Here's an update.

It took two weeks for the Microsoft Tech to reach us and, by then, we had already resolved the problem by paying $200, deleting SP2 and turning off automatic updates. He "referred the problem to a manager" who called and talked to us for one hour!

His explanation was that, since we bought the computer from Gateway, it was Gateway's responsbility to inform us whether or not sp2 was safe to install on our machine. If it was safe, they should have informed us what, if any, changes we had to make before we intalled sp2. So, the problem belongs to Gateway, not Microsoft.

The fact that the first thing the installation program did was check our computer for compatibility with sp2 and say it was OK to install it does not change the responsibility. Microsoft does not support customers of OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) like Gateway.

So, we are screwed. We refrained from making any references to the droppings of any barnyard animals but finally hung up on him as he was telling us to "have a nice day".

There will be no reimbursement of the $200! Surprise!


Bev and Jerry