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Windows Live Messenger, 'required information'

R

Rick

Flightless Bird
I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's been
a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided to setup
Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the computer, I got
almost to the end of the registration when two of the information boxes
asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth', having decided that the
(almost exact) location of my house and when I was born was none of
Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests and moved on to the end,
however I'm then informed, in red letters, that these two fields are
'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
 
D

Dave-UK

Flightless Bird
"Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
> I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's been
> a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided to setup
> Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the computer, I got
> almost to the end of the registration when two of the information boxes
> asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth', having decided that the
> (almost exact) location of my house and when I was born was none of
> Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests and moved on to the end,
> however I'm then informed, in red letters, that these two fields are
> 'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
>

You need to ask Microsoft. This newsgroup has no connection with Microsoft.
To complete your registration, just put false information in the two 'required' fields.
 
S

SC Tom

Flightless Bird
"Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
>I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's
>been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided to
>setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the computer,
>I got almost to the end of the registration when two of the information
>boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth', having decided that
>the (almost exact) location of my house and when I was born was none of
>Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests and moved on to the end,
>however I'm then informed, in red letters, that these two fields are
>'required' information, I'd like to ask why?

Don't know why, but I would guess it's like a survey just wanting to know
the geographic locations and ages of the users. They may later use this info
for area- or age-specific add-ons in their products. Just a thought. . .
If you're uncomfortable giving them that info, do like Dave-UK suggested and
give a fake zip and birth date.
--
SC Tom
-There's no such thing as TMI when asking for tech support.
 
R

Rick

Flightless Bird
"SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
news:i7fqo1$4ij$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>
> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
>>I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's
>>been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided to
>>setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the computer,
>>I got almost to the end of the registration when two of the information
>>boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth', having decided that
>>the (almost exact) location of my house and when I was born was none of
>>Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests and moved on to the
>>end, however I'm then informed, in red letters, that these two fields are
>>'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
>
> Don't know why, but I would guess it's like a survey just wanting to know
> the geographic locations and ages of the users. They may later use this
> info for area- or age-specific add-ons in their products. Just a thought.
> . .
> If you're uncomfortable giving them that info, do like Dave-UK suggested
> and give a fake zip and birth date.
>

That's what I'll do then, it's just that it seems a bit of a liberty on the
part of Microsoft of not allowing the option of declining from giving the
kind of personal information which I'm sure many people would resent
giving.. You don't happen to know where I can find Bill Gates's zip code do
you?-)


>
>
 
C

Chris Sidener

Flightless Bird
"Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:GnKmo.32356$Nc6.5057@newsfe24.ams2...
>
> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
> news:i7fqo1$4ij$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>
>> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>> news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
>>>I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's
>>>been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided to
>>>setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the
>>>computer, I got almost to the end of the registration when two of the
>>>information boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth', having
>>>decided that the (almost exact) location of my house and when I was born
>>>was none of Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests and moved
>>>on to the end, however I'm then informed, in red letters, that these two
>>>fields are 'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
>>
>> Don't know why, but I would guess it's like a survey just wanting to know
>> the geographic locations and ages of the users. They may later use this
>> info for area- or age-specific add-ons in their products. Just a
>> thought. . .
>> If you're uncomfortable giving them that info, do like Dave-UK suggested
>> and give a fake zip and birth date.
>>
>
> That's what I'll do then, it's just that it seems a bit of a liberty on
> the part of Microsoft of not allowing the option of declining from giving
> the kind of personal information which I'm sure many people would resent
> giving.. You don't happen to know where I can find Bill Gates's zip code
> do you?-)
>
>
>>
>>

