Office 2007 Defects

[Steve]

I would like someone from Microsoft to post replies to this board when a
known product defect is discussed. I have encountered two issues in my first
60 days - problems that I see others are having.

1-Outlook Express spell check changed to French when Office 2007 is installed.
2-Picture Manager "Edit" and "Picture" commands stop working because a trial
version of unwanted upgrades has expired.

I would like to see an official posting in these threads acknowledging that
Microsoft is aware of the issue and what we should expect: a link to a free
update to fix the problem; a commitment to provide a solution by a certain
date; or "Sorry Charlie - we aint gonna fix that"

I believe Microsoft should "support" their products for free when the issue
is a defect. I can understand paying for "help" - that's not the issue here.

I would like to request that everyone that sees this thread posts a reply
and please add any other "defects" to the list.

Thank you

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...-b26d8c166765&dg=microsoft.public.office.misc

 

[Gordon]

I would like someone from Microsoft to post replies to this board when a
known product defect is discussed. I have encountered two issues in my
first
60 days - problems that I see others are having.

1-Outlook Express spell check changed to French when Office 2007 is
installed.

As outlook express is now obsolescent, having been superceded by Windows
Mail on Vista, the likelyhood of any fixes being made to OE other than
security issues is very very slim......

2-Picture Manager "Edit" and "Picture" commands stop working because a
trial
version of unwanted upgrades has expired.

I would like to see an official posting in these threads acknowledging
that
Microsoft is aware of the issue

Microsoft does not monitor these newsgroups - if you have seen a Microsoft
employee posting here they are doing it off their own bat and not
officially....

 

[Gordon]

I believe Microsoft should "support" their products for free

And please don't use the phrase "for free" - it doesn't mean anything.
Something is either "free" or you get it "for nothing" - "for free" is
meaningless....

 

[Steve]

Microsoft does not monitor these newsgroups - if you have seen a Microsoft
employee posting here they are doing it off their own bat and not
officially....

That is my point exactly. Microsoft sends you to this forum to get help
(note that it says "Micrsoft" at the top of the page). Therefore, they should
monitor the issues and address them in the absence of a useful reply from
fellow users.

 

[Steve]

And please don't use the phrase "for free" - it doesn't mean anything.
Something is either "free" or you get it "for nothing" - "for free" is
meaningless....

Please excuse my grammar! What I meant was that Microsoft charges a fee for
technical support. I don't mind a fee for "help" issues; but they should
provide free "support" for product defects.

 

[Gordon]

That is my point exactly. Microsoft sends you to this forum to get help
(note that it says "Micrsoft" at the top of the page). Therefore, they
should
monitor the issues and address them in the absence of a useful reply from
fellow users.

You are labouring under a misconception - these "forums" are actually global
Usenet Newsgroups that just happen to be hosted on MS servers....most
regular posters here use a proper newsreader to access them, not the awful
web interface. thus the association with MS, other than in the group title,
is not there. they are not "Microsoft" forums in the same sense as any
global newsgroup you access through your ISP news server does not belong to
your ISP.....

 

[Bob I]

That is my point exactly. Microsoft sends you to this forum to get help
(note that it says "Micrsoft" at the top of the page). Therefore, they should
monitor the issues and address them in the absence of a useful reply from
fellow users.

They set these up for the purpose they are currently serving. I doubt
they are going to change their support structure based on your "they
oughta do" conjecture. Especially when you start including "non-defects"
as the reason for the change.

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

I fully agree that product defects should be covered free by Microsoft. At
the same time, Microsoft gets to choose how that free support is provided...
and one support avenue is via telephone: (866) 452-4755. I've never actually
contacted Microsoft, so I don't know how it works. But, my understanding is
that they don't charge for bug/defect support, and if there is a hotfix
available, it is provided at no charge.

Even for things that aren't bugs, you get 90 day no-charge support... for
Office, it begins from the date you place your first support request.

