crappy laptop company

[bitrex]

I had to hound Lenovo for months to get a warranty service on my failed
less than 1 year old laptop from them, because there was never a
serial number installed on the enclosure anywhere when it was
manufactured, and the BIOS was inaccessible due to it being a internal
PSU failure where the PC wouldn't even power on.

Eventually after harassing them for a long time, being denied service by
their local brick-and-mortar service center who treated me like a
criminal, filing a dispute with my credit card company, etc. I managed
to get someone's attention who didn't completely treat me like a
criminal just for wanting the contractual repair I'm obligated to on
their failed product. so it's finally on its way back and here's part of
what they wrote:

"The system board was replaced along with the base cover. We are not
able to provide a serial number sticker, but my technician wrote the
serial number: (redacted) on the base cover."

Lol they can't even print up a real replacement sticker they used marker
or something.

Also:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may
have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows operating system.
Installing an operating system other than Windows10 (Lenovo Preload) is
not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

 

[bitrex]

On 6/5/19 11:35 AM, bitrex wrote:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may
have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows operating system.
Installing an operating system other than Windows10 (Lenovo Preload) is
not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

It's too bad ThinkPad used to be a quality product when IBM made them
but it's just bargain basement zombie-brand China junk, now.

 

[Rheilly Phoull]

On 5/06/2019 11:37 pm, bitrex wrote:

On 6/5/19 11:35 AM, bitrex wrote:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may
have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows operating
system. Installing an operating system other than Windows10 (Lenovo
Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

It's too bad ThinkPad used to be a quality product when IBM made them
but it's just bargain basement zombie-brand China junk, now.

HMMM, you buy cheap you get cheap ??

 

[bitrex]

On 6/5/19 6:43 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:

On 5/06/2019 11:37 pm, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 11:35 AM, bitrex wrote:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may
have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows operating
system. Installing an operating system other than Windows10 (Lenovo
Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

It's too bad ThinkPad used to be a quality product when IBM made them
but it's just bargain basement zombie-brand China junk, now.

HMMM, you buy cheap you get cheap ??

They're not even that cheap

 

[bitrex]

On 6/5/19 6:43 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:

On 5/06/2019 11:37 pm, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 11:35 AM, bitrex wrote:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may
have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows operating
system. Installing an operating system other than Windows10 (Lenovo
Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

It's too bad ThinkPad used to be a quality product when IBM made them
but it's just bargain basement zombie-brand China junk, now.

HMMM, you buy cheap you get cheap ??

"bargain basement" was a commentary on the quality not the price,
rather, they're not even that much cheaper as compared to competing
products in the same class from e.g. Asus, IMO a better supplier in most
respects based in Taiwan.

 

[bitrex]

On 6/5/19 8:54 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:

On 6/06/2019 7:21 am, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 6:43 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 5/06/2019 11:37 pm, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 11:35 AM, bitrex wrote:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you
may have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows operating
system. Installing an operating system other than Windows10 (Lenovo
Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit
heads.

It's too bad ThinkPad used to be a quality product when IBM made
them but it's just bargain basement zombie-brand China junk, now.

HMMM, you buy cheap you get cheap ??

"bargain basement" was a commentary on the quality not the price,
rather, they're not even that much cheaper as compared to competing
products in the same class from e.g. Asus, IMO a better supplier in
most respects based in Taiwan.

Yup, still most of neg raps come dissatisfied users but not much from
the satisfied ones.

Mostly a slam at their US-based service. Under IBM I'm sure it was
pretty good for the product. this repair case was sent to their main US
center and they can't even print up a replacement serial # sticker (for
the one that was never affixed at the factory.)

they're using marker. marker!

you're using coconuts! - <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XPnIUtcANg>

 

[Rheilly Phoull]

On 6/06/2019 7:21 am, bitrex wrote:

On 6/5/19 6:43 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 5/06/2019 11:37 pm, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 11:35 AM, bitrex wrote:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may
have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows operating
system. Installing an operating system other than Windows10 (Lenovo
Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit
heads.

It's too bad ThinkPad used to be a quality product when IBM made them
but it's just bargain basement zombie-brand China junk, now.

HMMM, you buy cheap you get cheap ??

