HP Tech Support Sucks

Zxian · #1 10-07-2004, 07:23 PM

Hey everyone,

I'm just gonna have a quick little rant.

I was having problems with my laptop computer and hibernation. Ever since the start, it would take about 20-30 seconds to wake up from hibernation. I thought that this was normal since I had never used Hibernation before, and I figured that 512 MB was a lot of data to store (I didn't know how it worked back then).

When I saw my friend's laptop (bought pretty much at the same time and similar specs) with twice the amount of RAM that I had fly through the wake up, I started to wonder...

I had looked up everything that I could think of that would lead to this problem. I tried doing a clean install, uninstalling the Power Support drivers in Device Manager, defragging, installing SP2 (and then doing a fresh install again after that because of the crap that SP2 does), checking BIOS settings, etc etc etc

So I decide that I'll call HP to ask them about it. I explain to them what's been going on and that I wanted to have them check it out. They told me that 20-30 seconds is normal..... yeah.... right. I told them that I had spoken to other people about it and everyone else that I had asked said that it was definately slower than it should be, and that HP was the only group that told me things were "normal."

I finally complained enough that they agreed to have it shipped out to them (still under warranty) and have them take a look at it. That was last week. I got my laptop back yesterday, and the packing slip that it came with said "Performed System Recovery, no malfunction found" or some crap like that. I hit the power button, and the thing flies out of hibernation like there's no tomorrow! Woo-hoo! It's doing what it should!

I've just got everything of mine put back on it again, and it's blazingly fast. Everything has been faster since, especially installing all the programs again.

I'm just really cheezed that HP would say that they didn't do anything when they must have...

Whew... that feels a bit better... anyways, back to ElectroMagnetism homework... I actually get to write a program for my homework... hehe

Jazz · #2 10-08-2004, 05:15 AM

Good for you........

All OEM's suck, IMHO and their support, if that's what you call it, is even worse.

This experience could initiate a new project for you. Build your own 'desktop' puter. It's fun, sometimes (LOL) and you can then repair any problems you may encounter as opposed to sending it back to the OEM. Goodness knows what they do when they receive them before sending them back to you. LOL

This is just a personal opinion, nothing more and nothing less.

Learn to Build Your Own Computer with my tips and pictures

A Basic Guide To Building Your Own Computer

Good luck................

Zxian · #3 10-08-2004, 07:34 PM

Hey there,

I definately agree with you that self-built computers are usually better since you get what you want and not what someone else has already made for you. However, with laptops, that's usually a lot harder... I can't even imagine what kind of heat sink laptop processors have... let alone installing it.

On the other hand... the bookstore at UBC (the university that I'm attending) gives great discounts on Apple products. I know I'm gonna get some flames for this, but I could get a PowerBook G4 1.25GHz, 512 MB PC3200 DDR Ram, 80 GB HD, and a ATI Radeon 9700 Mobility for $2000 CAD. That's a pretty nice steal for that you're getting. It'll do just about anything that you can do with a PC laptop, and it's got great battery lifetime (comparable to Centrino). Another plus... no viruses... no spyware. My friend's got his Apple computer running with an uptime of 3 months and 18 days now... pretty impressive to anyone.

My next desktop computer is probably going to be self built, and my next laptop is going to be a new G5-M based (not the power hungry, water cooled G5's, I'm talking peak usage of 10W for the processor) PowerBook. That'll be in 3 years though, when I'm almost done my degree and I've saved up the money for that...

Overclocked Doc · #4 10-08-2004, 09:08 PM

It's the only way to go! LOL! You'll enjoy your machine a whole lot more if your the one who built it. Just do some research and be sure of your needs.

Zxian · #5 10-09-2004, 02:47 AM

Thanks for the advice.

Just out of curiosity, from one Canuck to another, where in Canada are you from, Doc?

Jazz · #6 10-09-2004, 04:13 AM

Hi Zxian

Quote:

However, with laptops, that's usually a lot harder... I can't even imagine what kind of heat sink laptop processors have... let alone installing it.

You've got a point there...LOL

Get some flames....nah, they're your $$$'s man, just spend them wisely. LOL

One thing I will say is always buy your own, retail OS XP Home/Professional disk, IMO. Restore/Recovery disks aren't worth a bean, IMO.

Anyway, good luck with your degree....

NB: Morning Doc

Zxian · #7 10-09-2004, 04:34 AM

@Jazz

I totally agree with you about the Windows XP disks.

With my laptop, I've got one CD with my Windows XP Pro SP1, and one disk that has all the latest drivers for my computer, as well as the installer and account info for my antivirus (NOD32) and installers for 4 different anti-spyware programs. That way, I'm pretty much as secure as possible before even connecting to the internet.

My degree's just starting to get fun... I'm taking 7 courses this term and 8 next! It's an easy course load...

My tuesdays next term are going to be 10:00 - 21:30. w00t

Overclocked Doc · #8 10-09-2004, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zxian
Thanks for the advice.

Just out of curiosity, from one Canuck to another, where in Canada are you from, Doc?

"Ontario".....near the big lake....1/2 hour away from the "roaring water"......."go west young man".......you'll see my town as you pass the road with the same name as the movie with the famous line....."frankly Scarlet...I don't give a Damm!"

How's that for a description?

Zxian · #9 10-11-2004, 01:40 AM

Ok, I figured out the big picture... somewhere in Ontario

...but when you say "big lake" (bringing Lake Superior to mind) and "roaring water" (bringing Niagara Falls to mind), I get a big confuzzed... I'm afraid I don't know the movie you're talking about... I'm probably too young

Oh well... I'm in rainy ol' Vancouver... when the weather's good, it's fantastic, but then again... when it's raining here, it means that it's snowing in Whistler... and I get a season pass for $369 through UBC...

(Yes it deserves 5 smileys).

Overclocked Doc · #10 10-11-2004, 08:40 AM

Yahh yah! leave it to a university student to correct my geography!

I guess I should of given the clue as "the big lake near the roaring water"

All though I've only ever seen clips of the movie, the one in question here would be "Casablanca".

So get out your "Encarta" and solve the enigma!

Jazz · #11 10-13-2004, 07:43 AM

Quote:

you'll see my town as you pass the road with the same name as the movie with the famous line....."frankly Scarlet...I don't give a Damm!"

Quote:

All though I've only ever seen clips of the movie, the one in question here would be "Casablanca".

Unless I'm missing the thread entirely, that film was Gone With the Wind?? *LOL*

Overclocked Doc · #12 10-13-2004, 08:20 AM

I think your probably right! LOL! I sure give crappy clues, no wonder I never have any visitors

Jazz · #13 10-13-2004, 08:42 AM

Quote:

I sure give crappy clues, no wonder I never have any visitors

*LMAO*

I like that one Doc...........

Zxian · #14 10-13-2004, 11:58 PM

Speaking of "Gone with the Wind"....

I was on a flight down to Cozumel last year to go scuba diving with my dad, and we had the funniest purser aboard....

"For those of you onboard this flight who smoke, we have a very small smoking section on the aircraft. It is located at the very tip of the wing... As for today's in flight movie, we will be watching 'Gone with the Wind'..."

Everyone onboard cracked up at that one...

Jazz · #15 10-14-2004, 05:23 AM

LOL. They've probably heard it so many times doing that job.

I haven't taken a plane for so many years now, I didn't think you could actually get that far on the wing! *LOL*