Activation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jean Reffe
  • Start date Start date
J

Jean Reffe

I'm in shock.
My computer had a virus, and my OS Windows ME is acting strange even after I
clean up everything.
Toavoid loosing all my work I bought a new PC and I'm transfering several
years of data to my new PC (I do have back up)
I reinstalled FrontPage 2002 full version to my new PC and now I just
discovered Microsoft doesn't let me reactivate it because it was activated
before. (by me, twice)
I'm mad like hell.
What kind of company is Microsoft? I paid full price for this damm FP 2002
because I was FED UP to have to reinstall each time I had a crash, all my
previous versions, FP 97, 98, 2000. So I paid FULL PRICE for FP2002 and now
I can't even reinstalled it.
I feel CHEATED. I had the full version of FrontPage before MS bought it. I
paid full price all my update. Never make them spend one cent on product
support and they treat me like this.
IT'S A SHAME.
I can't even find anywhere an email to let them know my problem. No. I don't
want to call them.
If anybody knows what do do, let me know. Thanks
 
Whoa! Take a deep breath - everything's okay. Make yourself a cup of
chamomile tea and I'll try to help.

Microsoft had to do this "activation thing" because so many people had no
problem with running bootleg copies of their software. It's the price honest
people have to pay for the illegal actions of others. Like paying more for
merchandise because of shoplifters.

When you try to activate it, select the phone option. You will be able to
handle it that way easily. I just had to call Microsoft because I lost my
product key. They were terrific. Yes, I paid for the long distance call but
the woman helped me in a timely fashion.

I know it's frustrating - but make sure you do your part. Don't use illegal
software or "loan" your software out for others to try or use. Unfortunately
we live in a society where some people don't feel that copyright laws apply
to them and those of us who play by the rules.

And if I may suggest - make sure you keep your anti-virus definitions
current and get all of the applicable Windows updates downloaded ASAP. That
will help you avoid these problems again in the future.

Hope this advice - and that cup of tea - helped a little. :-)

JoAnn
 
I know I should cool down, but I'm not an happy camper right now.
All my sofware is legitimate. Never had illegal copies, never let others use
my CDs. What's why I'm so mad. It doesn't pay to play by the rules with
Microsoft. Microsoft should not make me pay for their inability to protect
their software. I can't trust them anymore.
They are causing me a lot of trouble and I don't deserve it.
They lost a customer today. I don't want to call them because I want them to
be able to handle their support thru email.
Thanks for your help.
 
As was pointed out, when installing the program and activating, you need to
call the phone activation when it gives you that option, and they will help
you out. If you choose not to call that number during the process, it's
because you choose not to activate your product, not Microsoft.
--
------------------------------
Tom Pepper Willett
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
------------------------------

| I'm in shock.
| My computer had a virus, and my OS Windows ME is acting strange even after
I
| clean up everything.
| Toavoid loosing all my work I bought a new PC and I'm transfering several
| years of data to my new PC (I do have back up)
| I reinstalled FrontPage 2002 full version to my new PC and now I just
| discovered Microsoft doesn't let me reactivate it because it was activated
| before. (by me, twice)
| I'm mad like hell.
| What kind of company is Microsoft? I paid full price for this damm FP 2002
| because I was FED UP to have to reinstall each time I had a crash, all my
| previous versions, FP 97, 98, 2000. So I paid FULL PRICE for FP2002 and
now
| I can't even reinstalled it.
| I feel CHEATED. I had the full version of FrontPage before MS bought it. I
| paid full price all my update. Never make them spend one cent on product
| support and they treat me like this.
| IT'S A SHAME.
| I can't even find anywhere an email to let them know my problem. No. I
don't
| want to call them.
| If anybody knows what do do, let me know. Thanks
|
|
 
Jean Reffe said:
I know I should cool down, but I'm not an happy camper right now.
All my sofware is legitimate. Never had illegal copies, never let others use
my CDs. What's why I'm so mad. It doesn't pay to play by the rules with
Microsoft. Microsoft should not make me pay for their inability to protect
their software. I can't trust them anymore.
They are causing me a lot of trouble and I don't deserve it.
They lost a customer today. I don't want to call them because I want them to
be able to handle their support thru email.
Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

Jean,

The phone activation is very quick and relatively effortless. Honest. I've
used it before and if it's possible to believe, I think MS has hunted down
every polite and helpful person possible to answer the activation phones.

