What the hell

Out of the blue, my Windows 7 computer decided that the OS wasn't genuine... after 2 years.  I tried reactivating, and no joy.

I headed to Microsoft Help, started a session with a tech. He rebooted the system with all by MS services disabled.  After 2 hours of nothing he did working right, he left and had me continue a download to try later. 

5 hours later, the download is still going, so I'm getting bored.  I open up Control Panel, click on system. Sure enough, still saying not activated. I clicked on ACTIVATE and I got "Your copy of windows may be counterfeit. Go online to fix this." (got this with the tech, but he would just close it down)  I clicked on it, opened the link in IE. I saw a button that said "VALIDATE".  Clicked on that, and suddenly Windows 7 Ultimate is activated.

Maybe I should work for MS support?

Some tech support is better than others

And when I get that better tech support, I thank him/her for all their help.

Replacement start menu shell,  been using it for years. My desktop user account was screwing up so I created a new one. Problem is I forgot how to input the license/serial number.  I just could not find where.

I submitted a ticket.  D gave me clear concise answer.

I said "Thank you, D."

D replied "You're welcome. I don't ofter get thanked." 

Kind of sad, yes?

Well, I'll be!

6th time was the charm!  Well, Windows Media Center is working on my Windows 8.1 Pro laptop.  Currently scanning the laptops' harddrive for errors to see if that fixes the slow to start/login problem.

Still no word as to whether or not I can get a Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center ISO/installation disc.

Finally! Only took two tries.

I finally got a straight answer from MicroSoft in regards to getting my poor Vaio back to abby-normal Windows 8.1 after the disaster that was Win10 update.  All I needed was a new Windows 8 license key, because the Windows 10 disaster invalidated my current one, even with the roll back. After almost frying my computer, JM had the audacity to tell me that a new License key would be $40... Excuse me?

So, I  gave them my ASSURE info, then let my son Alan tell them the problem.So, Alan took over the keyboard and told them that the Win10 almost bricked my computer, took 3 hours to login to be able to roll it back, but I am still having persistent problems, and need a new OEM key to do a Repair Install (aka fixes specific issues without doing a factory reset) and that it was update to Win8 on the Vail was a digital download. 

Ta Da! New OEM key provided, and dling Windows 8.1 Pro with Windows Media Center! (not so much I need Media Center itself, but I need specific DLLs that allows other programs to work.

Do you ever...

Do you ever want to hunt down whoever is answering your tech support question and smack em upside the head because they aren't actually reading what you put in the support request?

Summation: My Windows 7Pro 64bit desktop has the AverMedia H727 HDMI 3D card, and it has its own remote.  But the remote ONLY works with AverMedia Center. It doesn't work with Windows Media Center.

So, I bought the AverMedia A867R with remote that is advertised to work with Windows Media Center.  I follow the installation instructions, and all the remote will do is start WMC . I can't navigate through any of the menus, select anything.  I can only start it.  The remote works fine in AverMedia Player, but that software is a pain in the ass, counter intuitive and it doesn't play DVDs, whereas I can play DVDs via Windows Media Center.

I scour the internet, forums, FAQS to find any information as to why this isn't working. Tested Remote. Yup, works fine. Batteries; put new ones in. Uninstalled, rebooted, reinstalled, rebooted (repeat three times). No joy.

So, I send support request explaining everything above, almost word for word, and they are either hiring imbeciles, people with a vague grasp of English, or those who only know how to copy/paste... maybe all of the above. 

Don't make me angry.. you won't like me when I'm angry

 

After week of feeding me copied and pasted bull$hit from the FAQs, that even though I had quoted their FAQs in my support ticket, I had enough of their non-support.  Here is my reply to yet another inane copy/paste from FAQ with another link to the full version to download.

