Bought seperate PC parts, but something(s) is faulty?! Return rights?

cinders59

Hello,

First a little discription of the problem so you can see where we are coming from regarding the confusion of the returns policy.

My son bought seperate computer components from ebuyer, which is a UK Online Store. One or more of the components is faulty as Windows seems to act erractically when installed (Aero is unexpectantly terminating) and the system will also crash randomly with Blue Screen errors. Both these two types of issues occur when the system is under duress and when idling. Reinstalling Windows also produces a Blue Screen error so it isn't software.

When searching for the error codes on the internet and the Aero issue, it appears there could be multiple possiblites regarding different hardware.

End of problem discription. Phew.

So my son, and his brother who fixes computers on a government contract, cannot pinpoint where the fault lies but everyone is certain the problem is hardware related. The products are still within the 14 days return policy but as we don't know what hardware is faulty, so where do we stand on the refund? We are going to send all the hardware back, but what will be required of the Store that sold us the hardware?

My son doesn't want anything to do with the company now as this has caused him much frustration, and wants to now buy a PC which is pre-built. Does the rights of buying over the internet allow him a full refund for everything? Another thing to note, all the hardware products were ordered together under the same order, which I mean was ordered at the same time.

Thanks

gonzo127

right now although i cant help exactly with this problem as i have never not been able to identify which componenet is dead when i have built my systems (luckily i have a couple of systems so swop the bits over one at a time to test till i have the dead one) anyways i just wanted to say in my experience Ebuyer are usually very good with returns and i would suggest phoning them to find out what they are willing to do

KillerWatt

cinders59 wrote: »

Reinstalling Windows also produces a Blue Screen error so it isn't software.

Is he getting the BSOD during the actual initial setup, or after he has started loading drivers (such as graphics, audio, etc)?

If the BSOD is happening during a clean Windows install, the first thing I'd check is that the BIOS is correctly configured for his hardware setup.
If it happens after the BIOS is correctly configured, then I'd be suspecting either system RAM or the graphics card (both of which can be proved by testing software such as PC Check)

Post a list of the hardware he has bought (preferably with the E-buyer part no's) so I can see what he has bought.

mallada

If he is sure it is nothing BIOS related as above i would go with a graphic card or RAM problem as-well. Ideally you would use a testing program as above to test the memory on these devices for errors. Another alternative is to swap them out with other parts (Assuming you have another machine or someone you know has parts you can test with) until you find the part that is causing the problem, then you know which part to send back faulty. Never had to return to ebuyer so not sure what they are like with returns.

swvillafan

Here is a link to the returns page for eBuyer. According to said page, if the item is faulty on arrival you have 28 days to return. They'll check the item and if proven to be faulty will issue a replacement or refund. After 28 days I think they only offer a warranty repair.

Strider590

Sounds like BIOS settings to me, id check the memory timing is correct for the memory type and that the memory is seated in the correct sockets for the configuration (my latest motherboard has to have memory loaded into socket 1 and 3 before 2 and 4 can be used)..... That would be my primary first guess.

cinders59 wrote: »

So my son, and his brother who fixes computers on a government contract, cannot pinpoint where the fault lies but everyone is certain the problem is hardware related.

No offence, but my friend works at a school as head IT technician and he's bloody useless at anything thats not listed in a text book. He calls me when he has to do something tricky.

I also run rings around IBM MCSE qualified engineers who carried out work for my last employer, I have no formal IT qualifications.

In my experience, IT qualifications don't mean !!!!... They get you into a good job because of incompetent and lazy HR staff.

Everyone has there own area of specialisation, building PC's is not taught in a class room, it's learn't from experience and the level of component understanding needed can be huge sometimes (but it can also be straight forward and simple). The cheaper the parts you buy, the less user friendly they tend to be.

How a CPU works, what a front side bus is, what the south bridge controller does, what the north bridge does, the importance of memory timing (CAS/CL, tRCD, tRP, and tRAS), IRQ (interupt request) conflicts which relate to sending the right data into the right component at the right time, even down to the effects of EMI through poor cable placement next to sensitive components.... The list goes on and on and on and on some more.

Like I say, I don't mean any offence. It may be worth investigating on all the internet tech forums, hackers forums, overclockers forums, etc etc etc.

Randomizer

In my experience, most BSOD are caused by faulty RAM. If you got a pair then try to run the computer with only 1 RAM or maybe you can borrow one from a friend.