Predicting The Apocalypse With Windows 7

[mitchconner]

Hello, I'm new and after using Macs for nearly a decade at my job, I finally got fed up with Windows at home and converted. They lost me as a customer when they told me I had to buy and install Windows Vista so I could "upgrade" to the copy of Windows 7 I had already purchased. I thought they did it just to be a-holes but apparently, there's a conspiracy going on at Microsoft. Here's an article I just read on how one can use nongenuine copies of Windows 7 to predict the apocalypse:

Lying About The Truth: Predicting The Apocalypse With Windows 7

Figure I'd introduce myself with the gift of laughter. I'd use an emoticon right now but I have don't believe in using emoticons before marriage.

 

[bobtomay]

... They lost me as a customer when they told me I had to buy and install Windows Vista so I could "upgrade" to the copy of Windows 7 I had already purchased....

I won't even say anything about the need to verify the requirements when you purchase upgrade editions of "any" software.

How about where Apple is right now?

Customer: I have a Mac with OS X 10.5 Leopard. Can I buy and install OS X 10.7 Lion?

Apple: No, you have to install OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard first.

Customer: Alright then, let me order a copy of 10.6.

Apple: Sorry, we don't sell that any more.

or

Customer: I have a PPC Mac with 10.4 on it. I'd like to order a copy of OS X 10.6.

Apple: Leopard 10.5 is the last OS that will run on PPC processors.

Customer: Ok, let me order a copy of that.

Apple: Sorry, we don't sell that any more.


You want to upgrade the OS on your Mac, you better do it before the next one comes out or you may be up the creek - literally, without a paddle.

Both MS and Apple have their strange quirks.

 

[mitchconner]

The part that really annoyed me...

That's the thing -- I was told to buy the upgrade copy because at the time I had an HP laptop with Vista on it. I installed it and it worked find for a couple months. But then I had a serious computer issue and had to reformat. I installed the Windows 7 version again and tried to activate it but it told me I had an "upgrade" license key and needed a license for a clean install. Their solution was to reinstall my old version of Windows (which I didn't have anymore because it came preinstalled on my laptop...). Basically, Microsoft's solution was for me to go out and find an old copy of Windows -- which they claimed I might be able to get from HP -- and then install it so I could upgrade to the legit copy of Windows 7 I had already purchased.

I'm sorry but I don't care how big your company is -- you don't treat people like that. That did it for me. I couldn't support Microsoft anymore. That was such a crappy thing to do on their part.

Sorry -- it feels good to rant about that. Thanks for the advice

 

[osxx]

That's the thing -- I was told to buy the upgrade copy because at the time I had an HP laptop with Vista on it. I installed it and it worked find for a couple months. But then I had a serious computer issue and had to reformat. I installed the Windows 7 version again and tried to activate it but it told me I had an "upgrade" license key and needed a license for a clean install. Their solution was to reinstall my old version of Windows (which I didn't have anymore because it came preinstalled on my laptop...). Basically, Microsoft's solution was for me to go out and find an old copy of Windows -- which they claimed I might be able to get from HP -- and then install it so I could upgrade to the legit copy of Windows 7 I had already purchased.

I'm sorry but I don't care how big your company is -- you don't treat people like that. That did it for me. I couldn't support Microsoft anymore. That was such a crappy thing to do on their part.

Sorry -- it feels good to rant about that. Thanks for the advice

I got an HP running Ubuntu for that very reason and my fault partially for not backing it up .

 

[bobtomay]

That's the thing -- I was told to buy the upgrade copy because at the time I had an HP laptop with Vista on it. I installed it and it worked find for a couple months. But then I had a serious computer issue and had to reformat. I installed the Windows 7 version again and tried to activate it but it told me I had an "upgrade" license key and needed a license for a clean install. Their solution was to reinstall my old version of Windows (which I didn't have anymore because it came preinstalled on my laptop...). Basically, Microsoft's solution was for me to go out and find an old copy of Windows -- which they claimed I might be able to get from HP -- and then install it so I could upgrade to the legit copy of Windows 7 I had already purchased.

