Recently we had to take our PC into a local PC repairer and service shop. It was suffering from an invasion of viruses. It was bust, locked up, unable to work. The guy in the shop said he would have to replace the Windows (English) software with a Portuguese version as that was all he had. We let him. We parted with 50 Euros for this assistance. After his "fixing", the PC worked.

A few weeks later the PC started to complain that it hadn't got a legal/approved copy of Windows.

We went back to the shop. He said it would cost us 150 euros to uprate to a legal copy! This in spite of the fact that our PC had a completely legal copy of Windows prior to this guys "fixing". BAH!

"Pirate Ahoy" I say. Are all small businesses like this in PT?

If you had a legal copy of windows, you can reload that version [have a friend download it from the internet, or borrow a disk], and use your old code to activate it. that should be on a sticker on your computer. You might have to contact microsoft at some point to verify.

Are all businesses in Portugal like that? I should think not! Any computer repair man worth a damn should have a working pirated English version, and a German one too.

Unfortunately, this is an incredibly common occurrence in my line of work. I hear about this sort of thing all the time. In future, drop me a line! Some example prices that I would charge for this sort of job :-

-30 euros for re-installation of ENGLISH windows (using your previous license so it's genuine!)

I would never, ever, ever install a pirate copy of windows on a CUSTOMERS PC, especially not if he has a physical shop. He could be sued and in fact jailed in this country for software piracy!

People like them give my trade a bad name and it really puts my back up!

Rant over!

Scott

I think you were just unlucky, all small businesses in Portugal are not like that, on the contrary, most offer far better customer service than anything I've experienced in the UK. The only time I've been ripped off was when I bought a car off a British expat and discovered he hadn't paid the previous three years car tax.

[QUOTE=sir recorder;10107629]Recently we had to take our PC into a local PC repairer and service shop. It was suffering from an invasion of viruses. It was bust, locked up, unable to work. The guy in the shop said he would have to replace the Windows (English) software with a Portuguese version as that was all he had. We let him. We parted with 50 Euros for this assistance. After his "fixing", the PC worked.

A few weeks later the PC started to complain that it hadn't got a legal/approved copy of Windows.

We went back to the shop. He said it would cost us 150 euros to uprate to a legal copy! This in spite of the fact that our PC had a completely legal copy of Windows prior to this guys "fixing". BAH!

"Pirate Ahoy" I say. Are all small businesses like this in PT?[/QUOTE]

I take it you have not been in Portugal very long ?

Unless you're running a lot of 3rd party software why not give Linux a try?
There is an all-singing easy to use version called PINGUY that will do everything that other operating systems (OS) will do, is pretty much virus-free and it's free, although you can contribute towards the vendor if you so wish. The only things affecting me that are not properly supported are Tomtom Home and iTunes, although there is an alternative to iTunes, although you can't update your iPhone with it AFAIK. There is a full open source (free) office suite available called Libre Office
If you are reasonably competent on a computer you could also try Ubuntu but that needs more attention and setting up and may not be for the beginner.
You can also install Pinguy alongside Windows and choose which one to boot when starting your computer. This gives you the best of both worlds.
I hope this helps.

http://pinguyos.com/

Hi All

I wanted to reply since the original post but waited, Linux has now been mentioned Good.

I have to disagree with the s5tuart my daughter is a complete novice unlike my Grand-daughter who i have taught and at 9 years of age she can install Ubuntu. Pinguy is new and still has it's own issues. Pinguy should be left till it has the issues sorted and then it may be ok.

What is Linux? Linux is just another operating system to make a computer work. How much is any type of Linux. Free if you don't understand Free don't read on.

I use the most Popular version called Ubuntu and recently helped my Grand-daughter. She is in Liverpool and i am in the UK we used Skype on her laptop to install Ubuntu on her mums desktop. My Grand-daugher is only 9 years of age.

Some programs like Sage accounts or Autocad won't work with any Linux.
Windows uses there own program called Office With Ubuntu there is Open Office or it's new name is Libre Office. This suit of programs is 99.9 per cent compatible with windows Office files. There is a program to make windows programs work and it's called Wine. See the link below for the Wine project for more information.

You can even try Ubuntu without installing it on your computer. To do this you first need to download Ubuntu. Link below. All you have to do is download Ubuntu and then put it onto a CD or DVD. To try it reboot your computer and you will get an option to install or try just click on try. It will allow you to use it as if it was installed on your computer. Firefox works just how it does as if it was on a windows machine.

For photo editing there is GIMP. Graphic Image Manipulation Program as good as Photoshop and with addons it is better than Photoshop and GIMP is free and installed ready to go.

Web browsing Firefox is the same as ever or for those who like Google Chrome just download and use.

Skype works great i use it daily for both Skype calls and calls to landlines in the UK.

Where do i go if i need help? Ubuntu has it's own Forum and it even has a section for Absolute Beginners in the Absolute beginners section there are ( 152,227 Threads ) ( 1,074,845 Replies ) and that's only the beginners section. The General forum has a Main Support Categories section ( 688,640 Threads ) ( 3,489,087 Replies )

You can see that there is plenty of support should help be needed.

