Computer on the fritz

[cjtremlett]

And yup, Mercury just went retrograde. I forgot to check when the retrograde started and didn't do a backup. So it's been a couple months and there are some files I would be unhappy about losing. Hopefully, they can repair the comp. Hopefully, repaired enough to get another year of usage out of it, but at least enough so that I can be sure to get

Comments

[odiedragon]

I've both built computers from parts*, as well as ordered them from manufactures that do the dirty work for you. I don't think I'd ever buy a computer from a big box store, to be perfectly honest.

Well, we bought Rusty's netbook there, but I guess that's not really the same... that's more of a toy than a true computer.

Newegg.com is the go-to place for reasonably priced parts. I believe they sell systems as well, but I've never looked beyond Bright Pink Netbooks. No idea what kind of service they offer.

*But this was a long time ago (in computer years) and I'd have to do some serious knowledge updating in order to do it again.

[cjtremlett]

I'll look on Newegg, but I'm not up for putting one together myself, and I don't want a desktop anyway. I've considered getting a netbook, but reading over things today, I think the disadvantages would outweigh the advantages. Though they are quite cheap!

[odiedragon]

Well, they have laptops as well (which can't easily be constructed by laypersons, I think, so that's a moot point anyway)

I wouldn't want a netbook for my primary computer. It's good for portability, but I'd want something heftier if I intended to use it for more than net surfing.

[cjtremlett]

I checked that site out, and they have good prices on the range of laptops I'm looking at. I'm looking at the things that are like one step above netbooks - they've got the ability to do more than a bit of surfing and word processing, but are still small and don't have all the whistles and bells that I neither need nor use.

[odiedragon]

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=10&name=Desktop-PCs

[je_reviens]

Computer woes are the worst! I have a Mac and thankfully I have not lost any data.

[je_reviens]

Been using a Mac professionally for over 14 years - never had it crash like that.

[jedwardtremlett]

I did. i still have the hard drive somewhere.

[mamculuna]

Can you tell us about the evil of Best Buy? I have bought from them and used their repair service, but if there's evil in store, I'd love to be forewarned.

[cjtremlett]

To get any repairs actually done, you have to buy their package. Oh, they give you options, but what those "options" boil down to is buy their package upfront, or you'll wind up spending more money than if you had. Because their standard diagnosis costs $70 and does not including anything about checking for or dealing with viruses. So when it inevitably turns out that no, it wasn't the hardware, it was probably a virus, you then have to pay even more money for them to actually address the problem you told them it was in the first place. And all of this will take more time, of course

[mamculuna]

Ugh, sounds awful. I think I'll stay away. Sorry you had such a miserable experience.

[cjtremlett]

I definitely recommend finding an alternative. I know that it's corporate policy that forces the employees to behave the way they do. If they don't, they'll lose their jobs. And I really hope that that corporate policy bites the corporation in the butt, big time.

[jedwardtremlett]

well, speaking for myself, I DID give you my old comp to have and play with once the data was off. I hope it has proven useful.

If I didn't say it forcefully enough at the time, a thousand thanks, and feel free to hit me up for a favor within my demesne. Or dinner.