Thursday, June 10, 2004
Blackjack Explorer 2.0 live
Blackjack Explorer 2.0 was released 4/25/2004. Blackjack Explorer is a straightforward, fast, and easy-to-use blackjack game with an Explorer-like interface. Its advanced features make it ideal to learn or practice basic strategy and card counting.
Monday, June 07, 2004
HP Compaq desktop PC problems
This story is about the problems I had with my new HP Compaq desktop PC.
5/9/03, I purchased a Compaq Presario S3000Z-P8654X computer with Windows XP Pro. My first problem was not being able to create a recovery CD. The computer requires you to burn your own recovery CDs. They provide software that enables you to burn the recovery CDs. Technical support said their software that makes the recovery disks does not work with an external CD-Writer which is what I was using. So they sent me new recovery disks; however, they sent me disks for XP Home which were the wrong kind. When I called back they sent me the correct recovery disks for XP Pro.
Shortly after getting the computer it started making a cricket noise from the sound card. The noise was several seconds long and would repeat every 10 minutes. It would do this for a few days at a time and then stop for weeks or months before doing it again. I called HP and they instructed me to replace a sound driver to see if that would help.
Eventually it continued to make the noise again so I called back. This time they instructed me to reinstall the OS. If it continued to make the noise after trying this, they said they would have to replace the motherboard because it has an integrated sound card so I would have to send it in to them for repair.
Months later it started to make the noise again; however, now my warranty only had about 2 weeks left. This time they wanted to replace the sound driver again even though last time they said they would let me send it in. To make it worse, they said that if it still makes the noise after the warranty expires they will not fix it for free even though they failed to fix it for months.
This time within a few days it started to make the noise again so I called them back immediately and this time they said to send the computer in for repair. They paid for the shipping to and from their repair center so there was no cost to me.
5/5/04, I sent my computer in for the first time. When I got the computer back I notice that now when I boot up it says HP where it use to say Compaq. I tried to use my recovery CDs to restore my computer to original factory condition but they would not work anymore. I called back and explained this to HP tech support and they said they put in the wrong motherboard and I would need to send it back in.
5/20/04, I sent the computer in for the second time. When I got the computer back it had the same problem as last time. It still boots up as HP and my recovery disk won’t work. I called back again and they said a case manager will call me back in 72 hours. After 72 hours, I called them back and this time they said that they put in the wrong BIOS so it needs a new tattoo. They said that they use the same motherboard for both the HP and Compaq computers; the only difference is the BIOS.
6/9/04, I sent my computer back for the 3rd time so they can program the correct BIOS on the motherboard.
6/21/04, I got my computer back. The computer now looks like it boots up correctly. I recover the OS to make sure that the recovery disks work correctly. After the recovery is complete it instructs you to reboot. After rebooting I get the following error message, however, the computer seems to function normally.
I called HP technical support to ask why I got this error message. They said if you only get this error message once after doing a recovery then it is not a problem that needs to be repaired. It is obvious to me that it would not be intended that you get this error message after doing a recovery but I guess they don’t consider it a problem that needs to be fixed. They said if there seems to be any problems or if the error message continues more then once then I could call back. I was told the replaced motherboard would have a 90 day warranty so I will watch my computer to see if it function normally.
7/1/04, the computer started making the exact same cricket noise as before. Since they said they replaced the motherboard and we also tried recovering the OS, I assume the problem must be with one of the other components. Another component such as the power supply or network card must be creating interference which is causing noise on the sound output. I called HP tech support and they had a case manager talk with me. Because of the amount of time that I have been without the computer and the problems I had trying to get it fixed they offered to send me a new replacement computer. This was above anything that the normal warranty would require so I thought it was a great offer.
7/12/04, I got my new computer. They sent me a new Compaq Presario SR1000Z. So far it has worked great and it does not make the noise that my other one did.
7/13/04, again I could not make recovery disks with my new computer so I called hp tech support and they said they will send me recovery disks.
Although it is unfortunate HP had trouble repairing my computer I think the way HP support went out of their way to make sure I was satisfied was really fair and commendable. Because HP did the right thing I will definitely consider buying HP again in the future.
