XP, I am a bit annoyed!!!!

[American_Outcast]

This is just a rant to vent some frustration.

I installed XP on my vmware server. I was going to us it for some non 3D windows only games. So after it is installed I tried to do the verification over the internet. That didn't work. So I called the automated number. The recored voice asked me for each group of numbers, 8 groups of six numbers I think. After this somewhat long and boring call it said it couldn't verify it and transferred me to another person. As soon as he answered he asked me for the numbers again..... At this point I was completely annoyed and said again? I just told him never mind I will stay with Linux and not bother with Windows anymore.

One of the reasons why I was more annoyed this time is because I have three copies of XP. If I reinstall two of them on the same machines they where on before, with the same hardware, etc, I still have to call and go through all of the above over and over and over again.

So I am keeping one copy of XP that came with my computer, I don't have to activate that. It recognizes that I am using the right computer and that's it. I will use it for games only, there is nothing else I need it for now. The other two are getting tossed into my microwave so I can watch XP work better then it has ever worked before.

Ubuntu has been my main OS for some time now and it will stay like that, well unless a better linux distro comes out that I like better ;)

[angryfirelord]

Wait until you have to use Vista. ;)

[American_Outcast]

Wait until you have to use Vista. ;)

:lolflag: Oh no. I will never get Vista. I learned my lesson years ago with XP when I thought that maybe it would actually be better. I am still kicking myself for over that one.

[Gremlinzzz]

i have vista basic that came with the computer and it makes xp look good.i consider vista basic unusable.

[p_quarles]

Vista Home Premium was the OEM installation on my current desktop. It was entirely usable -- after I spent seven hours removing junkware, adding OSS apps, and configuring it to look and act like Win2K.

[yabbadabbadont]

I dumped XP and reinstalled 2000 when I had to spend 20 minutes on hold on a Sunday night at 11:00pm to get a new activation code. I made the terrible mistake of disabling the second COM port and the on-board audio.... at the same time! :shock: :lol:

I only keep the 2000 install in order to play the occasional game and to do some video editing. I don't even bother to update it. I just make sure that my DSL modem is turned off before I boot into win2k. For that matter, I've got the BIOS clock set to UTC, so I set the timezone in 2000 the same and to not change for DST.

[lisati]

Anyone else remember the hype when Windos 95 was released?

[rzrgenesys187]

You think this is bad. I helped set up computers in a school this summer and had to do this to license each one. My buddy and I probably called in 20 computers. and half of them we had to go through the 'robot' before they reconnected us to the actual person. The other 3 or so groups probably did 15 or so each.

[yabbadabbadont]

You think this is bad. I helped set up computers in a school this summer and had to do this to license each one. My buddy and I probably called in 20 computers. and half of them we had to go through the 'robot' before they reconnected us to the actual person.

Off-topic, but my parents have discovered that if you start yelling curse words almost from the start, you get connected to a person fairly quickly. That is with several different voice response systems, but not Microsoft's, so I don't know if it will work for that.

[rzrgenesys187]

Sorry that it was a bit off topic, but it did relate to the original poster's frustration i believe

[yabbadabbadont]

Sorry that it was a bit off topic, but it did relate to the original poster's frustration i believe

Don't be sorry, I meant that my reply was off-topic, not your post. :D

[digital_exhaust]

Anyone else remember the hype when Windos 95 was released?

Um, yeah...... why?

Activation is what it is, and it's not going to go away.....you either deal with it or move on... And honestly, I can not understand why so many have issues with it.. I have a Vista machine and a couple XP boxes at work, and I haven't really had any problems with re-activation other than the notorious phone calls...

So far, I'm on my third Vista HP OEM install, and I have yet to call in... re-install, select "activate" and we're done...

And anytime you buy a HP or Dell or whatever with a MS os pre-installed, your going to have to de-crap it.... maybe have a look at the Asus or other boutique lappy's.. they offer a choice of OS's, and they don't pre-install... you get the install media... pretty cool IMO...

[American_Outcast]

Um, yeah...... why?

Activation is what it is, and it's not going to go away.....you either deal with it or move on... And honestly, I can not understand why so many have issues with it.. I have a Vista machine and a couple XP boxes at work, and I haven't really had any problems with re-activation other than the notorious phone calls...

So far, I'm on my third Vista HP OEM install, and I have yet to call in... re-install, select "activate" and we're done...

