avalonica.edenrealm.com

I'd bought an 'out-of-the-box' sales-pitched Microsoft XP Pro which, some eighteen months later, encountered a non-eventing Windows Update, the reason being that it did not meet Microsoft's new and somewhat sudden "Genuine Advantage" criteria.

This "Genuine Advantage" system found its way into the system tray of my computer disguised as an 'allowable' update within Windows Update. This then proceeded to harass in every way with tactics such as delayed start-up, incessant periodic pop-ups, and constant threats of an impending system crash - in all, a doom and gloom package.

Flash back to Anti Trust legal proceedings in the U S of A, characterized by Microsoft's everlasting, it seemed, delaying tactics. Then suddenly, someone systemic decides to pull it into a series of handed down judgements - in sum, for our purpose, Microsoft has to split into two companies (was the main judgement) and a series of slaps on the hand re monopolistic practices. This occurrence must have left Microsoft reeling from reality therapy.

Well now the recovery back into monopoly via the harassment of the small time user: forced re-purchases, phone calls to India to set codes and activation, a stumble into 'Microsoft' Update (essentially a Microsoft Office "Genuine Advantage" re-run for good measure! /PS: 'Open Office' is an alternative and much better program >>> check it out via link provided below) while chasing reconstruction of one's crashed system - endless installation package and serial #/ activation code chasing down, gathering and reviewing bank statements for 'proof' going back several years.

How did it come to a crash just short gathering the last of the necessary $270AUS to buy the so called "Genuine" article? Well it was during one of my regular 'maintenance' routines that I came to be "Genuine(ly) Advantage(d)" ... the path to disaster went Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Cleanup, Cleanup cranked up, seized up, and bingo - disastrous crash. Made more so by the fact that all my installers were backed up in a folder, and Serial #s'/Activation Codes' email were backed-up in another, in My Documents on the main, CPU Tower, drive. Of course that was the drive that crashed. My external drives were left unscathed, thank the higher power within us all.

Well it seems the "Genuine Advantage" will safeguard the new age of monopolistic practice for Microsoft. I'm doing my bit to help by looking at Linux alternatives such as 'SUSE Linux 9.2 for i386' which I downloaded directly in its entirety from a DVD accompanying the March 2005 Australian Personal Computer magazine I'd stored in my study's bookcase. Oh, a tip, don't use 'PowerQuest BootMagic 8.0' to order your partitions (I hasten to add that I did use 'PowerQuest PartitionMagic 8.0' for creating the partition for Linux incredibly easily and successfully). I say this because after installing 'SUSE Linux 9.2 for i386' SUSE installed one itself, of course with itself as default - a bit of cheek I know, but unlike 'BootMagic' it does allow you to choose between operating systems.

Recommended Links
Open Office:
http://www.openoffice.org/
PowerQuest PartitionMagic:
http://www.powerquest.com/home_homeoffi ... index.html
SUSE Linux 9.2:
http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reviews/5679/1/