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General discussion

To: Robert Proffitt- the expert

Jun 1, 2005 1:10PM PDT

Perhaps a little patience and Reading of ''Adventure in attitude'' will demonstrate your superior knowledge of computer tecnology in a more compassionate manner to people like me who just starteted.
In my humble opinion, I did the correct thing in trying to get the originator of ''Try this'' to respond and assist in solving my problem that originated from following Leo's instructions for downloading BOOTVIS.
From you, as a moderator, I would have expected your comment on Leo's ''Try this'' and warn novices like me that Microsoft does not encourage downloading bootvis and that problems in rebooting may occur.
Rather, You chose to be on high horse, bureaucratic and unhelpful, and thius failing in bieng a "moderator", at least in my eyes.
zeeman

Discussion is locked

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Dear Zeeman,
Jun 1, 2005 2:26PM PDT

Where and how have Bob offend you ? Please provide links to threads and posts.

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I saw the link.... relax
Jun 1, 2005 2:49PM PDT

Bob was letting you know that posting a problem in the middle of an old thread will probably receive no help.

And he noted that if Bootvis toasted your system, reinstall XP. He didn't have on all CAPS so he wasn;t yelling at you, just used very few words. Bob is a great help here so don't get to excited and read on.

Bootvis can screw up your system, and although I am no expert on it, I think the only way to fix it is to reinstall.

Try doing a repair install if you have a real XP disk.
If you have a retore disk only you might be doing a full restore. I have used an OEM XP disk from other systems to do a repair install on HP and Compaq factory systems and it worked fine. Use your product key that came with the system, should be on a sticker.

You will have to activate it after the reinstall if you use an outside OEM disk but it will activate OK.

To find how to do a repair install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Good Luck

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Problem Solved
Jun 2, 2005 3:20AM PDT

Merl,
Thanks for your comments. I can see from the number of posts Bob has made and the time he spends in doing so, he is an expert and has tons of experience. I was, neither, expecting handholding and spoon feeding, nor did I expect introductory nicities of the orient. I have learnt that very often it is not what you say but how you say it. Anyway, I am new and learning. I will also be careful about what I read in this forum.
I got a new XP Pro with all updates incl SP2 and installed to overcome startup problem.
Peace, zeeman

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Tips, bedside manner and gift horses
Jun 1, 2005 2:39PM PDT

Tips are usually free, but if you want someone to hold your hand and spoon feed you, with a wonderful bedside manner, well that usually cost lots more - you ever met a rude specialist doctor that you are paying buckets of money - think not!.

Beside, have a look at the number of posts Bob has made - would you spend that much time and effort without getting paid???, once again I think not - In my experience, the people who usually want everything for nothing, are usually the type that do nothing unless they are getting paid for it, and when they do get it for nothing, usually complain about the service!
Dont look a gift horse in the mouth.
Peter

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Hold your horses
Jun 2, 2005 3:29AM PDT

Peter,
I have good bedside manners, knowledge and see a lot of people in Africa who cant pay for medical sevices.
zeeman

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High horses and ones of a different colour
Jun 2, 2005 2:45PM PDT

When you come down from your high horse of benevolences, the people in Africa are a horse of a different colour (no inference on skin colour intended) - I was born and spent some years in Africa, and know the native people to be humble and grateful for what ever help they receive, or in what form the help is delivered - there expectations are low and their gratitude is high - in this type of environment it is easy to have a warm bedside manner as all one gets is praise and accolade
The converse is true in forums such as these, where expectation are selfishly unrealistic and praise is almost non existent - And where 9 out of 10 people dont even respond to your efforts, never mind a simple "thank you" - given this environment, I would like to see you still have your benevolent bedside manner after 38,000 posts in only a 2 year period!!
Besides, your attack on Bob was not consistent with the post and I fail to see how you can justify such personal attacks given the circumstances.
Granted, Bob can appear abrupt and business like, but he is a great source of knowledge, and if you want help, I suggest you get used to it, as you are not dealing with humble african people in this forum.
Peter

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(NT) (NT) your point being?
Jun 3, 2005 1:25PM PDT
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hint hint: this is North America
Jun 3, 2005 1:26PM PDT

'when in Rome' and all that neat stuff.

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We are??? Hint hint : AUSSIEpete lolo
Jun 3, 2005 3:57PM PDT

No wonder I am so tired - it must be all that travelling I do every night lol!!!!!
Beside is Canada part of Nth America??? (not if the French Canadians had there way it wouldn't be)

Peter

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funny Aussie man
Jun 4, 2005 7:19AM PDT

i was referring to North America in a contigious sort of way.

No definitely Canadian.

If the French had their way they would seccede to France except that France does not want them.

Visited your fair city twice.

Loved 'the cross'.

