With Amazon support, you have a 50/50 chance

I found my old Windows 7 phone, and its spare battery, so decided to charge it up, and see what I can do with it over WiFi (no sim chip in it)

It charged up very quickly and I started putting it through its paces.  Sadly, there are some things that no longer work, because Zune, the desktop software you used to be able to use to update programs, no longer works. Microsoft shut off Zune's access to the servers sometime around June/July 2019. 

Be that as it may, other programs were working fine.  I fired up my Kindle app and at first, all seemed well. It started to sync, cancelled the sync, deregistered itself, and deleted the books I had on the device.  Ok, this intrepid device user went through the usual "register your device", and it failed. I tried again, and again, and again, meticulously making sure every letter/character in name and password was correct and it was.  But kept getting "Email and password not recognized".  BUT I could login via the phone's internet browser.  Time for TECH SUPPORT!  I start a chat, and I explain the situation. I was clear and succinct so I wouldn't be wasting any time.  Even though I told the person, designated by the letter P, that everything, even the Microsoft Store, said I had the app installed, it wouldn't work. My question was "Did Amazon discontinue support for the Windows Phone version of Kindle App?" 

P said no, and insisted I check MS store to see if it was there. It was. He insisted I try to login, over and over. The, P's bright idea was to switch my location, even though I told him NOT to.  Well, he did (that lead to a different bunch of trouble).  Even so, still same "email and password not recognized" message.  After P fiddling around with things, telling me to try things, and if I didn't get back to him in 60 seconds he would discontinue the chat (I reamed him about that, telling him it takes longer than 60 seconds for MS Store to launch, to search for something and get a result. He pseudo-apologized for that), for a solid 90 minutes, P finally tells me that Amazon no longer supports or has available for download the Kindle App for Windows*.  Ok, I will admit, I textually, without swearing, lit into him for not finding that out and telling me earlier. I also told him to put my Amazon setting BACK to the way they originally were. (Although I live in Australia, I am U.S. citizen. I opened my Amazon account in the US over 20 years ago. Yes, I know there's an Amazon Au, but their selection sucks. Can't get the ebooks I want on the Amazon AU site, so not ditching my Amazon US account) Ended chat, gave honest if low rating. Turns out the little $hit didn't put my settings back.  So, none of my echo dots/alexa settings worked anymore.

I admit, it was late, and I was in no mood to go searching for reason/solution, I started another Amazon help chat regarding Alexa devices, with support person, Amir. I explained I was living in Australia, but had opened amazon account when I was in the US and wanted to keep it that way.  He fixed the issue in under 30 seconds. I profusely thanked him for his friendly, quick service, ended chat, gave 5 star ratings across the board.

Next thing, I'm checking to see if I can use it as a portable audio book device. Wish me luck!

EaseUS.. you suck

I had a HDD go RAW due to a power flicker. I started running EaseUS Partition Master to recover it.  Wanting to make sure I was doing the right thing, I started a support chat with EaseUS tech support.

The agent, Warren, told me that none of my programs would work. EaseUS Partition Master, nor M3 RAW Drive recovery.  He told me to cancel the Partition recovery I was doing.

He then put some program on my computer called WinHex, and did something for about 90 minutes, saying he recovered this but it would cost me a couple hundred dollars for a full recovery service.  He kept pressuring me, and using scare tactics saying the files would deteriorate if they weren't recovered right away.

I paid, and started running the program he set up... then it crashed.  I emailed support about it, got nothing but an autoreply, so I went back to using M3 RAW drive recovery, which recovered EVERYTHING.

Yes, Warren, you LIED to me.  I will be contacting my bank to have the charge reversed.

So, if you need to recover a RAW Drive, do NOT use EaseUS products. Use M3 RAW Drive Recovery.  It not only fixed the partition, I was able to shift the files from that drive to another after, clearing it off, as I had planned to do this weekend.

Sometimes, having a legacy subscription is better

I use Skype, mostly to call the U.S..  I have an subscription that is no longer offered, and as long as I continue to renew it, it can't be changed.  600 minutes direct to phones all over the world per month, and free Skype to Skype calls.

