14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft Fix it Center represents a new stage in the evolution of the company’s support efforts. The Redmond giant has been little shy about applauding the success of Windows 7’s default support model for customers in real-life scenarios, and it is now working to bring the experience to additional Windows platforms. A Beta of Microsoft Fix it Center is now live, allowing customers to test-drive both a client and web-based service designed to automatically identify and resolve common problems affecting computers and devices.
“Microsoft Customer Service and Support (CSS) (…) launched the Microsoft Fix it Center (Beta), [to guide] users through the complete support experience with automated fixes, customized self-help in the cloud and seamless escalation to assisted support if needed. Fix it Center is a free service that customers can download for in-depth troubleshooting and access to online tools that allow them to monitor multiple devices and find a richer set of relevant, targeted solutions,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Softpedia.
According to the system requirements information, the Beta of the Fix it Center is designed to play nice with the following operating systems: Windows XP SP3, Windows XP Pro (64-bit) SP2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2. The automated tool consolidates diagnosis and repair processes, and, in this sense, it is capable of helping customers not only resolve existing issues, but also proactively fix problems by grabbing updates when they are available and installing them.
According to Microsoft, there are three main “benefits to Fix it Center:
“• Better self-help and assisted support: Fix it Center helps users solve common issues automatically by running applicable troubleshooters on their machine and guiding them to automated fixes and customized self-help in the cloud. If Fix it Center cannot solve a specific issue, customers can still access phone, email or chat support with a Microsoft Support professional who can access their Fix it Center account and get details about the hardware, the problem, and the solutions they have already tried, to ensure faster problem resolution.
“• Broader product support: Window 7 already offers a number of built in support capabilities, but Fix it Center leverages the same diagnostics model for Windows XP and Windows Vista, offering a consistent experience for customers. It also takes the troubleshooting experience to the next level by tying the results of the troubleshooting to Microsoft Support services in the cloud where users are offered additional self-help solutions and an easy and seamless handoff to assisted support if needed. Fix it Center offers more than 300 solutions localized in 24 languages.
“• Easier support for SMBs: Fix it Center will ease the maintenance load and ensure that Microsoft technology is working reliably and efficiently. Fix it Center will create an environment where small businesses can focus on their business, while Microsoft provides an easier experience where software works better and, when issues do occur, support is easier.”
The Microsoft Fix it Center client Beta is available for download here.