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Can anything else go wrong with Vista?
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=37734
Now it seems that a whole lot of people who took advantage of Microsoft’s Vista Family Discount have been issued invalid installation keys. As MS puts it:
"the keys are indeed valid, but not for Windows Vista"
:confused:
MS at its best!..and with a sense of humor :D
My goodness.....
Uhm.....what tha'...Quote:
Originally Posted by Neowin
They just can't avoid to keeping me sorprised....Quote:
Originally Posted by Neowin
The more interesting thing isn't the not working key, but the careless they show for this issue, they trying to sell something, big marketting events and so on, but it seems that isn't a big problem if this new buyers aren't happy.
So...you have an invalid key? well, someday I'll give u' a solution....maybe.....
Come on.....
Bad...bad.....bad......but well, who undesrtand M$ anyway ;)
Regards
Hey Hey,
Moira.. You said "What else can go wrong with Vista".. I'd love to hear what's gone wrong with it so far... Microsoft has released a modern OS that requires modern hardware... (Yet people cry about that)... People wanted more security, so they've beefed up their security a great deal (Yet people cry about that).. Microsoft has released a modern os with great security that incorporates everything.... They haven't had any "problems" to speak of..
So now we've got a problem where the wrong serial numbers are being issued... So they made a mistake... companies do make mistakes... They are offering refunds.. they could just say too bad.. wait until we resolve it... but they aren't.. they are offering an alternative... So someone associated it with the wrong database... they need time to assess the situation before making a decision either way... (they also have to reset attempts for those who have already obtained their keys)... I don't see a big deal about this issue.. it's people taking a shot at Microsoft again without justification.
You guys got a license to be posting this stuff???
:)
edit -- it's pretty ironic MS doesn't even KNOW what they
issued the validation keys for. So is it reasonable to ASSume
they don't even know what they're selling? My guess it's
just a reflexive action by either the marketing dep't or the
legal dep't (MS's finest programmers!).
Lends new meaning to the old adage: create a need, then fill it.
Create a need, then license it...
Well, I would say that it is totally justifiable taking a shot at Microsoft over this, assuming that the problem is indeed as widespread as it sounds.
The bottom line is that no systems engineer or project manager worthy of the name rolls out software to thousands of desktops without testing the delivery method first. To do so would be totally unprofessional.
If they had tested it properly in the first instance, they would have seen the problem ;)
You have to remember that this was a "last minute" addition in theory... All of a sudden after the outrage over Vista pricing, Microsoft announced that two additional licenses could be obtained "cheaply"... so there may not have been time for testing... Also they aren't rolling out software... and the technically the software was delivered... just the keys weren't..Quote:
Originally Posted by nihil
As for how widespread it is.. anyone who purchased online and bought the additional packs... Is it a pain in the ass... yes.. but you still have 1 working copy of Vista (the primary copy purchased)... it's only the two additional copies that don't have valid keys.
Yes, I am aware that you just use the Ultimate Edition disk with the additional keys. That just happens to be the deployment method.
I also realise that there is nothing wrong with the software per se............ I am sure that if I went into a store and bought a retail version of Home Premium, it would work just fine.
I agree that it was also a "last minute" exercise and have been given to understand that Microsoft brought in a third party to handle the promotion. That is the bit that surprises me really, as test purchasing is a pretty common practice in internet and mail order retail, particularly when it is being done on your behalf by someone else.
After all, this is an enormous project for MS, and I would have expected them to be rather more cautious in the circumstances.
Erm, is this me you're talking about when it comes to 2 additional copies that don't have valid keys?
The only reason the laptop "doesn't have a valid key" yet is that moduslink haven't got their act together and sent my promised copy of Home Premium. I installed with the 30 day evaluation period expecting that by the time it expired, I'd have received my copy and key. If not, I suppose I'll just have to use XP until it comes.
And although it might be a free upgrade, there was still a considerable shipping cost involved so I'll be a bit annoyed if it doesn't arrive. However the feedback from others in this position isn't good news - moduslink don't appear to be the most efficient company out there.
No Moira, this is an issue that relates to MS's promotion in the USA and Canada. It is not available in the UK.
The deal was that if you bought a retail copy of Ultimate, you could have two copies of Home Premium for $50 each.
