Today my trusty old laptop was finally returned to me by the boys and gals from the local repair shop. I say finally, because fixing a single issue should have taken them days, rather then the months they spend on it. Much to my dismay, they had also erased my hard-drive (the issue was related to the power supply). However, I still had all the original system disks, so I figured I should be up and running in a few hours. I couldn't have been more wrong.

After turning on the pc, I was told I had to 'activate' windows. This made sense, since they had probably installed their own version of XP after having formatted the hard drive. Unfortunately, the version of windows that came with the computer did not include a CD-key. No problem, I thought, I'll just re-install windows from my system disks. As it turns out, the version of XP that originally came with the laptop is 'older' then the current version, so I can't reinstall it without re-formating everything. Nor am I eager to await the eight day deadline (after which I can only assume that my system will self-destruct ;) ). Any suggestions?

Yeah, grab a large hammer, go back to that shop, and smash the place to bits, kill the repairguys, rape the repairwomen, and tell them not to mess with you ever again.

Can't you read the thread's title? It's obviously Microsoft's fault. :rolleyes:

EDIT: added the rolleyes smilie to make sure the sarcasm shows

[ 08-03-2007, 05:14 PM: Message edited by: ZFR ]

Did you try using the CDKey to your copy of XP?

Edit: Barring that, you could try calling the manufacturer of your laptop, assuming of course that it came with XP, and having them fix it for you. I had to do something similar, calling Microsoft, concerning the activation of XP on my old rig when I had to reinstall it.

[ 08-03-2007, 12:15 PM: Message edited by: robertthebard ]

<font color=skyblue>Definately not Microsoft's fault that your choice of repair people decided to ruin your computer's software installments.

I like Johnny's idea.
At least hold them more liable and make them make it right. Is there no guarantee on their service that covers mistakes they may have made during their so-called work? </font>

[ 08-03-2007, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

<font color=8fbc8f>I will never miss an opportunity to join in on this bashing!

No matter how bad you are feeling at the moment, why this could be happening to you, OR, How Could They? They did!

It all boils down to some third world pirates who were making 30-40 cents on the dollar pirating that ever so pirate~able OS from Redmond. In order to stop this illegitimate profit and destruction of the corporations net profit something drastic had to be done, and done secretly and quietly. Enter M$ OS 'Validation'. Ahh, so you are already familiar with it?

That then leaves you with four choices:
1. Return to the repair shop and don't ask, "DEMAND" them to either correct the validation issue, *OR* you will submit them to the *official* M$ pirate shop about there OS installation practices without *VALIDATION*! If that does not get their attention, call M$ from their shop and explain the situation.
2. Spend the next several days and nights restructuring your rig yourself. From the sounds of it, your OS is older than the current OS, and therefore you will spend much time updating your antiquated OS. As of the secret update conducted today 3 AUG 07, anything older than today is no longer considered updated from the 'white paper' release.
3. Just call the wonderfully friendly, fully understanding staff at the Redmond, WA. USA, Headquarters facility.

4. Just Do It! I'll send you the penguin army CD, marching song, special salute, and a web link to *ALL* the stuff you never dreamed of doing with the OS from Redmond! Additionally, you will be able to do as *YOU* want to *YOUR* computer when *YOU* want to, and however many times *YOU* want to do it. However, as with most things free, there is a slight catch. You must learn how to *USE* your computer, not follow somebody else's pre-programmed instructions on how to!

I like Johnny's reply as well!</font>

[img]graemlins/cheers.gif[/img]

Thanks guys. Rule #1 of computer-use: whenever something doesn't work: blame Microsoft. The evil multinational is guilty by default. :D

On a more serious note, the repair people only have a part in this rant because when you're PO'd, you feel like complaining about everything. ;) I could call them and complain a bit more, but as far as I'm concerned, they're part of the problem rather than the solution. It already took several phone calls to get them to return the damn thing in the first place. Rest assured, I will not be using their services in the future.

However, regardless of the delivery times (and fair is fair, they did fix the power supply), it's mainly the silly 'activation'-scheme I have a problem with. Since my system-specific (only works on a HP) windows install disks did not include a CD-key, formatting the HD again seems to be the only (needlessly time consuming) solution. Can't they think of a more customer-friendly anti-piracy scheme? How about, for example, public hangings of software-pirates? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Edit: Felix, I don't suppose you know where I might rent an army of militant penguins to do my bidding? Perhaps those guys from Madagascar are available for freelance jobs.

[ 08-03-2007, 05:25 PM: Message edited by: Dreamer128 ]