Give it a try. You may find yourself to be very pleasantly surprised and,
more importantly, back to work.

You probably won't even have time to _make_ a cup of tea. :)
 
I fully understand. One of my favorite tirades is about how those who choose
to create their own rules seem to profit and those of us who play by the
rules seem to suffer. And it's not just Microsoft. The following is from
Microsoft;s home page on software piracy:
"A study commissioned by the Business Software Alliance in 2002 found
that...
The worldwide piracy rate has decreased by 10 points since 1994.

Vietnam is the country with the highest software piracy rate: 95%.

Globally, $13.08 million was lost in 2002 due to software piracy.

A 10-point drop in worldwide piracy over the next 4 years would add 1.5
million jobs and $400 billion in additional economic growth"

To some, Microsoft is a big company and won't miss one little person paying
for software but the truth is it's theft, plain and simple. Parents don't
see what's wrong with loading their single licence of Office software on
their college-bound student's laptop. So what kind of lesson is that eaching
young people?

I won't go on - I just wanted to let you know that I understand that you
feel put upon to have to go thru all of this when you are trying to do
things right. You aren't alone. There are few ways to protect software -
activation is one of them. A free phone call isn't that bad. I used one
program that required a piece of hardware that fitted on a cable attached to
an open LPT port. It would mess with your printers if they weren't
compatible. Now THAT was a hassle.

You don't deserve the run-around but it's not just you. It's all of us who
do things right. And I have to believe that those who don't will pay for it
in the end.

Peace..................JoAnn
 
Jack,

If I was calling them to reactivate my FP2002 it will be like I'm telling
Microsoft, they are right to do that.
Well, it's just a phone call, no big deal, the people are nice and you'll be
back to work in no time.
NO, I can't do that. They have no reason, to limit my own usage of a
software I bought from them, version after version.
If I had to reinstall their software it's because they don't have a stable
OS.
I did nothing wrong. I'm a victim. I don't want anybody to experience what
I'm going thru.
Either they get back to me with excuses or I will make them pay one way of
an other what they did to me.
Sorry to sound so negative but I believe in a few principles.
 
Jean Reffe said:
Jack,

If I was calling them to reactivate my FP2002 it will be like I'm telling
Microsoft, they are right to do that.
Well, it's just a phone call, no big deal, the people are nice and you'll be
back to work in no time.
NO, I can't do that. They have no reason, to limit my own usage of a
software I bought from them, version after version.
If I had to reinstall their software it's because they don't have a stable
OS.
I did nothing wrong. I'm a victim. I don't want anybody to experience what
I'm going thru.
Either they get back to me with excuses or I will make them pay one way of
an other what they did to me.
Sorry to sound so negative but I believe in a few principles.
Click to expand...

Jean,

I respect your position on this however I believe it's within Microsoft's
right to do what it can to protect it's copyright.

I used to work for a small (well, microscopic compared to MS) company that
has very vertical markets (that means not just anyone wants their software,
only engineers in this case). They actually use hardware copy protection.
This requires a device be plugged into the PC, either the USB or parallel
ports that the software talks to and authenticates the license. Compared to
having to phone in for the occasional reinstall, the hardware solution is
very cumbersome and it also adds more cost to each license. I'll take phone
activation any day.

The fact is that Microsoft is a for-profit business and software piracy cuts
into their bottom line.

By all means, you should vote with your wallet it you don't like their
system. But keep in mind that it isn't that Microsoft doesn't trust _you_,
it's that they make very popular products that less scrupulous folks copy
and resell. These are the folks that MS is trying to stop. The unfortunate
by-product is that it's the good, honest customers, like you, who are
inconvenienced.

I hope you're able to get your problem fixed.
 
"If you choose not to call that number during the process, it's
because you choose not to activate your product, not Microsoft."

I don't agree at all. Who said I had to call Microsoft to use something I
paid for.
Do you think I'm paying a product just to please Microsoft? My first name is
not sponsor.
 
Jean: We can banter this around day after day, and I can feel your pain.
But it's not going to change reality. With all the time we've already spent
on the subject, you could have been activated and back in business.

But, the bottom line is, if you want it activated, you must follow the
procedure. Or, you'll need to make an alternative choice as to your web
design software.

