I am not a PC, and I would like to thank you for opening my eyes why I should not be a defender for the PC market. For the last week in a half, I have been in PC hell trying to recover my hard drive without losing any of my files.

I have a Sony VAIO PCV-W700G Desktop PC, which I bought in 2004. The computer is considered as an all-in-one computer and was designed for the PC and video enthusiast because it had a built-in TV tuner card, along with a 17.5-inch wide screen display, which is attached to the computer. The model focused on power – Intel Pentium 4 2.80 GHz processor and 512 MB of RAM – so you can surf on the web, while you can digitally record your favorite show on Sony’s proprietary TV capture software Giga Pocket.

Ever since I bought the computer I haven’t been able to use Giga Pocket because I was told there was a hardware overlay problem – even though I had no other video applications running. Even when I would set it to record a show and leave it alone, it still wouldn’t function. I gave up on it because it wasn’t worth my time trying to hunt down solutions to this problem after every attempt provided by Sony’s limited help section hit a dead end.

I am not the only person who has complained about Sony’s PCs. Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal has a Sony Vaio as well and has described experience in less-than flattering terms. The funny thing is, his Vaio is newer than mine. He has described the experience of getting started as “irritating” and “a big hassle” and in his review, Mossberg called out Sony for its “lack of respect for the consumer.”

The problem is a lack of respect for the consumer. The manufacturers don’t act as if the computer belongs to you. They act as if it is a billboard for restricted trial versions of software and ads for Web sites and services that they can sell to third-party companies who want you to buy these products.

Fast forward to now. When I came back from Denver, I began experiencing problems – it would suddenly decide to shut off on its own. In other words, I might be doing some stuff on it, and it will suddenly click off as if I had shut it down manually. The day before Hurricane Ike hit, my computer unexpectedly started beeping like crazy; I suddenly was unable to shut down Windows which I was forced to do a hard shut down – pressing on the on/off switch for a few seconds.

When I restarted the computer, I suddenly found myself in PC hell. The first message I get is that Windows cannot find “\Windows\System32\hal.dll.” So I began searching for my answer. I found out that HAL is Microsoft’s abbreviation for the Hardware Abstraction Layer, the technology and drivers that let the Windows XP operating systems communicate with my PC’s hardware. HAL prevents applications from directly accessing your PC’s system memory, CPU, or hardware devices.

Therefore, I followed the advice Microsoft had provided on their site. I tried to enter the Recovery Console to restore the damaged/corrupted or missing hal.dll file, but first I had to hunt around my apartment to find my copy of Windows XP CD. But wait, I never received an installation CD when I purchased the computer because in Sony’s infinite wisdom to save money, rather than provide you with a Windows XP installation disc when you purchase a computer, only a recovery partition which contains the “bundled” software in a special partition of the hard drive. This from the User Guide:

(Windows® XP only) System and Application Recovery CDs are not supplied with your VAIO® computer. Your VAIO computer is equipped with the VAIO Recovery Wizard, a fast and easy-to-use system recovery utility. This system and application recovery utility enables you to recover preinstalled software programs, the operating system, and to create a VAIO Recovery Media Kit.

I did have to use Sony’s Recovery Wizard once and to do so meant I could kiss all my data goodbye. I was not about to do that again, so I tried to restart my computer an try the safe mode. I was success until I received the dreaded blue screen of death with multiple error messages, such as “bad_pool_caller” error message.

Even though I was advised to use the original installation disk, I figure I could use an old upgrade version of XP, restarted the system, and get to Microsoft’s Recovery Console. As soon as I got to the part where it says I should press Enter “to set up Windows XP now,” once again I received the dreaded blue screen of death.

I finally lucked out and I was able to get to the “repair or recover,” but then I was prompted to enter my Administrator password. According to Sony, the Admin password was blank, however, Windows disagrees. I must have tried almost every trick in the book, but nothing worked. I was basically shit out of luck.

To make a long story short, I am at the point where my computer refuses to acknowledge that my hard drive exist with the message of “DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER.” After spending whole days trying to recover data from a barely functioning hard drive because all the error messages I was receiving led me to believe I had a corrupted hard drive. However, I have come find out that the source of my problem has nothing to do with my hardware but from faulty software from Microsoft’s botched Windows XP Service Pack 3.

According to an online user forum, people started reporting that Windows XP SP3 was cutting people off from accessing Microsoft’s Windows Home Server.

That is just the tip of the iceberg. There are reports that SP3 is also corrupting the registry. For those who are unaware of the registry’s function. The registry is essentially the directory which stores the settings and options for your computer’s hardware, non-operating system software for Microsoft Windows to function. Mess with it, you will experience PC hell.

Soon after the service pack’s release on May 6, people have reported that their network cards and their network connections have mysteriously vanished when they click on Windows’ Network Connections, Device Manager had been emptied, and Windows’ registry had been packed with large numbers of bogus entries after updating to SP3.

