[Platinum Sun]

In an effort to be rediculous beyond the bounds of conventional stupidity, Vista has sunk to a new low. Denying me acess to Microsoft Word. It says it needs a product key from the package, but it came installed on my computer when I bought it and none of the stuff that came with my computer has any product keys on it. The help button, as usual, put me on a path from metaphorically to literally yelling at a wall trying to get some answers. Can ya help a brother out?

[Toasty]

All I can suggest, is to look for a key or keygen on a torrent hosting site like pirate bay, mininova, or isohunt.

You sure that they didn't include the product code?

[Gio]

My GF has Vista and her computer just shuts off at will, and it just got out of the box. consider yourself lucky

[Nick Presta]

http://ubuntu.com/

No reason to have to input product keys to use an office suite :D

[Toasty]

Hmm...Ubuntu Studio looks nice. If I ever get a MID, then I might install Ubuntu Mobile on it.

[Max]

Most OEM computer manufacturers put the license key stickers on your case somewhere. Often on the back or even the bottom. I've worked with a number of Dells, and they put them in various places depending on the model.

If you still can't find a sticker or anything in the documentation you were provided, then just call the support line for the manufacturer and they should be able to help you.

[Platinum Sun]

I found the sticker, but all I got from it was a sore neck from reading it upside down. Word says it's invalid and Vista hates all the Torrents I downloaded. I'll consider Unbutu if I get really despirate, but I expect it will fail as well. If I think that I have compatibility issues now...

Ah well, at some point when I have more time to fight with this thing I will renew this struggle. Updates then I suppose.

[Toasty]

As far as hardware goes, you're not going to have problems with Ubuntu. Besides, it has a free word processor that's supposed to be able to read MSWord documents as well as other word processing based docs.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Split Infinity]

Why do people keep buying Vista despite the overwhelming evidence of its retardedness?

[Max]

Split, care to give some examples of real issues you've had with it? To be perfectly blunt, a serial key validation error is not a problem with Vista, it's a problem with the manufacturing of the computer. And if PS can't read the key right, or the wrong key was put on the computer, then that is not Microsoft's fault.

I'm not a Microsoft apologist by any means, but I think it is ridiculous how people bash a product they have never used and only heard erroneous reports about. I've been using Vista since July, and can't name any major issues I've had off the top of my head, besides maybe Wifi not working after resuming from sleeping once every week or two, but that has been fixed since I installed SP1.

So basically, I'm asking people to stop embarrassing themselves by making erroneous claims based on even more erroneous information. If you want to have bash parties, I'd be happy to make a topic bashing OSX for all of its shortcomings, and same for Ubuntu or linux distros in general. But really, are we all still in kindergarten?

[Drizzy Drake]

The only problem I had with Vista, was the way that you traversed your files, but I got used to it. Besides that, Vista has treated me well.

[Platinum Sun]

Split Infinity, on Feb 27 2008, 07:42 AM, said:

Why do people keep buying Vista despite the overwhelming evidence of its retardedness?

Because they have no choice. You can't buy a new computer that doesn't have Vista anymore. And they're ending support and updates for XP in the near future as I recall.

[Drizzy Drake]

Actually, there is still SOME supports for 2000. Not many, but SOME, so I doubt they will end XP soon.

[Toasty]

They released an update for Windows 95/98/ME/etc. a year or so ago that allowed those operating systems to be more useful with todays technology. Can't remember what it was called, but it's not something that would make anyone want to use those OS's unless they had to.

But I hate the way you traverse your files as well. It's really annoying. And the lack of a run command is bit annoying aswell, but the search function makes up for that I guess.

Max, on Feb 27 2008, 02:00 PM, said:

besides maybe Wifi not working after resuming from sleeping once every week or two, but that has been fixed since I installed SP1.

I used to have problems with that quite often. Sometimes every few hours. It's been quiet for a month or so though. Not sure if SP1 has been installed on the laptops yet either. I've been blaming it all on the router ever since we got it.

[Split Infinity]

Where can I get this update, Toasty? I have an old laptop with Millenium on it.

[Toasty]

I honestly can't remember. I think it was only available for a while though. You're best bet would be "Windows Millenium Edition Updates" And look for something that was released after XP came out and before Vista was even mentioned.