"bargain basement" was a commentary on the quality not the price,
rather, they're not even that much cheaper as compared to competing
products in the same class from e.g. Asus, IMO a better supplier in most
respects based in Taiwan.

Yup, still most of neg raps come dissatisfied users but not much from
the satisfied ones.

 

[Rheilly Phoull]

On 6/06/2019 9:10 am, bitrex wrote:

On 6/5/19 8:54 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 6/06/2019 7:21 am, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 6:43 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 5/06/2019 11:37 pm, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 11:35 AM, bitrex wrote:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you
may have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows
operating system. Installing an operating system other than
Windows10 (Lenovo Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit
heads.

It's too bad ThinkPad used to be a quality product when IBM made
them but it's just bargain basement zombie-brand China junk, now.

HMMM, you buy cheap you get cheap ??

"bargain basement" was a commentary on the quality not the price,
rather, they're not even that much cheaper as compared to competing
products in the same class from e.g. Asus, IMO a better supplier in
most respects based in Taiwan.

Yup, still most of neg raps come dissatisfied users but not much from
the satisfied ones.

Mostly a slam at their US-based service. Under IBM I'm sure it was
pretty good for the product. this repair case was sent to their main US
center and they can't even print up a replacement serial # sticker (for
the one that was never affixed at the factory.)

they're using marker. marker!

you're using coconuts! - <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XPnIUtcANg

Actually I've got a couple of their PC's and they seem well made and
easy to service / modify.

 

[~misfit~]

On 6/06/2019 3:35 AM, bitrex wrote:

I had to hound Lenovo for months to get a warranty service on my failed
less than 1 year old laptop from them, because there was never a
serial number installed on the enclosure anywhere when it was manufactured, and the BIOS was
inaccessible due to it being a internal PSU failure where the PC wouldn't even power on.

Eventually after harassing them for a long time, being denied service by their local
brick-and-mortar service center who treated me like a criminal, filing a dispute with my credit
card company, etc. I managed to get someone's attention who didn't completely treat me like a
criminal just for wanting the contractual repair I'm obligated to on their failed product. so it's
finally on its way back and here's part of what they wrote:

"The system board was replaced along with the base cover. We are not able to provide a serial
number sticker, but my technician wrote the serial number: (redacted) on the base cover."

Lol they can't even print up a real replacement sticker they used marker or something.

Also:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may have tried to install Linux or
some other non-Windows operating system. Installing an operating system other than Windows10
(Lenovo Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

You didn't say what model laptop it was. Lenovo, like all of the big laptop manufacturers make a
range of models to a range of price-points. If the unit that failed was one of their cheap retail
consumer models (and the fact it was purchased from a shop rather than directly suggests it was)
it's unfair to then say "avoid these shit heads" based on a single experience concerning a base model.

The lack of serial number suggests that it may be a 'grey market' unit possibly originally
manufactured to be sold in a developing country for peanuts and then imported to wherever you live.
Also that it's only warranted for the original OS points to a low-end unit. The fact that the
internal PSU PCB failed also brings into question what external PSU was used with it, whether it
was an OEM brick or maybe something else.

Lenovo, like Dell and others make some great laptops that are durable and have excellent warranty
coverage but you won't find them in the shelves of your local big-box store. They're usually
available only from the manufacturer directly and cost more than their retail stuff but are well
supported and often give a decade or more of trouble-free use. These are usually supplied with a
choice of OS or even with no OS installed (and still warrantied).

You get what you pay for. That said I buy ex-lease Dell corporate stuff, usually three years old
and usually still with two years warranty and for a lot less money than the punters pay for new
consumer-grade, engineered to fail at the 15-month mark, 12-month warrantied junk.
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy little classification
in the DSM"
David Melville

This is not an email and hasn't been checked for viruses by any half-arsed self-promoting software.

 

[Tim R]

On Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 10:00:34 PM UTC-4, ~misfit~ wrote:

You get what you pay for. That said I buy ex-lease Dell corporate stuff, usually three years old
and usually still with two years warranty and for a lot less money than the punters pay for new
consumer-grade, engineered to fail at the 15-month mark, 12-month warrantied junk.
--
Shaun.

How do you find that? I lucked into a corporate quality Dell some time back and have been looking for another without success. Corporations turn their inventory over and dispose of some high quality machines regularly, but I haven't figured out how to tap into that. Even if they're wiped, no operating system, I run Linux and hard drives are cheap.

