Microsoft Makes Me Cranky*

[c9]

We deliver Microsoft certified courses. We used to get instructions on how to set them up, including OS and all required software. Now, MS sends out VirtualPC images that include everything already, so we just install the tiny VirtualPC app (just like VMware) and we're done. Almost. This is a huge improvement. Huge huge.

The almost: because these VirtualPC images are fully-functioning, tuned and patched Exchange servers, SQL servers, Sharepoint servers, etc, Microsoft requires that they be activated. Otherwise people could trade them on teh intarweb and everybody could have a SharePoint server in their kitchen. Not sure why, but whatever.

Recently, to improve the quality of the VPCs (desperately needed), MS has been increasing the number of VPCs included for each course. This means that I have to activate more than one image. Today, I am activating 27. For one course. Gah.

Process:

• Download DVD image, in 300 MB rar pieces.
• Unrar them into one 3 GB ISO.
• Access the contents of the ISO.
• Repeat this sequence 27 times.
  • Unrar VirtualPC image.
  • Add VPC image to VPC Console.
  • Add second NIC to make activation faster (otherwise I have to do it by phone and talking to a real person, and that's really nasty for this stuff)
  • Boot VPC
  • Log in
  • Agree to activating.
  • Choose to activate Over The Internet.
  • Say no to registering.
  • Type in magic 25-character code that gives me the right to activate.
  • Click OK.
  • Wait for boot to complete.
  • Shut down VPC.
  • Commit the changes to the virtual hard disk.
  • Remove second NIC.
  • Remove from VPC Console.
  • Rar the VPC back up again.
• Create new 3 GB ISO.
• Burn a copy for whoever asked originally, plus others later.

I'm on VPC number twelve. AAAAAAAAAARGH.

* Original title edited as a friend who works for Microsoft has pointed them to this post, and maybe saying I was stabby is a little aggressive. :)

Comments

[primary-suspect.livejournal.com]

That is crazy. Yay for fully-funciontal VPC images, but nay for activation procedure.

[c9.livejournal.com]

I understand why they want them activated, and I understand why they are sending so many. But I hate hate hate hate hate the byproduct of those two decisions. :)

[zanate.livejournal.com]

Now I want a sharepoint server in my kitchen. Next to the bread maker and the ice cream machine.

[c9.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you've used one before, but you really don't want that kind of trash in your kitchen.

I was trying to come up with a joke comment where the punchline was that the sharepoint server got to stay in your kitchen, but it just pales in comparison to your other appliances.

[zanate.livejournal.com]

I was going to make a joke about the insanity of using thousands of bucks worth of hardware and software to index and access my recipes.

Then I realized that was striking a little too close to home for a lot of us.

[c9.livejournal.com]

There are days (weeks, months) that I wish my thousands of bucks of hardware and software were doing something so tangible and productive.

[rebelprince26.livejournal.com]

is this post in english?

[c9.livejournal.com]

Bwana meep grana beep ninnybaum.

[rebelprince26.livejournal.com]

это - то, что я думал джеркфас

[c9.livejournal.com]

Oh god, here we go again. Wait a sec - where did you learn that??

[rebelprince26.livejournal.com]

i thought you'd like that. :)

[thespos]

You had me at rar.

*rawr*

:-P

I can't believe with all their ability to make such grief they haven't figured out a way to mass activate. It's not like it's going to be a different code per VPC, is it?

[c9.livejournal.com]

Nope, same deal each time. We're talking abour a variation over the course of every course in a year of maybe 250KB.

But if they figured that out, then teh intarweb crackorrists would too.

automate-able

[petele.livejournal.com]

there has to be a way to automate it. in fact, i'm almost positive there is.

the hardest part will likely be the downloading... who/what team are you dealing with there?

Re: automate-able

[c9.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I could if I had the correct testing software installed, but this is run on all manner of systems (basically whatever's available). It's also rarely this bad, but it is tending towards more.

The effort involved in testing the automation would probably be more than just the activation, annoyingly. :)

It's MS Learning, they build images for elearning and MOC courses. I talk to them through support@mscourseware.com.

[canuckboy.livejournal.com]

I'm taking Visio at Adelaide this week.

Wee.

[canuckboy.livejournal.com]

Oops. Not Visio. Project.

I'm a dumbtard sometimes.

[c9.livejournal.com]

I'm downtown the rest of the week too, but at Bloor.

Moonlighting straaaangers.... who just met... on the waaaayyyyy...

[canuckboy.livejournal.com]

Theoretically, we could meet afterward. ;)

[c9.livejournal.com]

That's funny. "Afterward?" I find myself running to catch the train every day because I'm too dumb to leave work at a reasonable time. :)

But yes, we could. My train is at 5:40 though. Suggestions?

[canuckboy.livejournal.com]

I can run beside the train at the station and wave at you!

[c9.livejournal.com]

Perfect!