grudging kudos

By basd on Oct 17, 2009 | In vista

I seldom contact tech support for the usual reasons. True also for Microsoft ... but they followed up.

...

True, I got the usual tech support person from another country, slowly working his way through a tech support script and ultimately not being able to help. (And fortunately, stopping short of having me make changes to my system we both would have regretted.)

"Oh ... Linux. We don't know anything about Linux. It's something to do with grab." (Or Grub, but why be critical.)

He sent me a follow-up email, that -- no surprise -- ended up in my spam filter.

But I found it. It specifically requested a reply. Wow, that's different. The email had further suggestions. In the meantime, I had solved the problem in a simpler way (mentioned in earlier blog). I wrote back and explained. I also outlined the reason I have to use Linux -- that my HP Pavilion work machine was killed by an AGP440 driver error which can't be fixed (but the Pavilion still works fine in Linux); and that my replacement, a Vista-based Sony Vaio refused to work competently in Vista. So ... of necessity I switched to Linux and now my computers MUST dual boot to Linux. (But that the Gateway was working fine until the problem with Vista SP2).

Well, this surprise occurred. I started getting Microsoft missed calls on my phone. Then a voice mail thanking me for providing the info regarding my SP2 install solution. Then yet more follow-up phone calls till I actually answered one. And, a personal thank you from a tech support supervisor.

You have to give kudos, however grudgingly, to a company that makes that kind of tech support commitment in the face of considerable criticism. (And, btw, yes I was polite and non-contentious in these communications. Computers are complex animals and all I want is for my computer "solutions" to work. Whatever provider they may come from.)