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| Porn Users Forum » Support Problems! |
| 1-25 of 25 Posts | Page 1 |
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| 12-16-09 03:02pm - 5485 days | Original Post - #1 | |
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messmer (0)
Disabled User  Posts: 2,582 Registered: Sep 12, '07 Location: Canada |
Support Problems! For once it's not about lack of support from a porn site but the horrible state of support from just about anyone, from Microsoft to Computer Manufacturers. Have you ever attempted to get an answer to a problem from Microsoft about something that isn't routine? Something not contained in their FAQs? I suppose you could go to newsgroups to get answers but it does not seem possible to get a live person or email support from the guys who programmed your operating system. At least I haven't found a way yet. Have you ever had to go to support in connection with your computer hardware? Talking about the latter, after installing Windows 7 I could no longer use my CD/Rom-DVD drive. (Quite a common problem as you will see if you Google it) Called Gateway and got a voice recognition computer as a helper rather than a human being and ended up shouting all the information into the phone only to be told that my serial number didn't match and the computer couldn't possibly be theirs. Have you ever heard of a computer generated voice sounding positively icy? :-) Next step was to send an email to their support informing them of the problem and asking them where I could download a proper 64 bit driver for the drive. This time they accepted my serial number and the fact that the computer was still under warranty and gave me instructions on how to install Windows 7! My reply: But ... but ... I've installed Windows 7 already, that's why I have the problem. All I want is the name of a driver I could download so that my CD-ROM/DVD drive works again when I push that button. Next suggestion from Gateway, install Windows 7 again only this time do a clean install. My reply: I did a clean install, all I want is a driver that works with my CD-Rom drive. I can operate the drive through RealPlayer by hitting the eject button, so it's not a hardware problem. I need the right 64 bit driver. Next reply by Gateway: We delight in helping our customers and seeing that your previous question has been answered already to our satisfaction (paraphrased) we ask you to resubmit a report of any problems you might still have after seven days! We also recommend that you go to our site and register. By having all your personal and computer details we will be able to help you better. Went to the website where the first thing they wanted again was the serial number of the machine. I typed it in once: "Serial number not recognized and therefore rejected." I typed it in again, remember this is the same number that was accepted by tech support .. same rejection. And so I gave up. Help, there must be some places left with real human experts giving pertinent answers to the questions asked! messmer just venting once again. No need to answer unless you have something similar to vent about! :-) | |
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| 12-16-09 03:44pm - 5485 days | #2 | |
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PinkPanther (0)
Active User  Posts: 1,136 Registered: Jan 08, '07 Location: Oakland, CA |
I'll refrain from saying anything other than "I wish you luck in solving it." Given that you say it's a common problem, you might want to call around computer repair places in your area. Perhaps one of them has figured out a relatively inexpensive solution? | |
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| 12-16-09 04:15pm - 5485 days | #3 | |
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Capn (0)
Active User  Posts: 1,740 Registered: Sep 05, '09 Location: Near the Beer! |
I have 2 suggestions. One is directly to do with drivers. DriverDetective. It is not free, but it is very good value. You download it. It scans your computer & compares all your data to a database of drivers, then provides the link to download the required driver. I found it a couple of years back & it is well worth the subscription. I have always found it excellent. I can't find a direct link to their website at the moment, but if you do a search on Driver Detective it should come up. It is very easy to use. My other suggestion is a computer anorak/bobble hat/geek community site, which I found many years ago & have found excellently helpful. www.majorgeeks.com There is a Support Forum link at the top of the home page. A first class free resource. :0) Admiral of the PU Hindenburg. 2009 PU Award Hilarious Post of the Year 2010 PU Award ( I would have preferred it to be Helpful Post of the Year for Guys who Hate 'Retail Therapy' ) :0/ Sanity is in the eye of the Beholder! Edited on Dec 16, 2009, 04:25pm | |
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| 12-16-09 04:16pm - 5485 days | #4 | |
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Drooler (0)
Disabled User  Posts: 1,831 Registered: Mar 11, '07 Location: USA |
