Need support on 2006 - Trial uninstalled my 2004 - NOW WHAT?

I am trying to get my budget working. The 2004 money that I had calculated
it incorrectly. I just installed the trial version of 2006 and bought a new
copy of 2006 and am waiting for Amazon to ship it. So I am using the trial.
When I go to customer support for online chat (as the 2006 budget program has
the SAME PROBLEM), it won't let me proceed as the Trial does not have a
product ID.

Wow - Talk about your Kafka-esqe problems!

Can someone (Microsoft) or other tell me how to get support on this system?
What about a WARNING that if you install the trial (it recommends removing
your old program) that you will NOT GET SUPPORT!

Please help?

Dick
Tue Nov 08 21:47:01 CST 2005

Trial installations are not supported. What are you looking for us to tell
you?

I'm guessing you want Budget Planner to work differently than it does. We
can't change the code. It is what it is.

"Cyphire" <Cyphire@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8327F18E-6DAA-4A18-88D0-03AEFFAB2960@microsoft.com...
>I am trying to get my budget working. The 2004 money that I had calculated
> it incorrectly. I just installed the trial version of 2006 and bought a
> new
> copy of 2006 and am waiting for Amazon to ship it. So I am using the
> trial.
> When I go to customer support for online chat (as the 2006 budget program
> has
> the SAME PROBLEM), it won't let me proceed as the Trial does not have a
> product ID.
>
> Wow - Talk about your Kafka-esqe problems!
>
> Can someone (Microsoft) or other tell me how to get support on this
> system?
> What about a WARNING that if you install the trial (it recommends removing
> your old program) that you will NOT GET SUPPORT!

Cyphire
Wed Nov 09 00:32:01 CST 2005

Hummm... I'm guessing that you don't work for Microsoft - I'm sure that your
corporate culture wouldn't allow such an arrogant and unknowledgeable
response to be offered.

So lets start again...

First - If MS is going to offer a 'free trial' for current users, and
suggest the removal of the licensed and installed software - they should make
sure to let the user know that if the problem isn't rectified in the new
version that they are Sh..t out of luck when it comes to support. If I
hadn't installed the new version (which expressed on the feature list that
the budgets were vastly improved), I would be able to get support for my
problem. But since this wasn't disclosed to me, guess the jokes on me!!!
Great bait and switch tactic (it's ok, the monopoly won't cry!!!).

Second - I have a total of x dollars over the last year in a specific income
catagory. The budget program reduces this by 70%. For no discernable
reason. I don't want the code in the budget planner to be changed, I'm just
asking how to correct the fact that it isn't working, give me a kludge, give
me a hint, explain that it is a bug... Something...

Make sense??? Having a bad day? Just not a 'people' person!????

p.s. Thanks for the crappy attitude!

"Dick Watson" wrote:

> Trial installations are not supported. What are you looking for us to tell
> you?
>
> I'm guessing you want Budget Planner to work differently than it does. We
> can't change the code. It is what it is.
>
> "Cyphire" <Cyphire@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:8327F18E-6DAA-4A18-88D0-03AEFFAB2960@microsoft.com...
> >I am trying to get my budget working. The 2004 money that I had calculated
> > it incorrectly. I just installed the trial version of 2006 and bought a
> > new
> > copy of 2006 and am waiting for Amazon to ship it. So I am using the
> > trial.
> > When I go to customer support for online chat (as the 2006 budget program
> > has
> > the SAME PROBLEM), it won't let me proceed as the Trial does not have a
> > product ID.
> >
> > Wow - Talk about your Kafka-esqe problems!
> >
> > Can someone (Microsoft) or other tell me how to get support on this
> > system?
> > What about a WARNING that if you install the trial (it recommends removing
> > your old program) that you will NOT GET SUPPORT!
>
>
>

R
Wed Nov 09 06:36:58 CST 2005

Cyphire,

First, Dick Watson is one of the most knowledgeable and helpful posters on
this list by far. He has established a FAQ which is outstanding and you
might want to read it. You should have read his reply more carefully and
more posts in general before attacking him. Dick's reply to you was not
offensive but rather practical.

