[ale] %#&!! Microsoft XP and eMachines

[Dow Hurst]

Can you run the 2000server under VMware to get the guy up and running?
Dow


James P. Kinney III wrote:

><rant>
>
>I swear. The more I use Microsoft stuff, the more I like it when the
>power goes out!
>
>I'm trying to get a VPN running between a Linux server and a remote M$
>box. The first box was hosed (HP Pavilion got clobbered with a bunch of
>viruses that trashed the boot sector. Linux runs fine. M$ (98, ME, 2K)
>won't even install). So a new machine was acquired. An eMachines Celeron
>running Windows XP Home. Can you say _cheap_junk_?
>
>In order to run the client end of the VPN, it requires a binary called
>ipseccmd.exe. M$ ships it with XP on the CD. It is not normally
>installed. But the CD's that ship with the box are not XP CD's. They are
>restore disks that have a ghost image of the installed drive!
>
>AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
>
>rant. stomp. curse. tantrum. 
>
>Microsoft cheerfully gives complete details on installing the file FROM
>THE CD. It's not on the website. Or any website for that matter
>
>No, I don't normally go digging on the warez sites, but I am considering
>it.
>
>It gets better!
>
>The entire reason for this ridiculousness is the original CD for the
>accounting software has been lost. Even with the repair/replacement of
>the damaged hard drive, the application can't be reinstalled. Of course
>there are no backups! That would make it too easy. So the upgrade
>software was ordered. $900 for the upgrade. 5 client licenses. The sale
>dweeb promised "it would run perfectly fine on a peer-to-peer network of
>Windows 98 SE machines."
>
>The software has a new database engine called Pervasive SQL. The front
>end requires the that the database engine be installed. It is not
>possible to use the old database engine with the new front end. The
>previous version of the application is no longer available for sale (Oct
>2002). The Pervasive-SQL REQUIRES F*****G MICROSOFT WINDOWS 2000 F*****G
>SERVER!!! Can't be used on a peer-to-peer with Win2K professional due to
>M$ clamping down on the network connection with a hard limit of 10. Each
>client takes 2 connections. If any other network activity occurs, the
>database goes down in flames. The server itself eats 2 connections
>internally (they claim). They even had a big disclaimer about it (...not
>liable..., ...we told you so..., ...go cry elsewhere...). The office has
>9 PC's. Can't be used at all, even as a client, on XP Home. Highly not
>recommended that Windows 98 or ME be used as clients (Duh!). 
>
>The old version, 16 bit ugly, has worked like a champ. Runs from a PII
>300 with 64M RAM under Win98. Would love to test it out under wine and
>crossover office. 
>
>The owner has stated "No more Microsoft purchases!" (Yay!!). I'm fine
>with that.
>
></rant>
>  
>

-- 
__________________________________________________________
Dow Hurst                  Office: 770-499-3428
Systems Support Specialist    Fax: 770-423-6744
1000 Chastain Rd., Bldg. 12
Chemistry Department SC428  Email:dhurst at kennesaw.edu
Kennesaw State University         Dow.Hurst at mindspring.com
Kennesaw, GA 30144
*********************************
*Computational Chemistry is fun!*
*********************************


_______________________________________________
Ale mailing list
Ale at ale.org
http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale