If PC World/Tech Guys condemn my PC, do I have a 'say' about replacement?

pseudopensioner

Apologies in advance for the saga

Desktop PC has been in/out of the PC shop.

Went in originally for noise ? fan ?failing hard drive (The Tech Guys thought) plus I had the Windows No Disk Processing message. although System worked OK after cancelling this.


I asked them to sort the problem of the noise, get rid of the No Disk message,back up the data and if needs be reinstall Windows XP.

Left it 12/09/08

15/09/08 They had to get an engineer in.to replace the fan.

16/09/08 They replaced Fan but stated system not working properly, shutting down after 10 mins, so will need to replace motherboard and CPU.

18/09/08 Engineer replaced CPU and Motherboard....... come and collect it!

Went to collect and said I wished to see it operating, showed it to me on bench.
Windows No Disk Processing message still showing there, they hadn't backed up the data or reinstalled WindowsXP.

Thought sod it, I'll take it home, do it myself.

No such luck, couldn't do anything with it, neither system restore or reinstall.

19/09/08 Took it back, Not a happy person, much discussion re their ineptidude/attitude and complete inability to accept they had failed to do the work required and check before they said it was 'fine'

21/09/08 Went in, PC hadn't been touched, me fuming.:mad:
Them. "We'll back up the data and reinstall Windows which takes a long time!"
Me " It does if the Hard drive is kn*****ed"

23/08/09Tel call from them, Cant reinstall Windows, think it's the CPU at fault.
That will be the new one you installed?
Did we install a new CPU?

23/08/09 Tel call from them, Have an engineer coming to take it away to where they have more sophisticated equipment!!! (didn't say whether they had more sophisticated engineers).
Me- How long will it be?

Them_ Time scale allowed is EIGHT WEEKS, but it may be sooner, they may decide it's not worth any more new parts.

So you knowledgeable folks on here, if they can't/won't/don't repair said PC and give me a 'docket' for a new one, can I insist on having Widows XP installed and my backed up data.

Any other helpful advice will be appreciated

Domokun

I'd suggest getting on the blower with Trading Standards, as the Tech Guys are clearly taking you for a ride. Next I'd suggest taking it to an independent computer store.

If the HD is caked, that should have been the first thing they tried. They must have test HDs with windows and diagnostics installed on them. Inserting that and booting off it should have diagnosed the problem (no disk and the noise) to either the fan or the HD. Replacing the CPU and the mobo seems unessasary.

If they can't reinstall windows, what are they tryin to install it onto? The caked HD? A 160GB HDD would have set you back £40 from the 'net, and it would probably have been transferable to a new PC had the old one been written off in any case. Trying to install windows to that should work out whether there are other problems.

"System shutting down after 10 minutes" could be a temperature problem, perhaps something to do with the new fan. There are diagnostic programs that will feedback the working temperature of the computer, I'd be looking there first for clues.

I'm not clued on hard disk errors, but data recovery is possible, even from the most damaged of disks.

How old is this computer, and how much have they squeezed out of you for these 'repairs'?

wanye

i doubt they would do this. most of the time it is in the smallprint that you are responsible for backing up your system regularly.

was the pc bought from pc world, and is it under warranty?

sounds like a bunch of cowboys to me.

sorry i couldnt be more help

pseudopensioner

The PC was purchased Feb 2004
I have PC Performance warranty until Feb 2009
This is the first time I've had any major problem and the first time I have taken it into PC World/used the warranty..

Marty_J

I would be very doubtful if you could insist on having your data recovered, or XP put on it. If it's under their ridiculous extended warranty plan, I think the terms say they can replace it with an equivalent or better product, or give you vouchers to do the same. They're very likely to argue that Vista is an upgrade, and hence they're within the terms of your agreement.

If they don't give you vouchers, you should still be able to have a say in which particular model you get though.

Guyver-it

Because of the grief and many times you have been back and forth, I reckon you should mention it and also use the term 'as a gesture of goodwill for all the hassle you have caused me' The managers are always looking to please a customer especially if there is a large number of customers present Give it a go, what have you got to lose?

unrich

I would ask to have the system back after they have diagnosed the problem. Even just for a week. Nip to your local PC shop and ask them for a backup of the data on the drive. It will cost a bit of cash but if its important it might be worth it. If they have condemed it then they can't complain about you having it back for a week.

After you have the backup ship the unit back to PC World and get them to replace.

jaydeeuk1

Guyver-it wrote: »

Because of the grief and many times you have been back and forth, I reckon you should mention it and also use the term 'as a gesture of goodwill for all the hassle you have caused me' The managers are always looking to please a customer especially if there is a large number of customers present Give it a go, what have you got to lose?

Best idea. And go during a busy period, so you can kick up fuss in front of as many people as possible. My Dad is brilliant at that sort of thing!

pseudopensioner

During the phone message on 23/09/08 the manager (because I had kicked up such a row!! he's dealing with it) said that they have managed to obtain the data from the hard drive, but because they couldn't reinstall Windows it's there waiting! a bit like me.

On my first visit there after being initially told it would cost me blah blah blah, and we can sell you blah blah blah to sort the PC out, the presence of the warranty and its terms didn't seem to register that the repairs and/or replacement is free!!!!

After a long and I have to say arduous discussion, it was agreed that the data would be backed up free of charge, prior to the repair!

wanye

pseudopensioner wrote: »

After a long and I have to say arduous discussion, it was agreed that the data would be backed up free of charge, prior to the repair!

do you have this in writing?

pseudopensioner

The current paperwork on display in the store says, back up to ? amount free.

I don't have very much on there.

The manager assured me it would be free ( first person said they would 'do me a favour'!!!