30 day trial and phone authorization

[Gordon Price]

I downloaded the 30 day trial to test and see if Publisher was up to the
task of doing my thesis, but when I installed it required an internet
connection. I got the "auth code" e:mailed to me at work, and I plugged it
in during install, but then the install said I had to authorize over the
internet. The message says if you don't have an internet connection you can
do it by phone, but that option is grayed out. Is there any way to authorize
the 30 day demo without an internet connection, or do I just give up on
Publisher.

Thanks,
Gordon

 

[Ed Bennett]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message

The message says if you don't have an
internet connection you can do it by phone, but that option is grayed
out. Is there any way to authorize the 30 day demo without an
internet connection, or do I just give up on Publisher.

There is no way to activate the 30-day trial of Publisher without using
Phone Activation.
This means that you only have four uses of Publisher before Publisher enters
reduced functionality mode.

 

[Gordon Price]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message


There is no way to activate the 30-day trial of Publisher without using
Phone Activation.
This means that you only have four uses of Publisher before Publisher enters
reduced functionality mode.

SO MS either doesn't want me to use their product (an option to be sure), or
they want me to buy the product without knowing if it will do the job (not a
freaking chance MS!) Hmm, seems like a stupid idea from the bean counters.

Off to download an Adobe product instead. MS sucks.

Gordon

 

[Ed Bennett]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message

SO MS either doesn't want me to use their product (an option to be
sure),

No, they want you to get the internet.
They don't want to pay for phone support your demo copy which they have made
no profit from yet.

or they want me to buy the product without knowing if it will
do the job (not a freaking chance MS!)

You are entitled to a refund if you return your product (even used) within
thirty days. The full boxed product, has phone activation, and you would be
able to use that as a thirty-day trial.

 

[Gordon Price]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message

No, they want you to get the internet.
They don't want to pay for phone support your demo copy which they have made
no profit from yet.

And won't make any profit either because I won't buy their stupid software
unless I know it will do the job. And there is no need for phone support, I
just need another version of the pathetic, annoying WinXP athorization
process. No need to actually provide a person with a job.

Argh, to say the least.

Thanks for the info.

Gordon

 

[Ed Bennett]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message

And won't make any profit either because I won't buy their stupid
software unless I know it will do the job. And there is no need for
phone support, I just need another version of the pathetic, annoying
WinXP athorization process.

It's the Office Activation Process (Microsoft Product Activation), not the
Windows Activation Process (Windows Product Activation)
The phone version of the activation process requires a phone operator on the
other end. Which is why they don't offer it for the trial version.
And Microsoft will give you a full refund if you buy it and don't like it.
It's like "satisfaction guaranteed or your money back" instead of
"try-before-you-buy"

 

[Randall Arnold]

Not necessarily true, Ed. I had to register my original install of Office
XP over the phone and it was 100% automated. Aggravating as hell, but
automated nonetheless.

Randall Arnold

 

[Ed Bennett]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message

Not necessarily true, Ed. I had to register my original install of
Office XP over the phone and it was 100% automated. Aggravating as
hell, but automated nonetheless.

Hmm...
It must depend on location then

 

[Perdita X. Dream]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message


Hmm...
It must depend on location then

It's the same over here, Ed - you've never had to call either the Windows or
Office activation lines? They're both fully automated. You just plug in the
generated 8-group code and it spits another activation code back at you.

--
Perdita X. Dream

Please help us to help you
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Please note that the reply address is fake.
Keep all posts to the groups as private requests for assistance
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[Gordon Price]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message


It's the Office Activation Process (Microsoft Product Activation), not the
Windows Activation Process (Windows Product Activation)
The phone version of the activation process requires a phone operator on the
other end. Which is why they don't offer it for the trial version.
And Microsoft will give you a full refund if you buy it and don't like it.
It's like "satisfaction guaranteed or your money back" instead of
"try-before-you-buy"

So maybe the Office folks should go talk to the Windows folks, who have a
better solution (still sucks, but better), and implament that for Office
too, and for the demos. As for "satisfaction guaranteed or your money back"
that requires that I part with the money, find the tool doesn't work,
contact MS, spend three hours on hold, get told to go to the reseller, spend
an hour on hold, get told to talk to MS, call a lawyer, scream bloody
murder, sit in a corner and cry, then admit I will never see the money back
and there isn't anything I can do. No thanks. Don't trust MS. Not even as
far as I can spit. Either they believe in the product and will let a low
life scum grad student without an internet connection at home test the
product, or they won't get my money.
Such is life.

Gordon

 

[Ed Bennett]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message

contact MS, spend three hours on hold, get told to
go to the reseller, spend an hour on hold, get told to talk to MS,
call a lawyer, scream bloody murder, sit in a corner and cry, then
admit I will never see the money back and there isn't anything I can
do.

Microsoft North American Retail Product Returns
http://www.microsoft.com/info/nareturns.htm
Once you've sent them the product, there's not a lot they can do about it.

No thanks. Don't trust MS. Not even as far as I can spit.

And yet you're prepared to run their code on your computer? Wow.

Either
they believe in the product and will let a low life scum grad student
without an internet connection at home test the product, or they
won't get my money.

A grad student without an internet connection?
That's rarer than an undergraduate student at the end of a semester with
clean underwear!

 

[Gordon Price]

No thanks. Don't trust MS. Not even as far as I can spit.

And yet you're prepared to run their code on your computer? Wow.

OK, I trust the software. I don't trust the downloaded Word docs. Check
those with AV first And I don't trust anything to do with marketing or
accounting. So I don't trust what the web site CLAIMS the software can do,
and I don't trust a return to happen any faster than a mail in rebate on a
hard drive.

A grad student without an internet connection?

Without an internet connection at home. I am working 20 hours a week, so I
would rather have that $50/month for food

That's rarer than an undergraduate student at the end of a semester with
clean underwear!

Been a LONG time since I was an undergrad. Don't remember the laundry
situation. Probably much like an architecture student with a full night's
sleep. "Been months, man..."

Been a fun thread. Not the answer I was looking for, but a fun thread none
the less.

Gordon