Over here the deal was that if you bought a new PC around Christmas you could have a "free" upgrade to Vista when it was released. This would invalidate your XP licence, but the intention was to boost hardware sales around the holiday period, given that there was a new OS in the offing.
:)
Ah right, sorry - I misunderstood :)
Not bashing but....
This is not comforting...Quote:
Originally Posted by HTRegz
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6331959.stm :rolleyes:Quote:
Security tools that work with Windows Vista have failed tests to see if they can detect viruses circulating online.
I can't work out why they released Vista, or even XP for that reason.......Millenium was great, why didn't they just stick with that?.... :D
ME.... :eek7:
I liked NT....
and you know XP Pro aint so bad.....didnt start acting up til I installed IE7
and I am buying laptops today.....no vista for me
MLF
Actually there have been security holes .... read this.
I honestly don't see that "security hole" as such. It is the old story isn't it.....if you don't use something, switch it off.
Anyway, what kind of workplace would it be if everyone was squarking at their computers? that's what we have keyboards and mice for. Most places I have worked at didn't even have sound systems other than the little inbuilt speaker thing......far too distracting ;)
As for antivirus, it is not a magic bullet...............remember that consumer magazine that used a whole load of new and specially crafted malware.........most products didn't even manage a 70% detection rate.
I used to read Virus Bulletin, it was interesting that most products didn't pass above 50% of the time:eek:
I hear what you're saying, but the fact is that already patches have been downloaded onto my system which fix security holes - that was just an example. It's not quite true to blandly say Vista has no security issues.
Vista issues I've faced to date:
3
2 were drivers (or lack thereof), one was bad install - file corruption - on an OEM not from my shop. I sent her back to her dealer for the 'fix'.
That is not Vista.... That is a separate product... Also note that McAfee also failed (and they are supposed to be leaders in the market) as did Norman AV (which Webroot recently licensed the technology for to include in their software)..Quote:
Originally Posted by dalek
Moira, if you believe the rantings of an individual such as George Ou which was picked up and sensationalized by the press... you probably shouldn't be using your computer... This has been refuted by everyone in the vulnerability industry as a joke and nothing more... In order to effectively pull this off you would have to A) Have your speakers cranked to a deafening volume B) Have your Microphone next to your speakers C) Have Vista trained for the attackers voice D) Have speech Recognition turned on... To call this a vulnerability is laughable..Quote:
Actually there have been security holes .... read this.
As for your "Downloading of Security patches"... We cover every Microsoft vulnerability and trust me.. there haven't been any for Vista... I'm also running Vista on the laptop sitting next to me... Yes there were downloads... None of them were Security related..
Ice: You can't really blame those issues on Vista... That sounds like the OEM and possible the Hardware Manufacturer are to blame..
All I was really saying was that Vista isn't fantasic *sigh* if you've installed it and had no issues then you either haven't tried to do much with it, or else you've been lucky.
Sorry, just edited this because I belatedly read that you had installed vista!
Hmmmm you got as far as Windows Live OneCare and decided it wasn't Vista,okay but as I see it, it is wedded to Vista, so a rose by any other name?Quote:
Originally Posted by HTRegz
Still appears to be a problem when associated with Vista...Quote:
Version 1.5 of Windows Live OneCare was co-launched with Vista and uses the same scanning "engine" as the security tools bundled with the operating system. Typically users pay a yearly subscription to use Live OneCare.
Lots of things appear to be a problem when associated with Vista. They only just released an update to allow usb drives to be recognised - when I first installed it, I had 4 usb keys and none of them worked! 15 gig of bloat and not even usb support ..... shocking!
But it sure is purdy. Wow! Vista *looks* great! Who cares if I can't use it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moira
I wouldn't consider Vista to be wedded to Live OneCare... yes they've released a Vista-centric version but that doesn't bind the two... you're free to use any AV you desire on Vista...Quote:
Originally Posted by dalek
As for the comment in the article about it using the "same" scanning engine as "security software included with vista" (Read: Windows Defender)... This is inaccurate...
Live OneCare had one engine.... Windows Defender had one engine.... Windows Defender has that same engine... Live OneCare has a single engine which is a melding of the original two.. (See blog post announcing it)
As you will note OneCare disables Defender... However on the malware side they have the same coverage... So this still isn't a detriment to Vista... the only loss to the customer is that Live OneCare isn't as good as some of the other AVs on the Virus side... So I still don't see a direct relationship to Vista..