 

[~misfit~]

On 8/06/2019 1:04 AM, Tim R wrote:

On Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 10:00:34 PM UTC-4, ~misfit~ wrote:

You get what you pay for. That said I buy ex-lease Dell corporate stuff, usually three years old
and usually still with two years warranty and for a lot less money than the punters pay for new
consumer-grade, engineered to fail at the 15-month mark, 12-month warrantied junk.
--
Shaun.

How do you find that? I lucked into a corporate quality Dell some time back and have been looking for another without success. Corporations turn their inventory over and dispose of some high quality machines regularly, but I haven't figured out how to tap into that. Even if they're wiped, no operating system, I run Linux and hard drives are cheap.

I found an IT re-marketing company in Auckland who specialise in selling on ex-lease and
ex-corporate equipment. They're wholesale only but I gave them a (semi-) fake business name and
opened a cash-only account with them. I tend to buy a few machines a year as I buy for friends and
they don't seem to mind the low volume. Maybe search for a similar business near you?

With regard to the lack of OS due to wiped / absent HDDs it's not an issue with the recent Dells
I've purchased (Optiplex 9020 minitower desktops and Lattitude E7440 laptops for myself and a
couple of friends) as the hardware is pre-authenticated for Windows 10. I just download the latest
W10 install to USB and when installing it reads the Dell service tag and doesn't ask for a serial
number. You can then get any Dell-specific software you may want directly from their site.
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy little classification
in the DSM"
David Melville

This is not an email and hasn't been checked for viruses by any half-arsed self-promoting software.

 

[bitrex]

On 6/6/19 10:00 PM, ~misfit~ wrote:

On 6/06/2019 3:35 AM, bitrex wrote:
I had to hound Lenovo for months to get a warranty service on my failed
less than 1 year old laptop from them, because there was never a
serial number installed on the enclosure anywhere when it was
manufactured, and the BIOS was inaccessible due to it being a internal
PSU failure where the PC wouldn't even power on.

Eventually after harassing them for a long time, being denied service
by their local brick-and-mortar service center who treated me like a
criminal, filing a dispute with my credit card company, etc. I managed
to get someone's attention who didn't completely treat me like a
criminal just for wanting the contractual repair I'm obligated to on
their failed product. so it's finally on its way back and here's part
of what they wrote:

"The system board was replaced along with the base cover. We are not
able to provide a serial number sticker, but my technician wrote the
serial number: (redacted) on the base cover."

Lol they can't even print up a real replacement sticker they used
marker or something.

Also:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may
have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows operating
system. Installing an operating system other than Windows10 (Lenovo
Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

You didn't say what model laptop it was. Lenovo, like all of the big
laptop manufacturers make a range of models to a range of price-points.
If the unit that failed was one of their cheap retail consumer models
(and the fact it was purchased from a shop rather than directly suggests
it was) it's unfair to then say "avoid these shit heads" based on a
single experience concerning a base model.

The lack of serial number suggests that it may be a 'grey market' unit
possibly originally manufactured to be sold in a developing country for
peanuts and then imported to wherever you live. Also that it's only
warranted for the original OS points to a low-end unit. The fact that
the internal PSU PCB failed also brings into question what external PSU
was used with it, whether it was an OEM brick or maybe something else.

Lenovo, like Dell and others make some great laptops that are durable
and have excellent warranty coverage but you won't find them in the
shelves of your local big-box store. They're usually available only from
the manufacturer directly and cost more than their retail stuff but are
well supported and often give a decade or more of trouble-free use.
These are usually supplied with a choice of OS or even with no OS
installed (and still warrantied).

You get what you pay for. That said I buy ex-lease Dell corporate stuff,
usually three years old and usually still with two years warranty and
for a lot less money than the punters pay for new consumer-grade,
engineered to fail at the 15-month mark, 12-month warrantied junk.

It was a $1000 ThinkPad laptop purchased off their US website made for
sale in the US and I was using the OEM brick that came with it. failed
in less than 1 year

 

[bitrex]

On 6/8/19 11:25 PM, bitrex wrote:

On 6/6/19 10:00 PM, ~misfit~ wrote:
On 6/06/2019 3:35 AM, bitrex wrote:
I had to hound Lenovo for months to get a warranty service on my failed
less than 1 year old laptop from them, because there was never a
serial number installed on the enclosure anywhere when it was
manufactured, and the BIOS was inaccessible due to it being a
internal PSU failure where the PC wouldn't even power on.

