Bad ware and other computer nightmares to avoid.

[johndowe]

Hi there.

There are brand name computer companies that are "user hostile" and only support their customers for a short period of time and after that time ask you to pay for service.

I don't mean harware failures that do require you to pay for parts that have failled, but for downloading drivers for your machine when you have to re-install win or you u/g to a newer version fo win.

One such company is "GATEWAY" they make good cpu's but support, forget it, you need a serial # if you don't you get NOTHING.

The thing is the serial # is under the CPU and is easily damaged or removed, then you can't get any help from the company, also i had to reinstall win on one of their laptops, and the company that bought them had gone bancrupt and the laptop that i was fixing was one of them and since i wasn't the owner and i didn't knowe the ORIGINAL owner or purchaser i was denied the driver download that were required to get the cpu up and running at peak efficiency, i found the drivers from an alternate source but it was a pain in the ass.

And most people not in the cpu field would be left out in the cold, so to avoid such problems avoid "GATEWAY" computers.

JohnDowe.

[johndowe]

Hi there.

Another big SCAM on the internet is DRIVERS.

Some people know that when you have a computer you sometimes have to update your drivers, but finding the proper driver isn't always easy, and they take advantage of that.

You search "drivers" on google and you see "free drivers" then just as you try to download (d/l) the driver they ask for $30.00, WTF a free driver for $30.00?

Well it is a SCAM, and most CPU boards require at least 4 drivers: Audio, Video, Network & Chipset, the later includes a few drivers for the hard disk controler, interupt manager etc, that your cpu needs to work more effectively, at $30 a pop it comes out to $120 which is often more than the main board is worth.

The important thing ro remember is YOU NEVER PAY FOR DRIVERS, and you go to the manufacturer of your cpu or the mainboard if it is a clone.

And don't forget the drivers for all your other cards also.

That is why you should have win installed by pros, they know how to do the job right (most of them, anyway).


JohnDowe.