Suspicious Laptop/Notebook??
Is there any lovely computer person who would mind lending me their knowledge please?? I bought a Toshiba Satellite A200 - 1Ai, with Vista Home Premium in June this year, but it has just come back from the engineers having to had a new keyboard, new DVD drive, New Touchpad and new Touchpad Cover! Firstly doesn't that seem an awful lot of faulty parts for a 6month old machine that cost me £800 that according to reviews is a pretty good model? Secondly looking at the Device Drivers the DVD drive has gone from a Teac DVD SUPER MULTI (+_ Double Layer) DV-W28EC to a HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T20N ATA Device - is it just me or is a 'dvd super multi' better than a DVDram'? 
It has to go back to them anyway because they have managed to mess it up and now I have a big bulge in the area next to the keyboard and there is a gap at the very front where they obvioulsy haven't put it back together again properly, but I feel a little disappointed and wondered if anyone could give me any expert opinions to whether so much should be going wrong so soon and whether they have sent it back to me with parts not as good as the originals? 
Another thing is that according to Toshiba my notebooks serial number had already been registered to someone else and more concerning is that when I was adding all my bits to it as 'new' one of the 'sign in screens' that I think appeared when I was configuring my wireless router and was to do with signing on to the server had someones name in and that name matches what Toshiba told me the name, email and phone number was registered to?! I can't help but wonder if I have been sold a 'already used' machine, or one that has too many problems so soon on, but don't know enough about these things to feel confident in approaching them about it- (a very large PC Shop) I guess all in all I'm asking if all this seems a bit suspicious to anyone else or should I just ignore all these things! Thanks to anyone who can help a poor damsel in distress, and confusion!!!
It has to go back to them anyway because they have managed to mess it up and now I have a big bulge in the area next to the keyboard and there is a gap at the very front where they obvioulsy haven't put it back together again properly, but I feel a little disappointed and wondered if anyone could give me any expert opinions to whether so much should be going wrong so soon and whether they have sent it back to me with parts not as good as the originals? Another thing is that according to Toshiba my notebooks serial number had already been registered to someone else and more concerning is that when I was adding all my bits to it as 'new' one of the 'sign in screens' that I think appeared when I was configuring my wireless router and was to do with signing on to the server had someones name in and that name matches what Toshiba told me the name, email and phone number was registered to?! I can't help but wonder if I have been sold a 'already used' machine, or one that has too many problems so soon on, but don't know enough about these things to feel confident in approaching them about it- (a very large PC Shop) I guess all in all I'm asking if all this seems a bit suspicious to anyone else or should I just ignore all these things! Thanks to anyone who can help a poor damsel in distress, and confusion!!!
Thanks Guys, for giving me the confidence to know what I am talking about (well kind of?!) and not just being paranoid and picky!
James, I have still got the original packaging and both serial numbers match, so I can see it'll be difficult to prove whether it was new to begin with! I do have the 'whatever happens' policy with Pc World/Tech Guys and they have 2 weeks from the date I report any problem to repair it. They collected it on 03/01 it came back today and I am sure with it needing to go back to repair their damage the 3 week rule will apply! But then wouldn't it be a tragedy if i woke up in the morning and during the night my Dog will have somehow knocked it off the table and it will be smashed ;)? It's such a shame that they can't just offer a good honest service in the first place, but I think I've learnt my lesson.
Anyway guys, you have been wonderful for taking your time to help me, it is scary when you don't have a wonderful PC knowledge to be confident in what to expect and what not to from them and their machines, you have really helped!
Cheers, sally
James, I have still got the original packaging and both serial numbers match, so I can see it'll be difficult to prove whether it was new to begin with! I do have the 'whatever happens' policy with Pc World/Tech Guys and they have 2 weeks from the date I report any problem to repair it. They collected it on 03/01 it came back today and I am sure with it needing to go back to repair their damage the 3 week rule will apply! But then wouldn't it be a tragedy if i woke up in the morning and during the night my Dog will have somehow knocked it off the table and it will be smashed ;)? It's such a shame that they can't just offer a good honest service in the first place, but I think I've learnt my lesson.
