Re: OT - Mr Microsoft Killed My OED CD v3.1

"Frank ess" <frank@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote

Mr Microsoft Killed My OED CD v3.1

And Mr OED Support doesn't respond to this email:

============

Sony two-year-old top line computer, 1GB onboard memory.

After a Microsoft XP overnight update on 2006-08-010/11, OED CD
v3.1 (purchased in June, 2006) fails to perform.

The shortcut to the "cd" .exe file does not initiate any
activity. Finding the non-cd .exe file and clicking it
initializes OED CD, but returns a message about insufficient
memory, close other programs, try again. Following these
instructions has no useful effect. No other among the many
memory-intensive programs on the computer acts this way.

I removed and reinstalled OED CD v3.1 with no change to its
performance.

I installed OED CD v3.1 on a laptop (near-unused one-year-old HP,
1GB memory) that had not been subjected to the Microsoft update.
The OED CD v3.1 program worked fine. I updated the Microsoft XP
software and the OED CD v3.1 program failed to perform in exactly
the same way as set out above.

Seems to me this indicates some problem between the OED CD v3.1
program and the Microsoft updates of the second week of August,
2006. I'd bet you have had other, similar reports, and hope you
have devloped a simple way to cure the incompatibility.

I've exhausted my computer expertise, and have not been able to
get Mr. Microsoft to pay me any mind. Perhaps you've had better
luck?

Thank you for your attention.

"Frank ess"

==========

I wonder if anyone's experienced a similar failure to perform? Or
knows of a solution?

You think I can get my money back?

I just checked my OED 3.1 and the same problem occurred. First,
though, I had to insert my 3.1 data disk to verify to CD Cops 1.3
that I actually have the original CD. After that worked, I got the
proper start page, enetered a word, and got the same nasty message
about insufficient memory. That actually happened to me with the OED
3 program, but 3.1 corrected it. I went for six months without my OED
till 3.1 finally arrived. I doubt that you can get your money back.

I'd be wary of restoring your system as well. I did that once a
couple of years ago and had to reinstall everything. I'll never do it
again.

I can't reinstall OED 3.1 right now to see, after uninstalling it and
cleaning my registry, whether it will work, because I don't have the
OED 3 data disk here in my new apartment. To reinstall the upgrade, I
have to prove that I still have the old version. It's back at the
house in the country. I don't know where, so I can't ask my wife to
bring it to me tomorrow when she and my son move in with me.

As much as I love the OED on CD-ROM, I hate it even more because of
the bull*** they force me to go through to use it.

If you find a solution, please post it. If I do, I will.


--
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor
Native speaker of American English; posting from Taiwan.
Unmunged email: /at/hush.ai
"Impatience is the mother of misery."
.