Toshiba laptop ethernet woe

MrsGrey

I bought a Satellite R630 in October. After Christmas the ethernet port broke: the connector no longer clicked into place and even when held in manually, the port no longer functions. I need this as I live in a house with thick stone walls, so can't connect wirelessly -- I have been connecting to the router with an ethernet connection to via a mains "plug". I was referred via Toshiba's website to a service centre who advised over the phone that this would probably not come under the warranty, as it would be deemed "accidental damage", i.e. not a manufacturing fault. I have checked with another service centre who said the same thing. Is this normal -- for normal usage to be judged accidental damage? Any advice for what I can say to get this repaired under warranty? I bought the laptop from PCWorld, so I am considering taking it back there, though not hopeful I will get a better response...
Thoughts, anyone?
Thanks
ps am i too late to reject the laptop as "not fit for purpose" ?

free4440273

how did the port break? under force /error or otherwise ? maybe your insurance (contents) would cover ?

Enterprise_1701C

Just one silly question, are you sure it is the port that is broken and not the ethernet pllug? The clip comes off quite regularly.

Assuming it is the port broken, and it was broken under normal use, then I personally would be very unhappy with the build quality of the laptop.

Your first port of call should be the shop you bought it from, you might get lucky and get a proficient PC World, but I doubt it! Just make sure you have everything backed up before you take it in, and remove any personal information.

You should be able to get this fixed under guarantee, and if they refuse ask for reasons and persue it further, write to PC World Head Office or if that fails, write to Toshiba Head Office asking why they produce laptops that are unable to withstand normal use (or something to that effect). When I write a letter of complaint I always try to compliment the product or shop first, the second might be a problem for you!

Good luck.

paulsad

I have thick stone walls and wireless works fine here??

leanneloves

they might say negligence.

Riche1976

In 20 years of fixing computers I've tugged a lot of ethernet cables and never had a broken port... bet you it's a dodgy cable, or the plastic connectors on the end or your computers software!

I assume you're on mains and not battery... some laptops by default disable the NIC when on battery.

There's some really cool network cable testers on Ebay for £2.. search for item 330366397161.

DD3006

Just out of interest.... Is the network card still showing in your network connections in windows?