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[Windmill_Key]

Hi!

So. I got this laptop from Future Shop some while back and it`s finally, err... decided it doesn`t want to work anymore.

So, a few quick facts:

- Given than I got this in August of 2008, and did NOT get extended warranty of any kind, I do not have warranty to help out re. any sort of price tag.

- The problem with the computer itself is that it no longer wants to turn on. You can press the button and the lights will flicker on for... about a second.

What has been tried:

- Online searches often found fault with the cord connecting the laptop to the wall. I have tried a new (but identical) power cord via my grandfather`s HP, nothing was solved.

- Also according to online searches, we have tried taking out the battery and holding the power button for some amount of time, then putting it back in. Or something suggested along those lines. The issue persists.

- Given that I`ve no warranty anyway, my mother and I took a look into the laptop thanks to a handy guide or two online. Cleared it of dust, looked for anything that could possibly be shorting out or broken. Basically we tightened one screw that was rather loose-lookin`and then subsequently proceeded to put it all back together. The screws are all back in their place, also.

Still, no dice.

- Pressing the quickplay or dvd button instead of the power button turned it on, once... for about all of 10 seconds. Not anymore.

What is being asked:

- Does Future Shop do repairs on computers that aren`t covered by warranty? If so, what does the price tag for a mere diagnosis run a person?

- Instead of fixing it, I was contemplating maybe just trying an external hard drive and then getting a new computer altogether. DOES Future Shop offer this service (the transfer, that is -- and, this being only if the hard drive is not the cause of the issues, of course... (which I sincerely hope it is not, hah...)), and if so, for how much?

- ... Thoughts, suggestions, etc?

If this is in the wrong forum, my apologies in advance.

[Tanarus · Accepted solution]

Generally, in a case like yours, there is an issue with the laptop's motherboard -- something has failed on the board itself, and the board will need to be replaced. With the laptop being out of warranty, it is probably beyond economical repair. Future Shop can send your unit out to a repair depot for a quote, for a $59.99 diagnostic fee. It would likely be cheaper and faster to send the laptop to HP directly.

In your case, I recommend the other option. Future Shop can transfer the data drom your laptop's hard drive to an external hard drive, or another computer. Data transfer starts at $99.99, and usually gets more expensive the more data you have. You've also got the option of removing the hard drive and tossing it into a hard drive dock, and getting at your old data that way, without paying a labor charge to get someone to get your data for you. Both cases assume the hard drive is intact and running -- only specialized data recovery services will be able to retrieve data from a hard drive that's dead.

[Windmill_Key]

Thank you so very very much!

I guess I'll be looking to get myself a hard drive dock (while praying that the data is intact, haha...)

... and, supposing, a new laptop alongside it.

(so much for that tax return. . .)

Once again, thank you (:

[[... technology is turning against me, feels like! iPod's dying on me now too after some 4-5 years. Shucks...]]

edit:: Another question!

Before going off and buying this dock or getting someone to try and transfer it, is there any possible way for me to test my hard drive?

I have two old desktop PCs chillin' in the living room doing nothing, and my mother's laptop at availability (though hers is a Toshiba while mine was an HP). Any way I can check with those?

Sorry for the bother~

[Tanarus]

If you've got a spare SATA drive connector, as well as a free SATA power connector in one of those computers, you should be able to hook the hard drive up into those computers and see if the hard drive and its data is intact. Though it involves opening your computer tower, you won't need a hard drive dock at all -- you'll be able to copy your data to a hard drive already in that computer.

(And if you're leery about opening your tower, you can test the hard drive with a hard drive dock -- if the dock doesn't work for you, you can return it for a full refund.)