I didn't give in and refused to relent... when "dealing with" the manufacturer of my laptop that went haywire and with the store where the 'puter was bought.

Five days of "negotiating" - if it can be called that since I was accepting nothing less than replacement parts and the ability to do data recovery on my HD: The manufacturer had a supervisor of its supervisors call me.

No prob. whatsoever speaking with that person. She didn't have a lapse in understanding exactly what I relayed about the failure, the system errors, my suspicions, and what is needed to remedy the prob.

Next week, and at the manufacturer's expense, the replacement parts should arrive. Any hang-up? The supervisor gave her direct line and the case number.

After I created an emergency boot CD for VISTA, I can see that the files on the C drive are totally in-place.

A week from today, my machine should be up and running and my data recovered. And, it is no thanks to any of the drones who tried to convince me that data recovery is not possible without taking the machine to a third-party. I told them: I've done data recovery since the time I owned my first computer. Like, duh! I simply refused to pay for someone else to do what I am quite capable of doing, and I refused to overwrite the drive, which would make recovery more difficult.

I think the help-line people at computer companies simply know how to answer phones and use function keys. Every time I've had a prob. with a computer, the response has been consistent over the years: The data cannot be recovered without getting someone else to do it. Liars. As long as it's not corrupt, it merely requires a hard drive caddy, popping the "bad" drive and connecting it via USB to a functioning drive.

Anyway, I am glad that this should be over in about a week, but the manufacturer gives 30 days and asked that I wipe the malfunctioning drive, then use a pre-paid mailer to send it to the service dept. I'm cool with that.

Bobbi,

good on you...

have you ever used "recuva" to retrieve lost files??

I usually back mine up pretty good so I just go to my backup.

but for my clients, I have used recuva

I still am trying to understand all of it but I can recover most files (not all)

http://www.recuva.com/

I've not used Recuva.

The ones I'm most familiar with using are: Ontrack, Pareto, Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery, and PC Inspector File Recovery.

This is my first time doing data recovery on VISTA O/S, so that in itself is making it a learn-as-I-go experience. I know that I've got one shot to do a clean recovery without making it a tedius process.


For the first time, since owning a computer, I didn't have the data on mine backed up; I was still installing software upgrades compatible with VISTA - and had nearly $1000 invested .

The manufacturer's supervisor I spoke with today totally understood when I told her why mine was not, yet, backed up: I went weeks with malfunctioning laser precision mouse(s)/mice, which were continually "backordered," and that went on for 3 months.

The machine, which was a Christmas present, was the first time I had ever received a computer that did not also have the O/S, drivers and apps. discs included.

I've not had experience with a computer crashing so "young." Nor had I ever had one that came with paperwork which was insistent - big bold print - that it was not necessary to make recovery or backup discs.

All of it was a misnomer. I suggested that the manufacturer pull the misleading information from its packaging, which is rather prominently placed.

Last night, a lower-level person at the manufacturer I spoke with also tried to tell me that my laptop could not be serviced in-home, and that only desktops are covered. Phooey. What a load. The rationale that was cited to me is that it only takes a few scews being removed to be into the hardware on a desktop. Sorry... there are fewer scews on my laptop than there are on my desktop and two panels that need popping. I gave doing it a test-run last night and took me less than 5 mins. to be in the hardware of the laptop.

That excuse for not providing service flew out the window.

No matter what they tried telling me, I was holding them to their warranty.

As anyone who has also purchased DME also knows: A product is only as good as its warranty and the manufacturer's ability to perform under the warranty. It's like giving one's word or promise, and I have every reasonable expectation of holding them to it. If they refuse, there are always other remedies .

Bobbi, good on you, but remind me to NEVER sell you anything...LOLOL

But why? Just make sure it's not sold with a warranty .

Should be here in October when I go through similar with the company responsible for installing the A/C & Heater in my house; the system is being shut down for a split system pressurized test to find a leak and repair it. Just waiting to know whether it's the installer company or the builder who is responsible. It's one of the two, I was told, by the installer company; the unit(s) are still under warranty.

For 10 years, I've been told by different companies: "There's nothing wrong." They finally came clean and told me that there is. Like, I hadn't noticed, cared and repeatedly called for service.

(Someone is paying for parts and labor, all those service calls, etc., and... gotta say: I do intend to recover the expenses that would not have existed if there was no leak or if it had been repaired during a way earlier service call.)

Gotta Luv Those Warranties .



P.S.: I give 'em no hint of what my next step is when they act as if they think they are gonna stick me with expenses that are related to items that should be null with what a related warranty covers. Always gotta have a Plan B and, if necessary, a Plan C.