Not Genuine! Is This a Cruel Joke?

A couple of weeks ago a pre-ctp for some forthcoming software messed up a bunch of settings on my main machine. I took the incident as an occasion to add a new hard drive and do a fresh install of the OS. Despite misgivings, I went with Windows Vista Ultimate. After all, I'd seen lots of demos at the MVP Summit with VS 2008 working in Vista. Bad choice...

You see, I've spent the day fighting to add the PDF plug-in to Office 2007 Ultimate so I can create an electronic invoice from an Excel file. Although my version of Office is activated, Microsoft says my "Office software cannot be classified as genuine" and therefore I can't download or install the PDF add-in.

What's this nonsense? I have a top-of-the-line MSDN subscription (courtesy of the MVP programme) and I used the serial number for the Office Ultimate sku. I suspect that Vista's ridiculous "user account control" is involved somewhere in the background, making my genuine software look fake and me like a pirate.

This is the last straw. I've had it. I put up with all those stupid UAC prompts every time I try to configure anything. Now I'm at the point where I'm going to wipe the drive and go back to Windows XP Professional.

I usually like Microsoft products but losing a day to this "genuine" crap is too much.

4 Comments

  • Three words - Windows. Server. 2008. You'll never go back.


  • Consider installing a virtual PDF printer until you resolve the issue. I use this one: http://www.primopdf.com/


    Raj Kaimal

  • try: Start>All programs>Internet Explorer>right click on Internet Explorer and choose Run as Administrator
    when the NEW Internet Explorer window opens go to the MS site and try to validate again -it worked for me

  • Seven words:
    Windows. Server. 2008. has. the. same. issues.

    And it was much more expensive. Still haven't gotten to the bottom of it. I'm a Linux guy, and I feel like an ass for giving m$ another chance on our network.

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