14 DAY TRIAL // In what seemed like an inevitable scenario for those upgrading to Windows 7, angry reports on Microsoft's support forum reveal that some users are seeing their PCs crippled by an endless series of reboots. A Microsoft engineer writing on the same forum says the company is investigating the issues, but labels them as "isolated." In this article, I will stress out one of the main reasons why Apple ties everything down to its hardware – be it a clean install, an upgrade, or the out-of-the-box experience with any of its products – so that every process is seamless.
Softpedia readers may remember that, last week, Apple started airing three new Get a Mac ads bashing the Windows 7 upgrade policy. While XP users seemed the ones prone to encounter issues, as it turns out, those upgrading from Vista are not having better luck with their installation of Windows 7.
"My upgrade failed in [the] last step," a user identified as 'Manjigani' said in a thread titled 'Windows 7 – Install Message – Upgrade Unsuccessful' on the Windows 7 support forum. "And now it is in continuous loop. I let it run overnight hoping that it will fix itself, but no luck. I am stuck in limbo."
"All the promises of stability and simplicity, and now there are so many problems with installation," 'Derrty,' another user, added on the same thread. "I can't even access my laptop nor do I have the ability to roll my system back to Vista. All indications are the install removed any trace of Vista."
Some users are downright outraged and cannot understand how Microsoft can get it wrong so many times in a row, while the company’s optimistic marketing materials keep flowing in their inbox.
"How on earth is Windows 7 so poorly manufactured that there even NEEDS to be a solution to installation issues?" 'Chimaera717' asked. The poster later reported receiving a marketing message from the Windows maker while struggling with the same reboot issues as his fellow posters. "I just got an email from Windows, titled 'Windows 7: Your PC, Simplified.' I really want to email them back and say 'Windows 7: My PC, Crippled.'" he angrily reported.
Then came a support engineer named 'Keith' and told those complaining on Microsoft’s forum that some users' problems might be related to the optical drive speed when creating an install DVD from a disk image. Microsoft, as PC users should know, also allows customers to download Windows 7 from its online store or through Digital River.
That’s Microsoft’s issue, right there! A regular PC equals numerous types of hardware. Windows 7 has to keep track of all that hardware variety, the user’s burning skills, etc.
"Make sure you are burning the image at the slowest speed possible to avoid corruption on the installation disc," Keith said.
Just how many users do you think are using the appropriate burning solution, good quality media (disc), setting just the right burning speed? The answer: not all of them, and Microsoft’s forum stands as testimony.
"Digital River and Microsoft are investigating reports of this issue," Keith added. "This appears to be a series of isolated issues that are often related to the user's Internet provider or installed third-party software."
So, it’s not just the hardware, but also "installed third-party software" that can cause these glitches. Tisk, tisk, tisk, Microsoft! Haven’t you learned anything from your competitors?
Sure, Apple doesn’t have Microsoft’s market-share, but it is very proud with what it has achieved so far. The company has the most faithful (fanatical) customers in the world, the most beautifully designed hardware and software, the complete, out-of-the box experience with all of its offerings and, best of all, it can afford the luxury to tell anyone who is not using Apple-branded / approved hardware to buzz off.
That’s why Apple likes to keep everything enclosed in its ecosystem... in "one infinite loop," if you will. This may not be the best solution either (as people tend to want to break free at times), but it surely works when one is trying to convince people to pick them.