Gateway has had a bad rep among the people I've known for several years, so I've never bought anything from them. In fact, I forgot that they existed. BTW: My experience of support in general, in this information-age, "service" economy (a-hem) is that porn sites are often BETTER at it than a lot of other businesses, such as ISPs, phone companies (cell and otherwise), mass transit, and internet merchandise sales (well, that's a mix of good and bad). Good luck with your Windows 7 problem. I'm sure it wasn't YOUR idea. I wanted something new, so I left England for New England. | |
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| 12-16-09 06:23pm - 5485 days | #5 | |
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RagingBuddhist (0)
Disabled User  Posts: 893 Registered: Jan 23, '07 |
Messmer - It's crap like what you're looking at that feeds what I think is the biggest part of my rage. Just about everything we buy now is all hype with nothing to back it up. Companies publish mission statements, telling us about how dedicated they are to their product and their customers and, when comes down to proving it, you get "Push 1 for____, Push 2 for _____". Call centers, when there is one, have people who may or may not have a working knowledge of the product they supposedly represent. What they do have is a quota - as in, they're supposed to handle each call in x amount of time. Do they care? If you never get your problem resolved, the only one it affects is you. MicroShaft has a nice history with putting out operating systems before they're ready. The driver issues with Win7 is the same crap everyone went through with XP. So plan on getting your optical drive running sometime around 2011 Welcome to capitalism in the 21st century. Bend over and smile. Sarcasm is a body's natural defense against stupidity. | |
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| 12-16-09 06:53pm - 5485 days | #6 | |
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PinkPanther (0)
Active User Posts: 1,136 Registered: Jan 08, '07 Location: Oakland, CA |
RB's rant - that avatar is SO perfect for your personality - as is mine - is so true. A few years ago, my parents bought a new television, which they wanted me to hook up with their home entertainment system, so they could do the basics - watch cable TV, play DVD's, play other things that were hooked up in their system to have them all operate so they could get video from the television and get from their sound out of their larger speaker set=up,etc. I couldn't figure it out. My cousin, who was then a Senior in NYU's Film Program and experienced with his university's sophisticated audio video set-ups, couldn't figure it out. My nephew, who's young and generally tech-savvy, couldn't figure it out. The only one that figured it out was my NASA weather scientist brother-in-law. I was thinking - if I were the one that brought that piece of equipment home and had that much trouble getting it to work in a basic way, I'd bring it back to the store in the mood to shove it up the salesperson's ass sideways. How fucking complicated do things need to be made that you have to have a NASA weather scientist in your family to know how to hit play and get the result that you want? | |
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| 12-16-09 06:54pm - 5485 days | #7 | |
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messmer (0)
Disabled User Posts: 2,582 Registered: Sep 12, '07 Location: Canada |
You know, the not so funny thing is that when I attempted to get an appropriate driver from Microsoft they actually redirected me (involuntarily on my part) to a site that promoted a "for pay" program like yours. I found that sneaky and highly unethical and refused to buy even though the product you mention is undoubtedly a fine one. BTW, almost forgot to thank you for the link. Looks like a very useful one. Edited on Dec 16, 2009, 07:15pm | |
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| 12-16-09 07:03pm - 5485 days | #8 | |
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pat362 (0)
Active User  Posts: 3,575 Registered: Jan 23, '07 Location: canada |
I had a recent issue with a stinking virus/trojan that hijacked my computer. I wa sable to remove it but after that little episode. I was unable to rename my files without cause a problem. Here is the below link at Microsoft where I was able to post my problem. They say that you will be contacted within 24hrs and I was. The tech and I did some back and forth but the problem is now fixed. https://support.microsoft.com/oas/defaul...Gprid=13297&st=1 Long live the Brown Coats. | |
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| 12-16-09 07:04pm - 5485 days | #9 | |
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messmer (0)
Disabled User Posts: 2,582 Registered: Sep 12, '07 Location: Canada |
What you said, brother, what you said!! Couldn't have put it better myself. It's either automated responses that don't answer your questions or call centers with ill trained personnel and if the exact problem is not spelled out for them in the book in front of them then they are lost. BTW, Microsoft got around the driver problem by telling me that my 32 bit driver was working just fine even though I've had to use a work-around with RealPlayer to get the darn button on my tower to respond so that I can re-install my games. | |