I'm sorry but I don't care how big your company is -- you don't treat people like that. That did it for me. I couldn't support Microsoft anymore. That was such a crappy thing to do on their part.

Sorry -- it feels good to rant about that. Thanks for the advice

Know exactly what you mean there. Had to work on a friend's Dell a couple of month's ago - dead drive - no backup - the backup of the OS was on the drive - out of warranty - the Dell site says that they'll send you one copy of the OS during the lifetime of the machine.

The small print: "they'll only do that if you request it while you're still under warranty."

So, like osxx, their machine now has Ubuntu on it.

 

[dero]

Ok, humor me with this...
Let say, I don't want to upgrade to 10.7 just now (I'm running 10.6 presently and it's doing what I want) and let's say Apple comes out with (fiction) OSX11.2 The TomCat, would it be wise to purchase a 10.7 (flash drive)? Even if it meant not installing it but owning one?

 

[technologist]

I won't even say anything about the need to verify the requirements when you purchase upgrade editions of "any" software.

How about where Apple is right now?

Customer: I have a Mac with OS X 10.5 Leopard. Can I buy and install OS X 10.7 Lion?

Apple: No, you have to install OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard first.

Customer: Alright then, let me order a copy of 10.6.

Apple: Sorry, we don't sell that any more.

or

Customer: I have a PPC Mac with 10.4 on it. I'd like to order a copy of OS X 10.6.

Apple: Leopard 10.5 is the last OS that will run on PPC processors.

Customer: Ok, let me order a copy of that.

Apple: Sorry, we don't sell that any more.


You want to upgrade the OS on your Mac, you better do it before the next one comes out or you may be up the creek - literally, without a paddle.

Both MS and Apple have their strange quirks.

Where are you hearing this? Snow Leopard is available from the online Apple Store, and I wouldn't be surprised if Leopard is still available direct as a special order as it has been for the last two years.

 

[bobtomay]

Where are you hearing this? Snow Leopard is available from the online Apple Store, and I wouldn't be surprised if Leopard is still available direct as a special order as it has been for the last two years.

Walking into any physical Apple store.

Yes, it is still sold at the online Apple store.

While I am not one that's affected by any of this because I keep my software up to date and always have, think I'd rather see 2 versions of Lion. One as an upgrade for those of us running 10.6 and another full version with no requirements than to make people now purchase two different versions of the OS if they're not already running 10.6. Don't agree with this philosophy at all.

While there are a great many of us that keep their computers up to date, there are millions more that do not... until they have to. And now, none of those can just walk into their local store, buy the latest OS, install it and be within the EULA.

 

[infocusinc]

That's the thing -- I was told to buy the upgrade copy because at the time I had an HP laptop with Vista on it. I installed it and it worked find for a couple months. But then I had a serious computer issue and had to reformat. I installed the Windows 7 version again and tried to activate it but it told me I had an "upgrade" license key and needed a license for a clean install. Their solution was to reinstall my old version of Windows (which I didn't have anymore because it came preinstalled on my laptop...). Basically, Microsoft's solution was for me to go out and find an old copy of Windows -- which they claimed I might be able to get from HP -- and then install it so I could upgrade to the legit copy of Windows 7 I had already purchased.

I'm sorry but I don't care how big your company is -- you don't treat people like that. That did it for me. I couldn't support Microsoft anymore. That was such a crappy thing to do on their part.

Sorry -- it feels good to rant about that. Thanks for the advice

Windows 7 upgrade disk can be used legally to do a clean install, IF you had a legal copy of a prior version.

To clean install, install as normal but don't input the product key when asked. Just continue on and install as a trial...you have 30 days to activate.

Then reinstall W7 again, this time you can put in the license key because you are "upgrading" your computer.