Severe problems after Vista update

[Tony]

Hi,
This message has no cummunity functions because the login screen that
appears when I try to send this mesage is complely empty zo no login is
possible.
Some ten days ago Windows Vista updated itself and installed a mediacenter
update among other things. A message flashed by stating that my License
terms were changed.
After that update my mediaplayer 11 stopped working. All multimedia programs
like Adobe Production studio are disappeared from the ,,Open with'' list.
Also IE 7 has severe problems. When I go to a Microsoft website OK buttons
are greyed and downloads on other pages are disabled.
When I choose the search function -with ctrl F or otherwise- all the buttons
are greyed and on page search is impossible.
Today IE 7 stopped offering the print function and printing is completely
disabled.
I informed Microsoft inmediately though the proper (PR) channels but untill
now no answer was received. Apparently this is to embarrassing for Microsoft
to answer in public.
Kind regards,
Tony Thijs
Oriolus software

 

[Chris Corbin]

Tony,

Sounds a lot like what happens if you hadn't activated Vista or you were
using a pirated copy (not saying you are, so don't get all jumpy). I'd
assume that you're using an RTM copy of Vista? Why don't you click on the
Start Button for me and type winver in the start search box and hit
enter. Let me know your version of Vista you're using, whether it's 32-bit
or 64-bit version and DO mention your build

 

[Tony]

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the feedback
The winver gives: Versie 6.0 (build 6000), Ultimate 32 bits
BTW that's Dutch. The installation was done through a ligit MSDN version
issued by Microsoft Netherlands as part of a journalist PR arrangement with
me.

If that's an activation problem, that's the second time. The first time the
Microsoft spokesman explained me that I was one of the odd ten thousand
users in the world that experienced that problem after a server hickup at
Microsoft.
I was -so to say- part of the collateral damage .
Kind regards,
Tony Thijs

 

[Chris Corbin]

Hey Tony,

At first I was just thinking maybe they didn't give you an RTM version or
something of that nature. But your version of Ultimate is exact to mine
besides the fact your version is Dutch. Anything stating that terms have
changed and then mostly everything in the OS doesn't work.. Would typcially
point to a de-activation of the OS due to piracy or not activating (for
whatever reason).

If I were you, I'd just perform a fresh install of Vista Ultimate. When
you get to the product key just enter it again, as usual. Make sure when
Vista is done installing (yet again) that when you see the 30-day period
activation pop-up, you click on it. It should then ask you in which method
you'd prefer to activate, I'd just choose the telephone method and give
Microsoft a call.

Explain your situation in detail to them, ensure them your copy of
Ultimate is on your machine ONLY.. And, hopefully, that will result in them
giving you a manual activation code. I'd assume that will forever resolve
you're activation troubles.

Let me know how it works out for you

 

[Tony]

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the suggestion and it makes a fresh idea to pop into my mind.
What about changing the activation code to whatever other MSDN activation
code suitable for an upwards version and back -after a full backup? That
would leave all present functionality intact.
Or better, leave it on a business edition or so? This would lead to a fresh
activation.

Kind regards,
Tony Thijs

 

[Chris Corbin]

Hmm.. Well as I've always said no idea is a bad idea.. And I'm always
willing to try anything once anyways. Although, I have noticed once Vista
gets irritated (no matter what version) it seems to stay that way no matter
what you do, besides installing Fresh.

I'd try your method first to see what happens, on the chance it changes
nothing, you've lost nothing. So, afterwards I'd go the full install route.

 

[Tony]

Hi Chris,
In the meanwhile I also scanned some Dutch, German and French forums and the
disabling op ctrl p and ctrl f seams to be related to IE 7 no matter what
platform you're on.
It does not yet explain the blank login in the Microsoft newsreader. It
seems related to the fact that users of IE7 that cannot print in IE7 also
can not print in Microsoft Mail and news.
If I want to print this message I have to copy it to Word.
Before I deinstall a rather complex combination of MS development test
environments I'll try to deinstall recent updates one by one until I hit the
golden egg - or not-.
I agree though that frequently cleaning up by reinstall can solve a lot of
problems.
Kind regards,
Tony Thijs