I am writing to this Forum in desperation because I cannot find any way to get in touch by email with Windows Live OneCare even though I am a paid subscriber. I have NOT had a good experience of MS tech support.
After 18 months of endless problems with Windows VISTA Ultimate Edition V 6001 I now wish to reformat my computer and get RID of it altogether, replacing it with System 7 for which I have a serial number and a beta download from the recent Microsoft online download offer.
As VISTA seems to have eleminated DOS altogether and the old FDisk command doesn't work from a command line start, I have tried to reformat from my OEM Vista Ultimate Edition re-installation DVD which I am certain used to offer me reformat and partitioin delete as the first options but that no longer seems to offer me any reformat option at all and not only instists only on re-installing VISTA (which I no longer want) but leaves the old installation in a directory renamed "WindowsOld" which VISTA will then not allow me to delete.
I am 62, a graduate, this is my 8th PC, have been a tech support person myself as well as an IT manager, have followed all the correct procedures, protocols and instructions, have gone to great lengths to ensure that I have the very latest drivers for all my hardware on a weekly basis, have re-established my paid windows Live OneCare subscription, have installed the latest OneCare 2 beta, have removed AVG and replaced it with OneCare's anti-virus options and Windows firewall. My VISTA security centre is showing 100% green, my PC Status shows as "OK" and green and I am currently in mid-full-backup to an external 1 TB USB Hard Disk. So all should be OK right?
ABSOLUTELY WRONG
Windows update refuses to operate, nor will the update function for ANY program on my PC (I always get "server not found" errors) and neither SKYPE nor OOVOOO messengers which I rely on for contact and tech support from friends all over the world by webcam, although both show as normally installed and worked immediately after re-installing VISTA now always show me as "not online" whatever permissions I set. I have re-installed both numerous times to try and elminate this without success. Drivers have to be updated manually one at a time.
All the software I use has been enabled as "permitted" in the VISTA firewall list but although my Chrome, Opera, IE and Firefox browsers all go online NONE of my software can or will update including Windows itself.
I am an exclusively realistic simulation gamer (flight, racing, combat & submarine sims) and have no problem getting online with MS FSX, COD 4 and COD 5 but very few of my other simulation games will install at all under VISTA and never have, even though other people seem to have them running under VISTA with no problem. (DIRT, GRID, GPL, GTR2, SH III, SH IV) I have also tried everything with UAC on and off but all updates still fail to operate.
I have an excellent PC (see spec below) and have paid a fortune over the last 18 months for the best available software and hardware controllers at every stage, yet to date I have had nothing but troubles and have found getting the issues resolved an endless source of stress and aggravation. Although I have 4 GB of RAM, VISTA 32 Bit Ultimate Edition cannot address all of this, so I have attempted to update to the 64 Bit edition but could not get the MS websites involved to operate properly or enable me to do this.
I have fully legal paid (OEM) copies of Windows XP Pro SP3, VISTA Ultimate Edition that came with this and my previous PCs and also a recently downloaded legal copy of MS System 7 Beta with a serial number because I have heard nothing but good reports about it. (Now that we have all been forced to be unpaid beta testers for VISTA for 2 years!!)
Now I just want to REFORMAT BOTH my internal 500 GB hard disks, install XP Pro SP3 on one and System 7 on the other and run a dual boot system, totally eliminating VISTA altogether, as I have found it a total nightmare for the last 18 months and it makes performing even the simplest tasks a mountain of hassle.
The only people I know who have had no problems with VISTA are "vanilla users" who do very little with their PCs except email and office work and know even less. Those power user who like me rely on their PCs for work in variety of sw realms and webcam comms mostly loath VISTA as much as I do. MS marketing need to consider a FREE service to replace it with System 7 globally as it may in the end result in us all switching to Linux or Mac SW in desperation. As one of the richest companies in the history of business they can afford it and NOT doing so may prove a false economy lose them the farm.
I do not feel I have had value for money from my OneCare subscription since renewal so far and Microsoft tech support seems like a labyrinth designed to prevent one ever talking to or emailing a live human being. FAQs are just a maney-saving tech support cop out and do NOT solve the problems or even address the issues that I have. As a retired person I can make myself available by phone or online at any time for as long as required.I can also provide a word doc with my PC's complete detailed HW and SW profile if required.
Windows OS have the facility for remote control why can't Live OneCare simply link to my PC and find out what's going on or fix it? That even works from India where all the tech support seems to come from these days to save MS money regardless of the inconvenience to customers.
I don't know if Microsoft themselves ever even READ these Forums but can ANYONE here or in MS please help?
Sorry to rant but I really am at my wits end.
My PC spec. Manufacturer: MESH Computers, CPU Intel quad-core 2.4 MHz, GPU Nvida 8800 GTX, SPU SB Fatal1ty Platinum X--Fi 7.1 surround sound, RAM 4 GB, MOBO ASUS , HDs 2 x 500 GB, CD/DVD burner, Digital flat screen monitors 3 x 22", G Splitter box MATROX TripleHead2Go, Jet joystick HOTAS Cougar, Piston-engined joystick Logitech Force 3D Pro, Racing wheel Logeitech G25 with gearshift & pedals, Flight Yoke SAITEK Prof Flight + 2 x 3 lever Quadrants + Pro flight switch panel, Rudder Pedals CH, Midi controller keyboard STUDIOLOGIC Fatar Piano Touch 88 key.
