M$ issues invalid Vista Family Discount keys

[smueboy]

Microsoft does it again:

In the past, early adopters of new Windows versions have had some small hurdles to overcome. Such hurdles may be software incompatibility, or lack of driver support. These sorts of things are almost expected with each new Windows launch. But what would you do if you bought Windows Vista and your product key didn’t work? What if Microsoft had no solution and was unwilling to issue you a new key?

Many (if not all) users who took advantage of Microsoft’s Vista Family Discount have been issued invalid installation keys and cannot install Windows Vista Home Premium. Microsoft confirms that the keys are indeed valid, but not for Windows Vista. The CSR I spoke with was unable to tell what the key was for, but it did appear to be a valid key, for something.

Microsoft says, “This is a known issue and has been escalated to the program manager.” When asked what could be done I was told, “I can take your name and number and call you back when there is a solution. If that is not acceptable, I can cancel your order and issue you a refund.” I was also told, “There is no expected time period for a fix at this time.”

If Microsoft does not have this issue fixed very soon, they are going to have a lot of unhappy customers. In the past Microsoft has just issued new keys when this happened. Why is Microsoft being so tight gripped about handing out new keys? If I purchased a valid key, what is it for? How long is this going to take to fix? So many questions, so little answers.

 

[compuwar]

Microsoft does it again:

Nice- I wonder if it'll end up in court? Sure looks like the kind of thing you could do a class-action lawsuit about.

 

[Roric]

Nice- I wonder if it'll end up in court? Sure looks like the kind of thing you could do a class-action lawsuit about.

Except for that little annoying statement: "If that is not acceptable, I can cancel your order and issue you a refund." With a refund, there is no loss and there is no lawsuit.

 

[compuwar]

Except for that little annoying statement: "If that is not acceptable, I can cancel your order and issue you a refund." With a refund, there is no loss and there is no lawsuit.

IANAL, but IMO- it's still a failure to deliver goods- and possibly defrauding the consumer. I'd expect there's a good state consumer protection law or two in the way of it.