And the printer saga continues

[susandennis]

So... when we last left our adventures, we had spent a long time on the phone last Saturday with a nice guy - Vinrod - who worked very hard to get my printer installed. He tried a variety of very creative things as well as the normal, usual things. We were not successful and he sent me to the next level of support.

I did ask him specifically, before we hung up, about doing a repair/reinstall of XP. He assured me that that was a real last resort and to avoid it if at all possible.

Cut to today. Raja calls me 15 minutes into his promised window. It was clear from the get go that he was a proponent of the All Users Are Stupid school. He had me uninstall the drivers and reinstall them. And he appeared to be very shocked and disappointed when the printer didn't install. I explained that I had uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers a variety of ways a number of times and got the same result every time.

He then told me that the next step was to perform a repair/reinstall of XP. "Susan, can you tell me, do you have a CD with the Windows XP program on it?"

Whoa there, big boy. Let's regroup here. You have no new information. No new tricks. No new suggestions? No other ideas but the last resort?

He then launched into about 4 paragraphs about corrupted files and some other crap. I let him get through it and asked again...

So, the ONLY thing you have to offer. The ONLY thing... is a repair/reinstall of the operating system? Am I understanding you correctly??

He started his 4 paragraphs again and I cut him off. Yes or no??? Yes, that is the next step. Do you have a CD of Windows XP?

Ok, no. WE are not going to do anything. I will do the repair/reinstall and, if it does not fix the problem, I will reopen the case.

"All right. I will call you tomorrow..." No, you don't need to call me. If I need further assistance, I will call.

"All right, shall I call you on Monday or Tuesday?"

The Microsoft support system, when they send you a case number, tells you that if you have questions or concerns that you are welcome to let them know and gives you an email address for that purpose. I gifted them with my concerns.

I think I'm going to wait on the surgery. Maybe next weekend.

Comments

[glaw2424.livejournal.com]

This is just mind boggling and I am sure frustration has a new level for you. :(

I am gonna be watching close for future updates and probably will print your post when the issue is resolved...assuming it is something very odd. I hope to Heck and back it isn't something simple and simply overlooked...I think I'd hear you up here in Edmonds if so. :) Sorry, just being silly on that last part. :)



G

[susandennis]

Silly works for me!

Actually, since it installed so easily on the little laptop, I'm pretty confident that if/when I do the repair/reinstall of XP on this one, it will install without a hitch. So we'll probably never know the real answer.

But in my little passive/agressive way, I'm going to give that email time to percolate and see if it turns up anyone who wants to take a new/different stab at the problem. I'm not hopeful but I'm also not up for redoing my system this weekend.

Stay tuned. All news will be reporter here (and it's nice to have you watching along and providing the sympathy. really, it is.)

[tbone.livejournal.com]

More than anything else, I love that the guy's name is Vinrod. That sounds like a cross between a porn star, an NBA player and a playground insult.

[susandennis]

Oh that's hilarious! Your imagination is fairly frightening...

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

I will be watching. I need to reformat my hard drive I think. I was going to try a reinstall of windows xp first. I have this trojan and can not get rid of it. computer guy came, and didn't do anything I had not already done.

I hate the idea of doing anything that major because of my lack of skill in that area, but it is screwing up my computer so badly, that I don't care any more. anything to make this thing run better. I need to just start from scratch I think.