I was upgrading a well maintained XP PRO SP2 to SP3 on a Compaq Presario S5400NX. After the upgrade, while trying to open “My Computer” – it now takes much longer. But the real issue is that the Network Connections screen now does not show any of the NIC cards. I have three adapters that used to show up – the Onboard RealTek adapter was disabled prior to starting upgrade as was the Firewire Port. The working and enabled adpater was an INTEL MT1000/PCI. {Note however the network connection is working}. In an attempt to troubleshoot – I tried to bring up the Device Manager – and to my suprise – it is now empty.

I did not realize this was an issue when I was experiencing the same problem on my refurbished Dell Lattitude X1 laptop when I also XP PRO SP2 to SP3. I just though it was a faulty network card and have been going about my business. The problems I have been experiencing is no where near the problems I am having on my Sony Vaio. In fact, the problems I am experience are similar to the rebooting glitches on PCs that are powered by ADM. My Vaio is powered by Intel and I still cannot boot into Windows Safe mode nor can I revert back to a previously saved System Restore point.

So here is my problem now, I can’t reinstall windows because I don’t have a non-upgrade version of Windows. Since Microsoft is proprietary software, leased to you under a license that severely restricts how you can use it, I just can’t call up a friend and borrow a copy of Windows, yet, there is no way I can afford a new copy of Windows. You would figure if you bought a copy of Windows, you would think you owned it, but you don’t. According to Microsoft:

The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some rights to use the software. Microsoft reserves all other rights. Unless applicable law gives you more rights despite this limitation, you may use the software only as expressly permitted in this agreement. In doing so, you must comply with any technical limitations in the software that only allow you to use it in certain ways.

Even if I were to buy a new hard drive, I still have to install a new copy of Windows, hoping I could recover my irreplaceable data like my research data, pdf files, protest photos, videos, etc. I am now forced to use my laptop that does not come close to my Sony in capabilities. It is a good thing I found out that the problem is due to Windows and I do not have to buy a new hard drive.

Mr. Gates, I know you have stepped away from day-to-day operations at Microsoft, but lets face it, it was you who set the bar. Under your tenure, you were able to exploit your position as supplier of a popular PC operating system to play hardball with PC OEMs on licensing Windows as a way to control how we can use our computer – a practice your company continues under the tenure of Steve Ballmer and a practice that continues to get Microsoft into hot water.

Microsoft repeatedly releases software that is sub par and refuses to take responsibility for their action. In fact, I wouldn’t doubt if people felt you did this on purpose, since we all know you rather have us upgrade to Vista. Let’s be honest, Windows newest OS system Vista isn’t exactly making people run out and buy it. It is obvious that you are figuring this out too, since you are now giving OEM users an additional six months to sell PCs running Windows Vista with the ability to downgrade to Windows XP. Truthfully, I have wasted too much time trying to fix my computer, I am not willing to purchase a brand new computer and go through the hassle trying to make an inoperable PC operable.

No matter how much you believe Apple is using “lies” and “myths” against Windows Vista in the battle for desktop market share, this doesn’t change the fact that Vista lacked adequate third-party support and is an over bloated operating system for most PCs to handle.

The product is so bad, you have the audacity that you have to get people from San Francisco to lie and say Windows Vista is not Windows Vista.

It is these kind of spin that has gotten us into the current financial crisis, which obviously is affecting Microsoft. While you may think people are not rushing to buy new computers, you might want to consider that your overpriced software is also causing people to consider an alternative.

Mr. Ballmer, you may fell $199.95 is a reasonable price, but the reality is, it is not. Not for a family who is one paycheck away from being homeless. The current economic crisis is already taking its toll. People are now make illogical decisions to ease their burden, such as taking their own life. Gone are the days when a large majority of us were able to run to store and buy the latest and greatest hardware product. I know this, because I was one of them. Forcing us to upgrade so we can meet your demands does not help your cause.

If given a choice between buying Vista or using the money to pay a bill, buy groceries or fill a tank with gas, people will choose the latter. You may think the software will pay for itself, but honestly, how can it be when your next OS, Windows 7, which is to be released next year.

I just finish a contract and will be paid handsomely. In all seriousness, if my next attempt to recover my data fails, you and the PC industry have lost a long and dedicated customer because I will no longer be a PC. I know I am just one person, but I have friends and a large extended family and they have friends and so on. You get the picture.

So my advice to Sony, Dell, HP and other PC manufacturers, as long as you continue to fail the respect us, the consumer, and continue to sell us with over-bloated useless machines, make us jump through hoops in seeking assistance, nickle and dime for items we should already have or caused by you; you will continue to lose ground to Apple. Every person who has a Mac told me the same thing, they love the ease of the Mac. Unfortunately for us PC users, we cannot do the same.

It is time to go back to the old way of doing business where “the market” is not dictated to the needs of the shareholders or the pressure to increase the bottom line. In our current economic crisis, now is the time to focus in on the things your customers need. When people are forced to tighten their belt to make ends meet, people will eliminate wants – not needs. Our needs are not complicated, nor far fetched. All we want is a PC and the software that runs on them to be simple and easy to use, reliable, and affordable. Is that too much to ask?

Sincerely,
Edmundo Rocha