Monday, June 8, 2009
FAQ
What is changing on Windows Marketplace?:-
Windows Marketplace has transitioned from an ecommerce site to a reference site. You will find links to sites such as Microsoft Store, Windows Vista® Compatibility Center, and other destinations with cool and compatible software, hardware and devices that support Microsoft® platforms.
Windows Marketplace has transitioned from an ecommerce site to a reference site. You will find links to sites such as Microsoft Store, Windows Vista® Compatibility Center, and other destinations with cool and compatible software, hardware and devices that support Microsoft® platforms.
Where do I go for Help and Support?
There are several options for support depending on your need:
Microsoft products
If you need help with installing, uninstalling or using any Microsoft product, please contact Microsoft support at http://support.microsoft.com/. If you need help re-downloading Microsoft products you purchased on Window Marketplace, please contact digital locker support for Windows and Office here: https://support.windowsmarketplace.com/eform.aspx?productKey=marketplace&ct=eformts
Help with digital locker
To get help with digital locker, use your Windows Live ID to sign into digital locker at https://digitallocker.windowsmarketplace.com/locker.aspx, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the "Help" link.
Microsoft products
If you need help with installing, uninstalling or using any Microsoft product, please contact Microsoft support at http://support.microsoft.com/. If you need help re-downloading Microsoft products you purchased on Window Marketplace, please contact digital locker support for Windows and Office here: https://support.windowsmarketplace.com/eform.aspx?productKey=marketplace&ct=eformts
Help with digital locker
To get help with digital locker, use your Windows Live ID to sign into digital locker at https://digitallocker.windowsmarketplace.com/locker.aspx, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the "Help" link.
What happens to digital locker?
The digital locker service will remain operational through August of 2009: During this time we will send emails and web communications to help customers transition from digital locker. By the end of August 2009, digital locker service will be shut down. Digital locker account holders should retrieve and record elsewhere their software keys from digital locker before this shutdown occurs.
Can I continue to use digital locker?
Yes. Digital locker remains open through August of 2009. You'll be able retrieve product keys and re-download any software you have stored.
Can I transfer my digital locker to Microsoft Store?
No. Microsoft Store uses its own account system and does not use digital locker.
How can I back up my products from digital locker?
As long as digital locker remains open, you can burn the programs in your digital locker to CDs or DVDs. You must have first completed the download of the software.
To backup your software, use the digital locker assistant.
XP: If you are using Windows XP, you must have the digital locker assistant installed on your computer. You may have already done this if you used it to download software from Windows Marketplace. If you do not have the digital locker Assistant installed click here. Once the digital locker assistant is installed, it can be accessed from either a desktop link or the Start menu.
Vista: If you are using Windows Vista, the digital locker assistant is already installed on your computer. You can access the digital locker Assistant through the Control Panel.
Can I continue to use digital locker?
Yes. Digital locker remains open through August of 2009. You'll be able retrieve product keys and re-download any software you have stored.
Can I transfer my digital locker to Microsoft Store?
No. Microsoft Store uses its own account system and does not use digital locker.
How can I back up my products from digital locker?
As long as digital locker remains open, you can burn the programs in your digital locker to CDs or DVDs. You must have first completed the download of the software.
To backup your software, use the digital locker assistant.
XP: If you are using Windows XP, you must have the digital locker assistant installed on your computer. You may have already done this if you used it to download software from Windows Marketplace. If you do not have the digital locker Assistant installed click here. Once the digital locker assistant is installed, it can be accessed from either a desktop link or the Start menu.
Vista: If you are using Windows Vista, the digital locker assistant is already installed on your computer. You can access the digital locker Assistant through the Control Panel.
- Click Start
- Click Control Panel
- Click Programs
- Click Programs and Features
- Click View purchase software (digital locker)
- Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW into your CD drive
- Login to the digital locker Assistant
- Select the product you want to backup
- At the bottom of the page, click on View License
- Copy or write down your license information
- Click Okay
- In the gray area near the top of the page, click Create Back-up CD. (This option will only appear if the software has been downloaded)
- When prompted to burn the CD, click Next
- Click Finish
How do I request a refund?
For purchases made on Windows Marketplace:
Each seller listed on Windows Marketplace has its own return and refund policy. Please contact the product manufacture or seller of your purchase. If you purchased an item through the digital locker, sign in to your digital locker account here https://digitallocker.windowsmarketplace.com/locker.aspx and click Purchase History. Contact information for each seller from whom you've purchased products is located under "Additional Details".
For purchases from Microsoft Store:
For more information on Microsoft Store returns policies, please click here http://store.microsoft.com/Help/Returns-Refunds.
Don't remember if you bought an item through Windows Marketplace or Microsoft Store?
