WELCOME TO WALMART!!

[tamakun]

Total Geek Day today. I went with my Dad to purchase a new computer for him and Mom, and we stopped by a few places - Costco and then PC Shop, and grabbed what we needed and headed home.

After we got Windows XP in there, it was blazing. It takes maybe 12 seconds to boot. O.O I've never, EVER, in my life seen a computer boot that fast. (Well, there's Commodore64...) Maybe it's because Windows needs to be rebooted so often...?

Ok, I don't know about this, but I'm pretty amazed that even with Plug-and-Play, the companies release their own software and tell the user not to plug it in until after the installation is complete. That kinda defeats the purpose of Plug-and-Play since they're basically overriding Microsoft's drivers.

Also, if the installation software doesn't work correctly, it becomes a headache. Check out this dialogue I had with one of HP's Tech Support about installing the brand-new All-in-One Printer/Copier/Fax/Scanner for my parent's new computer.

(The sad thing is that the All-in-One is only an All-in-One physically. In the Windows universe, it's considered to be 3 separate machines, plus some form of USB Splitter on one port.)

Also, take into account that after any of my messages, that it takes about a minute for "Steven" to respond. He's not a bot, unless the bot is programmed to misspell every once in a while. But I have to wonder...

Steven: Hello Jason.
Steven: Welcome to HP Total Care. My name is Steven. How may I help you today?
Jason Wesley: Hi there. I'm having trouble with the installation of my HP OfficeJet 4215xi.
Jason Wesley: During the part where it asks me to plug in the system, it hangs, and a few Windows PnP windows pop up, but it never fully installs correctly.
Jason Wesley: I have done several installs and uninstalls since the software is not responding corectly, so I'd like a walkthrough of the situations I come across, please.
Steven: Are you connecting the printer while installing the printer when it prompts connects the printer?
Steven: Sure.
Steven: Be assured that I am with you.
Jason Wesley: I have connected the printer when it tells me to, and it installs 4/8 of the steps.
Jason Wesley: Thanks.
Jason Wesley: I am currently at the point where I am about to plug the USB cable in.
Jason Wesley: Should the printer be turned on?
Steven: Yes.
Jason Wesley: Ok, the software has detected the printer and is "waiting for device setup to finish".
Jason Wesley: At this point, the Found new Hardware Wizard has appeared.
Steven: No need to follow that pop up.
Jason Wesley: I should Cancel that, then?
Steven: Yes.
Steven: Please.
Jason Wesley: okay.
Jason Wesley: The Found new Hardware Wizard is now doing the same for "hp". Cancel this as well?
Steven: Yes.Just cancel the Founf New Hardware wizard.
Steven: And follow the CD installation wizard.
Jason Wesley: Okay, it's currently at 7/8.
Steven: Thank you.
Jason Wesley: That was the confusing part to the installations - I was unaware that you were to select "Cancel" on the Wizards. While I know that it says not to plug in the printer before the installation, I was unaware that the Wizards were to not be followed.
Jason Wesley: This might be something to note in the next user guide printings.
Steven: Sure.
Steven: I understand your concern.
Steven: Please un install the Hp software and reinstall the HP software.
Jason Wesley: It's ok - this isntallation I cancelled both of the Wizards.
Steven: While reinstallation you may need to the connect the printer toe computer is prompts to connect.
Steven: Yes.
Jason Wesley: The installation is still at 7/8. How long does it typically take to finish this part of the installation?
Steven: Please continue with the installation till it goes, if it is unsuccessful , please do as I said.
Jason Wesley: sure.
Jason Wesley: Installation appears to have failed, I have the big red "X".
Steven: Okay close the window.
Steven: Do you see teh Cancel button on the page enable?
Jason Wesley: Unfortuntely, no. Only help and Next.
Steven: Continue. with next follow the instruction to close the process un installation
Jason Wesley: It's now going to install the program files. The cancel button is not enabled; is there a way to stop the installation at this point?
Steven: No problem.
Steven: If it is continuing with the install let it be complete any we are going un installing the it if it is not successfull.
Steven: Be assured that I am with you
Jason Wesley: this will take some time to install.
Steven: Mean while could I provide you with the steps to un install and reinstall the HP software?
Jason Wesley: sure.
Steven: Thank you.
Steven: Do you have software CD with you at the moment?
Jason Wesley: It's currently being used to install, but yes.
Steven: To uninstall and reinstall the officejet software, follow these steps:

1. Disconnect the officejet from the computer.

2. Insert the HP software CD into the drive. Cancel any installations screens that might appear.

3. Click Start, then click Run.

4. In the Run box, Type in the following:

5. x:\util\ccc\uninstall.bat 4

Note: "x:" Indicates your CD rom drive.

