do you have to pay to call microsoft vista support?

Do I actually have to pay? It looks like the site has charges and talking about credit card fees?

 

You have to pay your phone bills, that's about it.

 

That depends on what version (OEM or retail) you have, and whether it came preinstalled on a new computer. If it came preinstalled, then you may have to pay for direct Microsoft support calls since under the terms of an OEM license you're supposed to look only to the OEM for support.

 

ok, so if mine came with the comp (which is the usual case for most people) then you have to pay. ok thats stupid cause the techs at a computer manufacturer already know so little about their own product in general that theres no way of fixing a problem involved with windows - a software not their own company. i can even feel the 'call microsoft' type response

 

You might be able to get email support from Microsoft without cost (I don't remember the specifics right now) even if you've got an OEM version. The talk-to-a-live-person-on-the-phone support will always be more expensive, since it requires that there be a live person ready and available when you call; email support can always be farmed out and doesn't require that you and the tech providing the support be awake and/or coherent at the same time.

 

no I checked. It says pretty clearly with 3 columns. You pay for each of them @ the same price and this includes the emailling

 

This is just an idea, a speculation, really, but maybe you could try and see if you can get your issue "escalated" by your OEM's tech staff up to a specialist at Microsoft if they cannot get the right (or any) answer. I don't know if that would actually work, but my modus operandi with customer service and tech support is to keep working my way up the chain until I get the answer I want (or, at least, one that makes sense).

 

bit tired with dealing with the tech support cause I know the drill and I know they dont know how to deal with it. All I will get is a case number and no callbacks or followup and being sent around and around. I've solved more problems finding it online than calling them at least in my experience. So when it comes to a windows issue I am less confident in them being able to solve it. In fact I dout even microsoft techs will know since its not in their knowledge base even of a hotfix that I know of but its the better of the two

 

what kind of problem is this? Surely the collective wisdom of NotebookReview forums could solve it.

There are also other options:

What are they going to charge you according what you are looking at? (no link provided). I ask because you could purchase a Technet subscription for $350, which gives you quite a few goodies, including access to non-expiring software, two Microsoft support, and priority on Microsoft newsgroups (where a lot of Microsoft MVP and tech support people hang out).

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/bb892756.aspx

You can access the Microsoft Newsgroups directly without the technet subscription, too, but you don't get priority response.

Of course, I'd post your problem here first--lot of smart people hanging out here.

 

The Microsoft techs are quite good, if you ever have the chance to interact with them. I've had three email support interactions (free) that were quite good.

 

There are always good tech support guys and there are always some bad ones. MS tech support tend to be better than OEMS such as dell,hp..etc.

 

I don't understand why you have to pay to call Microsoft for help. If the OS comes standard on the computer then they should atleast let you call them for help......for free! This is just another way, they are stealing money. I have to pay for the computer and I have to pay to get help if there is a problem????? Ridiculous

 

There is nothing ridiculous about MS OS Support. It is just like any other software products.

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifewinfaq

Extracted quote:

"If you obtained a retail (packaged product) copy of a Windows desktop operating system you are eligible for support from Microsoft, subject to the Support Lifecycle policy and to the support terms and conditions that were in place at the time of purchase. If you acquired your Windows desktop operating system through a Microsoft Volume Licensing program or from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Microsoft offers access to a wealth of online self-help support content in addition to paid support offerings. If you acquired your Windows desktop operating system through an OEM, contact your OEM for more information about the support offerings for Windows desktop operating systems from that OEM."

cheers ...

 

Why? Read your EULA, you're not getting your license from Microsoft, you're getting your license from your OEM, and your OEM as agreed to be responsible for providing technical support to its own licensees (e.g., you).