Virus, Malware don't worry seriously don't because Linux as a system and Ubuntu are safe it's windows that the baddies target.

With windows you have to wait for the monthly update and if you don't update it then it keeps on at you till you do update. With Ubuntu as they have something to update they send it down to you. I have set my updates to download in the background and i update when i am ready.

Andalusia deploys 220,000 Ubuntu desktops in schools throughout the region.

This can all be tried without installing just by downloading and running for a CD or DVD. See link below

Look at the links below It really is simple and easy to use.

Good luck

Peter

http://www.winehq.org/

http://www.ubuntu.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_...ting_system%29

http://www.ubuntu.com/support

http://ubuntuforums.org/index.php

http://www.ubuntu.com/products/cases...out-the-region

I will consider Linux as an alternative. Thank you. I will need "free" virus checkers.

I agree with Peter, Ubuntu is an excellent alternative to Windows for people that want to save the cash. Just like any new software or operating system, the only downside is having to learn your way around the new menus etc... However, this does not take long at all!

Some karma is heading your way Peter for such a brilliant and informative post!

Hi All

When a Tech guy makes the comments as you can see above then the question is is it worth looking at. There is a simple way to look at Ubuntu and that is to install it within windows. How well let me tell you a story. I have just installed Ubuntu within windows using what's called WUBI it's an installer where you can install Ubuntu from within windows and also like a windows program you can remove it just as easy. I have placed links below.

While at home tonight in Portugal i installed Ubuntu onto a laptop in Liverpool all i had to do was to explain what had to be done. I worked from my laptop here in Portugal and using Skype on an Iphone in Liverpool i was able to talk through how to install Ubuntu using the WUBI system. All went well i left my son to get Skype onto his laptop so we could both be using Skype from our computers.

It's a bit like getting into a new car and things are a bit different from what you had before.

If you are interested in Ubuntu first read some of the links and understand just what it is.

Peter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wubi_%2...u_installer%29

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/deskt...dows-installer

Peter / s5tuart I am aware that Ubuntu can be installed on a Windows PC as a second opperating system. Can you do the same with the PinguyOS, and can the 64 bit version run alongside a Windows 32 bit?

If so this would help people to play with Pinguy and get to understand it.

I am only running the 32 bit version, standalone (i.e. no MS windows OS).
I wanted to ditch MS Windows completely (hooray!!) so have Pinguy on a 2009 compaq laptop and run 2 new macs. As an aside the Pinguy version of Ubuntu is very similar in appearance to Mac OS X with a nice GUI (IMHO)

Reading on the Pinguy web site I believe it is possible to run the 64 bit version alongside windows but please do your own research first. It is suggested that you make a bootable USB as it appears that some people have experienced difficulty installing from a DVD.
The following link will show what level of support you can expect from the developers forum.
http://forum.pinguyos.com/Thread-Can...staller-issues

Thanks s5tuart
I have read a bit more and think I will install to a spare hard drive.

Hi chaps,

I've only just come on the forums and as a UK techie working here in Portugal and knowing the small-to-medium business quite well, I'd like to impart my knowledge and help out:

One, if you have a receipt (factura) for the 50 euros you parted with, you can always report them to the ASAE (basically the "business police"). The store effectively replaced the original windows with a pirate one.

Two, you can ask him for the complaints book. By law, all businesses are required to have one. If they don't, they can be reported to the ASAE where they will be immediately fined and possibly shut down.

Three, depending on the version of Windows you have, your serial key for the original windows could work, if it is the same type (Home, Pro, Enterprise and so forth). The language of the original Software License is not relevant in Windows Vista and 7. It is on XP, tho'.

Four, the guy was clearly taking the piss - anyone who takes such a flippant attitude towards a client, no matter where you are from, isn't doing himself any favours.

Five, Microsoft is big business here. They don't like these guys giving them a bad name. This type of store has its days counted in this country. Don't expect your standard IT guy to do the same.

Six, the fact that you're foreign is definitely the reason the "technician" *shudder* didn't make an effort. Anyone with half a mind can download Windows from the 'net, burn it to a DVD, install it and then apply a legit serial number to the PC. The guy clearly couldn't care less...

Seven, the shoddy job prolly took him 20 minutes with his pirate copy and there is a good chance that several devices on your PC might not be working properly. Check your device manager to see if they are or not (Control Panel > System > Device Manager). Anything with a yellow exclamation mark will need proper reinstalling. Those with a question mark haven't even been properly detected by Windows on account of no drivers (the thing that makes your hardware work with Windows)

Lastly, eight. Ubuntu Linux is a good option, but honestly you already paid for your Windows and you are accustomed to it. I don't see why you'd need to switch.

FYI: In portuguese these poor excuses for a technician are what are called "sapateiros" (which literally means shoemakers, and figuratively means they just do a half-arsed job "mending" stuff until it breaks again). It is a derogatory term, of course.

Good luck with that!

Paul

If you need any advice, feel free to PM me.

Makes me think of the film Viva Zapateiro, with Marlon Brando