Maybe another try on Vista?/Activation Blues

[Frank Bright]

Hi,
I think my question is more for the MVPs if he and/or she is avaiable...I'e
done several clean installs of Vista Home Premium, both on my laptop and my
desktop (2 separate versions, genuine licenses).

I ended up going back to XP on both machines because of system crashes and
recurring problems. Plus I have to use pro audio at least on my laptop and
Vista and the audio companies aren't there yet. So I'm dedicated to XP
there at least.

But I still have an interest to use Vista on my desktop if I can get it
right. (Am I crazy to really want Vista to work this much ?) Both my
machines are new with very fast processors. My desktop has an AMD Athlon 64
X2, Dual Core 4600+ 2.41 gHz processor and 2 MB of ram memory.

Now I use microsoft Office 2003 and while Microsoft has been generous about
re-activations, I am getting very weary of having to call up to "beg" for
another activation of Office 2003 because of Vista.

Keep in mind that various tech support agents (not just microsoft) are not
helping the matter very much, because in many cases their sole
trouble-shooting angle is to suggest a full, clean re-install of Vista.
Therefore, it puts me up for yet another activation of Office 2003.

Other 3rd party software requires activations, but they have a feature
called 'De-Activation' through which you can switch to another machine or do
a reactivation after a reformat. I think Microsoft needs this feature or
something like it badly.

I humbly ask any MVPs to please pass along this "comment" to whoever needs
this feedback in Microsoft, because frankly, this is the one (1) obstacle
that keeps me from either sticking with Vista or re-trying with another
install.

Thanks, Frank

 

[Frank Bright]

woops 2 GB of ram...

 

[Michael Jennings]

"If you think you have found a bug in a Microsoft product,
contact Microsoft Product Support Services department.
(800) MICROSOFT (642-7676)"
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/contactbug

They used to have forms, Frank - you know, suggest an improvement.
The filter your suggestion has to get past is, "would this make it easier
for softlifters to steal our stuff?" If you can find a developer who can
explain how it would not, then better CRM might move the elephant,
which is how at least one MVP views getting Microsoft to improve.
You aren't asking for a little favor, you're requesting a campaign with
research and pound, pound, pounding away. Stick with XP and let
it go would be my suggestion to you. Don't waste your time.