After 18 months of endless problems with Windows VISTA Ultimate Edition V 6001 I now wish to reformat my computer and get RID of it altogether, replacing it with System 7 for which I have a serial number and a beta download from the recent Microsoft online download offer.
As VISTA seems to have eleminated DOS altogether and the old FDisk command doesn't work from a command line start, I have tried to reformat from my OEM Vista Ultimate Edition re-installation DVD which I am certain used to offer me reformat and partitioin delete as the first options but that no longer seems to offer me any reformat option at all and not only instists only on re-installing VISTA (which I no longer want) but leaves the old installation in a directory renamed "WindowsOld" which VISTA will then not allow me to delete.
I am 62, a graduate, this is my 8th PC, have been a tech support person myself as well as an IT manager, have followed all the correct procedures, protocols and instructions, have gone to great lengths to ensure that I have the very latest drivers for all my hardware on a weekly basis, have re-established my paid windows Live OneCare subscription, have installed the latest OneCare 2 beta, have removed AVG and replaced it with OneCare's anti-virus options and Windows firewall. My VISTA security centre is showing 100% green, my PC Status shows as "OK" and green and I am currently in mid-full-backup to an external 1 TB USB Hard Disk. So all should be OK right?
ABSOLUTELY WRONG
Windows update refuses to operate, nor will the update function for ANY program on my PC (I always get "server not found" errors) and neither SKYPE nor OOVOOO messengers which I rely on for contact and tech support from friends all over the world by webcam, although both show as normally installed and worked immediately after re-installing VISTA now always show me as "not online" whatever permissions I set. I have re-installed both numerous times to try and elminate this without success. Drivers have to be updated manually one at a time.
All the software I use has been enabled as "permitted" in the VISTA firewall list but although my Chrome, Opera, IE and Firefox browsers all go online NONE of my software can or will update including Windows itself.
I am an exclusively realistic simulation gamer (flight, racing, combat & submarine sims) and have no problem getting online with MS FSX, COD 4 and COD 5 but very few of my other simulation games will install at all under VISTA and never have, even though other people seem to have them running under VISTA with no problem. (DIRT, GRID, GPL, GTR2, SH III, SH IV) I have also tried everything with UAC on and off but all updates still fail to operate.
I have an excellent PC (see spec below) and have paid a fortune over the last 18 months for the best available software and hardware controllers at every stage, yet to date I have had nothing but troubles and have found getting the issues resolved an endless source of stress and aggravation. Although I have 4 GB of RAM, VISTA 32 Bit Ultimate Edition cannot address all of this, so I have attempted to update to the 64 Bit edition but could not get the MS websites involved to operate properly or enable me to do this.
I have fully legal paid (OEM) copies of Windows XP Pro SP3, VISTA Ultimate Edition that came with this and my previous PCs and also a recently downloaded legal copy of MS System 7 Beta with a serial number because I have heard nothing but good reports about it. (Now that we have all been forced to be unpaid beta testers for VISTA for 2 years!!)
Now I just want to REFORMAT BOTH my internal 500 GB hard disks, install XP Pro SP3 on one and System 7 on the other and run a dual boot system, totally eliminating VISTA altogether, as I have found it a total nightmare for the last 18 months and it makes performing even the simplest tasks a mountain of hassle.
The only people I know who have had no problems with VISTA are "vanilla users" who do very little with their PCs except email and office work and know even less. Those power user who like me rely on their PCs for work in variety of sw realms and webcam comms mostly loath VISTA as much as I do. MS marketing need to consider a FREE service to replace it with System 7 globally as it may in the end result in us all switching to Linux or Mac SW in desperation. As one of the richest companies in the history of business they can afford it and NOT doing so may prove a false economy lose them the farm.
I do not feel I have had value for money from my OneCare subscription since renewal so far and Microsoft tech support seems like a labyrinth designed to prevent one ever talking to or emailing a live human being. FAQs are just a maney-saving tech support cop out and do NOT solve the problems or even address the issues that I have. As a retired person I can make myself available by phone or online at any time for as long as required.I can also provide a word doc with my PC's complete detailed HW and SW profile if required.
Windows OS have the facility for remote control why can't Live OneCare simply link to my PC and find out what's going on or fix it? That even works from India where all the tech support seems to come from these days to save MS money regardless of the inconvenience to customers.
I don't know if Microsoft themselves ever even READ these Forums but can ANYONE here or in MS please help?
Sorry to rant but I really am at my wits end.
My PC spec. Manufacturer: MESH Computers, CPU Intel quad-core 2.4 MHz, GPU Nvida 8800 GTX, SPU SB Fatal1ty Platinum X--Fi 7.1 surround sound, RAM 4 GB, MOBO ASUS , HDs 2 x 500 GB, CD/DVD burner, Digital flat screen monitors 3 x 22", G Splitter box MATROX TripleHead2Go, Jet joystick HOTAS Cougar, Piston-engined joystick Logitech Force 3D Pro, Racing wheel Logeitech G25 with gearshift & pedals, Flight Yoke SAITEK Prof Flight + 2 x 3 lever Quadrants + Pro flight switch panel, Rudder Pedals CH, Midi controller keyboard STUDIOLOGIC Fatar Piano Touch 88 key.
stage), So by installing this and using the beta you will in fact have to reinstall a newer version or the RC when it comes out.
