Maximum PC

Installed Office 2010 betas on my desktop (64-bit) and laptop (32-bit) several weeks ago. Software was activated and working reasonably well--nothing but minor gripes.

Yesterday started up desktop and was greeted with msg that Office wasn't activated and that 64-bit version was for corporations only. No problem there, it's a beta and I knew I would have to uninstall at some point.

Problem was that I couldn't uninstall either using control panel or Revo. Control panel would force restart before uninstall started. Revo would force restart before it scanned for leftovers.

Luckily I had appropriate restore disks and was able to take system back to point before install.

Anybody else have similar problems? Open Office is looking better with each new version of office.

It is a BETA ... install at your peril!

This sucks, obviously, but it is not a legitimate gripe for the Dog Pound. Beta software is not guaranteed (or likely) to work properly.

Jip, if you got something of value to add, I'm willing to consider it.

Been reading MaxPC from the very beginning. I think I've earned right to speak here. The fact that you can't uninstall a major microsoft program from a microsoft OS goes beyond the normal scopes of problems associated with betas. I've been beta testing programs for many years, and you'll never hear me complain about issues of functionality or design flaws. However, I will complain about a major omission from the world's largest SW company.

This forum belongs to all of us and we're all equally entitled to contribute to legitimate discussion without personal criticism from peanut gallery.

You expressed your opinion, and Jipstyle expressed his. This is what a forum is.

I did add something. I told you that you posted in the wrong section. I also told you that bitching about a beta is silly.



Speaking here isn't a right .. it is freely available to everyone .. provided you abide by the rules.

I didn't censor you. I could have .. I could move this post to the relevant section or just delete it. So please don't pretend you're being censored when I post my opinion.



We just did, actually.

Any and all problems should be expected when running a beta .. including wiping your PC completely.

Before you downloaded the beta, you should have read the following warning:



This implies that it is possible that the software beta has the potential to completely hose your PC. A problem with uninstalling the product is not something to whine about here. In fact, you should be talking to MS ... that is why you're involved in the beta program.

For someone who claims to have been involved in many betas, you're strangely ignorant of the actual purpose of a beta program. You don't come to complain on a forum that your beta doesn't work .. you report the problem to the developers so that they can fix it and release a decent product.



And I'll happily point out that you are being unreasonable.



Get off your cross. I'm equally allowed to contribute my opinion .. which is that your opinion is asinine. Deal with it.

It's a well known problem with Office 2010.

This for example presents a simple solution to fixing a problem with uninstalling it. Not sure if that was your problem, but it's happened to at least some people.

OMG not again! Read and do your homework before you install crap on your PC. Its a good idea to use Virtual Machines when you test beta software or test anything else for that matter.



BTW... Did Driver Detective give you a refund or are they still ignoring you? I'm not being a smartass now, I'm just curious to know how it turned out.

Thanks Gigabyte (my favorite boards too),

They are refunding money, but said it might take up to 15 days.

Look, I'm not out to get anybody's feathers up, but I'm a little disturbed by the attitude that users should have full knowledge before they install software on their PC.

You never really know what you're getting until you install and use software. Nobody would ever install anything if they paid attention to every post on net. Seeing is believing. You have to try it before you can judge it.

Don't you think that sharing this experience might be beneficial to others. We're talking about the major player in the industry. Screwing up the uninstall process is a major boner--even for a beta.

I've posted two articles in more than a decade. I'm not a complainer by nature, but expect to be treated fairly. Don't you think I should be able to post my experiences without being treated like an ignoramus .

Please... stop martyring yourself because people disagree with you. It is unseemly.

You are being treated fairly. We're discussing your opinion and providing our own. You're asking us not to do so .. can't you that that is unfair? Why don't we have an equal right to express ourselves?

No one has been rude or belligerent ... so I don't see why you're taking offense.

I don't think you're an ignoramus. I do think that, in this instance, you are ignorant.

A beta is software that is always installed at the user's risk. You are helping to test unfinished software .. there should be no expectations on your part.



They should have some knowledge before installing a beta. In fact, as I showed with my previous links, you have to agree not to hold MS responsible if their beta software hoses your PC before you can even download the software.

It is the user's responsibility to read the terms of the software agreement.

Really .. if this was commercial software .. even a trial edition .. I'd be right behind you. But it isn't. It is beta. The only thing that is correct for you to do in this instance is to let the developers know about the problem. That is part of the contract to which you agreed when you downloaded and installed the software.

Complaining that a beta doesn't work is nonsensical .. no one ever promised that it would. Betas are released in order to find flaws.

If you are having troubles with Office 2010 beta, try sending Microsoft a bug report through send-a-frown (The red frown face in your system tray).

It's actually a nickname. Lots of geeky hobbies, jobs, and normal people think I can speak another language.





We're not talking about every post on net. We're talking about the basics. Nobody has full knowledge before they install or purchase software. However, a little independent research can go a long way. It's not like it's hard to find or ask for help before hand. Go look in the other sections.

I'm disturbed by the mentality that it's perfectly alright to whine, complain, and degrade legitimate products because you dug a hole in the dark and fell in.


Here's an example of how you could have handled Driver Detective:

Beta software is fairly obvious so I'm at a loss here.

I'm a paid professional beta tester, and Microsoft is one of our clients. Let me explain something to you about when you test their software/operating systems. It comes with a time lock meaning it cannot be removed till after the test is completed for that build. If for some reason you want to opt out of Microsoft's Beta program, there is a tool at beta.microsoft.com that will remove any of their beta/RC software from your PC. Also read very carefully, Microsoft has a disclaimer that YOU alone take the risk in beta testing any of their software/Operating systems and they won't be held responsible for any mishaps, and BEFORE you can download YOU have to check the box that you agree to that. At the end of any beta/rc test period you ARE forced to remove it from your computer, and revert your PC back to pre-beta/RC install. Microsoft's Beta Program is priveledge that allows a certain segment of Windows users to peek into the future of Microsoft's new software/Operating Systems.