Second, this is not an MSFT run support site. Regular users try to help
each other. MVPs (not MSFT employees but recognized for their expertise) do
post here but they are helping folks for free so be polite to them.

As to your question, there are lot of things MSFT should do that they do not
do. One of those things would be a warning such as you describe. MSFT is
trying to trap you into buying the program. Learn to protect yourself in
the future by guarding your current Money installation from any trial
version. I demo trial versions on a separate computer.

Also learn to be skeptical about MSFT claims regarding new and improved
features. I find their advertising claims to be grossly overstated.

Finally you have not provided nearly enough information to understand your
budget problem. Money's budget feature works pretty good but it can be
buggy. If you are using scheduled bills and deposits things can get hairy.
Suggest you carefully study how Money gets the figures it comes up with.
Once you know how that is done you can fix 99% of your problems yourself.
Struggling with MSFT support on these issues should be your last resort. I
use the Annual Report feature in the budget planner to see the numbers Money
is budgeting month by month. This always allows me to determine what Money
is doing and then I can make appropriate corrections to my budget setup.
Keep in mind that most Money problems are due to user error. I have been
using Quicken and then Money every single day for over 20 years and I still
have plenty to learn.

For whatever its worth, I am using Money 2002. I have demo'd every new
version since 2002, including 2006, and rejected all of them because MSFT
introduced a change in the budget report logic in version 2003 which still
exists in 2006 that destroys my budget reports plus there are no new
substantive features of any use to me. All I see are changes in the
interface, many of which are negative, and more annoying advertising. Also
these newer versions automatically disable downloading after 2 years which
is a marketing policy that I will not buy into since it attempts to "force"
users to upgrade every 2 years. I believe this policy will reduce MSFT's
already minimal incentive to substantively improve the program.



Regards,

Bill Wood
Fountain Hills, AZ



"Cyphire" <Cyphire@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8327F18E-6DAA-4A18-88D0-03AEFFAB2960@microsoft.com...
>I am trying to get my budget working. The 2004 money that I had calculated
> it incorrectly. I just installed the trial version of 2006 and bought a
> new
> copy of 2006 and am waiting for Amazon to ship it. So I am using the
> trial.
> When I go to customer support for online chat (as the 2006 budget program
> has
> the SAME PROBLEM), it won't let me proceed as the Trial does not have a
> product ID.
>
> Wow - Talk about your Kafka-esqe problems!
>
> Can someone (Microsoft) or other tell me how to get support on this
> system?
> What about a WARNING that if you install the trial (it recommends removing
> your old program) that you will NOT GET SUPPORT!
>
> Please help?

Dick
Wed Nov 09 07:34:23 CST 2005

OK. If you want to be that way. I'll answer the only question your original
post asked. (I've included it below for reference.)

No.

"Cyphire" <Cyphire@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A3BE541A-31F5-45E7-B80F-F8CF99ED2D6E@microsoft.com...
>> "Cyphire" <Cyphire@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:8327F18E-6DAA-4A18-88D0-03AEFFAB2960@microsoft.com...
>> > Can someone (Microsoft) or other tell me how to get support on this
>> > system?

Cyphire
Wed Nov 09 18:29:21 CST 2005

Thank you for your message William. My sincere apologies to Dick - I need to
get my Microsoft rage in check and I took it out on Dick based on my
misunderstanding of these forums and in my own built up rage against
Microsoft.

I knew going in that I would have a support problem, and that the new
version would not fix anything. Figuring that my time is worth more than the
30ish bucks for a new version, even if it's a slicker interface with some
slight improvements, it was worth it to me, and then when problems arose
(which I knew they would), I stood on ceremony and started to get angry.

I have both pre-conversion backups, microsoft created backups (when the new
software was installed), and more importantly, a full image file of my
laptops HD for complete protection and control. I also have the original
2004 standard edition (which I uninstalled) and could have easily put it
back, used the preconversion files and then gotten support (I assume) - but i
complained rather than acted.

