Pay To Reinstall Software

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Wynsam

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Once you read this post you are going to think MS are saints.

Our company deals with financial matters. Calls are important in our business and the content of them especially so. When we recently shopped for a PABX system we also added a voice recording solution for each extension.

We have duly paid for the hardware and the software that controls this.

Recently my machine had to be reformatted due to Windows going mad. A fresh install was done. I then had to reinstall everything of course including this software. It comes on a disc so I thought all would be fine.

Part of the install includes the entering of a code that must be entered against a key. One must phone for the code. Low and behold the manufacturer wants me to pay R285 for another key.

I have already paid in full for the software now I must pay again. Thoughts, comments?
 
Pay them R285 for the code, but make a note of the code, and store it in a safe place.

Should you need to reinstall the same PC again, then you don't need to phone them again.

IMHO there should be a procedure in which all codes/keys are recorded for the customer's benefit.

I think this will become a more common occurence as this is a method most companies will use to milk their clients for an extra income.

Take note from this lesson, and try to make a note of all keys/codes in future to prevent such a thing from happening again.
 
I don't agree with uncle Libs ;)

I think since you paid for the Software, you are entitled to the code, period.
 
It wont work as the key is matched to the code and the code is random. So each time I have to reinstall its a fresh R285
 
Wynsam said:
It wont work as the key is matched to the code and the code is random. So each time I have to reinstall its a fresh R285
Click to expand...

Now that's really sneaky...:sick:

I agree with Tera - you are entitled to a replacement code as you paid for it.

However, some companies hide behind their agreements - they "hire" the software out to you, and will use any trick in the book to get money out from you.

Why not do a fresh install of everything, hassle them for a new code, and once everything is up and running, create a full image of that hard drive for backup purposes?

So should the HDD bombs out, or Windows go wheezy, just restore from the backup image?
 
I think that the request for payment is totally unethical. When we purchased the software and accompaning hardware it was not stated in any way or form that a reinstall would be accompanied for a request for cash.

Funny thing is when I Googled the concerned firm I found another one of their customers moaning about their service (or rather the lack of it) on a Linux user group forum.
 
I am waiting for the gent to come back to me before I flame his company and their products properly. If he sees reason about the matter then fine if not then you will hear about it.
 
It sounds like One-a-log.

I hate that system. Since your employees can simply unplug it at will (it uses the PC to record). not something you want them to be able in a compliant environment

Go for an isolated system that hooks directly onto your outgoing lines. you can either go with the bigger one-a-log solutions (costs big bucks) or get a Software PABX with ASTERISK on it. it runs on a normal R5000 PC and does everything a R50000 PABX does, but you will need to upgrade your phones or buy adapters. Plus it's VOIP ready (actually it was designed for it).
http://www.asterisk.org/
 
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Sapphiron said:
It sounds like One-a-log.

I hate that system. Since your employees can simply unplug it at will (it uses the PC to record). not something you want them to be able in a compliant environment

Go for an isolated system that hooks directly onto your outgoing lines. you can either go with the bigger one-a-log solutions (costs big bucks) or get a Software PABX with ASTERISK on it. it runs on a normal R5000 PC and does everything a R50000 PABX does, but you will need to upgrade your phones or buy adapters. Plus it's VOIP ready (actually it was designed for it).
http://www.asterisk.org/
Click to expand...


I wish I had heard about Asterisk before I had bought an Alcatel Omni PCX. The Alcatel is very good, and at least I did not have to learn Linux. It was a turn key solution for us. Still i would probably have enjoyed the Asterisk PBX especially now that I am having grief with the voice recording.

No its its not One a log, neither is it Ecko.
 
Would love too. Just looking for an alternative as we speak.
 
Wynsam said:
I wish I had heard about Asterisk before I had bought an Alcatel Omni PCX. The Alcatel is very good, and at least I did not have to learn Linux. It was a turn key solution for us. Still i would probably have enjoyed the Asterisk PBX especially now that I am having grief with the voice recording.

No its its not One a log, neither is it Ecko.
Click to expand...

Look at this

It's a install and go solution based on Asterisk. No linux commands involved, all configured via Web browser.
http://www.trixbox.com

You pop the CD in the PC with the right hardware and 15min's later you start setting up the phones

The hardware PABX is obsolete
 
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