Anyway guys, you have been wonderful for taking your time to help me, it is scary when you don't have a wonderful PC knowledge to be confident in what to expect and what not to from them and their machines, you have really helped!
Cheers, sally
Sally it must be second hand if it has somebody else's data on it - 
Don't take it back to PC World report it to Trading Standards
Don't take it back to PC World report it to Trading Standards
Pierre, I know you are right, and the more I think about it the madder 
it makes me that they have taken me for being such a mug and seem to be getting away with it!
So yes I will,
Thanks for being so helpful
sally
it makes me that they have taken me for being such a mug and seem to be getting away with it! So yes I will,
Thanks for being so helpful
sally
So sad to hear about your "new" laptop.
Two things that shopkeepers fear most..... one..... the words " not of merchantable quality" two...... "not fit for purpose"
With these two things in mind, I would strongly advise the course already offered..... A visit to trading standards office... Take with you Every Bit Of Paperwork you have, including the box, receipt, records of return to shop, any leaflets with the specification, If you can`t get them from the shop, try to get someone to download them from the net and print them out..... you can get Trading Standards to check that out with what you have now got fitted inside. you could even run up a nice little story about what was said when you returned it to them, and what they said when they gave it back.
Give Trading Standards as much ammunition as you can.... it will all help you get your complaint sorted....
Best of Luck.....
Hello again,
I forgot to mention that whatever you buy you are covered by the "sale of goods act" and shop managers/owners don`t like it when you know (or appear to know) more about it than they do. ! !
You might like to investigate this link http://www3.dti.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/sale-supply/sale-of-good-act/page8600.html
to see how you stand
There are a lot of useful things to click on, on the left side menu....
these two cut and pastes should help....
Supply of Goods and Services Act
The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 requires traders to provide services to a proper standard of workmanship. Furthermore, if a definite completion date or a price has not been fixed then the work must be completed within a reasonable time and for a reasonable charge.
Also, any material used or goods supplied in providing the service must be of satisfactory quality.
The law treats failure to meet these obligations as breach of contract and consumers would be entitled to seek redress, if necessary through the civil courts.
Our Quick Facts page and our Guide for Traders offers further information and advice.
and another one
Sale of Goods Act
Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 traders must sell goods that are as described and of satisfactory quality.
If consumers discover that products do not meet these requirements they can reject them and ask for their money back providing they do so quickly. Alternatively, they can request a repair or replacement or claim compensation.
The Sale of Goods Act has been amended by the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 which transpose a European Directive. Although the impact of the Regulations is relatively modest there are some useful benefits for consumers.
Hope that helps ...
I forgot to mention that whatever you buy you are covered by the "sale of goods act" and shop managers/owners don`t like it when you know (or appear to know) more about it than they do. ! !
You might like to investigate this link http://www3.dti.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/sale-supply/sale-of-good-act/page8600.html
to see how you stand
There are a lot of useful things to click on, on the left side menu....
these two cut and pastes should help....
Supply of Goods and Services Act
The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 requires traders to provide services to a proper standard of workmanship. Furthermore, if a definite completion date or a price has not been fixed then the work must be completed within a reasonable time and for a reasonable charge.
Also, any material used or goods supplied in providing the service must be of satisfactory quality.
The law treats failure to meet these obligations as breach of contract and consumers would be entitled to seek redress, if necessary through the civil courts.
Our Quick Facts page and our Guide for Traders offers further information and advice.
and another one
Sale of Goods Act
Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 traders must sell goods that are as described and of satisfactory quality.
If consumers discover that products do not meet these requirements they can reject them and ask for their money back providing they do so quickly. Alternatively, they can request a repair or replacement or claim compensation.
The Sale of Goods Act has been amended by the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 which transpose a European Directive. Although the impact of the Regulations is relatively modest there are some useful benefits for consumers.
Hope that helps ...
Further reading on Sale of goods pages.....
Look at the menu on the right hand side for "related links"
Read all the "Key Facts"....
Look at the menu on the right hand side for "related links"
Read all the "Key Facts"....