And anytime you buy a HP or Dell or whatever with a MS os pre-installed, your going to have to de-crap it.... maybe have a look at the Asus or other boutique lappy's.. they offer a choice of OS's, and they don't pre-install... you get the install media... pretty cool IMO...

When I buy something and spend money on it I want to be able to use it and not feel like it is a rental or they are doing me a favor. Personally I am just tired of re-activating it. So I am done with that part.

And yes. The XP that came with Compaq's crap is a pain in the butt to remove all that extra junk that is not needed. So even using that it is not a perfect thing or that great. I just want to play Medla of Honer and Need for Speed Most wanted, thats all, lol.

I am getting spoiled with Ubuntu I guess. The more I use it and then give XP a try the more I realize Linux is just what I want and need.

And maybe if I would have swore a bit it all would have went by faster, lol.

Edit: I decided to give win98 SE a try with vmware server just for those non 3D games. I will not use it for the internet, etc. I disabled that feature.

[digital_exhaust]

I am getting spoiled with Ubuntu I guess. The more I use it and then give XP a try the more I realize Linux is just what I want and need.

Exactly... and I feel the same....but....

Windows is not open source, it likely never will be.. Understand I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just that it is what it is, and if the decision is made to use Microsoft's products for whatever reason, you have to accept the fact that activation is not going to go away.......ever...and therefore, you have to jump through the hoops that they require you to in order to legally use their products.....

[Gremlinzzz]

I had windows 95=98 also with the 98 extra edition==winme= windows 2000 and XP. Vista basic that about covers my experience with windows. I would say after tweaking XP was the best of the lot.

[American_Outcast]

Exactly... and I feel the same....but....

Windows is not open source, it likely never will be.. Understand I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just that it is what it is, and if the decision is made to use Microsoft's products for whatever reason, you have to accept the fact that activation is not going to go away.......ever...and therefore, you have to jump through the hoops that they require you to in order to legally use their products.....

Yes, agreed. That is why I am getting rid of two of them. I don't like that hassle so I am not going to bother with it, lol. I also agree that I can't see Microsoft ever making that operating system open source.

I do wish I would understood the XP EULA better at the time I purchased them. Live and learn.

Even though Ubuntu is free I did pay for CrossOver. So in a way I did spend 40USD indirectly to use Ubuntu, though I didn't have to. 40USD and I don't have to call CrossOver or Ubuntu each time I reinstall it. That is what I like, lol.

[mziskandar]

I have 3 harddisk.

1. Windows XP main OS (licensed)
2. NTFS - Data files
3. Windows XP maintainance OS + ext3 Fiesty Fawn.

Partitioned harddisk 3 for 5 gig to play with Fiesty Fawn. I got hooked. It is much faster compared to Windows, especially I'am using dialup connection. Somebody told me theres something being sent without my knowledge - and my XP hide it from my sight.

Theres no more BSOD. I wonder how come my Windows got freeze when theres a distortion on my USB modem and my Fiesty Fawn runs perfectly well (keep running even theres a bandwith drop)

Now I need to reinsetall Fiesty Fawn on my main harddisk and keep windows as for gaming OS.

[dasunst3r]

i have vista basic that came with the computer and it makes xp look good.i consider vista basic unusable.You also got the special, dulled-out sticker that says "Windows Vista Basic" while everyone else got the white and decent-looking sticker! Don't you feel special? ^^

[bliffle]

Gee, I even remember Windows 2! Yes, that's right. It was a character-formatted display like you can sometimes see in products that display a clunky looking file selector or text editor. Before that there were things like GEM. Windows 3 was a blatant imitation of Mac. Win95 was better looking.

A few months ago my XP system was grinding to a halt under the burden of mysterious internal spirits I neither had a way to influence or even a way to know what they were, so I tried the ubuntu liveCD and within a few days installed it to a fresh HDD. What a relief! Now, I have almost no need for XP. I keep it around for dialup internet access and possibly TV on-the-road.

I wish I had an old Win2000 setup, but I threw away the CDs a few years ago.

[maestrobwh1]

I have been using gutsy gibbon kde for some time... stopped updating/upgrading for now until official release time. I like it so much that I built a computer with very basic hardware that runs compiz-fusion, put kubuntu gutsy on it, and replaced the computer I use for my teaching lessons so that I expose as many young people (I teach high school) to something that looks great, works great... and then I tell them that what they are seeing runs easily with "generic" hardware, and 512 RAM. They giggle at that name, then ask me how to get it, and if it can coexist with another OS... Yep, that's the magic.

