Acer laptop died!!! Computer experts...help!

[tinkerrn]

My 6 month old laptop just died!! I am not able to reboot it. I did take it in to the place I bought it from. They ran a diagnostic on it and said it was my hard drive. So, do I spend the $$$, $250.00 just to have them look at it, then the $$$ for the parts and labor? Or just chalk it up as a lesson learned, and buy a new one? I would buy a different brand with a warranty. We did not purchase the warranty on the laptop, thinking it is new, it won't break, we will buy another one in 2 years. The laptop cost $500.00 on sale.

I have spoken with Acer and several laptop repair businesses, they are all telling me that it will be at least $250.00 to $300.00 to fix. I just don't want to spend that kinda money, when the laptop will end up costing us close to what we paid for it.

Any advise?

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I don't know about the place your brought your laptop to, but the repair shop I used to manage would always apply the diagnostic fee to the price of the repair, so you weren't paying for both.

 

[MosMom]

You should have asked the computer experts BEFORE you bought an Acer

I might call around some more. $250 just to look at it seems absurd to me. If it *does*, just get a new one with a warranty.

 

[BunsenH]

Do you have a geeky (I mean that as a compliment!) friend with an hour or two of free time? Swapping in a new HD and reloading Windows is a relatively simple task.

 

[PixieDustTink]

When this happened to me I was able to reboot with a copy of "KOPPIX" and then reinstall from there. IF Your hard drive is totally fried this won't work and honestly it should not be after only six months.

There is a virus that will do this and in that case the koppix will work, find a copy and try it! The other thing is that these days you need to lock your computer up like fort knox with anti virus, anti spyware *MORE than one program* and good firewalls. Delete cookies often, and scan your computer every single day no matter what!! Also, get a good pop up blocker and use that too....I work online and I had to learn the hard way that there is NEVER too much defense on your computer. I go so far as to close my printer and other open ports when they are not in use. Better safe than sorry!

Hopefully, the koppix will save your computer. If not then try looking as the above poster suggested for someone who can tell you the exact hard drive that computer takes and find a retailer who sells them directly. Get your computer geek friend to install it for you and then put windows back on your computer....or better yet use something other than windows....lol. At any rate there are ways to fix these things most of the time.

Good luck!

 

[LadyShiva]

You should have asked the computer experts BEFORE you bought an Acer

I might call around some more. $250 just to look at it seems absurd to me. If it *does*, just get a new one with a warranty.

Honestly, I second this advice. $250 is just way too much for a replacement hard drive, and Acers are not known for quality (I rank only Tiger Direct lower in quality). I think if it broke after 6 months of use, you should really take this as a learning lesson and get a better brand with a warranty.

If you want to save this machine, run into a Best Buy, CompUSA, etc, and ask for the prices on their "laptop drives." That will give you an idea of the markup for repair.

Sorry I can't give you more hope!
Brandie

 

[tinkerrn]

Thanks everyone for their very wise advise!!! I miss my laptop! I will try the koppix. I did see that option somewhere. I need to find a computer friend. Put that on my to do list !!