Regular Cringe correspondent K.U. writes in about a recent out-of-Business Objects experience (or OOBO) upgrading Crystal Reports for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. I quote: I ordered a Crystal Reports upgrade for MS Visual Studio 2005 from Business Objects. The package arrived with all the documentation wet and the CD case crushed - I assume the Fedex driver was a Business Objects customer and put the package in Regular Cringe correspondent K.U. writes in about a recent out-of-Business Objects experience (or OOBO) upgrading Crystal Reports for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. I quote:I ordered a Crystal Reports upgrade for MS Visual Studio 2005 from Business Objects. The package arrived with all the documentation wet and the CD case crushed – I assume the Fedex driver was a Business Objects customer and put the package in a puddle and ran it over to kill all the bugs. Upgrade installed, I checked the BO website for updates. One service pack and one hot-fix later I discovered my upgrade was actually for earlier versions of Visual Studio and I needed a 1.4 GB Release 2 download for VS2005 compatibility. With Release 2 finally on board I find and install R2 SP1, only to discover that in the interim there was now an R2 SP2 which is inaccessible with my BO account and password. Holy best-before-date, Batman. Out of the package to obsolete in under 24 hours! I can hardly wait to see wht it will do under Vista. Update: I heard back from K.U. a little while later. He said he got hold of his BO sales agent, who sent him new media and directed him to a different site that didn’t require a log in. So there’s a happy ending after all. (Though I do think the acronym B.O. is reason enough for Business Objects to pick a new name.)Have you endured a surreal upgrade experience at the hands of Microsoft or some other vendor from hell? Drop me a note here or post a comment below. The best tipsters may find themselves one swag bag richer. Software DevelopmentSmall and Medium Business