who fixes laptops?

holstar

hey

long story...will try to keep it short and simple though

Tiny laptop is now 18 months old, 3 year warranty purchased at the time. Used for uni...so word, excel, powerpoint, and internet/email. No games
Broke last april..wouldnt boot at all, sent it back to company and they replaced HDD and memory. This covered by the warranty.

Last week, same problem happened agian, wouldnt boot. Rang Totalcare (the warranty-service provider people) and they said that since Tiny have gone bust last autumn, they aren't going to honour my warranty (£16 for 12 minutes phone call :mad: )

Have taken it to the local independent computer shop, who are going to copy the HDD for me so I don't lose any work. But, they aren't sure what is wrong with it..the guy who was looking at it reckons it is either a processor fault or major mobo fault....but without having the same kit as what Tiny/Totalcare have, they will be unable to determine further what is the problem.

So...who can I get to help me?
- The guy in my local shop suggested accidentally-on-purpose knocking it off my desk, getting insurance money for it and then buying a desktop....but I would rather find some way of keeping my laptop alive.
- My parents have said they could take it to PC world or to another independent shop near my home (at uni here)...but I dont know what else they would be able to do that the shop I have already taken it to hasnt done.
- I am wary of sending it back to Tiny/Totalcare as last time they fixed it it lasted all of 6 months use, am not impressed...do not want to fork out £200 for it to break in another 6 months time.

So, any ideas for companies who can help me? or should I just get busy throwing it off my desk?

thanks in advance, and sorry for long post!
Hol x

rogerramjet

As you've found peeps don't really want to touch laptops

I just did a quick search on google with the search words

laptop repairs in uk

There are plenty of links, below is just one of many

http://www.laptoprepair.co.uk/

*!*HIBS*!*

holstar I don't think it's reasonable for a laptop repair to last 6months as you mentioned they replaced the HDD, unless you were told they only guarantee it for 6months so they should be able to repair it as the problem has not gone away.

As for the warranty, did you buy that separately or through Tiny? Either way as you bought the warranty and Totalcare are still trading then you should be entitled to claim on it even though Tiny had gone bust, I think? It's not as though Totalcare have gone bust (but I suspect Tiny might pay them some money towards the repairs or whatever so thats the reason they said your warranty is now invalid).

Now if your laptop should fall off the table whilst your working and the people from Total care they might suspect that it may not be a genuine reason as you may have done it on purpose.

As your warranty is invalid now you might not get a replacement from them as Tiny have gone bust and who is to say they (Totalcare) will honour the warranty now? Maybe speak to someone from Citizen's Advice or Trading Standards to see if you can get a more definitive answers regarding the validy of your warranty and the problems regarding getting your laptop repaired.

albertross_2

When you say it won't boot, what comes up on the screen? It may (possibly) be fixable with help from the forum..

Little_John

Laptops are so specific to repair that usually only the manufacturer or their maintanence partner can get the parts. becasue of this the parts that are unique to the laptop are very expensive.

hard drives are pretty cheap now but £/GB compaired to desktop drives are still expensive. but they are reasonable easy to replace, just like memory and optical drives as these can be sourced easily from online stores and ebay.

As advised above your best option would be an accident if you do get it repaired due to the age it could fail again, laptops dont have the luxury of space to get shut of heat and get very warm with use which causes them to fail more often after extended use.

Cut your losses and get a nice new one paid by the insurance.

holstar

When I say it wont boot....nothing happens at all. The screen remains black, and there is no noise from the HDD at all....its like the link between the 'on' button and the rest of the parts just isnt working. All that happens is a little blue LED comes on, saying that the power is on. I have tried every combination of mains/battery start-up, and trawled the knowledge of everyone I know who does anything remotely computery...to no avail.

Warranty...I paid in full for laptop + warranty 18 months ago, and according to Totalcare they are only continuing to service Tiny warranties that are being paid for by direct debit. That is their reason why my warranty is now invalid.

Another thought...if it does have an accident, surely it would get sent off to the insurance people to look at it rather than Totalcare? As it no longer has any valid warranty, would insurance be able to send it off to the manufacturer? (know nothing about insurance replacements here, sorry)

Thanks
Hol x

GreenNotM

Did you pay by Credit Card for the laptop ?

But try the below first....
I have sometimes come across laptops that just get confused !

Remove the battery and having no power lead connected - turn the laptop on from the on button ? ( yes i know what i typed )

Is there a reset button on the rear - for a paper clip to fit in - try that with no power then with power and finally with battery and power.

holstar

GreenNotM wrote:

Remove the battery and having no power and turning the laptop on ?

Tried that...nothing happens.

GreenNotM wrote:

Is there a reset button on the rear - for a paper clip to fit in - try that with no power then with power and finally with battery and power.

No reset button...have looked all over for it, and nothing.

GreenNotM wrote:

Did you pay by Credit Card for the laptop ?

Not sure (and yes I realise that sounds stupid) Laptop was a combined present off parents and auntie...so my dad was the one that paid for it, not me. I am not sure how he paid for it...none of the paperwork I have for it says how it was paid for..I'm guessing my dad still has that. I will have to ask how he paid for it.
Isn't there something about if you pay by credit card you get some protection? maybe? (can you tell I have no idea?)

Thanks
Hol x

GreenNotM

holstar wrote:

Tried that...nothing happens.
Isn't there something about if you pay by credit card you get some protection? maybe? (can you tell I have no idea?)

Yes and it will probaly be on a sticky or an article here -- in a few mins there will be a posting with a link to it. I have not been here long enough enough to read all the forum stickies ..

One last thing - have you tried holding in the "on" button for 10 seconds in the 4 power setting aboves ( none, just battery, just mains, batt & mains)

holstar

GreenNotM wrote:

One last thing - have you tried holding in the "on" button for 10 seconds in the 4 power setting aboves ( none, just battery, just mains, batt & mains)

Yep, tried that. All power modes, 10 seconds, 20 seconds, even up to a minute (as told to by Totalcare when I rang them...although I suspect that might have been just to cost me even more money on phone calls :mad: )

Will go read the stickies then...

Thanks
Hol x

headintheclouds

Hi,

I've been having a complete nightmare trying to get my laptop fixed too, so I understand how frustrating it is - although I didn't have the warranty situation to deal with.

I wouldn't bother with PC World. I 'phoned them and they said they don't deal with laptops at their stores - they have to be sent off somewhere, and you have to pay - wait for it - £120 to cover courier and their assessment charge, and that's before they bill you for any parts and extra labour. They couldn't even guarantee that they could get the parts.

Sorry that's not more positive, but I hope you have some luck with this soon.