98083
 
R

Rick

Flightless Bird
"Chris Sidener" <chris.sidener@vizzy.net> wrote in message
news:i7fsvu$1f0$1@speranza.aioe.org...
>
> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:GnKmo.32356$Nc6.5057@newsfe24.ams2...
>>
>> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
>> news:i7fqo1$4ij$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>
>>> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>>> news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
>>>>I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's
>>>>been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided
>>>>to setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the
>>>>computer, I got almost to the end of the registration when two of the
>>>>information boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth', having
>>>>decided that the (almost exact) location of my house and when I was born
>>>>was none of Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests and moved
>>>>on to the end, however I'm then informed, in red letters, that these two
>>>>fields are 'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
>>>
>>> Don't know why, but I would guess it's like a survey just wanting to
>>> know the geographic locations and ages of the users. They may later use
>>> this info for area- or age-specific add-ons in their products. Just a
>>> thought. . .
>>> If you're uncomfortable giving them that info, do like Dave-UK suggested
>>> and give a fake zip and birth date.
>>>
>>
>> That's what I'll do then, it's just that it seems a bit of a liberty on
>> the part of Microsoft of not allowing the option of declining from giving
>> the kind of personal information which I'm sure many people would resent
>> giving.. You don't happen to know where I can find Bill Gates's zip code
>> do you?-)
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>
> 98083
>

Our codes on this side of the pond are usually prefixed by letters, I
checked it out on a website and got, age Born, October 28, 1955 zip code WA
98039, I'll stick that in and see what happens, just as long as I don't get
the FBI knocking on the front door!
 
H

housetrained

Flightless Bird
Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
--
John the West Ham fan

housetrained@hotmail.com
<><


"Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:lYKmo.33370$Nc6.7301@newsfe24.ams2...
>
> "Chris Sidener" <chris.sidener@vizzy.net> wrote in message
> news:i7fsvu$1f0$1@speranza.aioe.org...
>>
>> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>> news:GnKmo.32356$Nc6.5057@newsfe24.ams2...
>>>
>>> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
>>> news:i7fqo1$4ij$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>>
>>>> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
>>>>>I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's
>>>>>been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided
>>>>>to setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the
>>>>>computer, I got almost to the end of the registration when two of the
>>>>>information boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth',
>>>>>having decided that the (almost exact) location of my house and when I
>>>>>was born was none of Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests
>>>>>and moved on to the end, however I'm then informed, in red letters,
>>>>>that these two fields are 'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
>>>>
>>>> Don't know why, but I would guess it's like a survey just wanting to
>>>> know the geographic locations and ages of the users. They may later use
>>>> this info for area- or age-specific add-ons in their products. Just a
>>>> thought. . .
>>>> If you're uncomfortable giving them that info, do like Dave-UK
>>>> suggested and give a fake zip and birth date.
>>>>
>>>
>>> That's what I'll do then, it's just that it seems a bit of a liberty on
>>> the part of Microsoft of not allowing the option of declining from
>>> giving the kind of personal information which I'm sure many people would
>>> resent giving.. You don't happen to know where I can find Bill Gates's
>>> zip code do you?-)
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>> 98083
>>
>
> Our codes on this side of the pond are usually prefixed by letters, I
> checked it out on a website and got, age Born, October 28, 1955 zip code
> WA 98039, I'll stick that in and see what happens, just as long as I don't
> get the FBI knocking on the front door!
>
>
>
>
 
R

Rick

Flightless Bird
"housetrained" <housetrained@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4c9b7c2a$0$7819$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
> Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
> Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
> Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
> Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
> Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
> Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
> Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite! Extradite!
> Extradite!
> --
> John the West Ham fan
>

What is that they say? 'many a true word spoken in jest'...


