My cd for my 2003 works fine on a Win98 box. I still prefer paper
after 27 years of paper manuals. No helpful comments about your cd
problem though. What OS, what service pack, what version of IE?

"Kent" > wrote:

>A while back, someone started a thread asking which was the preferred
>Bentley Manual, electronic or print version. The consensus seemed to be that
>the electronic version was not worth the premium price. Well, I should have
>taken the group's advice.
>
>I received my CD for the Bentley GTI, Golf, Jetta 1985-1992 service manual
>late last week. I followed all the instructions, installed it on my
>computer, and...big surprise...it didn't work. I screwed around with it for
>a few hours, and then broke down and emailed Bentley software support. I was
>told that I had purchased "Version 1" of the CD, and I must have purchased
>it from a third-party vendor as it was not longer supported by Bentley and
>was "removed from circulation". I'm not even sure what that means. They
>didn't come right out and say it, but the feeling I got was that they had
>had serious compatibility problems with this product that they were quietly
>trying to fix. Keep in mind that this was a brand-new, shrink wrapped CD
>that I purchased from a reputable supplier that is highly-regarded by this
>group.
>
>Well, after a single unsuccessful fix attempt by software support, I was
>told that the only possible way that the Version 1 CD "might" run on my
>computer was by installing and maintaining a "dummy" version of an obsolete
>Netscape browser. Am I the only one who finds this odd after paying $82 for
>a brand new CD? I objected, and I was told that they would do a straight
>exchange of my CD for a "Version 2" CD this is derived from microfiche and
>doesn't include the wiring diagrams. I got the feeling that the Version 2 CD
>was a desperate attempt to deal with a serious software compatibility
>problem. Alternatively, I could do a straight exchange of my CD for the
>print manual, which is significantly less expensive than the CD. Oh, and I
>would have to return my CD to them at my cost, and include a letter
>requesting the exchange.
>
>I insisted that the more equitable exchange would be my Version 1 CD for the
>Version 2 CD and the print manual, since the wiring diagrams were an
>important part of why I decided to purchase the CD in the first place. This
>is when software support stopped talking to me. I've since emailed my dealer
>to see if he will offer a refund, or at least help me negotiate with Bentley
>for an equitable exchange. I've also attempted to contact the president of
>Bentley Publishing. No luck yet.
>
>Has anyone else had a similar experience with this particular CD manual? Any
>sage advice? Is the microfiche-derived Version 2 worth the money? Any
>good/bad experiences with Bentley customer service?


Jim B.