Eventually after harassing them for a long time, being denied service
by their local brick-and-mortar service center who treated me like a
criminal, filing a dispute with my credit card company, etc. I
managed to get someone's attention who didn't completely treat me
like a criminal just for wanting the contractual repair I'm obligated
to on their failed product. so it's finally on its way back and
here's part of what they wrote:

"The system board was replaced along with the base cover. We are not
able to provide a serial number sticker, but my technician wrote the
serial number: (redacted) on the base cover."

Lol they can't even print up a real replacement sticker they used
marker or something.

Also:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may
have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows operating
system. Installing an operating system other than Windows10 (Lenovo
Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

You didn't say what model laptop it was. Lenovo, like all of the big
laptop manufacturers make a range of models to a range of
price-points. If the unit that failed was one of their cheap retail
consumer models (and the fact it was purchased from a shop rather than
directly suggests it was) it's unfair to then say "avoid these shit
heads" based on a single experience concerning a base model.

The lack of serial number suggests that it may be a 'grey market' unit
possibly originally manufactured to be sold in a developing country
for peanuts and then imported to wherever you live. Also that it's
only warranted for the original OS points to a low-end unit. The fact
that the internal PSU PCB failed also brings into question what
external PSU was used with it, whether it was an OEM brick or maybe
something else.

Lenovo, like Dell and others make some great laptops that are durable
and have excellent warranty coverage but you won't find them in the
shelves of your local big-box store. They're usually available only
from the manufacturer directly and cost more than their retail stuff
but are well supported and often give a decade or more of trouble-free
use. These are usually supplied with a choice of OS or even with no OS
installed (and still warrantied).

You get what you pay for. That said I buy ex-lease Dell corporate
stuff, usually three years old and usually still with two years
warranty and for a lot less money than the punters pay for new
consumer-grade, engineered to fail at the 15-month mark, 12-month
warrantied junk.

It was a $1000 ThinkPad laptop purchased off their US website made for
sale in the US and I was using the OEM brick that came with it. failed
in less than 1 year

Correction, IdeaPad. I suppose that qualifies as a "budget" model
considering you can spend what, $10,000 on a Macbook if you want.

 

[bitrex]

On 6/6/19 10:00 PM, ~misfit~ wrote:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may
have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows operating
system. Installing an operating system other than Windows10 (Lenovo
Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

You didn't say what model laptop it was. Lenovo, like all of the big
laptop manufacturers make a range of models to a range of price-points.
If the unit that failed was one of their cheap retail consumer models
(and the fact it was purchased from a shop rather than directly suggests
it was) it's unfair to then say "avoid these shit heads" based on a
single experience concerning a base model.

purchased from a shop?? no it was purchased from their web site. The
brick-and-mortar place I took it to was their "main service center" for
my area. it was a very fly-by-night looking service center basically a
mom and pop shop with one or two guys who work on all kinds of laptops,
Lenovo included and had a contract with them I suppose.

it was what was listed on their site as their #1 physical service center
for my metro area of 5 million people.

Without a serial number installed on the laptop tho they won't touch it
though and would likely be on the phone to the cops if I'd made a fuss
about that oversight.

 

[bitrex]

On 6/6/19 1:36 AM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:

On 6/06/2019 9:10 am, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 8:54 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 6/06/2019 7:21 am, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 6:43 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 5/06/2019 11:37 pm, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 11:35 AM, bitrex wrote:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you
may have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows
operating system. Installing an operating system other than
Windows10 (Lenovo Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit
heads.

It's too bad ThinkPad used to be a quality product when IBM made
them but it's just bargain basement zombie-brand China junk, now.

HMMM, you buy cheap you get cheap ??

"bargain basement" was a commentary on the quality not the price,
rather, they're not even that much cheaper as compared to competing
products in the same class from e.g. Asus, IMO a better supplier in
most respects based in Taiwan.

Yup, still most of neg raps come dissatisfied users but not much from
the satisfied ones.

