>>> Nicolas Alvarez <nic### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
>>> We're almost considering that at work. Most of the computers currently 
>>> run
>>> pirated Windows XP. Except the server, which runs pirated Windows 2003, 
>>> and
>>> just today we had to fight yet another activation problem.

>> Warp wrote:
>>  (At least here, AFAIK, there exist authorities who do take seriously
>> reports of companies using pirated software for their work. For this
>> reason basically no respectable company here uses pirated software.)


> scott <sco### [at] scottcom> wrote:
> Same here, and if you want your company to be acreddited to any standard, 
> you need to demonstrate that you have licenses for all software you are 
> using.  For this reason I have some background task running on my computer 
> that keeps a list of all installed programs and reports back to IT...  Any 
> freeware programs I install I have to send a copy of the license to IT so 
> they don't get in trouble.

good ..... at least I'm not the only one who raised an eyebrow on this one. 
I even give my friends who use pirated software a bad time about this. I 
won't work on ANY system that I think has pirated software!!! Shame on you 
guys (Nicolas)!!!! Also (if I were prone to this behavior) I won't admit to 
anyone

Jim

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Darren New wrote:
> Darren New wrote:
>> Tim Nikias wrote:
>>> Last update (of course) can't be uninstalled,
>>
>> And you can't use System Restore to go back before the update? That's 
>> pretty rude.

When I was attempting things, I couldn't use "Last working 
Configuration" (or however it would be called in English, my dad is 
running the german version), Safe mode didn't work and that one time I 
did get it to work, as I said, I couldn't uninstall the latest update.

Today, however, my dad brought the laptop to his tech-support at the 
university, which, reluctantly took it in. After they got it running, 
they found that the latest update didn't download properly, which was 
the reason for all the culprit: It was attempting to install an update 
which wasn't functional or complete, and shot itself trying that.

Their fix was to delete the corrupted updates and re-download them, 
which then allowed a proper update run and everything is back to normal. 
They also accused my dad of having messed with the system, however, I 
know my dad better: He has no clue when it comes to doing maintenance on 
a PC. All he does is allow the automatic update to run.

Isn't it awesome if even the automatic updates (which *should* be 
idiot-proof, given that it's all automatic and the user shouldn't be 
able to mess things up aside of not updating at all) screw your system?

And no, that's not just Microsoft, I've heard this happen on PSP, PS3 
and various other funny systems. For months know my Mac won't play 
Starcraft/Diablo2 because Apple decided to remove the 256-color mode. 
Their solution: Install Windows using Boot Camp. *sigh*

Oh, these software corporations!

Regards,
Tim

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Invisible wrote:
> Tim Nikias wrote:
> 
>> Safe mode et al yield the same black screen, just with "Safe Mode" 
>> printed in the corners. Still no Taskbar or Desktop Icons...
>>
>> *sigh*
> 
> Just for giggles, have you tried logging in via Remote Desktop?
> 
> (If it's a problem with the video driver, this might just work. 
> Unlikely, but it's an easy thing to try...)

Nope, didn't try, wouldn't have a system here with which I could try it 
anyway (assuming you need Windows and a running LAN to log in). As I 
pointed out to Darren, it seems the problem was a corrupt update 
download, so I'm not sure if a remote login wouldn't have triggered the 
"attempting update kills me"-procedure.

Regards,
Tim

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Warp wrote:
> Nicolas Alvarez <nic### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
>> Warp wrote:
>> > 2) Upgrade to Linux.
> 
>> We're almost considering that at work. Most of the computers currently
>> run pirated Windows XP. Except the server, which runs pirated Windows
>> 2003, and just today we had to fight yet another activation problem.
> 
>   Assuming that's illegal in your country you could do a bit of good work
> and report your company to the proper authorities. ;)

I'd rather keep the job, and instead report the guy on the train today who
was selling Encarta 2008 for $10.

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> was selling Encarta 2008 for $10.

Who would buy Encarta for $10 - even legally ?!?!?!

Post a reply to this message

> however, I know my dad better: He has no clue when it comes to doing 
> maintenance on a PC. All he does is allow the automatic update to run.

My dad has no clue either with regard to maintenance, yet he somehow managed 
to uninstall the sound card driver and then of course I had to walk through 
installing it again over the phone.

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message de news:48b5b402$1@news.povray.org...
> They also accused my dad of having messed with the system, however, I know 
> my dad better: He has no clue when it comes to doing maintenance on a PC. 
> All he does is allow the automatic update to run.

Really, never understimate people who have no clue when it comes to mess 
with computers. Some time ago, all it took to get a BSOD on my old laptop 
(that had been BSOD-free for years) was a friend of my wife, who wanted to 
chat on Yahoo and somehow managed to plug/unplug the modem at exactly the 
wrong moment. Not that they are guilty, but they do certain "dangerous" 
things that more geeky people wouldn't dare to.

BTW, was your Dad's Vista upgraded to SP1? Certain vendors were still 
selling machines with pre-SP1 Vista and I know from experience that it did 
have issues with automatic upgrades.

G.

Post a reply to this message

Gilles Tran wrote:
> 
> Really, never understimate people who have no clue when it comes to mess 
> with computers. Some time ago, all it took to get a BSOD on my old 
> laptop (that had been BSOD-free for years) was a friend of my wife, who 
> wanted to chat on Yahoo and somehow managed to plug/unplug the modem at 
> exactly the wrong moment. Not that they are guilty, but they do certain 
> "dangerous" things that more geeky people wouldn't dare to.
> 

People who have no clue about computers and know it are a lot wiser with 
computers than people who have no clue but don't know it. Last group 
tries to fix everything themselves, while only doing things worse.

> 
> G.
> 


-- 
Eero "Aero" Ahonen
    http://www.zbxt.net
       aer### [at] removethiszbxtnetinvalid

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Eero Ahonen wrote:

> People who have no clue about computers and know it are a lot wiser with 
> computers than people who have no clue but don't know it. Last group 
> tries to fix everything themselves, while only doing things worse.

As So Greats once wrote, "the greatest knowledge is in knowing that you 
know nothing".

I forget exactly how many millennia ago he wrote that... Seems oddly 
fitting, does it not?

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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Warp <war### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote:
> Tim Nikias <JUS### [at] gmxnetware> wrote:
> > It's a Samsung with Vista installed.
>
> Two solutions come to mind, the first one not so drastic, the second
> one more drastic:
>
> 1) Upgrade to [some other version of Windows]
> 2) Upgrade to Linux.
[ 3) Go to Mac]


2003: the response above would be the troll or OS-fascist's attempt to start a
flame war.
2008: the response above needs to be said by more brave souls in these troubled
times.


The question then, if Linux is chosen, is which distro is best for guiding your
Dad in for a landing over the phone.  I've seen Linux big-wigs in forums say,
"I positively do not care if Linux is ever the right OS for someone's
grandfather. UNIX never was."  I think I'd stay away from a distro where too
much say was purists about closed source drivers.  Folks' Dads might not be
able to roll their own.

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