Advent laptop keeps shutting down!

Caffeine_buzz

JonnyThunder wrote: »

OK, so if we start at the beginning the. I have some questions....

(1) Is your computer fully patched (got all the latest Windows Updates)?

(2) Can you pin-point the times when it shuts down? Is it certain applications or does it just happen in anything at all?

1) fully patched - it automatically downloads the windows updates when it shuts down (properly shuts down that is !)

2) it happens when I'm working in itunes (2 of the 3 times it happened when I was moving files from windows media to itunes).

It's usually after an hour or so of use and has happened both in my home and my dads (I had thought it was a power surge or something the first time!). It's also happened while on a dial-up connection and a wireless broadband connection...

The only really common element is itunes and that the laptop has been plugged in each time. However itunes / windows media are the only 2 applications I've really used since I got it!!

JonnyThunder

OK, well to start things off then - why not uninstall iTunes. Just for like a few days or so, so you can determine whether thats causing the problem. If your computer behaves then you'll know it's software problems.

There are alternatives to iTunes, such as Ephpod.

ametyl

Mine crashed too after having it 15 days...got it exchanged at currys. Got the new one home and it did it again within 30 minutes. Is still doing it now. Am not happy. Currys don't even acknowledge many people are having this problem. I believeits a manufacturer's issue if all the ERT's are doing it. I suggest print off this forum to anyone with the problem, take it with the laptop to currys and demand a different laptop of equivilant spec or money back. Dont let them bully you into thinking you have to sort it yourself. ALL OF THE ADVENT ERT2250's are doing it!!!!!

lauren

dnsdvcs

I bought An ADVENT ERT2250 from currys in chester and i had the same problem.....cutting out. I had the laptop collected by the tech guys 3 times and it never got resolved so I have just sent an angry e-mail to currys saying i want my money back. I'm going to get an imac so should be fun!!!

John_Gray

This anecdote may be utterly irrelevant...

I have inherited an old Advent 7026 laptop whose battery is nearly shot. Even when on mains power it will suddenly power itself off after a random amount of time, for no obvious reason, since it wasn't getting more than usually hot (and I was also monitoring it with some software).

I found that it would work perfectly on mains power and not power off if I removed the battery completely! This action does not make it particularly portable, but that's the best that will happen since I'm not forking out £50 plus for a new battery - which might not even solve the problem.

But, as has been said, the OP's problem might be a software problem, not a hardware one...

John

keithth

The information about the problem of Advent laptops randomly shutting down helped me to reach a solution with Currys Doncaster so I am posting this reply in the hope that it will help someone else.

My laptop was an ERT 2250 and randomly shut down. I took it back to Currys and it was sent for repair. It came back after 27 days with "no fault found".

I started to keep a record of shut downs and last weekend it shut down 6 times. Currys replaced it with another ERT 2250 which shut down twice the first time it was used.

I went in to Currys again and they said bring it back for testing and we will replace it if we see the fault occur.

I took it in the next day but also put my thoughts in writing.

In summary I said they had provided me with 2 computers with the same fault and that I was aware of information on the Internet which showed it was a widespread fault. I said I was satisfied I could excercise my rights under the Sale of Goods Act if necessary and obtain a full refund because the computer isn't fit for purpose.

I said I would be happy to reach a compromise if Currys would provide me with a laptop of similar specification and value (not Advent) and that I would ring them later in the day to discuss options.

When I rang they couldn't have been more helpful. They offered me a Toshiba laptop with the same specification but I opted for a Compaq with a much higher specification which cost me £20 extra.

My opinion is that the staff of Currys (or other retailers) want to help, but are constrained by company policy. Once you make it clear in writing you will exercise your rights, it allows them to reach a sensible solution with you.

If you have a laptop with this fault you have a very strong case for a full refund, so my advice is get writing.

Consumer_Vigilante

I too have had the same trouble and have been messed about by Currys and their "Tech Guys" for 4 damn weeks and they will NOT admit that there is a product wide fault with this model! Surely they are wasting thousands of pounds on fobbing off their cunstomers with absolute rubbish diagnostics etc instead of admitting it and taking the problem up with Uniwill who are the manufacturers of it!. I have also contacted BBC Watchdog on this subject as I feel this needs further investigation on our behalves.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

KeithP

Consumer Vigilante, have you not considered putting your complaint in writing as keithth did?
That strategy seems to have worked for him.

Consumer_Vigilante

KeithP wrote: »

Consumer Vigilante, have you not considered putting your complaint in writing as keithth did?
That strategy seems to have worked for him.

Hi, Yes I've just sent off a letter to the Currys Customer complaints

:T

sdb_2

I have the 7105 Advent model and due to living away from a computer that doesn't malfunction every two minutes was unable to seek internet help when my laptop did exactly the same thing as is described here. Unforuntately I thought it was a problem with the way I was using it (i.e. blocking the fans, moving it more than two inches off the desk) and as a result my warantee has expired, however after reading this I'm more than a bit curious how Advent seem to be allowed to get away with not addressing this fault in most of their laptops. My question is, does anyone know where I stand if I can verify through other people that my laptop has been doing this for almost a year?