There is email support, as well (I've never used it either, so I don't know
how it works). One entry point seems to be here:

https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&x=12&y=12&prid=10186&gprid=422204

You can also get there by navigating to the Resources tab in the {product]
Options dialog of Office 2007 applications, and clicking on Contact Us or
About - Tech Support.

These forums, however, are explicitly for peer-to-peer support. The MVP
program provides incentives for some peers to provide free help here, but,
help can be provided by anybody... and sometimes, you even get useful help.
Sometimes, you get a hard time. It's usenet, so I guess that comes with the
territory.

 

[Steve]

Thanks Herb - Finally a meaningful and useful response to my comment (and you
didn't even correct my spelling or punctuation!).

Now if I could just get some one to resolve my problem with Picture Manager!

You are absolutely right, Microsoft gets to decide how they deliver their
customer service/technical support...and if they think they're doing a good
job - guess again! I have spent hours on the internet and on the phone today
with no luck whatsoever fixing the bug in Office 2007.

After reading your post, I was able to speak to a rep who transferred me to
a tech who had to start a new case and take all my info again, then he cut me
off! Called back..another rep...another tech...he obviously had know idea
that the problem with Picture Manager was occurring.

So, once again, I ask, why doesn't MS look at the issues discussed in the
group that they send you to for help? Why don't they jump in when they see a
problem unresolved for two months? If they send me here, with a link from the
Microsoft Support page, I expect them to be reading the posts...not for the
"How do I copy and paste" questions - but for the common problems...and maybe
for the common gripes so they can enhance future products.

I can tell you that I would be up to speed on the issues if I worked the
phones on the help desk...I'd be reading these posts...something tells me you
would be too, Herb. You seem like that type of guy...there's a hole in the
loop that needs to be closed.

Rant over...thanks again for the help...back to my Picture Manager problem.

I fully agree that product defects should be covered free by Microsoft. At
the same time, Microsoft gets to choose how that free support is provided...
and one support avenue is via telephone: (866) 452-4755. I've never actually
contacted Microsoft, so I don't know how it works. But, my understanding is
that they don't charge for bug/defect support, and if there is a hotfix
available, it is provided at no charge.

Even for things that aren't bugs, you get 90 day no-charge support... for
Office, it begins from the date you place your first support request.

There is email support, as well (I've never used it either, so I don't know
how it works). One entry point seems to be here:

https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&x=12&y=12&prid=10186&gprid=422204

You can also get there by navigating to the Resources tab in the {product]
Options dialog of Office 2007 applications, and clicking on Contact Us or
About - Tech Support.

These forums, however, are explicitly for peer-to-peer support. The MVP
program provides incentives for some peers to provide free help here, but,
help can be provided by anybody... and sometimes, you even get useful help.
Sometimes, you get a hard time. It's usenet, so I guess that comes with the
territory.

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[Steve]

Thanks Herb - Finally a meaningful and useful response to my comment (and you
didn't even correct my spelling or punctuation!).

Now if I could just get some one to resolve my problem with Picture Manager!

You are absolutely right, Microsoft gets to decide how they deliver their
customer service/technical support...and if they think they're doing a good
job - guess again! I have spent hours on the internet and on the phone today
with no luck whatsoever fixing the bug in Office 2007.

After reading your post, I was able to speak to a rep who transferred me to
a tech who had to start a new case and take all my info again, then he cut me
off! Called back..another rep...another tech...he obviously had know idea
that the problem with Picture Manager was occurring.

So, once again, I ask, why doesn't MS look at the issues discussed in the
group that they send you to for help? Why don't they jump in when they see a
problem unresolved for two months? If they send me here, with a link from the
Microsoft Support page, I expect them to be reading the posts...not for the
"How do I copy and paste" questions - but for the common problems...and maybe
for the common gripes so they can enhance future products.

I can tell you that I would be up to speed on the issues if I worked the
phones on the help desk...I'd be reading these posts...something tells me you
would be too, Herb. You seem like that type of guy...there's a hole in the
loop that needs to be closed.

Rant over...thanks again for the help...back to my Picture Manager problem.