I did all of this, I even tried it on a different computer, running Windows 8.1, fully updated, firewall shut off, anti virus shut off, malware protection shut off, and the problem of it not connecting to DirectorZone persists.
After weeks of uninstall, reinstalls, manual edits, manual searches, registry searches, then the week of trading messages with you telling me to do what I had already done time and again, I ended up saying f**k it and I downloaded the trial version of PhotoDirector 6, renamed the PhotoDirector5 folder, and launched PhotoDirector 6 via Media Suite interface.
Guess what? THAT one connects without a single problem. There is an inherent problem in PhotoDirector 5, as PhotoDirector 4 connected without issue, and now PhotoDirector 6 connects, I think you should give everyone who just purchased PD5 a free upgrade to PD6.
I have been a long time customer, and yes, I seem to have problems with your software (whenever an update gets applied, the program no longer functioning was my biggest bugbear which was remedied by downloading full version and installing, rather than using updates) and I highly doubt I will be updating/upgrading to any newer versions again.
I know I am not your only customer, but offering a Media Suite for what turns out to be outmoded versions of your programs (do you have ANY idea how pissed off I was when I thought I had gotten a good holiday bargain, only to get nothing but update, upgrade notices from within the programs?) , and with a history of updates that ended up bollixing the programs, resulting in having to either purchase the next version or not being able to work?
You, Cyberlink, are the undisputed champion of the "bait and switch".

Well, that was pointless

I posted something on a program makers "Facebook Page", asking a question.   I get a reply the next day, to please go to their main site and submit a support ticket.

I dutifully point and click on over, copy and paste the exact question on their "Submit Support Ticket", and clicked on "Submit".

Today, I get notice that someone answered me.  Their answer is "No it doesn't work with your browser (I know that) and there is no ETA as to when it will."

Ok, riddle me this: was was so dastardly that the person on the FB site couldn't have typed out "Sorry, we don't support that browser at this time, and don't have an ETA as to when we will"?

And on their survey, I pretty much told them exactly that.

Why do I bother laying it all out?

I submitted a support ticket to Cyberlink regarding one of their programs having a problem.

PhotoDirector 4 I could login to "DirectorZone" for templates and upload to Facebook, Flickr etc etc. Newest version, v5, suddenly I keep getting error.

 

 

Just for giggles, I clicked on "Forgot password" and PhotoDirector sent me to a non existent website. I can see the error in the link, but can't figure out how to correct it in the program.

So, I send support ticket. Yes, I've uninstalled, rebooted, reinstalled, rebooted, problem persists. yes, it's white-listed in both antivirus and firewall.  I even tried shutting antivirus and firewall off. Problem persisted. I tried changing password on the site and in program, problem persisted.  I sent them %#$%$ screencaps of it.

What do I get? Copy/Paste bullshit from the #$$@%#$$ FAQ!

Gee, should I take Apple up on this one?

They sent me a link to a survey about how I rate their service.

I wonder if they have a selection of "Sucks big fat donkey dick"? 

I think I will give it some thought before I click on that link.

Gottla Love iPhiles.. with ketchup

You know something, Apple.. you suck. And not the kind of suck that leaves anyone smiling.

Apple sells cross platform Quicktime Pro, an APPLE product, that works on a PC.  There is an issue with with it running, and even though this error happens on both PCs and Macs, the fob PC customers off with the "We only offer help if it's on a Mac."

I went to MicroSoft Answertech, where it seems they're quite familiar with Apple's bull$hit. Problem fixed. I posted the solution for those not comfortable with going into the registry and change permissions and do some editing,  on the Apple support forum, and enter APPLE FANBOI TO THE RESCUE!

Of course, iPhile immediately said it must me MY incompetence (to those who know me, this is a laughable comment) so I posted this in response then unfollowed the post:

Actually, I am an old hand at delving into the registry and tweaking it, have been for 15+ years. But my "trashing"... when I get told by Apple support themselves they know about this problem, and even know how fix it, but since I don't have a Mac they won't.... they deserve a bit of a textual spanking.

Also, did you miss the part that this also happens to Mac users? Either way, not going to argue. Apple sells a product, then doesn't support it. End of Story. Tweak does it automatically, for those (unlike me) who don't know how to or are reluctant to make registry edits.

Grrrr

Still a pet peeve: when after months of trying to figure out a software issue on your own, you email support, outline everything you have tried to do, and the response you get is nothing more than a copy/paste from the %#$$@ online FAQ that you've read from back to front already.