade voucher
that many of the stores offer courtesy of Microsoft. I was so pissed
when I started using ME and found it nothing but a constant BSOD (Blue
Screen Of Death), that I went out and bought a 3rd party version of XP
Pro for a good price only to find out later it was a bootleg when they
started doing the WGA checks. So I had to look up how to get around
that to keep my PC going.

Now, I buy a laptop at CompUSA a few weeks ago, and again found out I
JUST MISSED getting a freaking voucher for a FREE upgrade to Vista! I'm
REALLY pissed now, and the laptop is "Vista Capable". I needed a
laptop pronto when I found out I needed one. So I had to get it then, a
few weeks ago. But again, the stores and M$$$ are telling me I can't
have it free, while they're giving it free to millions of others now,
and I PAID JUST AS MUCH for my laptop with XP MCE2005 as others are now
and getting the free upgrade.

So, if anyone knows where I can get my free upgrade that everyone else
is getting who are buying new Vista capable PC's, please let me know.

Or it's off to the crack sites for me. No wonder people are
distributing/getting "illegitamate" copies of Windows and/or activation
codes, etc., I don't blame them one bit in a case like this. Come on
MS, be fair to EVERYBODY who just bought a Vista capable PC, and maybe
you'll see less pirates when you don't piss people off like that.

*You* go through life ignoring information that been's broadcast via
mass media for months, then blame others for your own utter
obliviousness to the world around you, and use that for justification
for theft? Does your mommy still wipe your nose for you when you get a
cold? Are you allowed outside the group home without adult supervision?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[dke3591]

Well at least I have the laptop with XP MCE 2005 that came legitemately
preinstalled, this is a replacement my "questionable" OS desktop, which
died on me. I went to what I thought was a reliable computer shop for
XP at that time ... Not somebody's basement or car trunk. I can
understand being responsible if I fully knew and expected the OS to be
bootleg, but I was swindled too. I can't afford to buy stock in MS, let
alone the extra $ to upgrade to Vista full price.

 

[It'sJusMe]

Return that laptop for a refund, then buy one with a Vista upgrade
certificate.