I thought that Dick was a Microsoft developer/support person in Money. That
was a silly and conclusion jumping thought. Had he been, and had meant to
tell me to 'piss off - I'm not fixing any bugs for you - thats your problem
and sorry you aren't getting support on the product, even though it's the
same problem with your registered version' - AS a Microsoft employee - I
would have been, if not justified, at least in the ballpark to complain.

Now understanding the situation, I feel much better and shouldn't have
worked myself into a lather. Very sincerely sorry again Dick, and thank you
for your thoughtful response William.

Brian

"William R Wood" wrote:

> Cyphire,
>
> First, Dick Watson is one of the most knowledgeable and helpful posters on
> this list by far. He has established a FAQ which is outstanding and you
> might want to read it. You should have read his reply more carefully and
> more posts in general before attacking him. Dick's reply to you was not
> offensive but rather practical.
>
> Second, this is not an MSFT run support site. Regular users try to help
> each other. MVPs (not MSFT employees but recognized for their expertise) do
> post here but they are helping folks for free so be polite to them.
>
> As to your question, there are lot of things MSFT should do that they do not
> do. One of those things would be a warning such as you describe. MSFT is
> trying to trap you into buying the program. Learn to protect yourself in
> the future by guarding your current Money installation from any trial
> version. I demo trial versions on a separate computer.
>
> Also learn to be skeptical about MSFT claims regarding new and improved
> features. I find their advertising claims to be grossly overstated.
>
> Finally you have not provided nearly enough information to understand your
> budget problem. Money's budget feature works pretty good but it can be
> buggy. If you are using scheduled bills and deposits things can get hairy.
> Suggest you carefully study how Money gets the figures it comes up with.
> Once you know how that is done you can fix 99% of your problems yourself.
> Struggling with MSFT support on these issues should be your last resort. I
> use the Annual Report feature in the budget planner to see the numbers Money
> is budgeting month by month. This always allows me to determine what Money
> is doing and then I can make appropriate corrections to my budget setup.
> Keep in mind that most Money problems are due to user error. I have been
> using Quicken and then Money every single day for over 20 years and I still
> have plenty to learn.
>
> For whatever its worth, I am using Money 2002. I have demo'd every new
> version since 2002, including 2006, and rejected all of them because MSFT
> introduced a change in the budget report logic in version 2003 which still
> exists in 2006 that destroys my budget reports plus there are no new
> substantive features of any use to me. All I see are changes in the
> interface, many of which are negative, and more annoying advertising. Also
> these newer versions automatically disable downloading after 2 years which
> is a marketing policy that I will not buy into since it attempts to "force"
> users to upgrade every 2 years. I believe this policy will reduce MSFT's
> already minimal incentive to substantively improve the program.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Bill Wood
> Fountain Hills, AZ
>
>
>
> "Cyphire" <Cyphire@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:8327F18E-6DAA-4A18-88D0-03AEFFAB2960@microsoft.com...
> >I am trying to get my budget working. The 2004 money that I had calculated
> > it incorrectly. I just installed the trial version of 2006 and bought a
> > new
> > copy of 2006 and am waiting for Amazon to ship it. So I am using the
> > trial.
> > When I go to customer support for online chat (as the 2006 budget program
> > has
> > the SAME PROBLEM), it won't let me proceed as the Trial does not have a
> > product ID.
> >
> > Wow - Talk about your Kafka-esqe problems!
> >
> > Can someone (Microsoft) or other tell me how to get support on this
> > system?
> > What about a WARNING that if you install the trial (it recommends removing
> > your old program) that you will NOT GET SUPPORT!
> >
> > Please help?
>
>
>

R
Wed Nov 09 19:35:29 CST 2005

Thanks for the nice response. Glad to hear you have good backups.

I fully understand how one can get real upset with MSFT sometimes.

If you have questions about the budget issue after you get Money running to
your satisfaction, let us know.

