"Chad Harris" wrote:
> Shelby--
>
> I've complained about bugs that Vista does have as much as anyone. So
> you're not springing something on me overnight. I've been using it for a
> year and a half--every build.
>
For what it is worth, the public preview builds of Vista I tested (on
different hardware) worked very well.
>
> You indicate now more clearly that Vista is broken but you are well within
> the 30 day period. Those symptoms are quintissential reduced
> functionality,but for whatever reason you have them.
>
> You have two choices and a workaround. I've worked with this on somene's
> box and I can tell you that all the MSKBs on control panel repair won't
> work.
>
> Workaround for control panel not coming up:
>
> You can make a control panel easily by putting the most but not every applet
> in a folder. Just make a folder on your desk; type control panel in the
> search box>when folder comes up click Classic View and drag or copy everyone
> of those shortcuts into your new folder.
>
I believe (although I can't recall for sure) one of my first attempts was to
make shortcuts to the cpl files in system32. None of the applets would start
up. I'll try and verify that though.
> Choice One: Format and start over--and activate within 30 days. That gives
> you 30 more days to test. If you need to you could renew the 30 days a
> couple times.
>
I have no problems reformatting and reinstalling to continue testing. I'd
like to get this issue identified as I'm sure I'm not the only one suffering
from it.
>
> I am sorry I misunderstood that you were within the period to activate it at
> first. I agree with you it should not have gone into reduced functionality
> mode which it appears to have. You should let them know. If this is
> happening it confirms some of my fear that SPP would not function well for
> everyone; and it would impose reduced functionality on legit Vista either
> prior to or after the 30 day period.
>
Had you asked me two weeks ago if it'd be possible for Vista's anti-piracy
features to malfunction and bite someone that was using a truly legit install
my response would have been "I seriously doubt it as Microsoft would probably
test those features to the nth degree". Now, having experienced this issue
where it _appears_ that Vista is running in some sort of RF mode, I'm not so
sure I'd be confident in saying that. I guess the good thing here is that at
least this issue doesn't appear very widespread.
> One way to directly report this issue is to make a comment on the Vista team
> blog, or you could let Darrell Gorter who is directly involved with Vista
> setup know
>
> darrellg@microsoft.com
>
Thanks for the information. I'll post on the blog and contact him privately
and see if he'd be interested in any logs off the machine in question.
>
> Choice 2: Try to repair it but I doubt very seriously if it will repair:
>
[snip]
I'll probably give that a try eventually but, like you, I'm pretty skeptical
a repair install will help when a clean install hasn't.
Regards,
Shelby Cain