>>
> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:lYKmo.33370$Nc6.7301@newsfe24.ams2...
>>
>> "Chris Sidener" <chris.sidener@vizzy.net> wrote in message
>> news:i7fsvu$1f0$1@speranza.aioe.org...
>>>
>>> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>>> news:GnKmo.32356$Nc6.5057@newsfe24.ams2...
>>>>
>>>> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:i7fqo1$4ij$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>>>
>>>>> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
>>>>>>I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam,
>>>>>>it's been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but
>>>>>>decided to setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed
>>>>>>on the computer, I got almost to the end of the registration when two
>>>>>>of the information boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of
>>>>>>birth', having decided that the (almost exact) location of my house
>>>>>>and when I was born was none of Microsoft's business, I ignored those
>>>>>>two requests and moved on to the end, however I'm then informed, in
>>>>>>red letters, that these two fields are 'required' information, I'd
>>>>>>like to ask why?
>>>>>
>>>>> Don't know why, but I would guess it's like a survey just wanting to
>>>>> know the geographic locations and ages of the users. They may later
>>>>> use this info for area- or age-specific add-ons in their products.
>>>>> Just a thought. . .
>>>>> If you're uncomfortable giving them that info, do like Dave-UK
>>>>> suggested and give a fake zip and birth date.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> That's what I'll do then, it's just that it seems a bit of a liberty on
>>>> the part of Microsoft of not allowing the option of declining from
>>>> giving the kind of personal information which I'm sure many people
>>>> would resent giving.. You don't happen to know where I can find Bill
>>>> Gates's zip code do you?-)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>> 98083
>>>
>>
>> Our codes on this side of the pond are usually prefixed by letters, I
>> checked it out on a website and got, age Born, October 28, 1955 zip code
>> WA 98039, I'll stick that in and see what happens, just as long as I
>> don't get the FBI knocking on the front door!
>>
>>
>>
>>
 
J

johnbee

Flightless Bird
"Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:GnKmo.32356$Nc6.5057@newsfe24.ams2...
>
> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
> news:i7fqo1$4ij$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>
>> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>> news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
>>>I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's
>>>been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided to
>>>setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the
>>>computer, I got almost to the end of the registration when two of the
>>>information boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth', having
>>>decided that the (almost exact) location of my house and when I was born
>>>was none of Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests and moved
>>>on to the end, however I'm then informed, in red letters, that these two
>>>fields are 'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
>>
>> Don't know why, but I would guess it's like a survey just wanting to know
>> the geographic locations and ages of the users. They may later use this
>> info for area- or age-specific add-ons in their products. Just a
>> thought. . .
>> If you're uncomfortable giving them that info, do like Dave-UK suggested
>> and give a fake zip and birth date.
>>
>
> That's what I'll do then, it's just that it seems a bit of a liberty on
> the part of Microsoft of not allowing the option of declining from giving
> the kind of personal information which I'm sure many people would resent
> giving.. You don't happen to know where I can find Bill Gates's zip code
> do you?-)
>
>
>>
>>

If British, try these:

SW1A 2AA
SW1A 0AA

which are, respectively, 10 Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament.
 
S

SC Tom

Flightless Bird
"Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:GnKmo.32356$Nc6.5057@newsfe24.ams2...
>
> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
> news:i7fqo1$4ij$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>
>> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>> news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
>>>I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's
>>>been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided to
>>>setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the
>>>computer, I got almost to the end of the registration when two of the
>>>information boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth', having
>>>decided that the (almost exact) location of my house and when I was born
>>>was none of Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests and moved
>>>on to the end, however I'm then informed, in red letters, that these two
>>>fields are 'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
>>
>> Don't know why, but I would guess it's like a survey just wanting to know
>> the geographic locations and ages of the users. They may later use this
>> info for area- or age-specific add-ons in their products. Just a
>> thought. . .
>> If you're uncomfortable giving them that info, do like Dave-UK suggested
>> and give a fake zip and birth date.
>>
>
> That's what I'll do then, it's just that it seems a bit of a liberty on
> the part of Microsoft of not allowing the option of declining from giving
> the kind of personal information which I'm sure many people would resent
> giving.. You don't happen to know where I can find Bill Gates's zip code
> do you?-)
>
Use Aug. 4, 1961 and 20500. That should get a response :)
 