..

I fully agree that product defects should be covered free by Microsoft. At
the same time, Microsoft gets to choose how that free support is provided...
and one support avenue is via telephone: (866) 452-4755. I've never actually
contacted Microsoft, so I don't know how it works. But, my understanding is
that they don't charge for bug/defect support, and if there is a hotfix
available, it is provided at no charge.

Even for things that aren't bugs, you get 90 day no-charge support... for
Office, it begins from the date you place your first support request.

There is email support, as well (I've never used it either, so I don't know
how it works). One entry point seems to be here:

https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&x=12&y=12&prid=10186&gprid=422204

You can also get there by navigating to the Resources tab in the {product]
Options dialog of Office 2007 applications, and clicking on Contact Us or
About - Tech Support.

These forums, however, are explicitly for peer-to-peer support. The MVP
program provides incentives for some peers to provide free help here, but,
help can be provided by anybody... and sometimes, you even get useful help.
Sometimes, you get a hard time. It's usenet, so I guess that comes with the
territory.

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[Steve]

:

Something is either "free" or you get it "for nothing" - "for free" is
meaningless....

....and so is your comment

 

[Peter Foldes]

Steve

Known and Documented problems.Hopefully it will be looked at with a Service Pack fix (hopefully)

You no longer have spell checking capabilities in some languages in Outlook
Express 6.0 after you install the 2007 Microsoft Office system:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932974

Office 2007 breaks OE's spell check. Downloading a free spell check is the
simplest way around this.

Some free spell check programs.

Vampirefo:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2952

TinySpell:
http://www.tinyspell.m6.net/ (Checks the spelling as you type).

Or from this blog:
http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/11/13/80

After installing Office 2007 RTM, you don't have English as a choice of
language in the spell checker of Outlook Express and potentially other
programs.


a.. Office 2007 is replacing the v.3 English Proofing Tools that shipped
in prior versions of Office with a new version (v.6). There are a number of
changes in this new version, but the one that is causing this problem is
that Outlook Express doesn't understand the new English Proofing Tools. This
is a problem because Outlook Express has never shipped with its own proofing
tools but has used the ones shipped by Office.
b.. There are a few scenarios in which you won't run into this problem:
a.. An upgrade from Office 2003 or earlier to Office 2007 RTM if you
don't manually uninstall the earlier version of Office.
b.. A configuration in which Office 2003 (or earlier) has not been
removed.
For example, I have Office 2003 still on both of my computers, and I
still have English in Outlook Express.
c.. The workaround for this problem is to install the English dictionary
from Office 2003 (or Office XP). There should be no need to install all of
Office just the dictionary. The English Proofing Tools can be found in the
Custom Install tree under Office Shared Features|Proofing Tools|English.

 

[Steve]

Thanks Peter -

I actually found the solution to the spell check issue on my own after a
frustrating and useless contact with Microsoft two months ago.

Once again, the tech support people knew nothing about a problem that had
been happening for months. Call me old fashioned, but I think they should be
the experts on their own products...and they need to improve their customer
support.

So...who knows how to fix Picture Manager????

See These:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...&p=1&tid=52f4ce73-1d5f-4d38-877d-bbb3eed0e43d

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...&p=1&tid=fc54b02a-e218-4a79-8801-bdc2f9821b53

HELP!!!!

 

[petergillanders]

i
as wondering if any one can help me i currently am running vista premium on
my laptop are office software ie word excel etc already on there and if so
where do i locate them!

 

[Gordon]

i
as wondering if any one can help me i currently am running vista premium
on
my laptop are office software ie word excel etc already on there and if so
where do i locate them!

Not unless you bought and installed them - and PLEASE don't piggy-back one
thread with a completely different question...

 

[funnybroad]

I have to agree with you 110%

Microsoft directs you to the discussion groups for answers to your problems
on more of their webpages than I think I can count. Premiere support also
likes to refer people to the discussion groups in their email correspondence.
Also

You'd think that since they refer to it all over the place, and it's got the
Microsoft official branding all over it, and it's hosted on microsoft.com,
that they would want to know what was being said, and if there are defects
being discussed/advertised, they'd join the discussion... at the very least
to make sure all the talk about bugs isn't scaring off potential $ALES!

