(no subject)
Well, the new nVidia AGP card came yesterday, and the installation went without a hitch.
Unfortunately, Windows threw a humongous boulder into the pond, and flat-out DEMANDED that I "re-register" it, since "...the machine had been modified too many times..."
I run a legit OEM copy of XP Pro (little silver holographic sticker and all) and went through this a couple of years ago when I accidentally blew out the motherboard drivers. Reinstalled them, and Windows pitched a hissy, demanding I re-register it. Of course it wouldn't accept it the NORMAL way (on-line, the way it WANTS) so I had to call India. After getting shuttled through a couple of people, I got a man who made no bones of being in India---and he explained that in such cases you CANNOT re-register it on-line; it MUST be done via phone. And he did the deed with a minimum of fuss and absolutely no hassle.
But not this time---
Nearly 2 hours and a half-dozen Indian bimbos who spoke almost unintelligible English, along with getting cut off and having to start the whole stinking menu/bimbo/new bimbo/yet another new bimbo process---MicroSloth finally claimed it couldn't solve the problem and suggested I PAY FOR ITS TECH HELP. At that point I *politely* told the latest clueless bimbo that I'd handle it on my end, and for them to "have a nice day"...
Rebooted the machine---and it's been FINE ever since. I keep waiting for it to blow an artery and DEMAND I re-register it or face dire consequences (as it had been doing), but for the rest of the night and after a cold boot this morning--- Nothing. It cranks up, boots up with NO drama, NO glitches, NO resets and NO warnings of the end of civilization as MicroSloth knows it---
Works PERFECTLY.
Words fail me in my utter disdain for MicroSloth and its clueless, incompetent Indian minions, and I'm a LOT closer to moving to the "dark side" of the Force, and making it into a (gasp!) Linux box...
Unfortunately, Windows threw a humongous boulder into the pond, and flat-out DEMANDED that I "re-register" it, since "...the machine had been modified too many times..."
I run a legit OEM copy of XP Pro (little silver holographic sticker and all) and went through this a couple of years ago when I accidentally blew out the motherboard drivers. Reinstalled them, and Windows pitched a hissy, demanding I re-register it. Of course it wouldn't accept it the NORMAL way (on-line, the way it WANTS) so I had to call India. After getting shuttled through a couple of people, I got a man who made no bones of being in India---and he explained that in such cases you CANNOT re-register it on-line; it MUST be done via phone. And he did the deed with a minimum of fuss and absolutely no hassle.
But not this time---
Nearly 2 hours and a half-dozen Indian bimbos who spoke almost unintelligible English, along with getting cut off and having to start the whole stinking menu/bimbo/new bimbo/yet another new bimbo process---MicroSloth finally claimed it couldn't solve the problem and suggested I PAY FOR ITS TECH HELP. At that point I *politely* told the latest clueless bimbo that I'd handle it on my end, and for them to "have a nice day"...
Rebooted the machine---and it's been FINE ever since. I keep waiting for it to blow an artery and DEMAND I re-register it or face dire consequences (as it had been doing), but for the rest of the night and after a cold boot this morning--- Nothing. It cranks up, boots up with NO drama, NO glitches, NO resets and NO warnings of the end of civilization as MicroSloth knows it---
Works PERFECTLY.
Words fail me in my utter disdain for MicroSloth and its clueless, incompetent Indian minions, and I'm a LOT closer to moving to the "dark side" of the Force, and making it into a (gasp!) Linux box...