subject: sad plight of M$ victims posted: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 13:41:03 +0100
[from an invoice I just sent. Sure, it pays my rent - but this
episode is just disgusting, I didn't waste a second and undercharged
at least an hour - and they still got hit with a 300 quid bill. This
makes me look bad - why can't you fix it, the customer asks? The
notes below contains the reply: because Microsoft is rubbish, and
Windows XP is a toy for n00bs. - Stu]
Notes:
These fees relate to time spent on October 24, 26 and 27, 2005. This
work was to rebuild James' machine, after its Internet Explorer and
Windows Update stopped working. Time was spent on the phone to
Toshiba (who ultimately suggested using the restore CD), making a
last-ditch attempt at a repair, relocating user data left on the
system, re-imaging the system from the restore CD, re-configuring it
for use on the GLS LAN, re-installing anti-virus, anti-spyware and
firewall software, applying 32 "critical updates" from Microsoft, re-
installing Sage (twice) and Office, applying XP Service Pack 2 from
Microsoft, and applying 7 additional "critical updates" that appeared
once SP2 was installed. The machine needed to be refreshed from the
restore CD as Windows does not provide the functionality to re-
install Internet Explorer. Windows Update stopped working because it
is built to depend upon Internet Explorer. Windows Update does not
work with any other browser. With no Windows Update, the machine
would not have been able to receive security updates from Microsoft.
Internet Explorer refused to even display its help and options
screens, and refused to be reinstalled, even after using a registry
hack as directed by Microsoft. There was unfortunately no other
discernable alternative but to re-image the system.
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