Budget Buster: Acer Netbook

[Leajess99]

Before Christmas I bought my daughter the netbook that Target had on sale. Well, we already had to replace the first one as it had issues right out of the box and now the second one is giving us issues. It went from unable to identify its own power cord to now saying it needs the HDD password before it can boot. We did not set the HDD password so no clue what it is. After contacting Acer I was told that while it is under warranty it is not covered and will cost $99 plus shipping to repair it. I so should have gone with a Dell Netbook as I have never had issues with Dell covering any problems.

Has anyone else had any issues with their netbooks??

 

[britfish]

Thats a bummer, I can't help you but we have two Acers and haven't had a problem with either. Good luck, maybe someone on here can help you so you can don't have to send it back.

 

[k5jm]

Love my Dell Netbook. Had it over a year and use it every day as my "commuting" laptop.

__________________

 

[DisneyMomma81]

My SIL and her 2 DDs each have one of these EEEs http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+...05433.p?id=1218154378164&skuId=9705433&st=eee

The girls have had theirs since C~mas and my SIL has had her's for a couple weeks, no complaints ~ I want one.

 

[robinb]

Before Christmas I bought my daughter the netbook that Target had on sale. Well, we already had to replace the first one as it had issues right out of the box and now the second one is giving us issues. It went from unable to identify its own power cord to now saying it needs the HDD password before it can boot. We did not set the HDD password so no clue what it is. After contacting Acer I was told that while it is under warranty it is not covered and will cost $99 plus shipping to repair it. I so should have gone with a Dell Netbook as I have never had issues with Dell covering any problems.

Has anyone else had any issues with their netbooks??

Why isn't it under warranty? Because of the password? I would work up the food chain at Acer until they fix it for free. I had a TERRIBLE Acer laptop that was in repair more than it was home. They finally sent me a different laptop that has now worked perfectly (*knock wood*) for years. Call Acer back and ask for a manager. They should be able to verify that you own the system and help you unlock the netbook.

 

[bear_mom]

When dh was reviewing netbooks for me he found the Acer to be the best deal. Sorry you are haiving difficulties with the ones you have purchased.

Emily

 

[MagiKitty]

I have the Acer D250 netbook for a few months now and have had no issues.

I would try to see if there's a local computer repair person nearby who could possibly explain what the issue is. I have a guy around here who looked at my older laptop and gave me an free estimate and spoke to me what the issue was. I then decided what I wanted to do next....

 

[dis-happy]

Can you still do a return to Target if it's in the 90 day time frame?

 

[msmayor]

Why isn't it under warranty? Because of the password? I would work up the food chain at Acer until they fix it for free. I had a TERRIBLE Acer laptop that was in repair more than it was home. They finally sent me a different laptop that has now worked perfectly (*knock wood*) for years. Call Acer back and ask for a manager. They should be able to verify that you own the system and help you unlock the netbook.

It may be a software issue, not hardware. No computer manufacturer warrants against a software problem as it could be the user's fault that the software has gone haywire.

 

[robinb]

It may be a software issue, not hardware. No computer manufacturer warrants against a software problem as it could be the user's fault that the software has gone haywire.

Honestly, that cop-out could be used for ANY computer problem.

 

[msmayor]

Honestly, that cop-out could be used for ANY computer problem.

Its not necessarily a cop-out. If the computer is asking for a password, that's a software issue. It doesn't mean the computer isn't working. It means the operating system has been compromised somehow. That's not the computer-maker's fault.

Its a different story if you press the button and nothing happens. THAT'S a hardware issue that should be covered under warranty.

Perhaps the OP should google up some user help forums to see if others have had the issue and how to fix it for free.

 

[Kathi OD]

The HDD password is a password on the hard drive.

someone probably set it without knowing they did so. Acer can't help you with it because they don't know what the password is, as they didn't set the password.

It's encrypted into the BIOS. You might be able to get a data recovery firm to figure it out for you. Otherwise, you're out of luck retrieving it.

Maybe Target will take it back.

 

[msmayor]

The HDD password is a password on the hard drive.

someone probably set it without knowing they did so. Acer can't help you with it because they don't know what the password is, as they didn't set the password.

It's encrypted into the BIOS. You might be able to get a data recovery firm to figure it out for you. Otherwise, you're out of luck retrieving it.

Maybe Target will take it back.

Purchased before Christmas? Doubtful.

 

[robinb]

Purchased before Christmas? Doubtful.

Target has a 90-day return policy. As long as she purchased after early December she should be OK. They may charge a 15% restocking fee, though. It's certainly worth a try.

 

[msmayor]

Target has a 90-day return policy. As long as she purchased after early December she should be OK. They may charge a 15% restocking fee, though. It's certainly worth a try.

It wouldn't surprise me if they used the loophole that the item must be "new, unused and contain all original packaging and accessories".

It will be hard to sell the idea that the computer sat unused for almost 3 months. Target is not known for being lenient when it comes to returns.

 

[feezle]

This is a tough one with a netbook. I think the easiest thing to do would be to hook the HDD up to a pc and try to reformat it. Not sure whether or not that would work. If not, you would be looking at replacing the HDD.

Regardless, that isn't something that would be covered under a warranty by any computer manufacturer. The password is used for security and if it gets set somehow, you aren't supposed to be able to crack it or get around it. So essentially, it is doing what it is supposed to.

 

[Leajess99]

Its not necessarily a cop-out. If the computer is asking for a password, that's a software issue. It doesn't mean the computer isn't working. It means the operating system has been compromised somehow. That's not the computer-maker's fault.

Its a different story if you press the button and nothing happens. THAT'S a hardware issue that should be covered under warranty.

Perhaps the OP should google up some user help forums to see if others have had the issue and how to fix it for free.

It is asking for a password for the Hard drive so it is a hardware issue and not a software issue. In order to set the password you have to go to the BIOS which I only found out about this AFTER the problem started and I tried to research it. I will be calling Acer back and will also see if Target will take it back. My daughter loves her netbook but is frustrated by the problems we have had especially since this is the second one.

 

[Leajess99]

Purchased before Christmas? Doubtful.

Actually the purchase date on this one is January as the original one was defective out of the box. My daughter did not even get to use the first one.

 

[msmayor]

It is asking for a password for the Hard drive so it is a hardware issue and not a software issue. In order to set the password you have to go to the BIOS which I only found out about this AFTER the problem started and I tried to research it. I will be calling Acer back and will also see if Target will take it back. My daughter loves her netbook but is frustrated by the problems we have had especially since this is the second one.

No...not hardware. The SOFTWARE which is part of the basic operating system is asking for a password. This is not an indication of a problem with the hardware. Its not a failure of the hard drive.

 

[Kathi OD]

It is asking for a password for the Hard drive so it is a hardware issue and not a software issue. In order to set the password you have to go to the BIOS which I only found out about this AFTER the problem started and I tried to research it. I will be calling Acer back and will also see if Target will take it back. My daughter loves her netbook but is frustrated by the problems we have had especially since this is the second one.

no, you set the password, so it's not a hardware issue. It's not a problem with the computer. It's a problem someone using the computer created by setting the password.