Today I received notice that the next round of TechNet events from Microsoft will be rolling around again this quarter. Looking through the dates and locations, I decided that going to the one in La Jolla will be approximately the same distance as the ones in Los Angeles or Long Beach, and much less filled with stress and aggravation. The really nice thing is, after the session I can go hang at the beach, the tide pools, or hit any of a number of haunts I used to go to in my youth.

For anyone not familiar with the process, a person is asked to give their Windows Live ID [it used to be the Microsoft Network ID, but everything is now LIVE, which, of course, is preferable to dead]. I put it in, using the automated tools in Opera, followed by my password.  I am then greeted with a screen redraw which lets me know I have given the wrong password. Of course, I first suspect that I may have transposed a couple of keys, so I carefully re-enter the password. No joy. The system asks if I would like to try another e-mail address. It so happens I have another, so I enter it, and the password. Same treatment. I carefully retry the first address, and the password. No luck this time either. I then see the message that the Windows Live network is having problems. I then try my two Hotmail - ooops, that’s Windows Live Mail accounts. Both work with the passwords I have always used. 

I go back to the site, still thinking about that great trip to La Jolla. Once again I am unsuccessful. I move to the prompt that asks if I’d like to change my password. I decide this might work, and so I answer yes. The information boxes come up, I enter the address and answer the question for verification, and move to change the password. I am thinking that something in this part of their system is grunged [I should really be thinking clearly here, knowing that one ID and password rules the entire MS network, but I am rather peeved by now]. I enter the address, and v-e-r-y carefully enter the existing password.  The network will have none of this! I get the warning that I cannot use the previous password. Oh. This #$%@&*^ network DOES KNOW MY PASSWORD. Beyond that, I WAS typing carefully enough to get it right, all those times.

As further evidence that I won’t be unnecessarily bullied by this network, I transpose the passwords for the 2 accounts. I try again. Still no luck.

As it happens so often, I came out of the induced fog, which is the rage against stupidity, and it occurred that perhaps there was a better way.

I shut down Opera and brought up Internet Exploder [no mistake in spelling]. I went to the site, and it went without incident. I am signed up.

Apparently, Microsoft is trying to teach us [and especially me] that since they are hosting these meetings, giving away goodies, food, possible prizes, and working knowledge, they want their browser used to sign up. I am amenable to this. I may rail against some of the things they do, but I am glad to show respect, and give credit when due.

I do WISH however, that the kindness of EXPLICITLY STATING that Internet Explorer must be used to sign up, rather than wondering why the network is not working as it should be, would be on the site. This would make it a more pleasant experience for me, and these rants would become unnecessary.

Tags: microsoft, technet, internet explorer, opera, windows live mail, windows live id