Mostly a slam at their US-based service. Under IBM I'm sure it was
pretty good for the product. this repair case was sent to their main
US center and they can't even print up a replacement serial # sticker
(for the one that was never affixed at the factory.)

they're using marker. marker!

you're using coconuts! - <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XPnIUtcANg

Actually I've got a couple of their PC's and they seem well made and
easy to service / modify.

The main problem is that if you get a machine that for whatever reason
didn't have a serial installed on it at the factory, you can call and
call and call but nobody knows how to handle your case.

To get service you need a serial number. "Yes but you didn't install
one." and at that point every rep you talk with is stumped and directs
you to a different department. "Can you escalate my case?" "Sorry, but I
need a serial number to do that." "But I don't have one." "Ok let me
redirect you to..." and you go back to the department you just talked with.

It becomes very Brazil very quickly

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_(1985_film)>

 

[bitrex]

On 6/8/19 11:42 PM, bitrex wrote:

On 6/6/19 1:36 AM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 6/06/2019 9:10 am, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 8:54 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 6/06/2019 7:21 am, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 6:43 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 5/06/2019 11:37 pm, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 11:35 AM, bitrex wrote:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you
may have tried to install Linux or some other non-Windows
operating system. Installing an operating system other than
Windows10 (Lenovo Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it
happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these
shit heads.

It's too bad ThinkPad used to be a quality product when IBM made
them but it's just bargain basement zombie-brand China junk, now.

HMMM, you buy cheap you get cheap ??

"bargain basement" was a commentary on the quality not the price,
rather, they're not even that much cheaper as compared to competing
products in the same class from e.g. Asus, IMO a better supplier in
most respects based in Taiwan.

Yup, still most of neg raps come dissatisfied users but not much
from the satisfied ones.

Mostly a slam at their US-based service. Under IBM I'm sure it was
pretty good for the product. this repair case was sent to their main
US center and they can't even print up a replacement serial # sticker
(for the one that was never affixed at the factory.)

they're using marker. marker!

you're using coconuts! - <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XPnIUtcANg

Actually I've got a couple of their PC's and they seem well made and
easy to service / modify.

The main problem is that if you get a machine that for whatever reason
didn't have a serial installed on it at the factory, you can call and
call and call but nobody knows how to handle your case.

To get service you need a serial number. "Yes but you didn't install
one." and at that point every rep you talk with is stumped and directs
you to a different department. "Can you escalate my case?" "Sorry, but I
need a serial number to do that." "But I don't have one." "Ok let me
redirect you to..." and you go back to the department you just talked with.

It becomes very Brazil very quickly

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_(1985_film)

"What's the problem with the machine?"

"Doesn't power on."

"Ah, okay. Can you tell me the serial number on the case so I can start
processing your service request?"

"Doesn't have one."

"Okay, please boot up the machine and get the serial # from the BIOS."

"Just told you it doesn't power on."

"oh...um...okay let me see if I can..."

<redirect to another department>

"What's the problem with the machine?"

"Doesn't power on."

"Ah, okay. Can you tell me the serial number on the case so I can start
processing your service request?"

"Doesn't have one."

"Okay, please boot up the machine and get the serial # from the BIOS."

"Just told you it doesn't power on."

"oh...um...okay let me see if I can..."

 

[~misfit~]

On 9/06/2019 3:25 PM, bitrex wrote:

On 6/6/19 10:00 PM, ~misfit~ wrote:
On 6/06/2019 3:35 AM, bitrex wrote:
I had to hound Lenovo for months to get a warranty service on my failed
less than 1 year old laptop from them, because there was never a
serial number installed on the enclosure anywhere when it was manufactured, and the BIOS was
inaccessible due to it being a internal PSU failure where the PC wouldn't even power on.

Eventually after harassing them for a long time, being denied service by their local
brick-and-mortar service center who treated me like a criminal, filing a dispute with my credit
card company, etc. I managed to get someone's attention who didn't completely treat me like a
criminal just for wanting the contractual repair I'm obligated to on their failed product. so
it's finally on its way back and here's part of what they wrote:

"The system board was replaced along with the base cover. We are not able to provide a serial
number sticker, but my technician wrote the serial number: (redacted) on the base cover."

Lol they can't even print up a real replacement sticker they used marker or something.

