Laptop

tnavresbo · 7th September 2006, 14:36

Hello,

I bought a laptop for £750 about 6 or 7 months ago from PCworld and the keyboard stoped working. I asked them if they could fix it they took it away to replce the keyboard which meant I couldn't use it for work for about 7-9 days and I just got it back and two of the keys don't work. There F8 and esc and because the copy of windows has become currupt for the 3rd time I need to reinstall it and I can't agree to the license without F8 so it's still useless to me. I've had it with it 'cause the hard drive seems to keep getting currupt now and I need a laptop which won't need to be reinstalled alot so I was wondering if I can ask them for a refund or a diffrent computer? I don't trust that laptop to not lose all my data now and I don't want to wait for them to fix it 'cause I need it for work.

Thanks for your help

Bookworm · 7th September 2006, 18:09

Hello, Observant

Hmmm... What do you mean the HD is getting "corrupt"?

Your rights under SOGA are, amongst others (as per TS website):

Quote:

Repair or replacement
The trader can refuse to agree to either of these remedies if it is disproportionate in comparison to the other remedies. For example, if you ask a trader to replace a washing machine then he would be entitled to turn down your request and offer a repair instead.
However, the repair or replacement must be carried out within a reasonable time and without causing significant inconvenience to the consumer. If this does not happen or the repair or replacement is not possible, then the consumer can rescind the contract (claim a refund) or request a reduction in purchase price.

But you need to be clear about the problem. I doubt that anyone would see a correlation between a faulty keyboard and a "corrupt" HD, whatever that means.

reidnet · 7th September 2006, 18:59

If the Keyboard is still Faulty, Take it back as it has not been repaired Satisfactory.

The corruption of the Hard Drive they will almost certainly blaim software that you have installed for causing the corruption. Thats their normal line of attack anyway.

If you know the Manufacturer of the Hard drive and the model number, have a look at their website, they normally have utillity programs for testing the hard drive. Another little tip..though PC World etc will never tell you, Most hard disk drives carry a 3 year manufacturers warranty. I found an old 20Gigabyte dead hardrive lying about and when I checked the ser number on Westen Digitals website it was still under warranty. I returned it and they sent me a shiney new 80 Gigabyte Drive FOC.

Ian

petrolhead · 7th September 2006, 21:54

in the meantime you can plug a standard ps/2 or usb keyboard in. itll get you up and running while your waiting on them getting their finger out.

Rich44 · 7th September 2006, 22:08

I think you will find a lot of companies save money by buying their supplies from the manufacturer outside of those kind of warranties they get a cost reduction as the maker has a very limited liability, also when you key the serial number in they know who bought the drive etc and it will point you back to the company who integrated it into a computer again this is how they offer big discounts to companies using their drives.

Having said that its always worth a try as if its an older drive they may not have that spec around any more and you may get a free upgrade, again however most of these companies want the old drive sent abroad and due to the continuing fall of hard drive prices its often more cost effective to bin it and buy a new one ie if its going to cost £25 to post a 40GB drive you may as well put that to buying a new drive

Some co's also sell their factory reject drives that they dont feel confident enough to put their 3 year warranty to and quite often these find their way into the channel at some point, anyone remember Escom? They were using Seagate factory seconds and thats what broke them they were paying ICL to go out and replace them under warranty and it cost a fortune

Bookworm · 7th September 2006, 23:09

Woah there guys! We are talking of a laptop that's less than 1 year old, let's not carried away with replacements HDs and such...

Bottom line is, responsability lies with PC World. And OP has the right to get a) keyboard fixed again, b) HD sorted if failure is not down to virus or other crud. And even then, PCW would have to prove that that was caused the HD failure, if there is HD failure, that is, since OP hasnt specified what the problem is.

tnavresbo · 8th September 2006, 18:09

Hello,

Thank you for the replies, I asked them to fix it again and they said they would pick it up this morning so I waited in and they didn't come so I went to the shop and they said I can either leave it with them which will take longer or call up again and waste another day waiting which would mean I get it back faster. I am now very p***** at them.

Quote:

in the meantime you can plug a standard ps/2 or usb keyboard in. itll get you up and running while your waiting on them getting their finger out.

I would buy a usb one but the hard drive has become currupt and I think I would need windows on to install drivers for a usb keyboard.

I'm going to try and find out what make the hard drive is and test it just to see.

Is there no set ammount of time there allowed to take to fix it? because I need it asap.

Thanks

tnavresbo · 8th September 2006, 18:10

by the way I love this site

Rich44 · 8th September 2006, 18:28

you dont need drivers for a usb keyboard to work as soon as the windows installer loads it'll work, if it doesnt hit del/F1/F2 whatever it says on startup to enter setup and then enable "legacy usb support" that will fix it

tnavresbo · 8th September 2006, 18:36

but don't you need windows working on the laptop for the windows installer to work?

blacksheep1979 · 8th September 2006, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnavresbo

but don't you need windows working on the laptop for the windows installer to work?

If that was the case how would people install windows in the first place?

reidnet · 8th September 2006, 23:21

If I remember correctly from PC World terms & Conditions Im almost certain that it is 28 Days that they state. Best thing to do is take into the store, Preferably on a Saturday when it is busy and ask to speak to the manager and cause a bit of a scene, Dont go punching him or nuffin, just keep your head and make sure folks round about can hear..lol.. they dont like that. - Believe me Ive been there done that and got it sorted quickly.
And you have the sale of goods act on your side to.

cazpoppies · 21st September 2006, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by reidnet

If I remember correctly from PC World terms & Conditions Im almost certain that it is 28 Days that they state. Best thing to do is take into the store, Preferably on a Saturday when it is busy and ask to speak to the manager and cause a bit of a scene, Dont go punching him or nuffin, just keep your head and make sure folks round about can hear..lol.. they dont like that. - Believe me Ive been there done that and got it sorted quickly.
And you have the sale of goods act on your side to.

Bit childish if you ask me, why act like this when as you quite rightly point out that the SOGA is on your side?

Rich44 · 21st September 2006, 19:54

because 99.9999999% of the time PCW think they know better than the law and sometimes it takes something like a little saturday morning strop to get things going

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