More Technological Woes

Published December 11, 2014

This is a continuation of my last post where I outline my not so smooth computer reformatting process.

I finally did hear from EaseUS about my Data Recovery Wizard refund request (my software review still hasn't appeared on their website). They referred me to a page on their web server that gives details about their 30 Day Money Back Guarantee.

It looks like I’m going to have to write a book in order to get my refund. But, I’ll start describing in excruciating detail the problems I had with the software in an attempt to get my money back. Just for grins, here are a few of the questions they asked:

For further analysis, please tell us the information about your problem:

1. How did you lose your data? Deleted, formatted, or others?
2. How many partitions did you have? Which is the partition you want to recover data from?
3. Have you done (use the computer, make some changes) anything on your original hard disk (which contains the lost data) after you lost your files?Where did you install our program in? Where did you save the recovered files?
4. What is the exact file type of your lost files?
5. Where did you save the found files?
6. Did you try to modify the file types as what they were?

It’s a good thing I’m an anal retentive writer because I’ve documented the entire reformat process. In response to their email, I sent them a 3-page .pdf which detailed the entire process equipped with screen clips of the error messages. We’ll see what happens next.

Nuance Naturally Speaking

Now that the file recovery ball is in their court, it’s time to address another comedic adventure in software. As you may know (or maybe you don’t know), I’m a fan of voice recognition software. My software of choice is Dragon Naturally Speaking.

While I was backing up my files and various and assorted profiles (I’ve found that profiles take up more space than my working files do, but that’s the subject of yet another post), I got a pop-up from Nuance offering me 50% off of the latest version of NaturallySpeaking. Hmmm, 50% off and the latest version is purportedly 35% more accurate than the version I’m currently using. I couldn't resist so I purchased the upgrade.

I didn't immediately download the upgrade because I was in the midst of reformatting the computer, recovering lost files and the like. I waited until things with my computer settled down a bit before I download the program.

Now with things a little less hectic, I went to download my newly purchased software and got this message:

Really?! Are you kidding me? Okay, so now I email Nuance to alert them of the error and I get a response telling me it will take 2 business days to fix. Then they give me instructions on how to download the software. C’mon guys! I know how to download software, if you would just let me get to the link.

To add insult to injury, the following day I received an email from Nuance offering me 20% off of my next purchase of software. I couldn't help it but I wrote to them saying I think it’s a bit out of taste to offer me 20% off on my next purchase when I still haven’t received the software I paid for (I think I’m turning into a curmudgeon).

My second email prompted a response telling me to try different browsers (I tried 3), update my browser (my computer is newly reformatted so all browsers are up to date) and disable my firewall (are they crazy!). That silly response prompted me to call them (a second time). The bottom line is…get this… They sent me to the wrong link, not once, but twice!   I kid you not; I’m not making this up.

If you purchase software from Nuance, ignore whatever link they give you in the confirmation email.   Take my advice and go over to www.findmyorder.com and search for your order. After being directed to the correct link (3 days later), I was able to download the software.

The Third Act

There’s one more tragic comedy adventure that’s looming out there. It’s the Microsoft Windows 7 adventure. Windows doesn't know I paid for a legitimate copy of their software. I know it’s just a matter of time before they start hounding me to register/activate my legitimate copy. The only problem is the documentation to prove legitimacy is lost or in an unrecoverable, recovered state.

One good thing about this whole process is it gives me plenty of writing material. Granted, I would prefer to write about my technological successes, but how can I appreciate success if I didn't first trudge through the trenches of defeat?

Last Modified: 10 February 2023