R

Rick

Flightless Bird
"SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
news:i7gal3$cn5$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>
> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:GnKmo.32356$Nc6.5057@newsfe24.ams2...
>>
>> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
>> news:i7fqo1$4ij$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>
>>> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>>> news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
>>>>I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's
>>>>been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided
>>>>to setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the
>>>>computer, I got almost to the end of the registration when two of the
>>>>information boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth', having
>>>>decided that the (almost exact) location of my house and when I was born
>>>>was none of Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests and moved
>>>>on to the end, however I'm then informed, in red letters, that these two
>>>>fields are 'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
>>>
>>> Don't know why, but I would guess it's like a survey just wanting to
>>> know the geographic locations and ages of the users. They may later use
>>> this info for area- or age-specific add-ons in their products. Just a
>>> thought. . .
>>> If you're uncomfortable giving them that info, do like Dave-UK suggested
>>> and give a fake zip and birth date.
>>>
>>
>> That's what I'll do then, it's just that it seems a bit of a liberty on
>> the part of Microsoft of not allowing the option of declining from giving
>> the kind of personal information which I'm sure many people would resent
>> giving.. You don't happen to know where I can find Bill Gates's zip code
>> do you?-)
>>
> Use Aug. 4, 1961 and 20500. That should get a response :)

I got an immediate response, for some reason they wanted me to send them my
birth certificate?


>
>
 
S

SC Tom

Flightless Bird
"Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:2gOmo.4803$Et1.4199@newsfe06.ams2...
>
> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
> news:i7gal3$cn5$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>
>> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>> news:GnKmo.32356$Nc6.5057@newsfe24.ams2...
>>>
>>> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
>>> news:i7fqo1$4ij$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>>
>>>> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
>>>>>I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's
>>>>>been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided
>>>>>to setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the
>>>>>computer, I got almost to the end of the registration when two of the
>>>>>information boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth',
>>>>>having decided that the (almost exact) location of my house and when I
>>>>>was born was none of Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests
>>>>>and moved on to the end, however I'm then informed, in red letters,
>>>>>that these two fields are 'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
>>>>
>>>> Don't know why, but I would guess it's like a survey just wanting to
>>>> know the geographic locations and ages of the users. They may later use
>>>> this info for area- or age-specific add-ons in their products. Just a
>>>> thought. . .
>>>> If you're uncomfortable giving them that info, do like Dave-UK
>>>> suggested and give a fake zip and birth date.
>>>>
>>>
>>> That's what I'll do then, it's just that it seems a bit of a liberty on
>>> the part of Microsoft of not allowing the option of declining from
>>> giving the kind of personal information which I'm sure many people would
>>> resent giving.. You don't happen to know where I can find Bill Gates's
>>> zip code do you?-)
>>>
>> Use Aug. 4, 1961 and 20500. That should get a response :)
>
> I got an immediate response, for some reason they wanted me to send them
> my birth certificate?
>

Haven't seen the black helicopters yet, have you?
 
K

Ken Blake

Flightless Bird
On Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:12:06 -0400, "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote:

>
> "Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
> >I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's
> >been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided to
> >setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the computer,
> >I got almost to the end of the registration when two of the information
> >boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth', having decided that
> >the (almost exact) location of my house and when I was born was none of
> >Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests and moved on to the end,
> >however I'm then informed, in red letters, that these two fields are
> >'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
>
> Don't know why, but I would guess it's like a survey just wanting to know
> the geographic locations and ages of the users. They may later use this info
> for area- or age-specific add-ons in their products.


I don't know anything about Messenger, but I suspect that you're
right. It's probably like registration of Windows (I don't mean
activation, which is mandatory--as opposed to registration, which is
optional). That registration info is used for marketing purposes, and
that's why I almost always recommend *not* registering Windows.

--
Ken Blake
 
S

Steve B

Flightless Bird
Not sure why this info is so important to MS. Just enter a fake postal code
and be done with it.

"Rick" <rick@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:eQImo.8122$aV1.2833@newsfe19.ams2...
> I recently purchased a new laptop computer with a built in webcam, it's
> been a few years since I last bothered (with Net meeting ) but decided to
> setup Windows Live Messenger, which was already installed on the computer,
> I got almost to the end of the registration when two of the information
> boxes asked for my 'postal code' and 'year of birth', having decided that
> the (almost exact) location of my house and when I was born was none of
> Microsoft's business, I ignored those two requests and moved on to the
> end, however I'm then informed, in red letters, that these two fields are
> 'required' information, I'd like to ask why?
>
 
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