laptop problem

[Darkwood]

How old is this computer? is it less than 4yrs old? and what was its original price?

 

[telectrix]

about 3/4 years old. around £450. had a hard drive fitted 4 months ago, but they can't find the guy's number.

 

[Darkwood]

If it had a hard drive fitted 4months ago at a repair shop then its not you concern whether they have got or lost someone's no' the contract for the original hard-drive repair is between you and them and not a third party, i would dig out the receipt for the last repair and explain to them its still under warranty and they legally have to honour it unless they can prove its demise is due to abuse or mis-handling.

 

[telectrix]

told them that, but apparently no receipt ( don't know if lost or not ). told them to chase it up.

 

[Darkwood]

if you payed by credit/debit card then you have a proven transaction history, and receipt isnt necessary sounds that they are tested the soil to see if they can get away with it, id get firmer with them have a browse on the customers rights act 1979 and and use a few terms from it and see how quickly they change there minds, unless they get really underhand and accuse you of dropping the laptop, if so be face to face at this stage and ask for computer back immediately once in your hands explain your getting independant advice re' the hard-drive and then seeking legal advice.... if your lucky enough to have a quote from them saying the hard drive is faulty then thats your evidence and dont need to push the route i just mentioned.... it might all seem a bit of hassle but well worth the few hundred quid back in your own pocket.

 

[telectrix]

no, the problem is that the owner's mother can't remember when it was or where it was done. if she can, she will get back to them.

 

[Darkwood]

Oh! get you now.... well expensive memory loss but see if it was done by card a it will be on some banking statement somewhere, that maybe the best bet... but hey! its only money :/ ..... 2 hard-drives failing within 6months now thats bad luck

 

[wallyanker]

Sounds like boot sector on hard drive has failed, normally the first part of a hard drive to fail... Had it a few times (i repair pc's as part of my job)

You can still recover all data on it by removing the hard drive from laptop and using a caddy it will plug into another computer and read it as a removeable device.

Hope this helps a little

 

[telectrix]

cheers. but i don't play golf, so i ain't got a caddy.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

tel,

I hate computers.

 

[telectrix]

latest. got laptop back. just out of interest, removed hard drive to see what brand it was, and the pin configuration, with a view to sourcing one from ebay. now, here's the good bit. bunged it back in and the bloody thing booted up and is now running perfectly. can only assume that there was a poor/dirty connection on one of the pins.

 

[grantr37]

a new hard drive should only set you back about £35.00, and it would be easier just to buy your own (legal+ official) copy of windows so that you have it for future use as well(about £50.00)......forget about warranty as once the foil wrapper on a hard drive is opened that's the manufacturers warranty finished, they only do an until opened - from the date of manufacture warranty as its classed as a consumable memory product just like a blank CD by them......getting a replacement or money back will be impossible.....and too much hassle for nothing...you can get a replacement for faulty RAM memory but not for a Hard drive as its a magnetic drive whereas RAM is solid state(not moving parts) and is classed differently....


on a side note, solid state hard drives (SSD-Solid state Device) hard drives are available now and not overly expensive, you will find them at misco online and in Maplin Electronics shops as well as other places....and they are highly reliable as they don't have any moving parts so are not easily damaged by bumps, whereas rotating Hard Disk Drives are very easily damaged by even minor drops or bumps while they are in use (powered on and rotating)

I am trained and experienced/qualified in IT repair, if you want to ask about how to fix your own computer, pm me on here.