Listening to the Voices in My Head

I found my old Windows 7 phone, and its spare battery, so decided to charge it up, and see what I can do with it over WiFi (no sim chip in it)

It charged up very quickly and I started putting it through its paces. Sadly, there are some things that no longer work, because Zune, the desktop software you used to be able to use to update programs, no longer works. Microsoft shut off Zune's access to the servers sometime around June/July 2019.

Be that as it may, other programs were working fine. I fired up my Kindle app and at first, all seemed well. It started to sync, cancelled the sync, deregistered itself, and deleted the books I had on the device. Ok, this intrepid device user went through the usual "register your device", and it failed. I tried again, and again, and again, meticulously making sure every letter/character in name and password was correct and it was. But kept getting "Email and password not recognized". BUT I could login via the phone's internet browser. Time for TECH SUPPORT! I start a chat, and I explain the situation. I was clear and succinct so I wouldn't be wasting any time. Even though I told the person, designated by the letter P, that everything, even the Microsoft Store, said I had the app installed, it wouldn't work. My question was "Did Amazon discontinue support for the Windows Phone version of Kindle App?"

P said no, and insisted I check MS store to see if it was there. It was. He insisted I try to login, over and over. The, P's bright idea was to switch my location, even though I told him NOT to. Well, he did (that lead to a different bunch of trouble). Even so, still same "email and password not recognized" message. After P fiddling around with things, telling me to try things, and if I didn't get back to him in 60 seconds he would discontinue the chat (I reamed him about that, telling him it takes longer than 60 seconds for MS Store to launch, to search for something and get a result. He pseudo-apologized for that), for a solid 90 minutes, P finally tells me that Amazon no longer supports or has available for download the Kindle App for Windows Phone*. Ok, I will admit, I textually, without swearing, lit into him for not finding that out and telling me earlier. I also told him to put my Amazon setting BACK to the way they originally were. (Although I live in Australia, I am U.S. citizen. I opened my Amazon account in the US over 20 years ago. Yes, I know there's an Amazon Au, but their selection sucks. Can't get the ebooks I want on the Amazon AU site, so not ditching my Amazon US account) Ended chat, gave honest if low rating. Turns out the little $hit didn't put my settings back. So, none of my echo dots/alexa settings worked anymore.

I admit, it was late, and I was in no mood to go searching for reason/solution, I started another Amazon help chat regarding Alexa devices, with support person, Amir. I explained I was living in Australia, but had opened amazon account when I was in the US and wanted to keep it that way. He fixed the issue in under 30 seconds. I profusely thanked him for his friendly, quick service, ended chat, gave 5 star ratings across the board.

Turn the clock to this morning. I download my email, and find almost a dozen of emails from Amazon regarding needing to use a ONE TIME PASSWORD for my device. Huh what? LIGHTBULB. I tried to login into Windows Phone Kindle app. Waited. Checked email, and ta da! There was an email about needing to use OTP to for my device. BACK to the Windows Phone, typed in the OTP, and guess what? Kindle App works just fine. Why P, or other tech working there don't know about this? Good question. Now I can at least use my device for ebooks.

Next thing, I'm checking to see if I can use it as a portable audio book device. Wish me luck!

Out of the blue, my Windows 7 computer decided that the OS wasn't genuine... after 2 years. I tried reactivating, and no joy.

I headed to Microsoft Help, started a session with a tech. He rebooted the system with all by MS services disabled. After 2 hours of nothing he did working right, he left and had me continue a download to try later.

5 hours later, the download is still going, so I'm getting bored. I open up Control Panel, click on system. Sure enough, still saying not activated. I clicked on ACTIVATE and I got "Your copy of windows may be counterfeit. Go online to fix this." (got this with the tech, but he would just close it down) I clicked on it, opened the link in IE. I saw a button that said "VALIDATE". Clicked on that, and suddenly Windows 7 Ultimate is activated.

Maybe I should work for MS support?

6th time was the charm! Well, Windows Media Center is working on my Windows 8.1 Pro laptop. Currently scanning the laptops' harddrive for errors to see if that fixes the slow to start/login problem.

Still no word as to whether or not I can get a Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center ISO/installation disc.

Do you ever want to hunt down whoever is answering your tech support question and smack em upside the head because they aren't actually reading what you put in the support request?

Summation: My Windows 7Pro 64bit desktop has the AverMedia H727 HDMI 3D card, and it has its own remote. But the remote ONLY works with AverMedia Center. It doesn't work with Windows Media Center.

So, I bought the AverMedia A867R with remote that is advertised to work with Windows Media Center. I follow the installation instructions, and all the remote will do is start WMC. I can't navigate through any of the menus, select anything. I can only start it. The remote works fine in AverMedia Player, but that software is a pain in the ass, counter intuitive and it doesn't play DVDs, whereas I can play DVDs via Windows Media Center.

I scour the internet, forums, FAQS to find any information as to why this isn't working. Tested Remote. Yup, works fine. Batteries; put new ones in. Uninstalled, rebooted, reinstalled, rebooted (repeat three times). No joy.


So, I send support request explaining everything above, almost word for word, and they are either hiring imbeciles, people with a vague grasp of English, or those who only know how to copy/paste... maybe all of the above.

I posted something on a program makers "Facebook Page", asking a question. I get a reply the next day, to please go to their main site and submit a support ticket.

I dutifully point and click on over, copy and paste the exact question on their "Submit Support Ticket", and clicked on "Submit".

Today, I get notice that someone answered me. Their answer is "No it doesn't work with your browser (I know that) and there is no ETA as to when it will."

Ok, riddle me this: was was so dastardly that the person on the FB site couldn't have typed out "Sorry, we don't support that browser at this time, and don't have an ETA as to when we will"?

And on their survey, I pretty much told them exactly that.