Best of luck,

--
------------------------------
Tom Pepper Willett
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
------------------------------
| "If you choose not to call that number during the process, it's
| because you choose not to activate your product, not Microsoft."
|
| I don't agree at all. Who said I had to call Microsoft to use something I
| paid for.
| Do you think I'm paying a product just to please Microsoft? My first name
is
| not sponsor.
|
| "Tom Pepper Willett" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de
| | > As was pointed out, when installing the program and activating, you need
| to
| > call the phone activation when it gives you that option, and they will
| help
| > you out. If you choose not to call that number during the process, it's
| > because you choose not to activate your product, not Microsoft.
| > --
| > ------------------------------
| > Tom Pepper Willett
| > Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
| > ------------------------------
| >
| > | > | I'm in shock.
| > | My computer had a virus, and my OS Windows ME is acting strange even
| after
| > I
| > | clean up everything.
| > | Toavoid loosing all my work I bought a new PC and I'm transfering
| several
| > | years of data to my new PC (I do have back up)
| > | I reinstalled FrontPage 2002 full version to my new PC and now I just
| > | discovered Microsoft doesn't let me reactivate it because it was
| activated
| > | before. (by me, twice)
| > | I'm mad like hell.
| > | What kind of company is Microsoft? I paid full price for this damm FP
| 2002
| > | because I was FED UP to have to reinstall each time I had a crash, all
| my
| > | previous versions, FP 97, 98, 2000. So I paid FULL PRICE for FP2002
and
| > now
| > | I can't even reinstalled it.
| > | I feel CHEATED. I had the full version of FrontPage before MS bought
it.
| I
| > | paid full price all my update. Never make them spend one cent on
product
| > | support and they treat me like this.
| > | IT'S A SHAME.
| > | I can't even find anywhere an email to let them know my problem. No. I
| > don't
| > | want to call them.
| > | If anybody knows what do do, let me know. Thanks
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|
 
I should not have to call to RE-activate a piece of software I bought and
I'm using according to their licence.
If I can't re-install it on my own computer after I had to replace a damaged
OS something is wrong.
I'm the customer and I'm being robbed.
I'm the customer and Microsoft is not going to DICTATE what I should do.
I've not seen any warning on their package or licence.
What they are doing is wrong. I want to have what I paid for. Not more but
not less.
For one person like me to complain how many other customers are being
cheated too. It's pathetic.
 
"I'm using according to their license" includes the activation requirement

--



| I should not have to call to RE-activate a piece of software I bought and
| I'm using according to their licence.
| If I can't re-install it on my own computer after I had to replace a damaged
| OS something is wrong.
| I'm the customer and I'm being robbed.
| I'm the customer and Microsoft is not going to DICTATE what I should do.
| I've not seen any warning on their package or licence.
| What they are doing is wrong. I want to have what I paid for. Not more but
| not less.
| For one person like me to complain how many other customers are being
| cheated too. It's pathetic.
|
|
|
| "Colin M. McGroarty" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de
| | > Activating by phone is free, fast, and easy.
| >
| > --
| > Colin M. McGroarty
| > MCP+I, MCSE, NT-CIP
| >
| > (e-mail address removed)
| > www.McGroarty.org
| >
| > | > > I'm in shock.
| > > My computer had a virus, and my OS Windows ME is acting strange even
| after
| > I
| > > clean up everything.
| > > Toavoid loosing all my work I bought a new PC and I'm transfering
| several
| > > years of data to my new PC (I do have back up)
| > > I reinstalled FrontPage 2002 full version to my new PC and now I just
| > > discovered Microsoft doesn't let me reactivate it because it was
| activated
| > > before. (by me, twice)
| > > I'm mad like hell.
| > > What kind of company is Microsoft? I paid full price for this damm FP
| 2002
| > > because I was FED UP to have to reinstall each time I had a crash, all
| my
| > > previous versions, FP 97, 98, 2000. So I paid FULL PRICE for FP2002 and
| > now
| > > I can't even reinstalled it.
| > > I feel CHEATED. I had the full version of FrontPage before MS bought it.
| I
| > > paid full price all my update. Never make them spend one cent on product
| > > support and they treat me like this.
| > > IT'S A SHAME.
| > > I can't even find anywhere an email to let them know my problem. No. I
| > don't
| > > want to call them.
| > > If anybody knows what do do, let me know. Thanks
| > >
| > >
| >
| >
|
|
 
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