Computer expert needed in Calgary ....

Hi folks ….

I am looking for someone who may be able to help with a computer problem. I have a HP computer that has developed a high pitched squeal in the hard drive. It is three years old and under extended warrenty at the Future Stop. I did't think a hard drive failure is imminent but I am going to try and get it replaced before the extended warrenty runs out (May 9th). I checked with a tech at the Future Shop today and he said there would be charge of $80 to transfer the files off my current hard drive to the new one and an additional charge to load the OS (Windows XP). I am going to burn all my important files onto CDs. Where I may need help in loading the OS on the new drive. I was wondering of there is anyone in our group in Calgary who might be able to assist with getting things up and running again. I certainly would be happy to pay a reasonable fee.

Are they replacing the drive free of charge?

Secondly if it is an HP computer that had the OS preinstalled you should have received HP OS install CD's. It is a fairly straight forward install from the CD's and you should be able to handle that yourself. Burning all of your important data files to CD is an excellent idea, especially if you do not have any other method of backing up your data.

If you have any questions please PM me and I will help you as much as I can…..

As gouche said on those premade systems the OS is pre installed.. If you never got the install CD, then Future Shop should not charge you for installing the OS.
If you have the receipt for the Machine.. You should be able to ask for the CD. I think like Sony, You have to write the manufacturers though.. HP in this case.
Installing the OS is really simple.

As gouche said on those premade systems the OS is pre installed.. If you never got the install CD, then Future Shop should not charge you for installing the OS. If you have the receipt for the Machine.. You should be able to ask for the CD. I think like Sony, You have to write the manufacturers though.. HP in this case.

It SHOULD have been included in the box with the computer. If it wasn't I have a real issue with that/or Future Shop.

We buy HP/Compaq systems for work all the time and they ALWAYS include the Install CD's and Drivers. Sometimes that can be a problem when you are getting 15 or 20 systems as you then end up with 15 or 20 manuals and CD sets….

As LC said, if you didn't get them ask Future Shop for them and failing that contact HP. If you need a contact number let me know and I will send one to you.

Actually .. the new standard is to have the OS pre installed, but not give the CD & manual.. I don't understand, but you have to specially ask for them, & they will be sent out.
A year or so ago I learnt this. My brother got a brand new Sony Viao. :) Awesome computer Windows XP.. But never got the disk, so I couldn't install it onto the other computers in the same house.
For personal home use it is usually ok to install software within the same household.
I went to Visions where he got the computer & they said sorry we don't give out the disks anymore.
They said check with any other store. I went to future shop, & office depot, both companyies said you can send a request to the manufacturer to get the disks.
.. Reason why I explained it should come with the disk is what happens if you get a virus & it wipes out the OS to a point where you can't just do a restore with your backups.
You would have to pay service at the store to get it reinstalled.
I think visions was the only one who said if you need the OS re installed it is free cause you don't get the disk. ( under warenty time only ) still computers last longer than your 1 - 2 year warrenty… usually about 10 ( they work & are ok but 10 years is a long stretch. cause of how fast computers upgrade )

Thanks guys …… the 'puter came without the install discs. The recovery files are on the hard drive. I didn't like this idea from the first and luckily ordered the discs. My concern on re-installing the OS was that the options on the BIOS screen did not match the instructions with the install disc. I have now sorted it out and think I should be OK. Thanks again.

Tell Future Shop where to go and deal directly with HP. Your warranty should cover everything regardless! I have an HP (with no disc)and deal directly with them. They stand behind their product and are very helpful. Talk to them FIRST before you go any further.

Your warranty should cover everything regardless! I have an HP (with no disc)and deal directly with them. They stand behind their product and are very helpful. Talk to them FIRST before you go any further. - teepeejay

I agree with teepeejay, talk to HP first (1-800-HPINVENT)

I just talked to my HP rep. Business systems have the CD's included with them (they cost more money). Home systems, such as HP Pavilion, don't have them included and you must request them from HP (at a cost of $15.00 to $25.00). He and I both think the policy is stupid but……

If HP extended warrenty does not cover the reloading of the OS or supply the OS install disks I would consider a differen't manufacturer next time. I know dell will come on site and replace defective HD and reinstall OS (they generally come with a setup discs though). If I were doing it my self the simplest way to do it, and I highly recommend it is to install the second HD into computer and ghost it from one to the other. Then take out old HD and put new HD in Primary Master position and correctly set the HD jumpers. I have done this for many HD upgrades and it works very slick. Norton Ghost is what I usually use although new HD's often come with a utility CD with there own ghosting software (Maxtor and Western Digital do!). It's still a good idea to do back-ups on to cd though. Like I said I have used this many times and it worked well every time. I have never lost a file that way. Best of all you don't have to install the OS or any drivers or upgrades or software, its all done.

Extended warrenty is usually though the store itself.. such as future shop. HPs warrenty is the 1 year. However some of the parts like the HD is 3 or 5 years.. I know I had an older Western Digital HD that had a lifetime warrenty. When the HD stopped working & I took the computer in.. was lucky.. WD sent a 9 gigabite HD .. where ours was 4 gig

If HP extended warrenty does not cover the reloading of the OS or supply the OS install disks I would consider a differen't manufacturer next time.

Buy a Mac! :-)

Only problem with a Mac is it is tough to find software for them.
Nearly everything is PC based.
Besides the HD for a Mac can stop spinning properly as a PC Hd
HD's are actually pretty universal.. you just need to reformat it if you are changing a HD from a PC -> a Mac

Only problem with a Mac is it is tough to find software for them.

Never had a problem. What do you need to do?

Nearly everything is PC based.

So? Run it on the Mac if you can't find a Mac version. Won't run as fast a native Mac app, but it will run in Virtual PC.

Besides the HD for a Mac can stop spinning properly as a PC Hd

Except that it's usually caused by the most nefarious of PC viruses, Windoze.