I did notice my rates went up, so I logged into their support chat. Found out that all yearly rates have gone up, and since it's not by a helluva lot, that's fine by me. But he did mention that my subscription was 'no longer supported, did I want to update'.  I told him "No thank you, I was told by R**** (person I dealt with before) said I could keep my legacy subscription, as it was 'grandfathered in', as long as I continue to renew it."

I could almost hear the crickets chirping after I typed that out. :D

The ongoing MalwareBytes Saga

After uninstalling, reinstalling, reactivating over and over again, I ended up getting error that I had exceeded the allotted number of activations, so I had to open a different support ticket, giving them the information regarding the above mentioned 'over and over' section.

Just shits and giggles, with version 3.1.2 installed, I decided to try to compatibility modes.  I started at the top with Vista, V SP1, V SP2. No joy

Server 2008 and 2003. No joy

XP, XP SP1, XP SP2. No joy

Windows 2000. Nope

NT 4 with SP5. Nope.

I was ready to give up, but just for laughs, I tried Windows 95 compatibility mode. And holy crow, the UI opened!  I was able to navigate all the menus, no problems.  I tried Win 98/ME compatibility. It also worked.  However I noticed that although the system tray icon says that Ransomware protection is on, the UI will say it's unavailable. Some online searches showed that it will do that because according to posts on the forums, there was no ransomware with Windows 95/98/ME or XP.

I thank my foresight for deciding to upgrade Windows 7 to Pro version, as the Home and Premium would have only had compatibility to XP and above only.  95/98/ME weren't included in Home or Premium.

So, I ended up figuring out how to get it to work, not their in house techs.

So, it's working now.. and Alan said "If it ain't broken, don't fix it!"

From the MWBs forum

I have been instructed to run MBCleaner... again. And do another clean install.. again.

My response is as follows.

My eyelid just started twitching.. I have to ask, please don't take it personally, what is uninstalling MWBs with MWCleaner for the (checks) 21st time going to fix, that the first 20 times didn't?

Typed too soon

After Malwarebytes completed the scan, and I quarantined what I didn't really want or need running, I apprehensively shut it down.

Seems I was right to be apprehensive, because when I tried to start it again, it wouldn't.  Tried rebooting to see if that would 'fix' it like it did last night.. nope.

Have sent info to tech support.

buggah.

Silver lining?  I actually got to do a full system scan, and all is good.

Maybe I should be their tech support

After 18, yes 18, things from Malwarebytes tech support that didn't work, and about the same from a MBWs forum, also didn't work, over the course of two weeks,  with both places blaming OTHER software, and having me uninstall that OTHER software, for the problem of MWM 3.1.2 user interface not opening, both places offered the same solution.

To reboot in safe mode and turn off self protection. Any takers as to where that worked or not?

I tried to do that, but it would not switch off in safe mode.  Even after stripping out all other security programs (CryptoPreventer, MSE) it would not start unless in safe mode.

That being typed, this was the solution for me.

1: Used MBCleaner to remove 3.1.2.  Rebooted

2: After login, installed 3.0.6.  Didn't check for updates. Put in license and ID, set up exclusions again, just in case. Went to Protections and was able to shut Self Protection off.

3: Updated to 3.1.2.  Double Clicked desktop Icon, nothing. Nothing in system tray again.

4: Rebooted.

5: After login, system tray icon was there with red triangle (for never having run a scan). Double clicked desktop icon, and chewed on fingernail.

User interface loaded up.

I am a lateral thinker.. they are linear, or just can't be swayed from their checklist script, even when you have told them every step you took, including the ones that just told you to do.... again.  But being a lateral thinker, I was able to come up with a solution.

Filed under "Are you f**king kidding me?"

1st off, absolutely EVERYTHING else works perfectly on my computers' current set up. Sure, there are occasional hardlocks (like when I'm processing a HUGE image in On1 and watching a DVD/BlueRay on the other monitor) but everything works.

Which takes me to the topic of the subject.

Malwarebytes:  I had been using the Premium version 3.0.6. It started having problems with web protection layers shutting off and not going back on, AND you couldn't get rid of the notification that said layers were off so turn them back on. 