Regards

Bill Wood



"Cyphire" <Cyphire@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:CDFC2E0F-42A1-4BB6-8030-876B071E18EE@microsoft.com...
> Thank you for your message William. My sincere apologies to Dick - I need
> to
> get my Microsoft rage in check and I took it out on Dick based on my
> misunderstanding of these forums and in my own built up rage against
> Microsoft.
>

skid0g
Fri Nov 18 14:16:22 CST 2005

On Wed, 9 Nov 2005 05:36:58 -0700, "William R Wood" <secret@???.net>
wrote:

>MSFT
>introduced a change in the budget report logic in version 2003 which still
>exists in 2006 that destroys my budget reports plus there are no new
>substantive features of any use to me. All I see are changes in the
>interface, many of which are negative, and more annoying advertising. Also
>these newer versions automatically disable downloading after 2 years


I am considering buying 2006. I am using the Trial version and
actually like the interface, but I've not used MS Money for about 5
years and I am easy to impress. (I still get a thrill when my car
starts when I turn the key)

My concern is what you said about advertising. I have not seen any
popups in the trial version; what is the advertising you refered to?
If you mean the links to credit cards and bank, i just ingore those;
is there more?

About not being able to download, does this mean that after 2 years I
can't update my checking accout using download or does this only apply
to investment downloads?

thank you.

via_newsgroup
Fri Nov 18 14:22:40 CST 2005

In microsoft.public.money, skid0g@juno.com wrote:

>
>
>My concern is what you said about advertising. I have not seen any
>popups in the trial version; what is the advertising you refered to?
>If you mean the links to credit cards and bank, i just ingore those;
>is there more?

They are referring to the links plus the web-page things such as you
get when you click Taxes on your way to trying to get to the Capital
Gain Estimator.


>
>About not being able to download, does this mean that after 2 years I
>can't update my checking accout using download or does this only apply
>to investment downloads?

It means the checking account too. It does not mean that it will
stop the download of your checking etc in two years, but it may.
Assume that it will for planning purposes.

via_newsgroup
Fri Nov 18 14:29:07 CST 2005

In microsoft.public.money, skid0g@juno.com wrote:

>
>
>I am considering buying 2006. I am using the Trial version and
>actually like the interface, but I've not used MS Money for about 5
>years and I am easy to impress. (I still get a thrill when my car
>starts when I turn the key)

I suggest you get a Deluxe CD in case you have to reinstall. Sam's
and Costco have lower prices without rebates, and many other places
offer rebates.

skid0g
Fri Nov 18 14:44:49 CST 2005


I will do as you suggest and get the CD; I keep reading here about
people having issues with downloading and then trasfering to another
computer; I need to avoid anything that might involve computer skills.

Also, regarding your previous reply to my post in this thread that
involved downloads. I do not use Money to download investments, only
my back and credit card accounts and if I lost that ability it would
not be so bad. I don't use Money for downloading investments because
T. Rowe Price does not have their accounts set up in a way that allows
this. It's not a big deal to make the entries and from what I've read
here, manual entry might save me some problems.

I understand MS's reason for not keeping old products up to date; it's
expensive. I don't mind speding 60$ every two years for something
new.

your posts here are very helpful; thank you very much.




On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 14:29:13 -0600, via_newsgroup@please.tnx(Cal
Learner-- MVP) wrote:

>In microsoft.public.money, skid0g@juno.com wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>I am considering buying 2006. I am using the Trial version and
>>actually like the interface, but I've not used MS Money for about 5
>>years and I am easy to impress. (I still get a thrill when my car
>>starts when I turn the key)
>
>I suggest you get a Deluxe CD in case you have to reinstall. Sam's
>and Costco have lower prices without rebates, and many other places
>offer rebates.

via_newsgroup
Fri Nov 18 14:57:22 CST 2005

In microsoft.public.money, skid0g@juno.com wrote:

>
>I will do as you suggest and get the CD; I keep reading here about
>people having issues with downloading and then trasfering to another
>computer; I need to avoid anything that might involve computer skills.
>
>Also, regarding your previous reply to my post in this thread that
>involved downloads. I do not use Money to download investments, only
>my back and credit card accounts and if I lost that ability it would
>not be so bad. I don't use Money for downloading investments because
>T. Rowe Price does not have their accounts set up in a way that allows
>this. It's not a big deal to make the entries and from what I've read
>here, manual entry might save me some problems.