And if you read the end of your post... because you selected a type of
"suggestion" this is displayed:

This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the
"I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and
then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

Repeat

"Microsoft responds to the suggestions with the most votes. "

So maybe the trick to getting a response is to get enough people to vote for
your "suggestion" to fix a defect. Oh that is just sad, isn't it?

And if it makes you feel any better, the company I work for has access to
"Premiere Support", and I've recently tried out the "Live Concierge" chat
service to help me get an answer to a question regarding a defect Microsoft
acknowledged, but never said whether or not they were going to fix it, and
WHEN. I will add a "bonus" response to this one with the full transcript for
your entertainment.

It all ends with a vague email from Microsoft DIRECTING ME TO THE
DISCUSSIONS GROUPS!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[funnybroad]

My First experience with the Technet “conciergeâ€:

Here was my question to the concierge:

I tracked a problem I've been having with Infopath/Sharepoint to the
following kb article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896693.

Current status says: "Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the
Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section."

How do I find out if/when Microsoft will provide a solution to this problem???

I don't want to waste my time trying to re-create Sharepoint lists and/or
write some very complicated code that that involves accessing the sharepoint
list as an XML source file, and writing XSLT... if Microsoft is going to
provide a solution soon.

Chatlog:

6:15:39 PM Jeanine
Actually I was not quite sure about this, but I believe we are working on
this problem and let me try to check internal cases for you.
6:20:30 PM Jeanine
Thanks for your patience Julie. I have double checked for you but could not
find any updates on the issue although I believe our technical support are
working hard on it. And here is the feedback form for you. You may fill in
for the issue and our engineer will response within two business days.
6:20:46 PM Jeanine
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/contactus.mspx
6:21:15 PM Julie
which link should I use? "Suggestions for Microsoft Products"? or "Technical
Support for Microsoft PRoducts"?
6:22:22 PM Jeanine
Suggestions for Microsoft Products will do.
6:23:19 PM Julie
That opens another webpage with more links.
6:23:57 PM Julie
Which one of these should I use?: Contact a support professional by phone or
e-mail for help if you purchased the product separately. Send questions about
your Microsoft product to a customer service representative. Report a bug in
Microsoft software.
6:25:00 PM Jeanine
You can use Send questions or Report a bug.
6:25:15 PM Julie
And I will hear a response within 2 days from that one?
6:25:55 PM Jeanine
Also Technet Newsgroups will be another option for you where our technical
support will response.
6:26:01 PM Jeanine
They are supposed to be.
6:26:21 PM Jeanine
And if you use Newsgroups.make sure use non-spam alias.
6:26:24 PM Julie
I have tried that one already. 2 others have posted questions about the same
topic, but have not received responses.
6:27:05 PM Jeanine
So you mean you did you get response from managed Newsgroups within two
business days?
6:27:48 PM Julie
No, I didn't try the "managed" newsgroup. Besides, the "managed" newsgroups
don't have a specific category for Infopath.
6:28:07 PM Julie
But thanks, and I'll try to post it someplace... maybe under Office or
something.
6:28:52 PM Jeanine
You can try that and if you are in wrong category, we have special team work
it out for you.
6:32:06 PM Jeanine
And I am sending the managed Newsgroups for your reference Julie.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/newsgroups/managed/dgbrowser/en-us/default.mspx
6:34:26 PM Jeanine
Well have a nice one. Julie. Thank you for using the TechNet Online
Concierge. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please feel free to
come back again.
6:37:03 PM System

And the email I’m forwarding (see below) is the response from Microsoft
after I sent them my question using the link the concierge sent me
(http://www.microsoft.com/technet/contactus.mspx).

