Advent Laptop

[wobbles]

I bought an advent laptop in december 06 from PC world for £399.

 

yesterday when I got it out to turn it on it suddenly decided it was not going to start windows at all.

 

I had a friend look at it last night because I havent got a clue about PC problems. but he couldnt find any reason in the boot menu why it wouldnt work, he inserted the utility and drivers disk and still nothing happened.

the only thing he did say is that the fan did not seem to be running so maybe thats why windows wont start because the lap top is protecting itself from melting down.

 

Should I take it back to PC world for the tech guys to have a look at it?

[ForestChav]

What comes up on the screen when you turn it on?

[wobbles]

boot up then when it goes to start windows, full screen message basicly saying, problem with starting windows, start windows in safe mode or safe mode with networking, or last known good configuration, or start windows normally. Tried all the options and each time it just goes back to the same screen after about half an hour of little white lines across bottom of screen.

[patdavies]

Reload windows from the recovery CDs.

 

It shouldn't affect your data

[fred_2009]

first point advent driver and application disk is not the windows reload disk. your techinical friend should know this.

 

to recover computer to factory settings i believe you have to press either F10 or F11 as it starts up.

 

try pressing them simultaneously until it prompts you to restore it.

 

as for the fan issue. the fan only kicks in when it gets hot. at dos/startup does not require much processing power or graphcs processing so there not going to be much heat production.

 

if recovery completes but still fails to access windows then obviously that there is an issue so contact store to arrange couriour collection or contact techguys direct on 0870 9013000 to arrange pickup from your residence

[2Grumpy]

Reload windows from the recovery CDs.

 

It shouldn't affect your data

 

Reloading from recovery disks often wipes your data. They usually overwrite the whole partition, so data on drive D would be ok, but anything on drive C would disappear

 

There are a few causes for this type of symptom. One is changing screen resolution to something not supported by your screen (can be done accidentally). Another is updating drivers / windows update and it all going wrong.

 

You can usually check out the hardware by booting from a linux boot/live CD - e.g. damnsmalllinux, knoppix or slax. If that works, it is probably a windows problem.

 

You can use one of the linux's to copy data off your hard drive before reloading using the recovery disk.

 

If you are tempted to try a repair, ask for an estimate first.

 

Grumpy

[kabukiman]

Boot up from XP disk or whatever operating system, install windows which will detect an operating system already present, the choice will be given for repair. Your data will remain in C: but not on the desktop.

[wobbles]

thanks for your help everyone but I dropped it off with someone this morning who is going to re install windows (i never got anu recovery disks in the box with the laptop. only the drivers and utilititys disk) and if that doesnt work install a new hard drive after some of the stuff ive read on here about PC world i didnt really want to mess about taking it to them.

 

Im expecting a phone call later tonight to let me know whats been done to it.

Will update later

[Conniff]

You don't get recovery discs with Advent, the recovery is on a partition (drive D: ) You will only get driver discs to install for use when the recovery is complete.

[wobbles]

Thank you once again to everyone for all your help.I now have the lap top back. I have lost everything that was on it but that doesnt matter luckily i had everything backed up.It now works better and faster than ever before its got windows xp pro and office 2007. Mcaffe anti virus.He also put 38 movies on for the kids.Although i think i better not let the kids near it again.Thanks once again

[ForestChav]

I would check that the XP Pro and Office are legally licensed to you. Also, if the laptop does go wrong PC World might want to restore it to the original settings to check something's not been misconfigured - which would now require you to pay for recovery discs.

[Guest peed orf]

Hi, PC world know there is a manufacturers fault with the Advent laptops, the heatsink and fan are insufficeint to cool the processor properly.

When the processor gets too hot the laptop will slow, the graphics card or others will stop working properly, and eventually the laptop will shut down & not start up again until the processor has cooled enough.

It is a manufacters fault that PCW are aware of, and it has been said elsewhere by a current tech guy, that 1/3 of Advent laptops go back to the Tech guys with this fault.

[acestealer]

Hi

 

In reference to the above complaints about loud fans and efficient cooling on the Advent 8112 model and potential shutdowns.

 

An Engineer I work with just took the back off my 8112 model, removed the fan cover to expose the entrance to the heat exchanger to find it blocked with dust.

 

He used a vaccum and compressed air to remove the dust. Subsequent cooling and fan action is noticeably improved in efficiency and thus much quieter.

 

Hope this helps, please don't take the back off your laptop unless you know what you're doing.

 

Thanks

[labrat]

if anyone does need a guide on how to clean the fan on there machine i would suggest either asking here or googling, either way you can probably find a guide, wouldnt suggest it without anti-static protection tho

[thebloodyrose]

I also brought an advent laptop for £445 i had it for 14 months 2 months out of its warranty, its broke, the motherboard has blown, i took it back to pc world and they were very unhelpful saying that to repair it would cost literally the same amount as a new laptop. I has it checked by an independent engineer who was checking whether it was my fault or a manufacturing fault, and he said that it was the motherboard but he couldn't decide on whose fault it was. I have been in touch with pc world and they have been really unhelpful and sometimes really rude and inconsiderate. I wasn't impressed that for that amount of money i had only 14 months of usage, and i had to replace the charger three times, and had endless problems with the computer. I brought it July 2008, and now i'm faced with the fact i have to buy a new computer because pcworld keep saying that they are not commenting and its very unimpressive, and i am thinking never to buy from pcworld again or to buy an advent laptop

[dx100uk]

SOGA does not state a fixed time frame, only that the produce should last a resonable time, 14mts for a lappy is well within what is generally accepted as such a products life.

you have paid for an independent report, you now go back to PCW with the product and the report and request it be repaired under SOGA T&C.

 

simples.

 

dx

[thebloodyrose]

SOGA does not state a fixed time frame, only that the produce should last a resonable time, 14mts for a lappy is well within what is generally accepted as such a products life.

you have paid for an independent report, you now go back to PCW with the product and the report and request it be repaired under SOGA T&C.

 

simples.

 

dx

 

thank you for your advice

[TheTeacher]

Today I have been given £190.00 cash by PC World (the laptop is 28 months old and I used the Sale of goods act to get this)and told I can keep my laptop. Also I have found a repairer that will repair for £99+VAT. The fault with my laptop is motherboard which has over heated. If anyone needs the repair URL let me know.

[thebloodyrose]

I still have had no response from pc world and i ended up loosing everything off the laptop and i had to buy a new one xx

[TheTeacher]

write to;

 

PO Box 1687

S2 5YA

 

or phone 0844 561 0000

 

Good luck

[thebloodyrose]

thanks x

[simon09]

ADVENT 6553...................

 

I have a advent 6553 laptop and i've forgot the bios password could anyone help me ?

[labrat]

hmm not sure if this will work

 

remove the large door at the rear, remove battery and the power lead first, remove the small silver battery under the door

hold the power button for 30 seconds

 

replace the power lead then the small silver battery and power on

 

this solves if it powers but doesnt display by resetting the cmos but ive never tried it for password issues

[sillygirl1]

Wobbles, if you want an Advent recovery disc I got two when I got my Advent laptop, and it didn't even have a disc drive! I can stick this in the post to you if you want.

 

My little Advent needs a new battery but I am not paying £99 for one, if anyone knows where I can get the battery reasonably priced I'll put it on my Xmas list. It works fine with the power supply.

[simon09]

what does the recovery disk do ? can ya reinstall windows again without going threw bios ?