They do.

http://www.troweprice.com/

work to the site search. and search on Microsoft Money.


>
>I understand MS's reason for not keeping old products up to date; it's
>expensive. I don't mind speding 60$ every two years for something
>new.

Then half of that would be even nicer.

harrelsonesq
Fri Nov 18 23:15:07 CST 2005

I don't notice them either. Either I am completely oblivious, or else rarely
visit the parts of the program that invoke the ads. I am always puzzled when
people complain about ads, as it is simply not an issue for me. This is
probably dependent on each person's individual way of using Money.

Susan

<skid0g@juno.com> wrote in message
news:d9dsn1h91jn2jkggtrgg8uoi1org8klkgf@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 9 Nov 2005 05:36:58 -0700, "William R Wood" <secret@???.net>
> wrote:
>
>>MSFT
>>introduced a change in the budget report logic in version 2003 which still
>>exists in 2006 that destroys my budget reports plus there are no new
>>substantive features of any use to me. All I see are changes in the
>>interface, many of which are negative, and more annoying advertising.
>>Also
>>these newer versions automatically disable downloading after 2 years
>
>
> I am considering buying 2006. I am using the Trial version and
> actually like the interface, but I've not used MS Money for about 5
> years and I am easy to impress. (I still get a thrill when my car
> starts when I turn the key)
>
> My concern is what you said about advertising. I have not seen any
> popups in the trial version; what is the advertising you refered to?
> If you mean the links to credit cards and bank, i just ingore those;
> is there more?
>
> About not being able to download, does this mean that after 2 years I
> can't update my checking accout using download or does this only apply
> to investment downloads?
>
> thank you.

Dick
Fri Nov 18 23:44:22 CST 2005

After months of using M06 and M04 in parallel, I rarely wander into the M06
pages that are all ads any more. I do still see the related links on every
register to get great deals on car loan rates, etc. Those still annoy me.
Probably always will.

"harrelsonesq" <harrelsonesq2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:edMH2gM7FHA.2692@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>I don't notice them either. Either I am completely oblivious, or else
>rarely visit the parts of the program that invoke the ads. I am always
>puzzled when people complain about ads, as it is simply not an issue for
>me. This is probably dependent on each person's individual way of using
>Money.

Chris
Fri Nov 18 23:48:50 CST 2005

"harrelsonesq" <harrelsonesq2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:edMH2gM7FHA.2692@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>I don't notice them either. Either I am completely oblivious, or else
>rarely visit the parts of the program that invoke the ads. I am always
>puzzled when people complain about ads, as it is simply not an issue for
>me. This is probably dependent on each person's individual way of using
>Money.

...and each person's sensitivity to ad creep.
--
Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

Chris
Fri Nov 18 23:59:13 CST 2005

"Dick Watson" <littlegreengecko@mind-enufalready-spring.com> wrote in
message news:uiR4$wM7FHA.2600@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> After months of using M06 and M04 in parallel, I rarely wander into the
> M06 pages that are all ads any more. I do still see the related links on
> every register to get great deals on car loan rates, etc. Those still
> annoy me. Probably always will.

At least they're not flickering animated graphics. I really hate those on
web pages and try to get their web servers pointed to 127.0.0.1 in my hosts
file.
--
Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

harrelsonesq
Sat Nov 19 21:53:12 CST 2005

Yeah, the only ones that bother me are the ones that slither out of
someplace and cover up what I'm reading. Especially when the "x" is tiny and
in an unusual place. I don't pay attention to TV commercials, either. Guess
I just tune out "ad creep," wherever it turns up.

Susan

"Chris Cowles" <NoSpam@For.me> wrote in message
news:uITTuzM7FHA.3200@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> "harrelsonesq" <harrelsonesq2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:edMH2gM7FHA.2692@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>I don't notice them either. Either I am completely oblivious, or else
>>rarely visit the parts of the program that invoke the ads. I am always
>>puzzled when people complain about ads, as it is simply not an issue for
>>me. This is probably dependent on each person's individual way of using
>>Money.
>
> ...and each person's sensitivity to ad creep.
> --
> Chris Cowles
> Gainesville, FL
>
>
>