Hi again.
Spoke to Asus on the phone friday (0870 number, say no to 0870.com sorted out that

) told them the problem, but couldn't help at that time because the office hrs were 9-5 and I just happen to call at 4.55! and he didn't have a clue! but he did take my number and say they'lll call back on monday mid morning.. no call so didn't hang around and took the laptop back, and explained the problem to the sales assistant/tech guy! (...the latter word I use very loosely!!) who asked me if I had tried a 'factory restore'!!!!!!
'Oh I see,' I said. 'I suppose that will upgrade the graphics card and CPU so that the DVD will play'

!!!! at which point he must have realised he'd not completely understood the problem.
He took the laptop up the back to 'test' it, and returned and told me that it doesn't work!!!!! I told him to try the one on display, which he did, which also never worked! so he went up to the back and returned 5 minutes later, said that there must be a problem with that model and that he'll exchange the laptop as an act of goodwill, because I've had the laptop longer than 28 days and usually under their policy they dont exchange goods!!! I replied 'Well I dont care if it's 328 days, you've just admitted that there's a fault with the laptop, gave him a bit of SOGA
......they must be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality (i.e. not inherently faulty at the time of sale).
and you said there's a fault!..He'll speak to the manager and see what he can do! after that point it was plain sailing!!
swapped laptop for another make, which was dearer when I bought mine but was now at the same price

.. so I'm a happy bunny!!!
CAG rules!!!!