This is a little rant I'm afraid. I know it's basically my fault BUT!!!!!

Sometimes when at clients premises, I have to use a series of rescue/installation discs to resolve an issue.

Sometimes, it can take quite a few hours to sort out the multiple problems people allow to accumulate on their computer before seeking professional help. A lot of which is helped along by the 'bar room fixers' who know absolutely sod all in real terms about much at all.

They don't know what the real problem is because they've not seen it and clients rarely know how to describe the problem fully anyway - not that there's anything wrong with that, I don't expect it.

The client then goes and mis-follows the wrong advice they've been given and make an even bigger dogs breakfast of the whole thing and after they've totally screwed their computer, they call me.

Now to the point of my rant.

After I've spent hours sorting out the cock-up, I put my things back in my bag (or so I think) and head off home. Some days, or even weeks, later I open my bag looking for the discs to find that I've accidentally left at my clients.

The annoying thing is the client, who now has a full set of service and recovery discs that I've paid for, and doesn't have a clue in hell how to use them, hasn't had the decency to ring me and let me know I've left them. This has happened every time I've done it.

I now have to go through the time and expense of getting a new set of dics together.

ONE THING YOU GET FROM ME IS HONESTY, IF YOU CAN'T RETURN THE FAVOUR THEN YOU DON'T DESERVE THE SERVICES I OFFER.

​I will work out where I left them and that person will have a heavy bill next time they call me!

It just goes to show, there's a lot of really dishonest immigrants out there.

Hello everybody.

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You might even miss out on our FREE telephone install offer available for this month only if you don't get in now! Check our Special Offer page for more details.

Please don't leave it until the last minute and miss out.

Well, it seems that seeing as Microsoft now have two messenger programs (Live & Skype) they are going to pull the plug on Live Messenger on March 15 2013.

Well, to be honest, that's no great loss cos it was a pretty bad program anyway but it is better than their alternative in this department, Skype. Why are they forcing this on us, well, they recently spent $8.5 Billion to buy Skype, so they're gonna make you use it whether you want to or not.

Then again, you'll only use it if you don't know that there are a whole lot of equally useful messenger programs out there including called Facebook, Yahoo, Pidgin and a whole lot more. Time and time again I hear that old chestnut "don't like yahoo messenger" (or any other non-microsoft system). When asked why, they don't know because someone else has told them what to think. They are simply passing on other peoples ignorance and prejudice and just don't WANT to try anything else because Fred down the bar says so. Does Fred know about these things? Well, he spends a lot of time in the bar spouting crap and he's the local bar room barrister and he seems to know what he's talking about so I guess he does - not! If Fred had another brain cell, it'd be lonely.

Anyway, back to topic. What's going to happen on "D" day when Messenger is killed off. Here's a few snippets from their FAQ:
“On March 15, 2013 we are retiring the existing Messenger service globally (except for mainland China where Messenger will continue to be available) and bringing the great features of Messenger and Skype together,” the email alert reads, noting that if you “upgrade” to Skype, you can continue messaging your Messenger contacts via the Skype network.

“Messenger will continue to work as you know it today,” the FAQ notes. “If you are signed in with Messenger on your desktop you will see a banner notification to upgrade. When you click on the banner, an installer window will open with the request to upgrade. This will take you through our installer flow to install Skype and automatically uninstall Messenger.” Oh dear!

“After March 15, Messenger users on desktops will not be able to sign in and will only be able to upgrade to Skype,” the FAQ continues. “If you attempt to sign in, a notification will appear, and if you continue, you will be taken through our installer flow to install Skype and automatically uninstall Messenger at the same time.”

Seeing as this must have been in the pipeline for some time, it's curious as to why Microsoft decided to include its' Live messenger program in Windows 8. Perhaps it's because Skype didn't do the messenger part too well or have all the features of messenger. Well, it's closer now than it's ever been but what gets me is Microsoft keep upgrading my copy of Skype even though I have it set up not to upgrade. This must be illegal as they do this against my will and without my permission.

Personally, I've never used Microsofts' messenger program for the same reason I never use Hotmail. It's hacked to death and Microsoft can't secure it. I am constanly getting emails from my clients' hotmail accounts that have been compromised and I've had many clients who have lost their hotmail accounts because someone has broken into it and changed the password. Not normally an issue if you can prove you own the account but the majority had someone else set it up for them and they don't know any of the security information.

Now here's the best part, they then ask me to set a new one up for them. WHY! Because they've suddenly gone from being a clever clogs to a day one novice who knows nothing. Hold on guys, isn't this why you called me in - because somebody else set up your email account and you expect me to know what the passwords are and the answers to YOUR security questions?

There you have it, March 15, 2003 marks the death knoll for Windows Live Messenger.
Windows Live Messenger is dead! Long live Yahoo Messenger!