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Windows Forum / Windows XP / New Users / August 2005so frustrated with new computer
Hi everyone I hope someone can help me, I am fairly new to computers. I have a 2 month old computer. HP Pavillion running WINXP with DVD burner and a CD Drive. I have had it in to the store for repairs (STAPLES) twice now. I will have to take it in again. Problem is I will be using it fine and then walk away and when I come back later the screen goes to black with the words Reboot and select proper boot media. So i do that and nothing works I cannot get into windows. I will try this on and off during the day and then will sometimes get to the screen where it shows a bunch of messages including Master Boot Record Error. One time it said backup your files hard drive failure imminent. The thing is the last time I took it in for repair on this problem (last week) the tech said it started up fine but he saw spyware on it when he did a scan. So he sold me Spysweeper and charged for installation ($68.00) Said the problem was spyware. There was already a spyware program on my computer preinstalled plus Norton Security with all the bells and whistles. Like I said this is a brand new computer. So I get this supposedly fixed computer home yesterday and start it up no problem. But later in the day it went to that boot screen again. (same problem) So now I am using my old WINME computer to talk to you guys. Question is what is going on and how do I resolve this issue. Should I take it back for repair. Should I ask for a brand new one? Also if they exchange my computer, what about all my documents and photos that are on my computer, I have backups but I don't want to leave them with my personal info. Sorry this is so long but I don't know what to do and I am so frustrated. Thanks in advance. I will await your replies anxiously. > I hope someone can help me, I am fairly new to computers. > I have a 2 month old computer. HP Pavillion running WINXP with DVD burner [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > shows a bunch of messages including Master Boot Record Error. One time it > said backup your files hard drive failure imminent. You received a S.M.A.R.T. warning about imminent drive failure? It is rare for SMART to be wrong. The other problems could be easily caused by a faulty hard drive or hard drive controller. If the system is still under warranty, the hard drive should be replaced and with most warranties there is no charge. You'll want to check your warranty terms to see if it's covered or not. If it is, point that out to the store so that you don't get charged. Also be sure to tell them you received a SMART warning. Aside: Don't let them side step or dismiss the SMART warning. I had one for a Maxtor drive. When I called their tech support, they had me reset the SMART status. I moved the drive (made it a secondary drive and bought a new primary) so that it wasn't doing anything critical but the warning returned after a month. Called tech support again and they finally replaced it.  SignatureSharon F MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User Two months old take it back and get another one. SMART has detected that a hard drive failure may be imminent. means your drive can go at anytime.Tell them that you got that message. They will probably just want to put in a new drive. Or you can just call HP you system is still under warranty. BTW Spysweeper cost $39.00 at Best Buy and you can install it yourself. SignatureThe best live web video on the internet http://www.seedsv.com/webdemo.htm NEW Embedded system W/Linux. We now sell DVR cards. See it all at http://www.seedsv.com/products.htm Sharpvision simply the best http://www.seedsv.com > Hi everyone > I hope someone can help me, I am fairly new to computers. [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > Thanks in advance. > I will await your replies anxiously. Also if they exchange my computer, what about all my documents and photos > that are on my computer, I have backups but I don't want to leave them > with > my personal info. > Two months old take it back and get another one. SMART has detected that a > hard drive failure may be imminent. means your drive can go at anytime.Tell [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] > > Thanks in advance. > > I will await your replies anxiously. Talk to the manager. If the files are recoverable then they can get them. You should probably purchase a thumb drive and have them put the info on that if it will fit. SignatureThe best live web video on the internet http://www.seedsv.com/webdemo.htm NEW Embedded system W/Linux. We now sell DVR cards. See it all at http://www.seedsv.com/products.htm Sharpvision simply the best http://www.seedsv.com > Also if they exchange my computer, what about all my documents and photos >> that are on my computer, I have backups but I don't want to leave them [quoted text clipped - 73 lines] >> > Thanks in advance. >> > I will await your replies anxiously. I have backup cd's of my personal files and pics at home. My question is Everything is still on the faulty computer which I cannot delete because I cannot get into windows. so when I give them back their faulty computer for an exchange, they will also have all my personal info. What do people do in a case like this? Thanks > Talk to the manager. If the files are recoverable then they can get them. > You should probably purchase a thumb drive and have them put the info on [quoted text clipped - 84 lines] > >> > Thanks in advance. > >> > I will await your replies anxiously. Demand that they wipe it. If the drive is accessible then it can be wiped. SignatureThe best live web video on the internet http://www.seedsv.com/webdemo.htm NEW Embedded system W/Linux. We now sell DVR cards. See it all at http://www.seedsv.com/products.htm Sharpvision simply the best http://www.seedsv.com >I have backup cd's of my personal files and pics at home. > My question is Everything is still on the faulty computer which I cannot [quoted text clipped - 105 lines] >> >> > Thanks in advance. >> >> > I will await your replies anxiously. > Demand that they wipe it. If the drive is accessible then it can be wiped. =============== If his PC is a HP they will not wipe the bad drive or try and recover any info on it. I know because they had to replace the HD on this PC when it was still new. Fortunately everything was backed up. I also had some personal information on the HD but there has been no problems with credit cards etc. FS~ > I have backup cd's of my personal files and pics at home. > My question is Everything is still on the faulty computer which I cannot > delete because I cannot get into windows. > so when I give them back their faulty computer for an exchange, they will > also have all my personal info. > What do people do in a case like this? If the hard drive is damaged or faulty, it is very unlikely anybody would waste the time to examine the contents. Even if the curiosity factor exists, there would be very little that the perpetrator(s) could comment in regards to the contents of the hard drive, short of an issue involving homeland security or a nefarious criminal action, such as pedophilia. Should this be the case, then find a good defense attorney. But if the contents of the hard drive needs to be kept private, such as required of us in health care, then replace it with a substitute. Re-install the OS and applications and run until failure. Then take it back to the store for repairs. Small price to pay for privacy, if this is one's primary worry. |
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