Also:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may have tried to install Linux
or some other non-Windows operating system. Installing an operating system other than Windows10
(Lenovo Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

You didn't say what model laptop it was. Lenovo, like all of the big laptop manufacturers make a
range of models to a range of price-points. If the unit that failed was one of their cheap retail
consumer models (and the fact it was purchased from a shop rather than directly suggests it was)
it's unfair to then say "avoid these shit heads" based on a single experience concerning a base
model.

The lack of serial number suggests that it may be a 'grey market' unit possibly originally
manufactured to be sold in a developing country for peanuts and then imported to wherever you
live. Also that it's only warranted for the original OS points to a low-end unit. The fact that
the internal PSU PCB failed also brings into question what external PSU was used with it, whether
it was an OEM brick or maybe something else.

Lenovo, like Dell and others make some great laptops that are durable and have excellent warranty
coverage but you won't find them in the shelves of your local big-box store. They're usually
available only from the manufacturer directly and cost more than their retail stuff but are well
supported and often give a decade or more of trouble-free use. These are usually supplied with a
choice of OS or even with no OS installed (and still warrantied).

You get what you pay for. That said I buy ex-lease Dell corporate stuff, usually three years old
and usually still with two years warranty and for a lot less money than the punters pay for new
consumer-grade, engineered to fail at the 15-month mark, 12-month warrantied junk.

It was a $1000 ThinkPad laptop purchased off their US website made for sale in the US and I was
using the OEM brick that came with it. failed in less than 1 year

Wow they've really gone downhill then - that or it was an outlier. Their Thinkpad range is still
well-thought-of, at least as recently as I'm aware of anyway. Perhaps an outlier hardware-wise and
their service are just shite?
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy little classification
in the DSM"
David Melville

This is not an email and hasn't been checked for viruses by any half-arsed self-promoting software.

 

[~misfit~]

On 9/06/2019 3:28 PM, bitrex wrote:

On 6/8/19 11:25 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 6/6/19 10:00 PM, ~misfit~ wrote:
On 6/06/2019 3:35 AM, bitrex wrote:
I had to hound Lenovo for months to get a warranty service on my failed
less than 1 year old laptop from them, because there was never a
serial number installed on the enclosure anywhere when it was manufactured, and the BIOS was
inaccessible due to it being a internal PSU failure where the PC wouldn't even power on.

Eventually after harassing them for a long time, being denied service by their local
brick-and-mortar service center who treated me like a criminal, filing a dispute with my credit
card company, etc. I managed to get someone's attention who didn't completely treat me like a
criminal just for wanting the contractual repair I'm obligated to on their failed product. so
it's finally on its way back and here's part of what they wrote:

"The system board was replaced along with the base cover. We are not able to provide a serial
number sticker, but my technician wrote the serial number: (redacted) on the base cover."

Lol they can't even print up a real replacement sticker they used marker or something.

Also:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may have tried to install
Linux or some other non-Windows operating system. Installing an operating system other than
Windows10 (Lenovo Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

You didn't say what model laptop it was. Lenovo, like all of the big laptop manufacturers make a
range of models to a range of price-points. If the unit that failed was one of their cheap
retail consumer models (and the fact it was purchased from a shop rather than directly suggests
it was) it's unfair to then say "avoid these shit heads" based on a single experience concerning
a base model.

The lack of serial number suggests that it may be a 'grey market' unit possibly originally
manufactured to be sold in a developing country for peanuts and then imported to wherever you
live. Also that it's only warranted for the original OS points to a low-end unit. The fact that
the internal PSU PCB failed also brings into question what external PSU was used with it,
whether it was an OEM brick or maybe something else.

Lenovo, like Dell and others make some great laptops that are durable and have excellent
warranty coverage but you won't find them in the shelves of your local big-box store. They're
usually available only from the manufacturer directly and cost more than their retail stuff but
are well supported and often give a decade or more of trouble-free use. These are usually
supplied with a choice of OS or even with no OS installed (and still warrantied).

You get what you pay for. That said I buy ex-lease Dell corporate stuff, usually three years old
and usually still with two years warranty and for a lot less money than the punters pay for new
consumer-grade, engineered to fail at the 15-month mark, 12-month warrantied junk.

