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Compaq warranty worthless

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by aliceo

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As a professional that works in graphics a lot and as a former SE who used to do a lot of presentations, I got used to having a projector for displaying my work. In July I decided to take the big step and get my own projector and purchased a Compaq I-paq. With less than 40 hours on the bulb (stated half life 1,000 hours) the bulb blew. I called support and they said they'd ship one within 4 to 6 business days. Cool. Only it never came. 2 months and numberous phonecalls later I still lack a functioning projector. If you are considering buying hardware, hold off on buying Compaq.

4 replies

by jardinier

For so many years, Compaq was a trusted and reliable brand. Since it was purchased by HP, it's gone to the dogs.

My own unfortunate experience has been that when my newest and fastest computer (Compaq) needed a software reinstall, I found that the Recovery disc simply does not work. As the machine also uses uncommon drivers for video, audio and modem, these are not available on the net, either at Compaq or drivers.com

Compaq said they would try and locate a replacement Recovery disc, but that's the last I've heard from them. So I am stuck with a computer that is not much more than one year old, but is quite useless.

I will not be trusting Compaq again.

by chris..

Not to be overly critical of the both of you, but I'm noticing that you've both noted that it was some time after your support request and you haven't recieved the help you requested.

Call back, ask to speak to a supervisor and explain the issue.

I'm a huge Compaq server fan and have been for years now. I've had the experienced like you two are refering to but with dilligence I've had excellent results.

As for the PC going kaput, why not just try a flat OS reinstall and then go to the compaq site and get the drivers you need that aren't provided by the OS?

On the bulb thing, you're fairly lucky they would even replace it. Honestly, shunning a company because a bulb goes out is a bit silly. But you're the one with the Ipaq projector and stuck. I'd say just go buy another bulb and keep ridding compaq until you get a spare shipped.

by cirodejah

Having worked for Compaq in the Tech phone support, I can assure you that you have just run into the same wall that Compaq has had up for the last 8-9 years (namely propietary hardware and drivers and the famous Quick Restore). Please don't buy into HP having changed any of that...nothing will change for another year or so. I would listen to the member that suggested being dilligent...that will be the only way.

As for the bulb thing, you might as well go buy yourself a new one...I'm sure documentation of your case is now getting messy...try getting a supervisor (or their supervisor) every time you call. Good Luck

by hal 9000

These things have a limited life and any film projector would not consider ever turning on without a spare. Secondly as I assume that you are using this professionaly it is costing you money not having it working so again buy a bulb.

The next thing is that you didn't buy it new so I don't think that HP has any obligation to you as you are not the original purchaserbut if they are willing to honour their warrantie well and good buy just don't let them get away with it and keep requesting information. You get your reference number and insist on speaking to someone higher up the food chain and you keep doing this until you get a result one way or the other. It will only require a few phone calls to get what you want so once a week should get things soughted out very quickly either way.

Remember that the first person that you speak to is only at best nothing more than a "Help Desk" person who is only sitting in front of a computer and telling you what is on their screen and computers are not infallable particuarly when it comes to HP as they have just recently upgraded their systems so you're replacment order could just have got lost in the system.

But the important thing to remember here is always have a spare projector bulb as they do blow and their stated life is not necessarly their real life as other things come into play like was the unit jarred when the bulb had just been turned off and was still very hot as this will kill them every time. There are other examples of bulbs dying because of operator error but this is the most obvious.

Honestly however I would be really surprised if they where willing to replace the bulb as generally the Garantiee lists things like bulbs as not being covered.

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