refurbish?

I have had a lot of problems with my Compaq laptop. I tried to use the recovery discs but number 6 (out of 7) had an error and it wouldn't work. Now the computer won't even start. I get an error message that there is a problem with the start up but they can't repair it. I am thinking about having the laptop refurbished, it is about 3 years old. What are your opinions? It will cost me $370.

 

If its though HP I think it would be ok. I would defiantly send it to the original manufacturer to refurbish it. But I can tell you what to do this is just my opinion.

 

Hmm,$370 eh, with $200 more you could get a dual core. Since your machine is only 3 years old, it could be Vista which means that any software that you may have purchased should be good to go with a W7 machine. If you have an XP machine then most likely the software will work. Here's some NewEgg offerings.

 

Thank you both for your opinions. This machine will be for a back up. I just bought a new HP laptop, just before this Compaq died. My husband will probably use it to check the news and play Solitaire when he gets bored, so I really don't want to get another new one. Maybe I am penny wise and pound foolish, I don't know.
Yeah, it is Vista (barf barf) My new HP has Windows 7.

 

Well, it would depend on how long the new warranty would be good for, I personally wouldn't touch it if the warranty is less than a year. I have had poor results with a refurbished machine but that's only one machine.

Heck, for what hubby does you can get this Toshiba XP Pro notebook relatively inexpensively. $450! XP will still be supported until 2014 by MS. I'm the last one to recommend an XP machine but I will in this case. Good luck in whatever choice you make.

 

You really haven't provided enough information to know whether the problems are only software/Windows related or hardware related. But, since you mentioned refurbishing, that suggests you think the computer hardware repairs. Is that right? If so, why do you think that?

If there's really no hardware problem, then I would contact HP to see whether they can send you a recovery disc for it. I recently worked on a Compaq laptop for someone and called HP and found they could send a recovery disc, i.e. a disc with Windows and the original software installed on the computer, for about $16. They would need to model # and serial # if you call.

Another option, again assuming the computer hardware is sound, would be to install Linux Ubuntu, a non-Microsoft operating system that can be downloaded for free.

 

I have the discs but even those couldn't do the trick. At the middle or so of the 6th disc, an error message came up and said there was a problem and it couldn't finish. This machine is 3.5 years old and long out of warranty.
Linux, eh? Never heard of that but sounds interesting. Unfortunately, I can't get the computor started!

 

What happens when you turn on the computer? Does it get to the point where it should start loading Windows and then stop? Do you see anything at all on the screen? Does it make any unusual sounds?

 

OK, USAF mentioned an alternative but this will take some sweat equity on your part here and may help diagnose your machine at the same time. Download Ubuntu Live and follow this guide, you will also have to boot into the laptop's BIOS and change the boot sequence to start from the DVD-ROM, place your newly made CD in your machine and reboot. If it works then there's a good chance that your Disk #6 is faulty.

This will in no way change your Windows setup and heck, you may even like Linux after you or hubby tries it. Does almost everything that Windows does, just in a different way. I'd try it before spending $370 for a refurbish or even if a refurbish is needed. Let us know. and we'll help ya along.

 

I can get as far as a black screen. A flash of a rectangle shaped screen about 6x4 inches. That's all. No sounds.

 

Yeah, but the discs don't do any good if I can't get on, right?

 

Hmmm, interesting. As you probably already realized, I am not a computer "geek", although I would like to be one. But I am sure getting an education from what I have learned here. Thank you.