I’ve also posted the question to the “managed†newsgroups, but have not
gotten a response from any Microsoft person. I did get the following
response from another participant:

“FWIW, I didn't see any schedule anywhere in that article, AND it's been
evident since Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003, Service Pack 1 (SP1). I
wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a fix schedule from this peer group,â€

*sigh*

From: Microsoft Contact US [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 1:41 AM
To: Watson, Julie
Subject: RE:'RTCProd=015-139-195'

Hello Julie,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Online Customer Service.

I understand that you are experiencing issues stated in article 896693
regarding Sharepoint 2003.

As a Customer Service Representative, I can direct you to Share Point
support options which include Self-Help Resources and Assisted Support. You
may try to resolve the problem on your own using the no-charge self-help
resources listed below. However, if you prefer assistance from a Microsoft
Support Professional, please choose the Assisted Support option mentioned
below.

Assisted Support:

You may work with a Microsoft Support Professional via e-mail, telephone, to
resolve your issue. Depending on how you obtained your software, there may be
fees to use the Assisted Support option:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=10184&gprid=424846

Please note that if the Microsoft software came from your computer
manufacturer, please contact your computer manufacturer directly. Contact
information for most major computer manufacturers is available at:
http://www.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=oemphone

Self-Help Resources:

You may search the Product Solution Center or the Knowledge Base of
self-help articles to resolve your issue using the following link:
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/8753

You may also post your issue in the Microsoft newsgroups. For information on
how to use the Microsoft newsgroups, please visit the following link:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx

Julie, I hope the above information is helpful and I appreciate your
patience in this regard.
Thank you for using Microsoft products and services.

Basavaraju
Microsoft Online Customer Service Representative

If you have any feedback about your Online Customer Service experience,
please submit your feedback by visiting the web link provided below:
https://support.microsoft.com/common/survey.aspx?scid=sw;en;1389&showpage=1&WS=managermail



-----Original Message-----
From: (e-mail address removed) ([email protected])
Date: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 04:42 PM
To: CS ([email protected])
Subject: Status of KB Article: 896693


---
CONTACT INFORMATION
First Name: Julie
---
CUSTOMER PROVIDED SYSTEM PROPERTIES
O/S: Windows XP SP2
Br: IE6
Country/Region: United States
---
PRODUCT
Office Professional Plus 2007Infopath 2007 / Sharepoint 2003
---
SYSTEM PROPERTIES
Ref URL: http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/Default.aspx?WS=Wish
O/S: windows nt 5.1
O/S Lang: en-us
Br: msie 6.0
Br lang: en-us
---
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
Message: I tracked a problem I've been having with Infopath/Sharepoint to
the following kb article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896693.

Current status says:
"Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products
that are listed in the "Applies to" section."

How do I find out if/when Microsoft will provide a solution to this problem???

I don't want to waste my time trying to re-create Sharepoint lists and/or
write some very complicated code that that involves accessing the sharepoint
list as an XML source file, and writing XSLT... if Microsoft is going to
provide a solution soon.

 

[Harlan Grove]

You'd think that since they refer to it all over the place, and it's got
the
Microsoft official branding all over it, and it's hosted on microsoft.com,
that they would want to know what was being said, and if there are defects
being discussed/advertised, they'd join the discussion... at the very least
to make sure all the talk about bugs isn't scaring off potential $ALES!

....

The people responsible for buying the vast majority of Office licenses don't
pay much attention to discussions of bugs in Microsoft software. The old
chesnut has changed to 'no one ever got fired for buying Microsoft'. As long
as that's true, Microsoft needn't waste resources on such innessentials as
end-user support.

 

[Steve]

Thanks Funny -

I was beginning to think I was the only one who expects at least "average"
customer support. I would prefer a phone number to a real support person but
I'd live with an email address...

We all rely on our computers daily. We wouldn't accept this inept level of
support from the phone company, or the cable company, or the electric
company...why do we have to accept it from Microsoft? They want to be the
industry leader...time to live up to their responsibilities.

CLICK I AGREE !!!

 

[Steve]

Harlan -

...."inessential"...

You're drinking the Kool Aid, man