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Just a little thing
Jun 4, 2005 9:21PM PDT

I know why you said, "This is North America", because CNET is based in the US, but in reality it isn't.

Many people who read and post in these forums live in other countries, (I'm in the UK for instance), and so these forums are, really, international, with no home.

Just thought I would make that point, Happy

Mark

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Beyond international.
Jun 4, 2005 11:21PM PDT

Pan galactic?

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(NT) (NT) Beam me up Scottie!!
Jun 5, 2005 2:53PM PDT
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re: Bob
Jun 1, 2005 3:15PM PDT

Have you taken the time to explore the "Computer newbies" forum? WRC

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Pitch in and push.
Jun 1, 2005 9:42PM PDT

Help out where you can.

As to bootvis, that's not something Microsoft offers any longer. You didn't do your homework and got to do a lot more work to get out of the trap.

Some expect the moderators to be the only helpers or treat these forums like a paid tech support service. Niether is true. It is a great place to be since you get help (you did!) and you may learn something along the way.

Some don't want to learn and that's fine. But know this, if my answer can be in the form of a google search using the member's own words, or a quick KB article it will be. I answer many questions and some don't like it that I don't do a preliminary "How do you do?" and more. Let this exchange be our howdies and let's tackle your issues?

Bob

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Never look a gift horse
Jun 3, 2005 12:39PM PDT

I have been watching the discussions here on cnet and before on zdnet for almost 10 years under different aliases. I input every once in a while but for the most part others give the same answers I would give. And even better. Mr. Robert Proffitt is the hardest working moderator I have seen his patience seems inexhastible so I will say do not expect miracles when you may be 5000 miles away .. your true info is vital in order for anyone to be of any service to you. Otherwise go and PAY the Price. It is not us that scewed up your system YOU DID!.
I also notice that these bitchers rarely return to the discussion.
Frustration is a link to knowlege

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why is the argument allways about $$$$$$$$$
Jun 3, 2005 10:10PM PDT

Its a corporative defense in this forum and the argument is allways about money when somebody complains,its really sad, because its a very good forum but think only for reading and learning from other posts and answeres, but beware of posting and then dare to complain, people feel like never posting again. so much anger, I really think its a forum only for people with EEU mentality, where money is the most important, as I can see from all the answeres here.

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cos if you pay $$$$$$$$$$$$$
Jun 3, 2005 10:17PM PDT

you can expect your $85-250 an hour personal technician to hold your hand and say "awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, diddums, it'll be alright soon"....

these days there are people who log on at 08:00 to post "why is my computer running slow!" and then at 09:00 are screaming "why haven't i been handed a solution on a silver platter"....


wake up vera, smell the coffee, inhale the good, exhale the bad....


.

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Many studies on the subject
Jun 4, 2005 2:32AM PDT

When people get "something for nothing" there is an association made in the mind of a lack of "worth" not only for the item itself, but also for the person associated with providing that item.
Its a trait of human nature that has mystified psychology students, and therefore many studies have been made into the subject.
It goes against logic, in that, one would expect a person to have more respect and worth for someone that provides an item for a lesser amount, but the converse is true.

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I liked your analisis but
Jun 4, 2005 4:16AM PDT

and not talking about Mr. Proffit,(we all know he works hard only trying to help) by the way I have never heard him say he is working hard for no pay,I refered to many others that can be very rude when it comes to defend Mr. proffit,and allways one of the arguments is money, and even if you do not pay for some requierments it gives no right to be offensive, only think about human rights, or poor people that get state benefits, no body deserves to be humilliated only because there is no money on between.
Tank you

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Point taken, but
Jun 4, 2005 1:07PM PDT

I was unemployed for a short time during my younger day so I know what you mean - the government employees treat the unemployed like sheep. However, these Gov people are getting paid for what they do and are probably dissatisfied with their job - once again we get back to the point a few of us trying to make, that is, we are not getting $paid$, and we are not dissatisfied with out work, but that doesn't mean we should be treated with contempt - a little bit of respect and the odd "thank you" is all we ask.
Logic, if we were that obsessed with $$$$$ we wouldn't be waisting our time here giving our services away, we would be chasing the mighty $$$$$$$.
Peter

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"Frustration is a link to knowlege"
Jun 4, 2005 4:47AM PDT

One of my colleagues noted that...

"Experience is directly proportional to the amount of equipment you've blown up."

Hope you like that one,

Bob

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Jun 4, 2005 6:42AM PDT

asking because of "hope you like that one"

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(NT) (NT) GMC wrote that, so no.
Jun 4, 2005 6:54AM PDT
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(NT) (NT) similar:- "You only learn by your mistakes"
Jun 4, 2005 12:41PM PDT
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(NT) (NT) Time to move on or move this to SE
Jun 4, 2005 9:05PM PDT