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Do computer repair centers ever replace HDs with smaller ones
and not tell customers? I took my Compaq equipped with
80 gig HD to ****USA but got back a 40 gig. My data wasn't
lost, but the drive is definitely smaler, according to the BIOS
and the label on the HD.

My original problem was that the computer would freeze
or blue screen every other day, and changing the PS didn't
help. Apparently the original PS was bad and the second
one was inadequate because the repair center put in yet
another, and the computer has been rock solid ever since.

The repair center denies that the replaced the drive and said
that they only ran a diagnostic on it. I have the receipt for
the original HD (was an upgrade) and registered its serial
no., but the repair center says that it's not enough proof.

What can I do?





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In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, (E-Mail Removed) says...
>
>Do computer repair centers ever replace HDs with smaller ones
>and not tell customers? I took my Compaq equipped with
>80 gig HD to ****USA but got back a 40 gig. My data wasn't
>lost, but the drive is definitely smaler, according to the BIOS
>and the label on the HD.

I'd be surprised if they did...

Only exception I can think of is warranty repair of computer equipment
that uses propretary parts...and Compaq is well known for propretary
hardware.

If the computer you brought in was very old, that may be why...but it
really sounds most likely that either...

A. You're mistaken about there ever being a larger HD in there.
-or-
B. They replaced the HD with what they had then (or got mixed up).

In any event, the cost difference between 40GB and 80GB is virtually
nil these days so I doubt such an action would for cost savings alone.

And lastly, be glad your computer data is fine - very often data is
lost and/or programs don't work properly after computer repairs; most
all computer repair shops strongly recommend users to maintain backups
at all times and further take no responsibility for lost data, etc.

Ron Bennett

On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 01:12:43 -0700, "George L." <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>**** Post for FREE via your newsreader at post.usenet.com ****
>
>Do computer repair centers ever replace HDs with smaller ones
>and not tell customers? I took my Compaq equipped with
>80 gig HD to ****USA but got back a 40 gig. My data wasn't
>lost, but the drive is definitely smaler, according to the BIOS
>and the label on the HD.
>
>My original problem was that the computer would freeze
>or blue screen every other day, and changing the PS didn't
>help. Apparently the original PS was bad and the second
>one was inadequate because the repair center put in yet
>another, and the computer has been rock solid ever since.
>
>The repair center denies that the replaced the drive and said
>that they only ran a diagnostic on it. I have the receipt for
>the original HD (was an upgrade) and registered its serial
>no., but the repair center says that it's not enough proof.
>
>What can I do?
>

If you got enough proof, take them to small claims court. Go to your
local courthouse and file the case.

Before you do that........
One thing that comes to mind is whether you could possibly have a
partition. Drive C: would be your first partition. I assume you got
a cdrom, so that should be D: (but not always, since you can change
the drive letter). Do you see a drive D: or E: or F: etc?
Maybe they partitioned your drive in half.

If, what you say is true, I doubt if they will put in the equivalent
capacity HD unless they have further motivation.

You can arm yourself with the original specifications of the Compaq on paper
before personally speaking to the manager.

Make a report to your local Better Business Bureau. They usually don't act
on one case, but if it becomes prevalent, the BBB may investigate and
possibly blacklist them.

File a suit in small claims court. A civil case involves less burden of
evidence on the plaintiff. You can recoop the cost of the attorney and
court costs as part of the suit if you win.

Arbitration, if both parties agree to it.

Find others in similar dilemma with same place of business and develop a
class action suit.

Call your local newspaper and TV news, get them interested. Business hates
bad press.

Or, just blow it off because your PC works and you don't feel this is worth
the effort.
Dave
"George L." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> **** Post for FREE via your newsreader at post.usenet.com ****
>
> Do computer repair centers ever replace HDs with smaller ones
> and not tell customers? I took my Compaq equipped with
> 80 gig HD to ****USA but got back a 40 gig. My data wasn't
> lost, but the drive is definitely smaler, according to the BIOS
> and the label on the HD.
>
> My original problem was that the computer would freeze
> or blue screen every other day, and changing the PS didn't
> help. Apparently the original PS was bad and the second
> one was inadequate because the repair center put in yet
> another, and the computer has been rock solid ever since.
>
> The repair center denies that the replaced the drive and said
> that they only ran a diagnostic on it. I have the receipt for
> the original HD (was an upgrade) and registered its serial
> no., but the repair center says that it's not enough proof.
>
> What can I do?
>
>
>
>
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> *** Usenet.com - The #1 Usenet Newsgroup Service on The Planet! ***
> http://www.usenet.com
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In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, "George L." <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

> **** Post for FREE via your newsreader at post.usenet.com ****
>
> Do computer repair centers ever replace HDs with smaller ones
> and not tell customers? I took my Compaq equipped with
> 80 gig HD to ****USA but got back a 40 gig. My data wasn't
> lost, but the drive is definitely smaler, according to the BIOS
> and the label on the HD.
>
> My original problem was that the computer would freeze
> or blue screen every other day, and changing the PS didn't
> help. Apparently the original PS was bad and the second
> one was inadequate because the repair center put in yet
> another, and the computer has been rock solid ever since.
>
> The repair center denies that the replaced the drive and said
> that they only ran a diagnostic on it. I have the receipt for
> the original HD (was an upgrade) and registered its serial
> no., but the repair center says that it's not enough proof.
>
> What can I do?

