Most of this conversation (the first post is missing, but quoted within):
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...3e2157b7107876
Glenn Rebne wrote:
> Lord have mercy for me not actually thinking this, but instead
> thinking: "I hate this company in so many ways I want to weep."
> After spending 15 minutes listening to my old Dell print server
> grinding away waiting for Windows Update to scan for updates, I try
> the enticing "Microsoft Update" link. Of course, after loading the
> Active X (after clicking on the yes, I really want to load this
> bar), I got another 15 minute wait and then a 0x80070420 error. Of
> course, there is no indication what this means, but I get a bunch
> of generic FAQ links and one to this discussion board, which is -
> guess what? - to the Windows Update blog! Can't they even figure
> out the difference, or do they simply stop caring after a certain
> point whether anyone even notices? So forgive me, dear friends, for
> posting a comment on Microsoft Update on the Windows Update blog
> (if it is a blog, since the MS folks likely have never heard of the
> term). So whatever the mysterious error was, I'll fall back to my
> 15+ minute wait for Windows Update to give me the latest fixes that
> should have been in the original product. And the response to this
> - buying Yahoo! I weep for this once fine company. Oops, my screen
> just froze, so that means something good or bad is happening with
> WU. Gotta go. Cheers!
antioch wrote:
> Didn't look far, then.
> Do some reading instead of ranting :-)
> http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...e+Search&meta=
Glenn Rebne wrote:
> First, I apologize for this rant. I admit it was immature and
> self-indulgent, although not unwarranted.
>
> Why should I use Google to find the meaning for an error message?
> Is that Microsoft policy? Will the Yahoo acquisition make this
> unnecessary? The fact is, as a consumer I consider the Microsoft
> product suite to be a mess an in dire need of major overhaul. I
> hope this will be taken seriously, although I hold out little hope
> this will happen. And, as I said, this is sad since the company's
> initial misson was admirable and has brought immense benefit to the
> world. My good will can only extend so far, and wasting hours of my
> time on a regular basis to maintain a simple device is simply not
> my idea of an acceptable customer experience.
*grin*
You think of the personal computer as a *simple device*? If you don't like
Microsoft - (or at least the products) - don't use them. It's as *simple*
as that - right? I don't know about you - but if I was to complain in the
way you are complaining - my next action would be to rid myself of the
source of the problems at hand since I don't need them and the computer is
such a simple device - I could surely utilize it to its full potential with
a different OS. (That last part is true - I use several different OSes on a
daily basis - but not likely to be as true for everyone.) If anything - I
would call the computer 'deceptively simple in appearance' <- as there are
millions upon millions of different possible configurations out there
(software and hardware combinations.)
As for why should you utilize Google to lookup something like the meaning of
a Microsoft Error Message? Why should you use Mapquest or _______ (insert
mapping application/web page of your choice) or buy a map from some third
party entity to get from one point to another in a place you have never
been?
I'd say it would be common sense to lookup such things where you know you
can find them and perhaps find out what people like you have done to fix
them. Google gives you a broader search base than just asking your
neighbor. Broader than even going to the company that made the product
(albeit that if you know how to look - you might find the explanation
there - you are just as likely to find the explanation using Google and
possibly pointing to the same place on Microsoft's site as well.)
I don't know about you - but when I am trying to figure something out - I
just want reliable and good information. That may or may not come from any
one particular source. In fact - I like to find it from many different
sources - independent ones. If they seem to all be telling me generally the
same thing - I can be pretty sure I am going along the right path. It'd be
nice if everything could be found in the place you might expect it to be -
but the number of variables in any given situation usually precludes that.
As for your comments about Microsoft - *shrug* - to me it does not matter
either way. Stay, go; get better, get worse... It'll all come out in the
wash. If people don't like something - it won't stick around for long - at
least not in the state that are causing people to shy away from it. If
people do like something - it will be around for some time. I use "people"
to represent a majority - because if just a few people (users of a
product/service) feel one way or another - the change may not happen. This
is especially true for a product that costs money and time.
I am sorry you are having some sort of trouble. I hope you fix it. If you
desire - please share your trouble with details and perhaps someone here
could help you fully repair it so your 'good will' and 'time' will no longer
be wasted on the 'simple device' to the extent that it is now. Include
whatever OS you are utilizing, whatever service pack level that OS is
currently at, the version of Internet Explorer you have installed, the exact
text of any errors you get when you try/fail to do whatever it is you are
trying to do, etc.
Otherwise good luck - hope you blew off some steam. ;-)
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
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