********* READ THIS ** IMPORTANT ** WATCH OUT ********

[Trifecta]

ok, I received this email today, and I dont know who this wacko is but read on and beware of scams like this:

Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 14:59:21 -0500
From: &quot;Courtney M Regan&quot; <zoutv@juno.com>
Reply-To: &quot;Courtney M Regan&quot; <zoutv@juno.com>
To: <>
Subject: A question about an AnandTech post of yours

Hi my name is Courtney and I just saw your post in the AnandTech Forums,
under the Operating System forum. I was reading through your interesting
post on the merits of using Win 98 or Win2K Pro. Without getting into
too much detail, I am a student right now at U-Mass, and last semester my
friend offered to let me use his W2K pro disc to install W2K on my own
PC, however at the time I did not realize the huge benefits I would reap
if I just used W2K pro as my only O/S, and I also thought it just
wouldn't be worth the time it would take to install it.

Well now I am in a bind because my 6.4G Seagate HD that I bought in April
1997, is at the end of it's life span; and I'm worried that any day know
I will turn on my PC and will hear a loud, chugging sound coming from my
HD, which means its 'passed away' (I know from experience). So my
dilemma is that I need to buy a new HD, which will cost me at least $200
and I will have to scrape every penny together to get just this. And so
I?ll get right to the point; I'm basically writing to you to ask if you
would be so kind as to copy your W2K Pro disc, and then mail me the copy.
I know, I know you might be a bit hesitant about doing such a big favor,
but I am really desperate at this point, and I have no shame because of
this. So I was hoping that maybe you would be so kind as to copy your
disc of W2K Pro for me.

I know that you are probably thinking ?well why would I want to do that??
At this point I'm willing to go so low as to ask a fellow Anandtech
Forum mate for some help, as I am that desperate at this point. I really
need to install W2K on my new HD, as the benefits far outweigh any puny
downsides, compared to Win98. I never play games, and all I care about
is stability and being able to do things easier. If you would be so kind
to do this for me, I could mail you a new blank Kodak CDr disc so you
could copy it for me, and then you could just pop it in a self addressed
stamped envelope that I would include. As sign of my appreciation I
could include a few extra cdr discs to give to you, or I could even copy
some software that I have.

Believe me, usually I would never ask someone such a huge favor of
someone that I don't even know, but I?m really in a bind. I only have a
limited amount to spend, and I really have to get a new HD, as I'm
getting to the dangerous point here, as my HD is older than the warranty
period that came with it. I just don't have the extra cash it would take
to get W2K pro, and I can't do both, so I am hoping that you could help
me out. If you can help me out, then I will be forever in your debt and
eternally grateful. However, if you decide not to, then no hard
feelings, I can understand if you would rather not. Thanks a lot for
your time in reading my 'plea' and I hope to hear from you soon.

Courtney Regan

This is very wrong. and the mods should permanently ban this person.

 

[Ryan]

I agree. That's very low.

 

[Doh!]

All the time he spent on writing his &quot;convincing&quot; e-mail, he could've simply gone to any of those zillion warez sites and downloaded an iso. I'm really sorry for saying this but what a joke...

 

[dave1980]

i wouldn't say it's wrong and worthy of a ban. i actually consider it a great, no, fantastic expression of human suffering. i almost cried when i read how he had 'to go so low as to ask a fellow Anandtech Forum mate for some help'.

 

[Shack70]

I say ban them and move on before they start hitting others here for Office 2K or Adobe Photoshop!

 

[Agamar]

Let those who had never copied software throw the first floppy

 

[Cerebus]

<cfrant type=&quot;conspiracy&quot;>

Maybe the SPA's anti-piracy division is running low on cash.

</cfrant>

 

[jkdude]

<< Let those who had never copied software throw the first floppy >>



LOL!