At first, I thought that your hard disk might be fragmented. If the BIOS
shows a smaller hard drive, then fragmentation isn't involved. Contact
the CEO of CompUSA (go to the top) in writing and explain just what you
explained here and request that you either be compensated for the
smaller hard drive or have a larger hard drive installed. Do not mess
with local store management in this case; go right to the top.

George L. wrote:

> **** Post for FREE via your newsreader at post.usenet.com ****
>
> Do computer repair centers ever replace HDs with smaller ones
> and not tell customers? I took my Compaq equipped with
> 80 gig HD to ****USA but got back a 40 gig. My data wasn't
> lost, but the drive is definitely smaler, according to the BIOS
> and the label on the HD.
>
> My original problem was that the computer would freeze
> or blue screen every other day, and changing the PS didn't
> help. Apparently the original PS was bad and the second
> one was inadequate because the repair center put in yet
> another, and the computer has been rock solid ever since.
>
> The repair center denies that the replaced the drive and said
> that they only ran a diagnostic on it. I have the receipt for
> the original HD (was an upgrade) and registered its serial
> no., but the repair center says that it's not enough proof.
>
> What can I do?
>
>


Compare the physical stickers on the outside of the disk with what your
receipt shows. Look for a match on serial number, make and model if
possible. If your positive it's not the disk that was in you machine
before the repair, call the BBB and possibly the State Attorneys office.

If you don't get resolution with those two - go to small claims court. Let
us know what happens. Good luck.

On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 01:12:43 -0700, "George L." <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>**** Post for FREE via your newsreader at post.usenet.com ****
>
>Do computer repair centers ever replace HDs with smaller ones
>and not tell customers? I took my Compaq equipped with
>80 gig HD to ****USA but got back a 40 gig. My data wasn't
>lost, but the drive is definitely smaler, according to the BIOS
>and the label on the HD.

Unlikely. What were the drive model numbers? Let's not go by vague
memories but by hard facts.

I'd guess that you either are mis-calculating the size somehow or that
the drive was imaged over and there is unpartitioned space that can
still be used.

--
Michael Cecil
(E-Mail Removed)
http://home.comcast.net/~macecil/howto/
http://home.comcast.net/~antiviruscd/

"George L." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> **** Post for FREE via your newsreader at post.usenet.com ****
>
> Do computer repair centers ever replace HDs with smaller ones
> and not tell customers? I took my Compaq equipped with
> 80 gig HD to ****USA but got back a 40 gig. My data wasn't
> lost, but the drive is definitely smaler, according to the BIOS
> and the label on the HD.
>
> My original problem was that the computer would freeze
> or blue screen every other day, and changing the PS didn't
> help. Apparently the original PS was bad and the second
> one was inadequate because the repair center put in yet
> another, and the computer has been rock solid ever since.
>
> The repair center denies that the replaced the drive and said
> that they only ran a diagnostic on it. I have the receipt for
> the original HD (was an upgrade) and registered its serial
> no., but the repair center says that it's not enough proof.
>
> What can I do?
>
>
>
>
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> *** Usenet.com - The #1 Usenet Newsgroup Service on The Planet! ***
> http://www.usenet.com
> Unlimited Download - 19 Seperate Servers - 90,000 groups - Uncensored
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

I can't help but wonder if perhaps your machine wasn't mistakenly subjected
to an accidental repair, intended for another machine they were working on.

It would be very easy for this to happen, especially since most branded PC's
look the same across model ranges, maybe a stupid tech picked on the wrong
machine.

Maybe you could contact the manager of the store and ask them to check
against all the repairs being done at the time for some evidence this could
have taken place.

Something else to consider is visually inspecting the drive, checking for
damage and also running the manufacturers "Disk Diagnostics" on the drive
yourself, just to make sure that something isn't wrong with it. "REMEMBER
TO BACKUP ALL YOUR DATA BEFORE YOUR START"

Maybe the tech that did the diagnostic inadvertently changed your partition
size.

Good Luck.

"George L." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> **** Post for FREE via your newsreader at post.usenet.com ****
>
> Do computer repair centers ever replace HDs with smaller ones
> and not tell customers? I took my Compaq equipped with
> 80 gig HD to ****USA but got back a 40 gig. My data wasn't
> lost, but the drive is definitely smaler, according to the BIOS
> and the label on the HD.

Why would they go to the trouble of replacing the hard drives (the
difference in cost isn't *that* much) with another *working* hard drive, and
then copy over your system and data to the extent that the computer acts and
looks exactly the same as before (same apps, etc.)? It would be more
trouble than it's worth to the repair center, wouldn't it? I wouldn't go to
all that time and effort for a measly $40, or whatever the price difference
is.

what size HD do you have...care to trade for one half its size.....ill even copy your system over to it?..

"jeffc" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "George L." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > **** Post for FREE via your newsreader at post.usenet.com ****
> >
> > Do computer repair centers ever replace HDs with smaller ones
> > and not tell customers? I took my Compaq equipped with
> > 80 gig HD to ****USA but got back a 40 gig. My data wasn't
> > lost, but the drive is definitely smaler, according to the BIOS
> > and the label on the HD.
>
> Why would they go to the trouble of replacing the hard drives (the
> difference in cost isn't *that* much) with another *working* hard drive, and
> then copy over your system and data to the extent that the computer acts and
> looks exactly the same as before (same apps, etc.)? It would be more
> trouble than it's worth to the repair center, wouldn't it? I wouldn't go to
> all that time and effort for a measly $40, or whatever the price difference
> is.
>
>