As a side note you have to remember that Live OneCare still isn't a mature product, and there's a chance that older, insignificant viruses that were never included in the front load process were available via Virus Bulletin.. As I said... McAfee, a leader in the AV Space, failed... so what does that say about the tests...
Moira, sounds to me like a driver issue.. so maybe it was missing certain models of usb drive drivers... I had no issues with my sandisk usb drive on inital boot..
When you got enough money (like MS), you CAN have it both ways...Quote:
Originally Posted by dalek
;)
That's about right :) I can't help but be impressed by the aurora screensaver and the desktop pictures are genuinly nice. Best of all, when you have lots of windows open and multitask like I do, the aero view of switching windows is amazing, it has so much depth. Yes, Vista has faults, but the graphics have been done very nicely!Quote:
Originally Posted by phishphreek80
Well vista looks great IMO but drivers are playing a huge role with my internet. See my post : http://antionline.com/showthread.php?t=274647
1 question. On another forum i was reading, just trying to find a driver fix for myself. Someone posted at how pathetic MS was for releasing Vista before any companies or manufactures got their drivers out etc.
The reply was something to the extent that the person who said that was an idiot and knew nothing about a new OS being implemented. I do have some curiosity what is wrong with that statement.
Was it the manufactures fault for not getting their butts in order or whatever. Just want to see your guys and gals comments.
Cheers.
The vendors had plenty of time... many were just lazy... they're now in a jam..Quote:
Originally Posted by Cider
1. Microsoft don't do hardware to any real extent so you can hardly blame them. They are a software house.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cider
2. Most companies got their drivers out in time. That is why you can go out and buy a new Vista computer that works just fine. ;)
3. Vista is a new operating system, rather than just a minor revamp of existing ones. It has been known all along that it would be very demanding resource wise, and that there would probably be issues with drivers.
4. There is no real incentive for hardware manufacturers incurring the costs of supporting obsolete kit, when they make their money out of selling you new stuff. And Microsoft certainly couldn't care less about it.
True ... but now what does someone like myself do? Go buy a new router or modem just to get the driver. That is waste of money IMO ... tight jam.
Marketing scam i tell you :D
I'll procure Vista later on down the road. I don't need it right now. XP and SuSE are completely fulfilling all our needs and all my boxes are stable and screaming along. When the need arises, I'll make the switch....
cheers
Remember, you are not "just getting a driver" you are getting kit that will work. It isn't just modems and routers, it's video cards, sound cards, extra memory and possibly peripherals like scanners and printers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cider
That is one reason why several people I know will not upgrade to Vista until they get a new machine;)
I don't want to sound like a "luddite" but if your computer is doing everything you want it to, why would you even consider upgrading?
If you haven't seen an OMG killer app that only runs on Vista, why would you need Vista?
I very seldom upgrade OS's unless there's an app that I need that forces me to. I'm not a graphically oriented person so I don't need to see all of the "eye candy" that I usually turn off.
On my home network I run 3 XP sp2 boxes and 2 Win2000 laptops. I run OpenOffice as my office suite. Now that Vista is out, support will die out for 2000, so be it. I can manually change DST without Microsofts help.
In 2 to 3 years, I'm sure the apps that absolutely need Vista will start rolling out or the support for the older OS's will run out and I'll have to do something. By then the drivers and service packs for Vista will be out.
If you dance on the bleeding edge, you're going to bleed someday.
Well fourdc vista is very nice eye candy imo. That 3d view of windows open just caught my eye.
IM studying my MCSE 2003 next week and are already going to bring out a MCSE vista upgrade so i suppose I will have to get into it...
Hee! Hee! "looks nice" and "plays nice" are frequently very different.:D
Like dddc, I generally don't upgrade OSes. You really need to do your homework first..................like with Vista,
1. Video Card
2. Sound Card
3. DVD Drive
4. RAM
5. Modem
By the time you have added that together, bought a retail OS and made allowance for selling your existing equipment, you probably have close to the price of a new machine anyway.
And I agree that most applications will function quite adequately on older equipment. It is in the software vendors' best interests to ensure that this is the case. ;)