It was a $1000 ThinkPad laptop purchased off their US website made for sale in the US and I was
using the OEM brick that came with it. failed in less than 1 year

Correction, IdeaPad. I suppose that qualifies as a "budget" model considering you can spend what,
$10,000 on a Macbook if you want.

Ah yeah.... The Ideapad is a Lenovo method of trying to get people to think that the laptop is in
the same class as the Thinkpad and (going by everything I've heard at least) they really aren't.
Another way they try to reel in the punters is to price the Ideapads quite highly.

I'm not sure if they're still operating under the agreement they had with IBM when they bought the
rights to the 'Thinkpad' name... I know that there was a clause that Lenovo had to adhere to
certain standards for all laptops sold under that name but am not sure if there was an expiry date
on the contract.

Louis Rossmann (easily found on youtube) spends his life repairing Macbooks but his personal
laptops are Thinkpads. He upgraded his Thinkpad a while back and did a video about it. The upshot
was there were a few changes on the newer one he didn't like (mainly keyboard etc.) but it was
still better engineered than a Macbook.

Here it is <https://youtu.be/ig3xI8dUdm0> "IS IT SPILL PROOF? Lenovo Thinkpad P50 review +
waterboarding" He even pours water over it, uses it for a while then strips it down to see what if
anything got damaged.
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy little classification
in the DSM"
David Melville

This is not an email and hasn't been checked for viruses by any half-arsed self-promoting software.

 

[~misfit~]

On 9/06/2019 3:46 PM, bitrex wrote:

On 6/8/19 11:42 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 6/6/19 1:36 AM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 6/06/2019 9:10 am, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 8:54 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 6/06/2019 7:21 am, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 6:43 PM, Rheilly Phoull wrote:
On 5/06/2019 11:37 pm, bitrex wrote:
On 6/5/19 11:35 AM, bitrex wrote:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may have tried to install
Linux or some other non-Windows operating system. Installing an operating system other
than Windows10 (Lenovo Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

It's too bad ThinkPad used to be a quality product when IBM made them but it's just bargain
basement zombie-brand China junk, now.

HMMM, you buy cheap you get cheap ??

"bargain basement" was a commentary on the quality not the price, rather, they're not even
that much cheaper as compared to competing products in the same class from e.g. Asus, IMO a
better supplier in most respects based in Taiwan.

Yup, still most of neg raps come dissatisfied users but not much from the satisfied ones.

Mostly a slam at their US-based service. Under IBM I'm sure it was pretty good for the product.
this repair case was sent to their main US center and they can't even print up a replacement
serial # sticker (for the one that was never affixed at the factory.)

they're using marker. marker!

you're using coconuts! - <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XPnIUtcANg

Actually I've got a couple of their PC's and they seem well made and easy to service / modify.

The main problem is that if you get a machine that for whatever reason didn't have a serial
installed on it at the factory, you can call and call and call but nobody knows how to handle
your case.

To get service you need a serial number. "Yes but you didn't install one." and at that point
every rep you talk with is stumped and directs you to a different department. "Can you escalate
my case?" "Sorry, but I need a serial number to do that." "But I don't have one." "Ok let me
redirect you to..." and you go back to the department you just talked with.

It becomes very Brazil very quickly

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_(1985_film)

"What's the problem with the machine?"

"Doesn't power on."

"Ah, okay. Can you tell me the serial number on the case so I can start processing your service
request?"

"Doesn't have one."

"Okay, please boot up the machine and get the serial # from the BIOS."

"Just told you it doesn't power on."

"oh...um...okay let me see if I can..."

redirect to another department

"What's the problem with the machine?"

"Doesn't power on."

"Ah, okay. Can you tell me the serial number on the case so I can start processing your service
request?"

"Doesn't have one."

"Okay, please boot up the machine and get the serial # from the BIOS."

"Just told you it doesn't power on."

"oh...um...okay let me see if I can..."

The serial number will be on the documentation that arrived with the laptop - maybe even on the
packaging as well. (At least is was when my friend in NYC bought a Thinkpad a while back. It was
even quoted in an email at the time of purchase confirmation.)

Oh yeah, Ideapad. Still it was probably on the docket... Maybe
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy little classification
in the DSM"
David Melville

This is not an email and hasn't been checked for viruses by any half-arsed self-promoting software.

