Batteries and Power

[#1]

Hi Folks,

I appologize if repeating something on this thread. My computer died completely yesterday. It gave me the battery warning so I grabbed my adapter and plugged it in. At this point, everything turned off. There is no battery charge light, computer will not boot up at all, I had the adapter tested and it read 19V. I am completely lost here, I have a circuit city advantage plan, but after reading so many ill reviews regarding people's computers being sent to salvage and refusal to send their hard drives back, I have decided against going to repair with circuit city. I have tried running the computer with and without the battery with the adapter plugged in. Any information? I have heard rumor that the battery may have fried the motherboard out.

Model number is A215-S5822

Thanks,

Alex

[#2]

You paid good money for that Plan and although CC is out of business review this:

For Circuit City Advantage Protection Plans purchased ON or AFTER December 1, 2006, please call the following number(s) to obtain service: Personal computers, laptops, printers, digital cameras and other
computer-related equipment: 1.800.555.4615

Your concern: interim measure take battery out and observe if unit will operate correctly without battery. Check the power adapter for signs of wire fray conditions. Unplug all external devices if in use for the time being. Post results. Feasible the on board power connector is center of concern.  If under Toshiba 1 yr warranty take to designated Service Center for a diagnostic.

[#3]

I have tried, I have no power going to the unit at all either way. As mentioned, the concern I do have with the CC warranty is the question "what happens to my personal information if they replace my computer?" The other problem I have with that number is, I have waited nearly 1h 30 mins before anyone picked up. It is the same wait as going online to talk to a live chat rep. I am out of Toshiba warranty as I have purchashed this unit in January of 2008.

Thank You for the input !

[#4]

---

alexkuz wrote:

... "what happens to my personal information if they replace my computer?"

---

Assume the worst.  I would, at a minimum, remove the hard drive, put it into an external enclosure, and transfer any personal information from the drive to either another computer or to another external disk.  I would make sure the data was erased from the drive before reinstalling it into the Toshiba.

If I were sufficiently paranoid, and the personal data sensitive enough, I would purchase a new drive and exchange it for the current one, so that there would be no chance of data exposure.  Of course, I would then inform the repair facility of what I had done and make sure a copy of the recovery disk was sent with the laptop to be used to restore the new drive once the repair was complete.

Oh, and there's little chance that the repair facility will replace your laptop with a new one.

[#5]

Good recommendation on the taking of hard drive and use of a USB external enclosure thus you have the information available to you.  Remember you have the state Attorney General office to utilize if no one is assisting you thru that warranty service company.

[#6]

Thanks for the input folks

I will be purchasing a faster drive, taking the old one out and utilizing an enclosure to try to salvage files, and send the computer out. After much stressing, I have decided I will send the computer out, with the new drive in it as someone mentioned (I think I'll take it to best buy and pay them to install so I can have a tech invoice so they can't try to tell me they're voiding a warranty)

Does anyone know what this particular model's ram is expandable to? and if I do need to purchase a new computer, can someone point me towards a toshiba or other brand that will run 3d programing such as autocad, solidworks, sketchup, adobe products and allow to be run multiple times without using up a whole lot of the memory and ram?

Alex.

[#7]

Response to MEMORY capacity of unit--max is 4GB.  You presently have 2GB, however, configured as 1GB per each module slot.  So if you desire to go to 4GB you will need to purchase: two-2GB module, remove the 1GB modules.  However, you may want to consider just purchasing one 2GB module, remove 1GB there now- and have 3GB which will be more than enough to run your system a little more efficient.  Remember, check with www.kingston.com and use their model/memory match configurator tool.  Toshiba is very particular on what modules are utilized.  A safeguard to protect your unit onsidered here.

[#8]

Check out these promo's presently ongoing, especially the P500 unit.  Customize to fit your needs probably the best recommendation with these prices offered.   http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/ebtext.to?page=OnAd&src=ecir&cm_mmc=dac_email-_-trigger-_-cons_ecat-_-ecir

Consider Processor, max memory, video card[not an on board chip] which will suit your software needs. Talk with the service rep at (800) 457-7777 to learn what can be achieved.

[#9]

On Aug 16th I sent the computer to repair through RadioShack as per Circuit City request. On August 20th I called the store and checked status if the computer had shipped out, manager told me he overnighted. On August 25th nd I had walked into the store because service center had not recieved my computer and manager told me he needed to rewrite the ticket due to employee error.

Checked status online on August 27th computer recieved 7:30 am.

August 30th emailed regarding status, recieved reply awaiting whether to repair or replace computer as per Assurant.

Sept 3rd recieved E-mail stating their is physical damage to computer RAM housing, warranty denied computer shipped back to store.

I never had issues with RAM as you guys have seen my post. Computer just stopped working all together. I know if there is a RAM issue, I would still have lights, the OS would not boot up properly, correct me if I am wrong.

The computer was at the store for 10 days before it arrived at the service center. Wonderful, I am out of a computer and out of a warranty.

Just thought I would give an update.

[#10]

Not sure alexkuz what they mean by 'physical damage to computer RAM housing', unless they are referring to outer shell cover door or to the actual slot the module resides in, over to the actual memory module itself?  Escalate to next level within their warranty system. Since we cannot see the unit hard to assist further.  Thanks for the update.