Contact the digital locker Support Team https://digitallocker.windowsmarketplace.com/help.aspx for assistance in determining where your purchase was made. You will need to have your Transaction ID available, which can be found on your purchase receipt or credit card statement.
Each seller listed on Windows Marketplace has its own return and refund policy. Please contact the product manufacture or seller of your purchase. If you purchased an item through the digital locker, sign in to your digital locker account here https://digitallocker.windowsmarketplace.com/locker.aspx and click Purchase History. Contact information for each seller from whom you've purchased products is located under "Additional Details".
For purchases from Microsoft Store:
For more information on Microsoft Store returns policies, please click here http://store.microsoft.com/Help/Returns-Refunds.
Don't remember if you bought an item through Windows Marketplace or Microsoft Store?
Contact the digital locker Support Team https://digitallocker.windowsmarketplace.com/help.aspx for assistance in determining where your purchase was made. You will need to have your Transaction ID available, which can be found on your purchase receipt or credit card statement.
What is Microsoft Store?
It's an online store where you can purchase a full range of Microsoft products directly from Microsoft. Many software products on the Store can be purchased and downloaded immediately.
How do I get help or support for recent purchases made on Windows Marketplace?
If your purchase was made from Windows Marketplace and involves the installation, removal or use of your product, please contact the manufacturer. For Windows Vista, go to the Microsoft Help and Support Web site.
What is changing on Windows Marketplace? Windows Marketplace has transitioned from an ecommerce site to a reference site. You will find links to site
Please contact your Merchant of Record (aka "MOR") to determine if a refund is available. To contact your MOR, please your sign into your digital locker account for more information.
What happens to my personal information once my digital locker account is closed?
Microsoft will destroy any personal information on the associated data server, in compliance with our standard policies. Microsoft respects your privacy. Please read our online Privacy Statement.
How do I keep the information that is currently in my digital locker?
Please back up any software, product keys and other data before digital locker is closed down at the end of August, 2009. For detailed directions see FAQ #3.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Corporate structure
The company is run by a Board of Directors consisting of ten people, made up of mostly company outsiders (as is customary for publicly traded companies). Current members of the board of directors are: Steve Ballmer, James Cash, Jr., Dina Dublon, Bill Gates, Raymond Gilmartin, Reed Hastings, David Marquardt, Charles Noski, Helmut Panke, and Jon Shirley.[72] The ten board members are elected every year at the annual shareholders' meeting, and those who do not get a majority of votes must submit a resignation to the board, which will subsequently choose whether or not to accept the resignation. There are five committees within the board which oversee more specific matters. These committees include the Audit Committee, which handles accounting issues with the company including auditing and reporting; the Compensation Committee, which approves compensation for the CEO and other employees of the company; the Finance Committee, which handles financial matters such as proposing mergers and acquisitions; the Governance and Nominating Committee, which handles various corporate matters including nomination of the board; and the Antitrust Compliance Committee, which attempts to prevent company practices from violating antitrust laws.[73][74]
There are several other aspects to the corporate structure of Microsoft. For worldwide matters there is the Executive Team, made up of sixteen company officers across the globe, which is charged with various duties including making sure employees understand Microsoft's culture of business. The sixteen officers of the Executive Team include the Chairman and Chief Software Architect, the CEO, the General Counsel and Secretary, the CFO, senior and group vice presidents from the business units, the CEO of the Europe, the Middle East and Africa regions; and the heads of Worldwide Sales, Marketing and Services; Human Resources; and Corporate Marketing. In addition to the Executive Team there is also the Corporate Staff Council, which handles all major staff functions of the company, including approving corporate policies. The Corporate Staff Council is made up of employees from the Law and Corporate Affairs, Finance, Human Resources, Corporate Marketing, and Advanced Strategy and Policy groups at Microsoft. Other Executive Officers include the Presidents and Vice Presidents of the various product divisions, leaders of the marketing section, and the CTO, among others
There are several other aspects to the corporate structure of Microsoft. For worldwide matters there is the Executive Team, made up of sixteen company officers across the globe, which is charged with various duties including making sure employees understand Microsoft's culture of business. The sixteen officers of the Executive Team include the Chairman and Chief Software Architect, the CEO, the General Counsel and Secretary, the CFO, senior and group vice presidents from the business units, the CEO of the Europe, the Middle East and Africa regions; and the heads of Worldwide Sales, Marketing and Services; Human Resources; and Corporate Marketing. In addition to the Executive Team there is also the Corporate Staff Council, which handles all major staff functions of the company, including approving corporate policies. The Corporate Staff Council is made up of employees from the Law and Corporate Affairs, Finance, Human Resources, Corporate Marketing, and Advanced Strategy and Policy groups at Microsoft. Other Executive Officers include the Presidents and Vice Presidents of the various product divisions, leaders of the marketing section, and the CTO, among others
