So around 4pm today, my HD decided to start dying. The good news is that I got a S.M.A.R.T. warning before it actually failed, so I could go out and purchase a new HD, etc. It was the drive that the OS was installed on, so I was going to have to reload everything again as well. Great.
I had been thinking about upgraded to Windows 7 (was running Vista) so decided to do that since I was going to be reinstalling the OS. Went to Best Buy to buy a new HD and Windows 7. Get the usual sales puke coming up to me while I'm looking at HDs and he actually appears to be somewhat knowledgeable, helpful and honest (actually said he didn't know on a technical question instead of making some **** up). He points me to the Windows 7 software after I pick the HD, and we discuss options and decide on Professional. We talk about the upgrade versions and he says that all I need is the product key from the current Vista install. I mention that I'm replacing a bad HD, so I'll be doing a clean install on this new one, and he just stresses that I need the Vista product key and I'll be golden. Cool, have that so I should be set. Buy everything (along with Iron Man 2 woot!) and I'm off to go geek for a few hours.
Get the new HD installed, do a couple tweaks to the setup I had been putting off and fire up the air compressor for a LONG overdue blow out of dust. Put it all back together and begin the installs. Get to the point where Windows 7 asks for the product key, type it in and it says that it's not a valid key. WTF. Seriously re-read and re-type it in like 3 times, each time the same answer. All the message says is "Invalid Product Key". ****. So pick up the phone and dial Microshaft. After saying No, No, Windows 7, No, No, Blah, Blah into an automated system, I eventually get some dude in India who actually spoke English pretty well. He went through his script, and after about 2 min actually got to asking my what the issue I was having was. Told him what was wrong, and to his credit he knew the issue pretty much immediately. The upgrade version requires that Vista actually be installed on the computer before the upgrade, you can't just validate it with a prior OS product key, counter to what the sales guy at Best Buy told me. This is actually the first time that I've done an upgrade instead of full version, so wasn't aware of that.
Well, I really don't want to install Vista first, as I'm kinda anal about clean fresh installs, so I head back to Best Buy to exchange it for the full version. I get there, and immediately get some bullshit flack about not being able to return it because it's opened and a violation of copyright law.
I ask to see the manager, and she's resistant but eventually agrees to do an exchange for the full version. Great. But... they don't have any in stock. Check all the local Best Buys, and no one has a copy. Seriously, WTF guys we're in your **** home city, maybe 10 miles from the Corp HQ and it's a core piece of software. They look to see if they can order it from their warehouse, and they can't. Again WTF. Then they come up with come crazy plan to order it off of Bestbuy.com (which somehow magically does have it) and they'll issue a gift card or some **** to do that. I say, well how long will it take to get here? "I can't say until we actually process the order." Yet another WTF. For sure won't be here tomorrow. Well **** that, my only computer is down and I'm not going to sit on my thumbs for several days to wait for a new copy to come. Try and get them to just take it back, as it was their clueless employee that gave me bad advice and they won't budge. Only option is to wait who knows how long for something from bestbuy.com.So in the end, I said screw it and kept the upgrade and loaded Vista first. Grr.