I installed MacromediaStudio MX 2004 and all of the relevant updates on a coworker's machine. After rebooting, I was asked to, and did, activate the product. Logging in as a normal user verified that all was happy.
It was a surprise to me when later that week, my coworker stopped by saying that Dreamweaver was asking to be activated again. I had her reactivate and noted that I should check up on the matter in a later that week. A few days later, she tells me that she is asked to reactivate the software each time she reboots the computer.
While perusing the Activation Support Center, I call up the support number and quickly get through to a member of the "Product Activation Team".
Call one: After learing that the computer boots into two different operating systems from the same drive, I am told that Macromedia does not support this configuration and the tech quite simply states that she can not offer any further help. She points me to Service Note 18789, entitled "Partitioning and emulation software". Since I still needed to deal with other matters today, I put it on hold until the next day.
Call two: Explaining that I am being asked to reactivate the software upon each reboot, the "activation suport specialist" learns that there are two hard drives in the system and indicates that Macromedia does not support dual hard drive configurations. He points me to the EULA and the support representative says that all he can do is "increase my activation install quota by one notch". When I point out that I am aware of the brain dead limitations of Macromedia's activation system in regards to RAID configurations, and that the two drives in the system are not in such a setup. He points me to the EULA saying the issue is clarified there.
Scanning the EULA quickly, all I find that seems to be relevant is paragraph 'i' in section 2: "You agree that Macromedia may use those measures and you agree to follow any requirements regarding such technological measures." Inquires to learn what those requirements are leads nowhere. Thankully the tech from call number two provided me with a number to reach the activation team directly (800-945-9049), instead of going through the technical support phone maze.
A week goes by with activation happening a handful of times as my coworker uses the software. Seeking an answer to the question "Is there anything wrong with repeatedly activating on the same hardware?" I make another call to activation support.
Call Three: Teh tech, upon hearing the situation, asks what version of version I have installed. Upon hearing it is 7.2, the support technician suggests installing Service Note 19468 entitled "Reactivation failure after upgrading to Flash 7.2". I quickly install the hotfix referenced in the service note, reboot, and reactivate the software. Several reboots later, and it appears as if the problem is solved. The nice activation support represetantive does also answer my question; At some point, continuously reactivating would cause an error that would need to be resolved by speaking with technical support.
I have always felt my server room has been hot. Informal observations with a simple thermometer showed temperatures hovering in the mid to high 70s, with not-infrequent forays into the low 80s and the rare spike to nearly 90 on days when the air conditioner stops spitting out cold. With money in this years budget that has not yet been planned for it was time to consider replacing the inadequate window air conditioning unit with something more appropriate. But before I make plans to spend to spend a few thousand dollars on an air conditioner and installation labor, I needed more solid data.
I sought an inexpensive (less than $500) device that could handle at least four temperature sensors, required no server side software, and could be queried by my cacti host (preferably via snmp). As far as I could find, there were two options; the APC
Environmental Monitoring Unit and the IT Watchdogs WeatherGoose. (Note: it seems APC is replacing their own environmental monitoring line with the products of the acquired company NetBotz
I ended up choosing the WeatherGoose (online demo) as it more easily handled more than two remote sensors and it provided a cleaner interface and simpler ways to ge log data out of the device. With a 30 day satisfaction guarantee, I placed an order for the base unit, a door sensor, and two remote temperature sensors, all for a little over $400.
Installation would have been painless, had I not had to fish some of the probes through a suspended ceiling without the appropriatetools. Not including pulling the sensor cables through the ceiling, I was seeing data on the web interface (demo) in under 30 minutes. All in all, my only real complaint is that the unit has a damned wall wart. More on more Cacti setup real soon.
"Dear Valued" the email began. Not "Dear Valued Customer", just "Dear Valued". I was being invited to participate in a customer satisfaction survey. Following the provided link, I was presented with a page that didn't give me much faith in the company VMWare had hired.
I can't say that I went any further.
Updated late on 2006-02-24
Hours after I made this post, a product manager from the VMTN sent me an email telling me he has passed along this silliness to the appropriate folks within VMWare and thanking me for using their products.
The installation of QuarkXPress 6.1 and the upgrade to 6.5 went smoothly enough (QuarkXPress 6.5 was released in November of 2004, why isn't there a single integrated installer?), but upon logging in and running Quark as a regular user, I recieve the message "The activation file for this copy of QuarkXPress 6.0 has been corrupted. You will need to reinstall this copy of QuarkXPress 6.0."
The very thought that I would need to reinstall the software to solve an activation problem really irked me. Since Quark runs as expected as the administrative user, I assume that the issue is with permissions of some files and I go diving into the Quark technical support database for help. Not finding much of use immediately, I call the tech support number and hang out on hold while I continue searching their site.
Tangent: I can only assume it is complete carelessness that allows the hold music of most companies to be so painful. Quark seems to have recorded their hold music with a kids tape recorder stuck in the cone of a Victrola phonograph playing in the backseat of a Hummer undergoing field testing. Worse is that the loop is less than a minute.
Finally (after enjoying 22 minutes of hold music) reaching someone in technical support, I explain the problem and the tech immediately knows what is wrong. He instructs me to provide "Full Control" to "Everyone" to the folder c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Quark. Inquires for more details confirmed that 1) just the users who wish to run QuarkXPress need "Full Control" and 2) Quark is unconcerned that they are recommending settings that should make most systems administrators cringe.
From my shelf of amusing old stuff; an accessory kit from ATI to add ferrite cores to "non-ferrited" video cables.
In the box are some ferrite cores, zip ties, and instructions (front, back). While there is no date on any of the material, the instructions do give an idea as to when the product was made, the image of the video connector appears to show a 9 pin one, likely for a CGA monitor. That is all.