6. Click OK and the uninstall will begin.

Note: The system will reboot 4 times.
Steven: For installation:
To install the software, perform the steps (based on the Operating System) provided at the following URL:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=c00064027

NOTE: Copy the URL starting from "http" till "c00064027" and paste in the address box of the browser, then press Enter Key.

I am referring you to the web document as it contains detailed steps with necessary text and graphics.
Steven: Did you receive all the steps?
Jason Wesley: yes.
Steven: Thank you for the confirmation.
Jason Wesley: Just confirm with me - is the software CD the same as the "HP officejet 4200 series" CD? Because I don't remember seeing two windows pop up upon loading the CD.
Jason Wesley: oh, wait, they pop up over each other, nevermind.
Steven: Yes.
Steven: No problem.
Jason Wesley: In these instructions it tells me not to Cancel the Hardware Wizards, but to accept the default settings.
Steven: Please hold on.
Steven: Let me which window you are referring while installation.
Steven: Let me know the steps.
Jason Wesley: During the Installation, after plugging in the USB cable to the All-in-One, I get the Windows "Found New Hardware" tone, and while the HP Installation gets to 4/8, a "Found New Hardware Wizard" (the Windows one) pops up for "USB Device" and "hp". These windows are the ones that I click "Cancel" on, since the installation of your software will replace the "New Hardware" Wizard.
Steven: Yes.
Steven: Please don't follow the windows pop up for new hardware found.
Jason Wesley: Right.
Jason Wesley: Ok, so in order to proceed any further, I'll have to reboot this computer.
Steven: Please do as I suggest after rebooting the computer.
Jason Wesley: I will. Thank you.
Steven: You are very welcome. Your satisfaction is what we need. We at HP Total Care are here to help you. Please contact us when ever you need help.
Steven: Thank you for being so co-operative throughout the chat session. I hope you felt our session helpful.
Steven: For your convenience and future reference, I will send to you by e-mail a detailed transcript of our chat session including the site link.
Jason Wesley: That would be great, thank you.
Steven: I would be more happy if you could enter your esteemed and most important comments in the survey link that would be sent out by us shortly to gauge my customer satisfaction levels.
Steven: Thank you for using HP Total Care and giving us an opportunity to serve you through Chat Support. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further assistance at http://www.hp.com/support/ipg/chat . We are dedicated to providing support for your needs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Steven: Have a wonderful time ahead.Thanks for your co-operation.
Steven: Good bye and take care, Jason.
Jason Wesley: Thanks. Goodbye!
Steven: You are very welcome.
Steven: Bye.

Esteemed and most important? *psfff*

So hrmm... He says the contradictory thing to what the webpage says.

I ended up calling a phone line rep and he walked me through this "scrubbing" process that removed all evidence that the HP software or the printer had even been in contact with the program. He suggested I download the software from their website as the CD might be wonky (it's a good 400MB - hey, it's not my bandwidth I have to worry about) and try installing with that. Plus, he also confirmed what the website said - that I'm not supposed to cancel that "Found Hardware Wizard". *rolls eyes* Isn't that the point of tech support? It's worth a shot anyhow to get it running. I ended up leaving my parent's place around 10 tonight and left the system downloading it (it was going to take an hour to download), and put on other things, like the AVG Anti-Virus and BOINC (heheheh). I'm going back tomorrow early afternoon to install (hopefully) the printer and maybe some games, if I can find the discs I had for them. Otherwise it's re-download time...

Comments

[ex-wataame890.livejournal.com]

very mucha geekday ^_^

[bassbeast.livejournal.com]

Computers tend to boot up really fast there isn't a ton of MP3 and video shit clogging up the drive. You should see how fast my system boots up these days. ^_^