razorslave

So I'm driving to work today, and my laptop is in it's case on the seat next to me, along with my lunch.

I'm forced to slam on the brakes and the bag and goes tumbling against the firewall.

and now apparently the screen is working again, at least for this boot, I may have to take the whole thing apart and see if I can tract the short or find where it's grounding out. . .

Rev

mmm wow, havnt felt this n00bish about an O/S since hmmm 6th grade. LOL. Humbling experience. But at least on teh intarweb there are good resources for assistance. It's not like the old day, where I was thumbing though a DOS Manual as thick as my leg looking for that elusive chunk of code.

Unfortunately, with a lack of net access for the laptop at work, I'm limited in what I can do.

Rev

Finally, after many many weeks, I got my laptop back from fry's. It seems to be working ok, but it does make this odd noise in the speakers, when I shut it down. Like all the power drains out of the capaciters before the shutdown happens. It didnt do that before.

Going through the process of re-installing all my software on it, whee, I can't tell you how much fun this is, also realizing that the puny little 30GB HD in the thing is not enough space. Especially after I section off 4GB to attempt to run Zeta OS 1.1 out of.

Which is a whole diffrent ball of wax. I'm hoping I'm able to track down a copy of the Zeta 1.2 and hoping that the most current version of the OS is more compatable with my laptop than the old.

I can get it to boot with a VESA Video Drive at 1024x768x16 but it does not like the onboard audio on the laptop. In fact, I'd venture to say it hates it, as activating the Conexant AC-Link audio cause Zeta lock hard. Requiring a reboot. Grrr. . . I also need to figure out how to get the Radeon IGP 320M Drivers installed correctly. As the only ones I'm able to find are Intel Build and don't seem to like the Athlon Processor.

Rev

Dropped Laptop back at Fry's on 2/22/2006. Called today on 4/13/2006 for an update. They say that the laptop is in and back on their bench, which hopefully means I get to pick it up tomorrow or saturday. And then spend a good chunk of time re-installing the portable stuidio on teh bitch. Wheee geekdom.

Rev

So, as i want to have the laptop set up completely for the digital djing thing by Friday night when I'm supposed to be over an B and gwyll practicing 2 x 4's I last night had 6K of the 18K MP3's set up in Traktor Dj Studio 3 and was happily analyzing the files, for almost 16 hours.

So traktor does the following routine when analyzing files. Analyze list of files, write tags and stripes to update individual files, on close of software, update collection to reflect changes in files.

Now the fun part, Traktor had completed the analyzing of a the selected files, and was in the process of writing the files and stripes when I get a BSOD. . . FUCK. it lost off of that.

Set it up to do a smaller chunk and hopefully it will be done when I get home from work today.

Rev

So I went in to fry's, they actually produced a laptop as a loaner for the 6-8 weeks it will take to repair or replace my laptop.

What I had. . .

Compaq Presario 2103US
Athlon XP Mobile 2800+
768MB RAM
30GB HD Space
DVD/CD-RW

pulled my 512MB SODIMM from the machine before I turned it in. . .

what I recieved.

HP Pavillion XE2153US
Athlon Semperon 3000+ (64Bit Woot!)
512MB of Ram
60 GB HD
DVD-R/RW / CD-R/RW

I wish they'd just let me have this one, as it's just a BIT nicer than my old machine. . .

but they did say it was ok to wipe the drive and install whatever on it, as long as they were able to restore to the factory install they would be happy.

Rev

No call recieved in the promised 24 hour period for descision on loander which started at 6:19:15pm 1/1/2006

Called Frys at 6:24pm

Ian placed me on hold twice to check status last time @ 6:32pm. Was on hold for 28 minutes. Called back provided number and had and answer available within 3 minutes to come and pick up my loaner laptop, They say, all I need, is a valid credit card [X] Id [x] and my body [x] I'm also bringing the origonal service contract.

Rev

the backlight on the LCD for my laptop just died. Was working fine yesterday, go to boot it up today, and screens not responding, not a big deal, it's done this before when I've closed the lid without powering it down. I restart it after hard powering it off. Nothing, I punch in my password, let it run, and am leaning back in my chair when I notice that i can see windows in the backgound with the screen tilted just the right way. . .

I purchased an extended 2 year warranty from fry's, it does not cover accidental damage to the laptop, I have dropped it before, but it's worked fine, and it defiantely shows the wear and tear of being a mobile dj rig for over a year. I just hope they don't try to give me to much shit or we will be getting pre-paid legal involved . . . again.

Reviewing the contract now. . . looking at whether I can take it in tonight, or if it will have to be tomorrow. . .

**update**

4:15pm Called frys with faxed coy of service contract, they could no locate the invoice number in their computer system. I have faxed them a copy of the paperwork and await a callback.

4:42pm Frys' called back says I can bring the laptop in and it will pull up in the system. I'm going to run it over on my lunch, once things calm down here after about 6;00pm. Hopefully that doesnt take to long, and hopefully they will provide me with the "loaner" laptop that I can hold hostage until live up to the terms of my service contract.

6:42pm Just got back from Fry's, watch them hem and haw and cluck over the cosmetic damage to the laptop. showed them that the laptop still worked, only the backlight was out. They will be calling within 24hrs to advise whether or not they will provide a loaner as per the service contract. Will have a lawyer ready to fax them a letter if they do not. LCT Backlights can fail from physical trauma, but expect the LCD to be shattered in that case.

Rev