As a side note I wish all computer manufacturers would provide either recovery disks or the original software disks with the computer. When they don't provide them it makes it more likely the customer will run into problems.
5/9/03, I purchased a Compaq Presario S3000Z-P8654X computer with Windows XP Pro. My first problem was not being able to create a recovery CD. The computer requires you to burn your own recovery CDs. They provide software that enables you to burn the recovery CDs. Technical support said their software that makes the recovery disks does not work with an external CD-Writer which is what I was using. So they sent me new recovery disks; however, they sent me disks for XP Home which were the wrong kind. When I called back they sent me the correct recovery disks for XP Pro.
Shortly after getting the computer it started making a cricket noise from the sound card. The noise was several seconds long and would repeat every 10 minutes. It would do this for a few days at a time and then stop for weeks or months before doing it again. I called HP and they instructed me to replace a sound driver to see if that would help.
Eventually it continued to make the noise again so I called back. This time they instructed me to reinstall the OS. If it continued to make the noise after trying this, they said they would have to replace the motherboard because it has an integrated sound card so I would have to send it in to them for repair.
Months later it started to make the noise again; however, now my warranty only had about 2 weeks left. This time they wanted to replace the sound driver again even though last time they said they would let me send it in. To make it worse, they said that if it still makes the noise after the warranty expires they will not fix it for free even though they failed to fix it for months.
This time within a few days it started to make the noise again so I called them back immediately and this time they said to send the computer in for repair. They paid for the shipping to and from their repair center so there was no cost to me.
5/5/04, I sent my computer in for the first time. When I got the computer back I notice that now when I boot up it says HP where it use to say Compaq. I tried to use my recovery CDs to restore my computer to original factory condition but they would not work anymore. I called back and explained this to HP tech support and they said they put in the wrong motherboard and I would need to send it back in.
5/20/04, I sent the computer in for the second time. When I got the computer back it had the same problem as last time. It still boots up as HP and my recovery disk won’t work. I called back again and they said a case manager will call me back in 72 hours. After 72 hours, I called them back and this time they said that they put in the wrong BIOS so it needs a new tattoo. They said that they use the same motherboard for both the HP and Compaq computers; the only difference is the BIOS.
6/9/04, I sent my computer back for the 3rd time so they can program the correct BIOS on the motherboard.
6/21/04, I got my computer back. The computer now looks like it boots up correctly. I recover the OS to make sure that the recovery disks work correctly. After the recovery is complete it instructs you to reboot. After rebooting I get the following error message, however, the computer seems to function normally.
Your system has detected a configuration error. Please call your Customer Care Center number, located in your Warranty and License information, for technical support (Code Purple)
I called HP technical support to ask why I got this error message. They said if you only get this error message once after doing a recovery then it is not a problem that needs to be repaired. It is obvious to me that it would not be intended that you get this error message after doing a recovery but I guess they don’t consider it a problem that needs to be fixed. They said if there seems to be any problems or if the error message continues more then once then I could call back. I was told the replaced motherboard would have a 90 day warranty so I will watch my computer to see if it function normally.
7/1/04, the computer started making the exact same cricket noise as before. Since they said they replaced the motherboard and we also tried recovering the OS, I assume the problem must be with one of the other components. Another component such as the power supply or network card must be creating interference which is causing noise on the sound output. I called HP tech support and they had a case manager talk with me. Because of the amount of time that I have been without the computer and the problems I had trying to get it fixed they offered to send me a new replacement computer. This was above anything that the normal warranty would require so I thought it was a great offer.
7/12/04, I got my new computer. They sent me a new Compaq Presario SR1000Z. So far it has worked great and it does not make the noise that my other one did.
7/13/04, again I could not make recovery disks with my new computer so I called hp tech support and they said they will send me recovery disks.
Although it is unfortunate HP had trouble repairing my computer I think the way HP support went out of their way to make sure I was satisfied was really fair and commendable. Because HP did the right thing I will definitely consider buying HP again in the future.
As a side note I wish all computer manufacturers would provide either recovery disks or the original software disks with the computer. When they don't provide them it makes it more likely the customer will run into problems.
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