But, there really are phone support options for Microsoft software. Or there used to be.
I called them in 1998 to set up Exchange Server for our office. I’ve called them a couple other times and paid a small fee for support. Sometimes its worth a $100 to get a definitive resolution to a serious problem. Especially when your boss is demanding a fix yesterday. :o
I can’t seem to find the support numbers now. Google Microsoft support leads me to lots of web pages with documentation. I’ve wasted two weeks researching this problem and I need a flesh & blood human to help.
I recall there’s different numbers for different products. A link to a web page would be great.
Right now my interest is Microsoft Win 7 Virtual XP Mode
I went straight to the support page and found this:
You have a general number there, and then you have a “Contact Microsoft Support” option below.
Select your product, answer the questions, and you’ll get options for email, chat, or phone support.
I had to laugh, because I know how God-damn hard it is to find a number of MS support.
In 2004 I was installing a new copy of XP on my computer. I was upgrading, including CPU and MOBO, and since I had a [sub]pirated[/sub] copy of XP on my PC, I decided I’d go legitimate. (In my defense, when I first put the computer together, I was a very poor college student. Since I had graduated and got a job, I realized it was time to stop pirating.)
At any rate, I had a problem with the install disc. It was scratched all to Hell, including one VERY large radial scratch all the way around in the middle of the CD. It would get to maybe 30-40% installed and quit. I was going to call MS to get a replacement…but I couldn’t. I had an OEM copy, since I was essentially making a new PC, and in addition to no manual, there was no phone number…anywhere. Not a one. Not on the CD, not on the envelope it came in, not on the sticker that had the CD key on it, nowhere. I was pissed, because since that was my only computer, I couldn’t exactly go online to find a number, now could I? It was the weekend, so I had to wait till Monday when I went to work to find a number to call and get a replacement disc.