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| 12-16-09 07:07pm - 5485 days | #10 | |
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messmer (0)
Disabled User Posts: 2,582 Registered: Sep 12, '07 Location: Canada |
Thanks Pat, good link to have in case I pick up malware, a trojan or other vermin. | |
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| 12-16-09 07:11pm - 5485 days | #11 | |
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turboshaft (0)
Active User Posts: 1,958 Registered: Apr 01, '08 |
Aha! I knew it all along. :) I would assume Buddhists wouldn't be able to use computers anyway, at least not anything less reliable than an abacus. You can't reach nirvana when you're smashing a keyboard or punching a monitor...or maybe you can. "It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hardcore Commie works." - Gen. Jack D. Rippper, Dr. Stranglove | |
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| 12-16-09 07:13pm - 5485 days | #12 | |
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messmer (0)
Disabled User Posts: 2,582 Registered: Sep 12, '07 Location: Canada |
Thanks, Drooler. I wasn't aware of any problems when it comes to Gateway but their lack of support sure leaves me feeling vulnerable. I wonder if they are Acer in disguise because, strangely enough, I found Acer folders on my hard drive after a clean install of Windows 7??? I hate Acer because I had two of them and their hard drives crash entirely too often. | |
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| 12-16-09 07:19pm - 5485 days | #13 | |
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messmer (0)
Disabled User Posts: 2,582 Registered: Sep 12, '07 Location: Canada |
Hi Pink Panther, the solution I came up with is to use any program that plays DVDs and hit the "eject." This method operates my drive just fine. I just shouldn't have to do this and Gateway should have had an answer for me, seeing that it is such a common problem. Automated answers in response to cries for help are an abomination and should never be used by a reputable company. :-( | |
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| 12-16-09 08:08pm - 5485 days | #14 | |
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Wittyguy (0)
Active User  Posts: 1,138 Registered: Feb 04, '08 Location: Left Coast, USA |
x Edited on Apr 20, 2023, 01:42pm | |
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| 12-16-09 09:40pm - 5484 days | #15 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User  Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Gateway used to be an independent company, but they fell on hard times, and are now owned by Acer. | |
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| 12-16-09 11:42pm - 5484 days | #16 | |
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Capn (0)
Active User Posts: 1,740 Registered: Sep 05, '09 Location: Near the Beer! |
Very close to the truth. In those circumstances, it would be nice to talk to an educated English speaking human being. :0/ Admiral of the PU Hindenburg. 2009 PU Award Hilarious Post of the Year 2010 PU Award ( I would have preferred it to be Helpful Post of the Year for Guys who Hate 'Retail Therapy' ) :0/ Sanity is in the eye of the Beholder! | |
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| 12-17-09 03:24am - 5484 days | #17 | |
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Drooler (0)
Disabled User Posts: 1,831 Registered: Mar 11, '07 Location: USA |
RB, you said it! All this crap about free market capitalism working is such total bullshit. The businesses run to make SALES. MONEY!! Gouged out of your ass and mine with a carpenter's knife. And once they've gotten what they want, they leave you high and dry, fumbling with their labyrinthine self-service phone system until the Minotaur finds you and does you in. Damn, I'm so angry now. GRRRRRRRRRRR! At least these companies piss off enough people that they sometimes go under, and they probably have no fucking idea as to why. And so they go through bankruptcy and get acquired by ANOTHER company that does the same shit. I wanted something new, so I left England for New England. | |
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| 12-17-09 10:48am - 5484 days | #18 | |
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messmer (0)
Disabled User Posts: 2,582 Registered: Sep 12, '07 Location: Canada |
Oh, God, Acer do NOT have a good record with me. I had two lemons of theirs, my very first computer (a 286) and my last one. I wonder if I'm going to be looking for a new computer once I'm one week over their warranty period. Happened with my last one. Wonder if they install a secret code with their hard drives: Fail once warranty expires?" Edited on Dec 17, 2009, 11:22am | |
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| 12-17-09 10:55am - 5484 days | #19 | |
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Capn (0)
Active User Posts: 1,740 Registered: Sep 05, '09 Location: Near the Beer! |
I would be tempted to have a mooch around at MajorGeeks. If you are lucky, you might find one of the contributors may be able to spec you a custom machine. Admiral of the PU Hindenburg. 2009 PU Award Hilarious Post of the Year 2010 PU Award ( I would have preferred it to be Helpful Post of the Year for Guys who Hate 'Retail Therapy' ) :0/ Sanity is in the eye of the Beholder! | |
