I’ve been having laptop issues for a couple of weeks now. My laptop is getting older, but still under warrenty (I just extended it, as I can’t afford to buy a new one). I sent it off to HP, after many hours on the phone discussing the problem. At the end of the day, HP decided it was a hardware failure and needed to return to The Mothership for repair. Allrighty - I can work through the laptop withdraw somehow.
It came back today…unfixed. At this point, I am uncertain what to do. I am seeking opinions.
The Problem: The volume button is permenantly depressed. This wouldn’t be a big deal, except the mouse pad and volume key are one integrated piece, and some unknown interaction between the two causes the mouse to go crazy - wizzing about the place, clicking on things and not obeying any commands, pleas or begging from me. I can still type and stuff, but any other task requiring the mouse is nearly impossible.
HP’s solution: Replace the keyboard. While the new keyboard does lack the two years of accumulated junk of the last one, it doesn’t really fix my problem. The mouse is continuing to merrily wizz about.
I called them today, to inquire about this novel solution and their answer is to send it back in. This does not please me. I use my laptop for school and work - losing it for another week doesn’t appeal to me. Plus, they very nearly lost it when they shipped it back to me (apparently, apartment numbers are somewhat optional to HP. Sigh).
My options are (as best as I can tell, anyway):
1)Try to find a local approved retailer who can fix it. My previous experience with these people suggests that they won’t be able to fix it. Nothing against the good people at Best Buy or whatever, but I think this is an integrated piece of my laptop and I don’t think they can fix it in-store.
2)Send it back to HP. Again.
3)Try to get HP to send someone to me. A friend of mine ran a business and told me that at the corporate level, service people can be dispatched to do on-site repairs.
How realistic is option #3? Part of me feels that they screwed this up and should do what they have to do to fix it. But I might be asking too much. Another big part wants the $120 of loan money I just spent to extend the service plan back.
Technology really sucks sometimes.