Thanks so much for your response, Ken. The laptop is about 4 years old and,
from what I've read now, would probably cost well over $200 just to get
running again. So I guess I'll just go ahead and buy new Dell Inspiron
laptop while they still have XP available (hate Vista), but hopefully pay
for someone not too expensive just to access her old hard drive so I can
transfer all her saved emails.
Main other problem is the new laptop comes with MS Office 2007, which I've
heard nightmare stories about. When we purchased new computers for us in
January, I ended up buying MS Office 2002 (last really stable version)
online, so unless there is some special code I can put in Registry to be
able to re-install that to new laptop, looks like I'll have to repurchase
that, along with a few other paid programs that won't allow re-install. I
really hate Microsoft's 1 install only per purchase. I can understand their
not wanted their software pirated, but we've ended up paying a fortune to
rebuy their O/S and Office packages just for our use alone when old
computers died. If there was some way we could have just transferred our
entire hard drive from old to new ones earlier this year, instead of having
to repurchase so many programs (including RBase), it would have saved us
lots of time and well over $1000 extra.
One of the reasons computers are such a love-hate relationship for people
like me who love the software I already have and just want it to keep
working.
Cathy
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: "RBASE-L Mailing List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 7:07 AM
Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Any Suggestions?
The issue is the cost to fix versus a new laptop. You didn't mention how
old your laptop was, but if it beyond three years, it may be a most cost
effective proposition to see what is available with new new technology.
Having said that, although I am in New Jersey, I would maybe try Frye's
and see if they would give you a reasonable estimate. If this is a parts
replacement, I could envision a bill of a few hundred dollars, which is
why it may be better just to acquire new hardware.
Ken
----- Original Message -----
From: cfgrimes
Date: Sunday, August 9, 2009 5:23 am
Subject: [RBASE-L] - Any Suggestions?
To: [email protected] (RBASE-L Mailing List)
I hope it is ok that I ask a non-RBase question. If not
allowed, please disregard.
My 87 year old Mother's Compaq laptop (Presario R3000) just
died. Sometimes will start up into Windows, but then
immediately shuts itself down before I can do anything (AC power
connected). Tried starting with battery alone - nothing. Tried
starting in Safe Mode, went through some steps then shut down.
Checking on the net, I've found this to be a frequent
problem with Compaq laptops going back to 2005 and continuing -
hundreds of postings with this problem, which is really
annoying that they could continue to sell defective machines.
Most of the ones who said they fixed it said it was a heat sink
problem, which seemed to fix it when they replaced - but others
said motherboard problem.
I'm hardware illiterate, so have to depend upon a repair
person/company I am hoping someone out there can recommend a
company that is honest, competent, and hopefully not too
expensive. I am in Huntington Beach, California, and we have
Computer Geeks, Geek Squad and Frye's locally. Have read good
and bad reviews of each. If anyone can recommend one of these
(or anyone else in the area), I would really appreciate it.
Thank you.
Cathy Grimes