 

[Davegod75]

lol ...but still ban

 

[TomBilliodeaux]

Hey, what's the harm in asking?
I do not see any force or trapping being applied. Only ones own guilt at not accomodating someone who claims to be in &quot;need&quot;.
Are we so nieve to believe that &quot;the devil made me do it&quot;. ie tobacco settlements? Clearly free choice is at work here.

Because the name Anandtech is mentioned does that suffice a ban?

I think the writer did a good job in the appeal, even though i believe it is illegal to consumate the request.

Thanks for sharing the email.

 

[cirrus1]

Heh... I'd maybe send it, if he accepts floppy's and he would be willing pay for shipment

 

[Zeeliv]

You people defending this person don't quite get it. This same email was sent to multiple people. I got one myself. I could see it being harmless if s/he was just asking one person or something, but I believe this went out to many people.

However, I got a new one today apologizing (below). Whether this was just a reaction from seeing this post(trying to snuff out any banning or such) or not I don't know, but I think we should just let it be.




<< Hello, a while after I sent you the below e-mail yesterday, I realized
what a big mistake I made. Asking someone I don't even know to do such a
thing is really out of character for me. Maybe in a perfect world this
O/S would be free but its not, and for a reason. What I'll do is either
continue to use Win98, or just wait a few months until I buy a fully
licensed copy of W2K Pro. I don't know what made me think of such a
stupid idea to e-mail you, but I was totally wrong in sending my original
message. So I am apologizing to you and just want to let you know that I
will never e-mail you again with such a stupid request. Thanks for your
time,

Courtney

>>

 

[Damaged]

I see they didn't request the registration code though. So, it's really not that big a deal.

Rather brash though.

 

[Soldat]

big deal

 

[Cnuke]

I know I got a tear in my eye!! That is wrong!! He should know better than to ask people at this site. It is not a Warez site. If I was looking for car prices I would not look here. So for pirate software why look here. If I were crooked I would reply and tell him that I would take him up on the offer to send me a half a dozen CDR's and we will call it even. Then send him a word doc that explains that he has broken anti trust and his other 5 cd's have been confiscated.

Maybe he would get off of the couch and get a part time job for his extra needs.

 

[danielshoes]

He is crazy.

If you understand the mistery of the hidden secrets of human brain, please, help Courtney.

If you are a preacher, please, preach for him...

shoes...

 

[Cnuke]

He is not even bright enough to think of Ghosting the drive!!! It is Shareware.

God Love Him!!!!!

 

[stash]

Hes not even worth banning. Hes obviously not the most experienced of computer users, otherwise he would've used one of the many ways to get out of his predicament. Besides, he apolgized, which is more than some of the more criminally minded participants of this forum can say.

How about spending more time focusing on the scammers and tricksters that roam throughout the &quot;For Sale&quot; forum. This kid is harmless--it doesnt look like hes going to be getting what he asked for is it? Hes committed no crime--he simply made a polite, albeit immature post to a forum and has since apologized for his error in judgement.

Move on.

 

[SemperFi]

<< Well now I am in a bind because my 6.4G Seagate HD that I bought in April
1997, is at the end of it's life span; and I'm worried that any day know
I will turn on my PC and will hear a loud, chugging sound coming from my
HD, which means its 'passed away' (I know from experience). So my
dilemma is that I need to buy a new HD, which will cost me at least $200
and I will have to scrape every penny together to get just this. >>




Hasn't bought a drive since '97 , but knows from experience dying drive &quot;s&quot;.

Point 2 If he would go to his fellow anandtecher's HOT DEALS find 20gig for 100 smackers. On DEC.31 I bought a 40 Gig maxtor from Compusa for $99.

This is scam from the word go.

Probobly going to sell it. Student needing money and all.

 

[UnixFreak]

Courtney: I'll give you a copy of Red Hat 7 Absolutely free, just sent me a few disks, I wont tell anyone..
I also have caldera, corel, slackware, and Free BSD, I may also pirate those if you want.. lol

 

[zzzz]

since he doesn't play games..linux should be good for him...