 

[~misfit~]

On 9/06/2019 5:49 PM, ~misfit~ wrote:

On 9/06/2019 3:28 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 6/8/19 11:25 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 6/6/19 10:00 PM, ~misfit~ wrote:
On 6/06/2019 3:35 AM, bitrex wrote:
I had to hound Lenovo for months to get a warranty service on my failed
less than 1 year old laptop from them, because there was never a
serial number installed on the enclosure anywhere when it was manufactured, and the BIOS was
inaccessible due to it being a internal PSU failure where the PC wouldn't even power on.

Eventually after harassing them for a long time, being denied service by their local
brick-and-mortar service center who treated me like a criminal, filing a dispute with my
credit card company, etc. I managed to get someone's attention who didn't completely treat me
like a criminal just for wanting the contractual repair I'm obligated to on their failed
product. so it's finally on its way back and here's part of what they wrote:

"The system board was replaced along with the base cover. We are not able to provide a serial
number sticker, but my technician wrote the serial number: (redacted) on the base cover."

Lol they can't even print up a real replacement sticker they used marker or something.

Also:

"During his diagnosis of your machine, he says it looks like you may have tried to install
Linux or some other non-Windows operating system. Installing an operating system other than
Windows10 (Lenovo Preload) is not supported."

Yeah, that's why the PSU board fucking failed, Linux made it happen.

be the last machine I buy from this company just avoid these shit heads.

You didn't say what model laptop it was. Lenovo, like all of the big laptop manufacturers make
a range of models to a range of price-points. If the unit that failed was one of their cheap
retail consumer models (and the fact it was purchased from a shop rather than directly suggests
it was) it's unfair to then say "avoid these shit heads" based on a single experience
concerning a base model.

The lack of serial number suggests that it may be a 'grey market' unit possibly originally
manufactured to be sold in a developing country for peanuts and then imported to wherever you
live. Also that it's only warranted for the original OS points to a low-end unit. The fact that
the internal PSU PCB failed also brings into question what external PSU was used with it,
whether it was an OEM brick or maybe something else.

Lenovo, like Dell and others make some great laptops that are durable and have excellent
warranty coverage but you won't find them in the shelves of your local big-box store. They're
usually available only from the manufacturer directly and cost more than their retail stuff but
are well supported and often give a decade or more of trouble-free use. These are usually
supplied with a choice of OS or even with no OS installed (and still warrantied).

You get what you pay for. That said I buy ex-lease Dell corporate stuff, usually three years
old and usually still with two years warranty and for a lot less money than the punters pay for
new consumer-grade, engineered to fail at the 15-month mark, 12-month warrantied junk.

It was a $1000 ThinkPad laptop purchased off their US website made for sale in the US and I was
using the OEM brick that came with it. failed in less than 1 year

Correction, IdeaPad. I suppose that qualifies as a "budget" model considering you can spend what,
$10,000 on a Macbook if you want.

Ah yeah.... The Ideapad is a Lenovo method of trying to get people to think that the laptop is in
the same class as the Thinkpad and (going by everything I've heard at least) they really aren't.
Another way they try to reel in the punters is to price the Ideapads quite highly.

I'm not sure if they're still operating under the agreement they had with IBM when they bought the
rights to the 'Thinkpad' name... I know that there was a clause that Lenovo had to adhere to
certain standards for all laptops sold under that name but am not sure if there was an expiry date
on the contract.

Louis Rossmann (easily found on youtube) spends his life repairing Macbooks but his personal
laptops are Thinkpads. He upgraded his Thinkpad a while back and did a video about it. The upshot
was there were a few changes on the newer one he didn't like (mainly keyboard etc.) but it was
still better engineered than a Macbook.

Here it is <https://youtu.be/ig3xI8dUdm0> "IS IT SPILL PROOF? Lenovo Thinkpad P50 review +
waterboarding" He even pours water over it, uses it for a while then strips it down to see what if
anything got damaged.

The follwo-up video to that one is shorter and more to the point: <https://youtu.be/tZiSxPvuPLc>
"Lenovo vs. Apple service featuring a liquid damaged Thinkpad". He even peripherally mentions
Ideapads in that one. The first video is like a lot of his, long and rambling. The second, being an
update is around 10 minutes.
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy little classification
in the DSM"
David Melville

This is not an email and hasn't been checked for viruses by any half-arsed self-promoting software.