[comp.sys.ibm.pc] RESOLUTION: Microsoft C V5.1 Setup Warning

dick@slvblc.UUCP (Dick Flanagan) (05/14/88)

A few weeks ago I posted a warning that it was possible to corrupt
the MS C V5.1 distribution diskettes if you began your PATH with a
'.' or '\', and you were dumb enough not to backup or write-protect
the diskettes.

Yesterday, my answering machine took a message from "John from 
Microsoft."  I returned his call today and it turns out that
"John from Microsoft" works in their C compiler product support
group and he was calling about my Usenet article!

He apologized for the rude behavior of the 5.1 setup program and
he will see that replacement disks are mailed out ASAP!  (And he
didn't once tell me how inefficient it was to begin my PATH with
a '.' *8-)

THANK YOU, "John from Microsoft," and THANK YOU, Microsoft!

Dick

P.S.  Thank you, too, Lee.

--
Dick Flanagan, W6OLD                         GEnie: FLANAGAN
UUCP: ...!ucbvax!ucscc!slvblc!dick           Voice: +1 408 336 3481
Internet: slvblc!dick@ucscc.UCSC.EDU         LORAN: N037 04.7 W122 04.6
USPS: PO Box 155, Ben Lomond, CA 95005

ljz@fxgrp.UUCP (Lloyd Zusman) (05/15/88)

In article <1841@slvblc.UUCP> slvblc!dick@ucscc.UCSC.EDU (Dick Flanagan) writes:
>A few weeks ago I posted a warning that it was possible to corrupt
>the MS C V5.1 distribution diskettes if you began your PATH with a
>'.' or '\'  ...
>
>Yesterday, my answering machine took a message from "John from 
>Microsoft."    ...
>
>He apologized for the rude behavior of the 5.1 setup program and
>he will see that replacement disks are mailed out ASAP!  (And he
>didn't once tell me how inefficient it was to begin my PATH with
>a '.' *8-)
> ...

I can hardly believe it!  Some friendly, helpful behavior from
Microsoft's support department!  This flies in the face of all my past
experience with that company.  Is this an indication that Microsoft is
actually changing its high-handed approach to those of us out here who
buy our software in quanities less than 100 units?  Or is this just a
fluke?

I remain skeptical of Microsoft's good intentions towards us "little
guys", but I am encouraged by Mr. Flanagan's experience and will be
looking for more evidence of Microsoft's change of heart.


--
    Lloyd Zusman
    Master Byte Software
    Los Gatos, California		Internet: ljz@fx.com
    "We take things well in hand."	UUCP:     ...!ames!fxgrp!ljz

alexc@psu-cs.UUCP (World Class Hacker) (05/16/88)

In article <299@fxgrp.UUCP> ljz@fx.com (Lloyd Zusman) writes:
>In article <1841@slvblc.UUCP> slvblc!dick@ucscc.UCSC.EDU (Dick Flanagan) writes:
>>A few weeks ago I posted a warning that it was possible to corrupt
>>the MS C V5.1 distribution diskettes if you began your PATH with a
>>'.' or '\'  ...
>>
>>Yesterday, my answering machine took a message from "John from 
>>Microsoft."    ...
>>
>>He apologized for the rude behavior of the 5.1 setup program and
>>he will see that replacement disks are mailed out ASAP!  (And he
>>didn't once tell me how inefficient it was to begin my PATH with
>>a '.' *8-)
>> ...
>
>I can hardly believe it!  Some friendly, helpful behavior from
>Microsoft's support department!  This flies in the face of all my past
>experience with that company.  Is this an indication that Microsoft is
>actually changing its high-handed approach to those of us out here who
>buy our software in quanities less than 100 units?  Or is this just a
>fluke?
>
>I remain skeptical of Microsoft's good intentions towards us "little
>guys", but I am encouraged by Mr. Flanagan's experience and will be
>looking for more evidence of Microsoft's change of heart.
>

	Here in PSU, our Co-op. education dept. have some posting stated that
Microsoft is hiring a "few" people to join their Tech. support division. I
suppost that they are changing their supporting for better or for worse, who
knows....