StockWhen the company debuted its IPO in March 13, 1986, the stock price was US $21.[76][77] By the close of the first trading day, the stock had clos
When the company debuted its IPO in March 13, 1986, the stock price was US $21.[76][77] By the close of the first trading day, the stock had closed at $28, equivalent to 9.7 cents when adjusted for the company's first nine splits.[77] The initial close and ensuing rise in subsequent years made several Microsoft employees millions.[11] The stock price peaked in 1999 at around US $119 (US $60.928 adjusting for splits).[77] While the company has had nine stock splits, the first of which was in September 18, 1987, the company did not start offering a dividend until January 16, 2003.[77][78] The dividend for the 2003 fiscal year was eight cents per share, followed by a dividend of sixteen cents per share the subsequent year.[78] The company switched from yearly to quarterly dividends in 2005, for eight cents a share per quarter with a special one-time payout of three dollars per share for the second quarter of the fiscal year.[78]
Despite the company's ninth split on February 2, 2003 and subsequent increases in dividend payouts, the price of Microsoft's stock largely remained steady for the next several years,[78][79] with a rise in stock price around the release of Windows Vista and a fall during the
Despite the company's ninth split on February 2, 2003 and subsequent increases in dividend payouts, the price of Microsoft's stock largely remained steady for the next several years,[78][79] with a rise in stock price around the release of Windows Vista and a fall during the
Diversity
In 2005, Microsoft received a 100% rating in the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign, a ranking of companies by how progressive the organization deems their policies concerning LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) employees. Partly through the work of the Gay and Lesbian Employees at Microsoft (GLEAM) group, Microsoft added gender expression to its anti-discrimination policies in April 2005, and the Human Rights Campaign upgraded Microsoft's Corporate Equality Index from its 86% rating in 2004 to its current 100% rating.[80][81]
In April 2005, Microsoft received wide criticism for withdrawing support from Washington state's H.B. 1515 bill that would have extended the state's current anti-discrimination laws to people with alternate sexual orientations.[82] Microsoft was accused of bowing to pressure from local evangelical pastor Ken Hutcherson who met with a senior Microsoft executive and threatened a national boycott of Microsoft's products.[83] Microsoft also revealed they were paying evangelical conservative Ralph Reed's company Century Strategies a $20,000 monthly fee.[84] Over 2,000 employees signed a petition asking Microsoft to reinstate support for the bill.[85] Under harsh criticism from both outside and inside the company's walls, Microsoft decided to support the bill again in May 2005.[85][86]
Microsoft hires many foreign workers as well as domestic ones, and is an outspoken opponent of the cap on H1B visas, which allow companies in the United States to employ certain foreign workers. Bill Gates claims the cap on H1B visas make it difficult to hire employees for the company, stating "I'd certainly get rid of the H1B cap
In April 2005, Microsoft received wide criticism for withdrawing support from Washington state's H.B. 1515 bill that would have extended the state's current anti-discrimination laws to people with alternate sexual orientations.[82] Microsoft was accused of bowing to pressure from local evangelical pastor Ken Hutcherson who met with a senior Microsoft executive and threatened a national boycott of Microsoft's products.[83] Microsoft also revealed they were paying evangelical conservative Ralph Reed's company Century Strategies a $20,000 monthly fee.[84] Over 2,000 employees signed a petition asking Microsoft to reinstate support for the bill.[85] Under harsh criticism from both outside and inside the company's walls, Microsoft decided to support the bill again in May 2005.[85][86]
Microsoft hires many foreign workers as well as domestic ones, and is an outspoken opponent of the cap on H1B visas, which allow companies in the United States to employ certain foreign workers. Bill Gates claims the cap on H1B visas make it difficult to hire employees for the company, stating "I'd certainly get rid of the H1B cap
Logos and slogans
In 1987, Microsoft adopted its current logo, the so-called "Pac-Man Logo", designed by Scott Baker. According to the March 1987 Computer Reseller News Magazine, "The new logo, in Helvetica italic typeface, has a slash between the o and s to emphasize the "soft" part of the name and convey motion and speed." Dave Norris, a Microsoft employee, ran an internal joke campaign to save the old logo, which was green, in all uppercase, and featured a fanciful letter O, nicknamed the blibbet, but it was discarded.[88]
Microsoft's logo with the "Your potential. Our passion." tagline below the main corporate name, is based on the slogan Microsoft had as of 2008. In 2002, the company started using the logo in the United States and eventually started a TV campaign with the slogan, changed from the previous tagline of
Microsoft's logo with the "Your potential. Our passion." tagline below the main corporate name, is based on the slogan Microsoft had as of 2008. In 2002, the company started using the logo in the United States and eventually started a TV campaign with the slogan, changed from the previous tagline of
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