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| 12-17-09 11:35am - 5484 days | #20 | |
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messmer (0)
Disabled User Posts: 2,582 Registered: Sep 12, '07 Location: Canada |
I can see you've been my way before! As to your number 3, with my last machine I called their 1-800 number and got an Indian lady whose accent was so thick that I had to keep telling her to please speak slowly so I could understand her. Because my warranty was up at that time she referred me to another number where they might be able to give me some free advice, however when I reached that number I was told it would be something like $ 60.00 for a thirty minute consultation. Capitalism at its finest. | |
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| 12-17-09 12:37pm - 5484 days | #21 | |
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Wittyguy (0)
Active User Posts: 1,138 Registered: Feb 04, '08 Location: Left Coast, USA |
x Edited on Apr 20, 2023, 01:42pm | |
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| 12-17-09 02:01pm - 5484 days | #22 | |
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Capn (0)
Active User Posts: 1,740 Registered: Sep 05, '09 Location: Near the Beer! |
I had a situation many years ago where I bought mail order at a cheap price & got crap. Well, that served me right, but just over half way through the warranty it crapped out. I phoned the support, actually spoke to the same fella I had spoken to about an earlier problem, who told me that the company I had bought from SSC Computers was now Carrera-SSC & they would not honour their warranty. I guess SSC stood for Simply Shite Computers :0) Needless to say Carrera would never get a penny from me!! :0E I learnt from that. I now buy local so I can visit the supplier if there is a problem. :0/ Admiral of the PU Hindenburg. 2009 PU Award Hilarious Post of the Year 2010 PU Award ( I would have preferred it to be Helpful Post of the Year for Guys who Hate 'Retail Therapy' ) :0/ Sanity is in the eye of the Beholder! Edited on Dec 17, 2009, 02:05pm | |
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| 12-17-09 03:45pm - 5484 days | #23 | |
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messmer (0)
Disabled User Posts: 2,582 Registered: Sep 12, '07 Location: Canada |
You are absolutely right when it comes to useless and fraudulent customer service. It's all too prevalent. It is also extra frustrating to find out that the Gateway I bought because I had problems with my last one, an Acer, is just another Acer in disguise. :-( | |
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| 12-17-09 03:53pm - 5484 days | #24 | |
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turboshaft (0)
Active User Posts: 1,958 Registered: Apr 01, '08 |
Down dog! Down! Good dog! :) I'm afraid RB's a little late on the capitalism thing; it has been doing as many shitty things as it has good for a long time. Ever heard of slavery? Sure, it was a moral disgrace, but that didn't stop people from continuing it well into the 19th century here in the U.S. Hey, there was money to be made! Pollution, low wages and little to no benefits for workers, shitty products and services, the list goes on...it's all for profit's sake. But we generally accept it, and even make sure it continues. A lot of us at PU bitch and moan about Microsoft (for good reason), but it's still an enormous, very profitable company that dominates the home market in OS software--and I doubt it's going anywhere anytime soon. My personal bitch is when we actually reward companies for their screw ups, like the recent auto bailouts. GM fucked up so badly they should have gone under, but instead the U.S. government stepped in and put them on life support, and we'll be paying for it. Hopefully we won't bail out the shitty porn companies (only the good ones, dammit!) anytime soon. What was this thread about again? Oh yeah, support problems. I pretty much avoid customer service at all cost. It seems like the only time you talk to human beings (who all seem oath-bound to not reveal their names) are when someone asks you if you can continue to hold. Grrr, indeed. My best advice is to try and Google your issue; forums and experts (not customer support employee dimwits) usually hold much more valuable information than any company is willing to divulge. "It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hardcore Commie works." - Gen. Jack D. Rippper, Dr. Stranglove | |
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| 12-18-09 08:17am - 5483 days | #25 | |
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messmer (0)
Disabled User Posts: 2,582 Registered: Sep 12, '07 Location: Canada |
That's exactly what I did and no one seemed to have a solution to the problem. My brother gave me the best solution in the meantime. Just use Windows Explorer, right click on the icon of the DVD drive and click "eject." Problem solved. Thanks all for your sympathy. Your rage helped as well because we are all pissed off when it comes to incompetent and inadequate customer support! | |
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