Seriously, our district is considering a switch to vista. Everyone would laugh as considering something like ubuntu... and that is SO sad. Our tech people, let alone our staff, is not sufficiently "trainable." So a bizillion dollars in tax money will go into updating to an OS that will make much of our hardware defunct. And Vista is so vastly different that previous versions, that all of our people will still have to be trained anyway.

[American_Outcast]

I have been using gutsy gibbon kde for some time... stopped updating/upgrading for now until official release time. I like it so much that I built a computer with very basic hardware that runs compiz-fusion, put kubuntu gutsy on it, and replaced the computer I use for my teaching lessons so that I expose as many young people (I teach high school) to something that looks great, works great... and then I tell them that what they are seeing runs easily with "generic" hardware, and 512 RAM. They giggle at that name, then ask me how to get it, and if it can coexist with another OS... Yep, that's the magic.

Seriously, our district is considering a switch to vista. Everyone would laugh as considering something like ubuntu... and that is SO sad. Our tech people, let alone our staff, is not sufficiently "trainable." So a bizillion dollars in tax money will go into updating to an OS that will make much of our hardware defunct. And Vista is so vastly different that previous versions, that all of our people will still have to be trained anyway.


I am not sure where you are located but you may be able to do some lobbying, contact local news networks or something like that. If the local tax payers know that there is a huge price difference between the two and know the benefits, etc, of switching to Ubuntu they may change their mind at the school you work at. And if all else fails then keeping the price tag in the mind of your local tax payers may be enough to persuade them to change to an alternative Linux distro rather then Vista.

[digital_exhaust]

<snip>

Seconded..... and honestly, the district could cross train the entire IT staff for substantially less than they're apparently willing to spend on hardware and licensing....

OSS has a place in the public school system.....

As a side note/rant... the district my kids attend use..... Mac's....... I find that a bit odd... maybe it's just me, but that just seems...... well.....

[bliffle]

You can actually help Windows systems by disabling the spam and virus enablers, mostly ActiveX and Javascript (Java is OK, usually) which IIRC is done in either Network Options or the IE someplace.

But people will complain that they don't get the dancing pictures, etc.

On some windows systems I've refused to istall Flash and Acrobat (there's a decent substitute called "Foxit" IIRC).

[r76]

You think this is bad. I helped set up computers in a school this summer and had to do this to license each one. My buddy and I probably called in 20 computers. and half of them we had to go through the 'robot' before they reconnected us to the actual person. The other 3 or so groups probably did 15 or so each.

Yeah but for 65 installs of XP wouldn't you be better off using a volume license? That's what we do so it doesn't need telephone activation... I keep it even simpler by just installing on one machine, cleaning it up etc. and cloning to identical boxes (is permitted by the license, which I think can cover 5-250 machines, so within your range).

I'm sorry but I only ever had good and quick service from Microsoft on my home PC (I tend to reinstall a lot and only once online activation didn't work), the robot didn't help, but I got put through to an operator very quickly who gave me an activation code very quickly, with no questions. And the call was free (here in the UK) - it compares very well with other products I've activated over the phone (e.g. mobile phones, Adobe software) :)

[angryfirelord]

That's what we do so it doesn't need telephone activation... I keep it even simpler by just installing on one machine, cleaning it up etc. and cloning to identical boxes (is permitted by the license, which I think can cover 5-250 machines, so within your range).
Just curious, but do you use special software that allows you to clone it? Something like that could be very useful if I have to do multiple installs of Windows.

[kulturloseramerikaner]

Just curious, but do you use special software that allows you to clone it? Something like that could be very useful if I have to do multiple installs of Windows.
Probably a Linux/UNIX app like dd; it's the only thing that I've ever been able to clone a Windows partition with successfully, and that includes Norton Ghost.

[r76]

Probably a Linux/UNIX app like dd

Exactly, dd is great, and also partimage is great too - with an easy to follow interface. There is a Microsoft tool called, sysprep but it's not nearly as much fun.

[SunnyRabbiera]

Honestly XP would be great if it didnt do junk like this...
I am lucky my verification code has never been touched yet as I never had to use it.

[Raimisch]

I don't think that people are having an issue with the needing to activate Windows, its the fact that if you reinstall many times and make the mistake of telling the person at microsoft that, they will not allow you to activate. I've had that happen a couple times, and each time I had to call back in and say this was the first install and it was not installed on any other computers. That is where my issue with this lays. I have no problems with having to activate, its the other hoops that come along with it that is my issue.