Which lead me to update to version 3.1.2.  Everything seemed ok... until I noticed I couldn't open the user interface. Double click desktop icon? No.  How about the system tray icon? Nope.  Run as administrator? nope. Run the the gamut of compatibility trouble shooting? Nope.  Uninstall with MBCleaner/Reboot/Reinstall? Nope

Ok, let's make a new user account. Double click on desktop icon.. YAY, it worked! I enter my legit license and ID. Seems great! Tweak settings (exclusions, when to schedule a scan). Close the user window down.  Log off that new user, go back to original user account, and start going through things I want to clone over.  Shut down computer.

Start up next day, log in new user account. Double click MWB icon.  Uhhh, not opening?  Just to make sure I tried again. Not opening.  Repeat all the above steps. Nothing.

I'm always one for keeping the PREVIOUS version of programs, just in case.  So, I uninstall using MalwarebyteCleaner, reboot. Install version 3.0.6, and TA DA!  It starts up. Enter ID and license, and immediately the web protection shuts off again, and can't turn it back on.  Rebooted,  and login to new user account, 3.0.6 starts up just fine, again, web layers not on (oh yeah, and MWBs said this was due THEIR server not communicating with the program last year) but everything works.

Restart computer. Login to my regular account.  v3.0.6 works find, with same caveat.  I install latest NON beta version.  And once again, the user window will not open. 

After doing all of this, I finally sent support ticket to MWBs. Waited two weeks, and didn't hear anything back.  Just for giggles, a few days ago I restarted my computer in SAFE MODE. Login to my regular user account. Wait a while for everything to load and settle. I see the MWBs icon on system tray. I double click it.  Imagine my surprise when the user interface opens without a problem!  Restarted in safe mode again, logged into new user account.  Same thing.

Rebooted, regular start up.  Again, the user interface will not load.  Off in search on google for this problem. And I found the exact same issue posted by someone else.  So, I go through all the same steps, use some other tools and send them the reports.   Yes, I know I am being 'naughty' by convincing a program or two to work. Why? Because I bought it years ago, and during reinstall on this machine, the license won't validate. It's no longer sold or supported, and it's the ONLY way I can get it to work is to 'convince it'.  I didn't make the world, I just try to live in it.

So, I go through all his hoops. MBCleaner, MBCheck, FRST64, over and over. Even installed beta version of MBWs... and now, not only will it not start if I click on desktop icon, the SYSTEM tray icon has vanished, even though Task Manger says it's running.   I reboot in safe mode, and it works. Restart normal mode, nope.

Here comes the "Are you f**king kidding me?" part.. one of the possible solutions is to format the the drive and reinstall everything.... Are you f**king kidding me?

Did I mention my son, who has Windows 10 Home version on his computer, is having the same problem? And Wing who has Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed on his HP is having same problem? Figure the god damned odds of me wiping my system to reinstall everything?

Again, the art of the politely worded complaint

8 weeks ago, I purchased the full version of DFX Audio Enhancer. I really liked the plug-in I had gotten with DIVX years ago, and wanted to use its features with all my audio/video programs.

Turn the clock to 8 weeks later, they announce they have a NEW AND IMPROVED VERSION!  And yes, was vastly improved.  They offered a discount for those who registered previous versions.

My issue was this: 8 weeks after my initial purchase, they came out with this. 10 Days AFTER I could have gotten refund for buying the now defunct version, and repurchase the new one.  Oh, they offered a discount, but for me, it wasn't a discount, it was paying double!

Their support staff agreed and gave me new license/key for the new version. 

Annoyance, thy name is Software Support

I sent an email to SD Recovery Pro about how dismally their product performed on recovering accidentally deleted image files. I told them I had done all the trouble shooting (tried in camera, in built in card reader, using external card reader, using different computer, all with the same dismal results).

I get a simplistic "did you try a card reader. Many users have success that way", showing that whoever answered didn't bother to read my original support request.

I wonder if said person will like my reply:

Thank you for replying, although offering me such simplistic instructions is an insult to my intelligence, as I had already gone through all the trouble shooting methods.

It WAS in a card reader, the one built into my desktop computer.  And then I tried another card reader, and external one, AND just for giggles I tried it with it in the camera. Same results. 74 photos recovered, but not one of the ones that had just been accidentally deleted.   I even tried your software on my laptop's SD card reader, with the same results!

I ended up searching the internet, trying different programs, and found  R-Undelete and not only did it recover the accidentally deleted ones, the ones it did find weren't 'unreadable' or corrupted. Regards.