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Avenir · Jul 21, 2001, 06:14 AM

This is more of a "user beware" post, but hell, if I had to go through this nightmare, then you have to read about it.... My Ti had problems out of the box (the usual battery loose and then a key broke from my keyboard). I sent it back, no problems after that (cept the loose keyboard, which I accepted as normal). Then a few weeks ago, the HD died. No warning, it was working 2 minutes before, locked up, that was the end of it. If you want details on that, read my other post. Anyway, so I can't afford Drive Savers, cut my losses, sent it into Apple. They fixed it, sent it back, not with just a new HD, but also with a new logic board. Why? I have no idea. But here's the kicker, it came back WITHOUT by third party 512Mb RAM (the one that cost me $320 a month ago). So the service provider (that I also happen to work for) calls Apple, and I get the run around for 4 ****ing days trying to get my RAM back, until Apple finally agrees to send me some new RAM. It should hopefully get here sometime next week, and then maybe I can actually get back to work.

So, children (kidding), the moral of the story is:

1) Backup your data
2) Remove anything you added before sending your PB into Apple for service

There, now if anyone actually read all that, I appreciate your time. Cheers all...

blot · Jul 21, 2001, 07:43 AM

My sympathies go out to you. Hang in there!

This is why I always insist from my dealer (good to know someone) that I will only accept a new PB after I have tested it. (Done it for 3 powerbooks so far - Lombard400>Pismo500>Ti500)

Firstly, it is to ensure that the book is in mint condition (you'll be surprised to see that some brand new PBs-out of the box- are scratched, defective etc.), and most importantly no dead/stuck pixels.

Forget abt the free home delivery (but I guess in some places, that is just not possible). Nothing beats inspecting it personally before they key in the delivery order.

For me, getting a second HD is just abt the next most impt thing, so that I can back up all my essential data - it is also the fastest way to backup data.

Invest in a surge protector (portable one if you travel overseas). My first PB - lomby400, fried after a spike while working in Thailand.

Apart from the first, I never had problems in the 8mths that I had with each of them. (Lets see - I've had my Ti for 3mths now, which means that I'll probably be working on a T2 5mths later in Dec. It usually takes 3mths b4 I can get my hands on a new PB once it is announced - so does it mean I'll see the T2 being announced in Sept??)

Macintosh · Jul 21, 2001, 12:08 PM

I had to send my Cube into Apple service and they told me on the phone to take out third party RAM. ucks for you.

FAerrorTAL · Jul 21, 2001, 01:41 PM

hey, i know that all the hassle must blow, but hey, now you can say you got a huge discount on official apple RAM

sorry to hear about the trouble!

aaron

Avenir · Jul 21, 2001, 03:07 PM

Originally posted by blot:
<STRONG>My sympathies go out to you. Hang in there!

This is why I always insist from my dealer (good to know someone) that I will only accept a new PB after I have tested it. (Done it for 3 powerbooks so far - Lombard400>Pismo500>Ti500)

Firstly, it is to ensure that the book is in mint condition (you'll be surprised to see that some brand new PBs-out of the box- are scratched, defective etc.), and most importantly no dead/stuck pixels.

Forget abt the free home delivery (but I guess in some places, that is just not possible). Nothing beats inspecting it personally before they key in the delivery order.

For me, getting a second HD is just abt the next most impt thing, so that I can back up all my essential data - it is also the fastest way to backup data.

Invest in a surge protector (portable one if you travel overseas). My first PB - lomby400, fried after a spike while working in Thailand.

Apart from the first, I never had problems in the 8mths that I had with each of them. (Lets see - I've had my Ti for 3mths now, which means that I'll probably be working on a T2 5mths later in Dec. It usually takes 3mths b4 I can get my hands on a new PB once it is announced - so does it mean I'll see the T2 being announced in Sept??)

</STRONG>

Wow, thanks for the responses all. The funny thing is, since I work for the service provider, it came in its box from apple, and I and the tech at the same time opened it up, and it was missing the RAM. So he called Apple right away, and they STILL bitched and moaned. Oh well. And I do have a surge protector and, yup, I'm backing it up now. Thanks again guys.

Circa · Jul 21, 2001, 03:42 PM

Avenir I hope everything works out for you it seems this happens all the time, people having problems with apples service support.

When you talked about your hard drive dieing on you before in that thread, a similiar thing happened to me. Exept the hard drive had a huge slow down nothing was working as it should and everything was slowed down. You name it even window resizing and mouse movement. So I had to sacrifice everything and do a clean install, only to find when I did it the notebook said it did a clean install when really it just reinstalled the os. Well for some reason everything including programs was back to normal and still there.

I am still confused to why that all happened to me.

neilnet · Jul 21, 2001, 05:42 PM

When I do a complete system re-install, I *always* format the HDD first

That way I'm guaranteed a nice clean system!

Hehe!

Neil

Circa · Jul 21, 2001, 07:37 PM

ya

velocitychannel · Jul 21, 2001, 10:19 PM

*knocks on wood*

My Ti has been really stable, but I sympathize with you. When I got my 540c, the screen died after having it out of the box for less than 5 minutes.

Circa · Jul 21, 2001, 10:23 PM

Damn!

That isn't good at all 5 minutes hey? I even heard this was a problem with the new 17inch flat panels apple is making now.

Avenir · Jul 21, 2001, 11:31 PM

I've also had about a dozen pixels go out since I got the PowerBook, but luckily all were rubbed back where they belong.

*knocks heavily on oak file cabinet*

Circa · Jul 21, 2001, 11:39 PM

Hehehe oh my!

Hey Avenir you have to get back on icq somehow, what computer are you using now until your Tibook gets back?

BTW get on icq, if you need my number contact me.

Circa · Jul 21, 2001, 11:43 PM

Hey velocity speaking of icq, sorry to forget about you I have to get you on my list. The only reason I don't have my icq number advertised is people record it and spam you with porn messages and so much other stuff.

That was a while ago but now I keep my number more private.

Avenir · Jul 22, 2001, 01:10 AM

Circa, my computer is back, but I lost my ICQ settings file (becuase stupid ICQ doesn't backup in the system folder, the only folder I had backed up at all). I downloaded ICQ and logged on a while back, but I have NO ONE on my settings file

All my contacts of old are gone. Anyway, if you see me on ICQ, send me a message.

FAerrorTAL · Jul 22, 2001, 11:21 AM

hey, i know that all the hassle must blow, but hey, now you can say you got a huge discount on official apple RAM

sorry to hear about the trouble!

aaron

PBG4 User · Jul 23, 2001, 10:22 AM

Avenir,

How long did it take you to get back your computer after HD crash? I just sent mine in for the same problem (died during MWNY keynote while surfing in OS X) and wanted to know how long I'd be away from it.

Avenir · Jul 23, 2001, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by PBG4 User:
<STRONG>Avenir,

How long did it take you to get back your computer after HD crash? I just sent mine in for the same problem (died during MWNY keynote while surfing in OS X) and wanted to know how long I'd be away from it.</STRONG>

It was shipped to Apple on a tuesday, and left Apple on Friday, but didn't get to me until Monday because of the keynote. Previously, when it went in before, I shipped it out on wednesday, and also got it back the following Monday. So far, turn around is the only positive thing I have to save about Apple tech...

PBG4 User · Jul 23, 2001, 07:23 PM

Avenir,

Thanks for the speedy reply, I appreciate it