From: /m 



The letter highlights another of WGA's problems: in order for WGA to
function properly, it appears to be assuming a higher level of reliability
in the Windows XP environment than currently exists.

Why did the FAX stop working?  Why was a "refresh" needed to get
it working again?  Why did WGA not like the "refresh"?  etc.,
etc....

 /m



On Wed, 5 Jul 2006 19:10:06 -0400, "Rich Gauszka"
 wrote:

>Yet another lost customer. The Apple and Linux groups should send bouquets
>to the wga team. Never have so few done so much for their competition.
>
>http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/104743.asp
>
>WGA: One PC user's experience
>
>Following the recent news about the lawsuits over the Windows Genuine
>Advantage anti-piracy program, reader Ray Clem of Henderson, Nev., wrote in
>to share his experience. Under the circumstances, it may not be a clear-cut
>case of right or wrong, but I thought it was worth posting as a reflection
>of the types of things people experience, and how they feel about it. Read
>on for his message:
>
>    I bought a Gateway desktop computer about a year ago to replace my aging
>Win98 SE system. I am an older guy and light computer user using it mostly
>for sending/receiving FAXs and writing letters and email. I found that if I
>were using my dial-up and wanted to use my FAX functions, I had to reboot
>the computer to reactivate my dial-up. I always got an "Error
20" message on
>trying to go back on dial-up. I even bought and installed a new FAX/Modem
>card to no avail. Trying other FAX programs was no help either. Gateway's
>support is less than worthless.
>
>    A neighbor of mine told me I had a bad system file and suggested I
>reinstall my Win XP program. I told him Gateway did not provide such a
>program. He told me he'd let me borrow his install disk and that by running
>it, the bad file would be replaced. We did do the reinstall and
>lo-and-behold the dial-up / FAX conflict was resolved! If Microsoft had
>provided Gateway with a good copy of Win XP there never would have been a
>problem.
>
>    Now comes this continual implied threat about Microsoft turning off my
>computer!
>
>    I bought my computer with earned money. The money was not stolen. The
>problem I had was a result of a bad system program provided to Gateway. I in
>no way feel responsible in this problem and damn sure take exception to my
>treatment from Microsoft. When this computer gets outdated or Microsoft
>kills it, this will be the last Microsoft product I will ever buy. Hello
>Apple!
>

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