I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use that is for Windows 7. Those programs tested all
memory sectors, HD sectors, and did hours of read/write exercises,
cache filling and dumping and CPU tests. You wound up the programs
and let them go, and a few hours later you had your results.

I can't find anything like that for Windows 7, and want to test ALL
aspects of this machine within my "emergency replacement" time frame
window.

Anyone have any suggestions? A program that you have personal
experience with or know someone that has used it successfully?

Thanks -

Robert

It happens that formulated :
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use that is for Windows 7. Those programs tested all
memory sectors, HD sectors, and did hours of read/write exercises,
cache filling and dumping and CPU tests. You wound up the programs
and let them go, and a few hours later you had your results.

I can't find anything like that for Windows 7, and want to test ALL
aspects of this machine within my "emergency replacement" time frame
window.

Anyone have any suggestions? A program that you have personal
experience with or know someone that has used it successfully?

Thanks -

Robert

Since you do not have any info/programs of your own installed yet, JUST
call for a replacement and blame UPS.
Simpler than trying to show some internal problem that neither you nor
the supplier willunderstand.

--
John G

On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 21:45:14 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I understand your concern, but it sounds as though the packaging did
its job. Items like a laptop are tested to withstand a minimum of 8
drops from 36", possibly higher. The protective packaging is designed
to take the force of the impact.

OTOH, don't think that the perfect looking package did not suffer even
more severe damage internally. Depends on how the damage was
inflicted.

On 3/6/2012 11:45 PM, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use that is for Windows 7. Those programs tested all
memory sectors, HD sectors, and did hours of read/write exercises,
cache filling and dumping and CPU tests. You wound up the programs
and let them go, and a few hours later you had your results.

I can't find anything like that for Windows 7, and want to test ALL
aspects of this machine within my "emergency replacement" time frame
window.

Anyone have any suggestions? A program that you have personal
experience with or know someone that has used it successfully?

Thanks -

Robert

Robert I would still get a replacement. That said, the manufacturer
"should" have the program you are looking for and should be more than
happy to send or point you to how to get it. I know Dell used to have
more of these testing programs than you could shake a stick at and they
might be on a secret section on your HD.

On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 21:45:14 -0800 (PST), wrote:

I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use that is for Windows 7. Those programs tested all
memory sectors, HD sectors, and did hours of read/write exercises,
cache filling and dumping and CPU tests. You wound up the programs
and let them go, and a few hours later you had your results.

I can't find anything like that for Windows 7, and want to test ALL
aspects of this machine within my "emergency replacement" time frame
window.

Anyone have any suggestions? A program that you have personal
experience with or know someone that has used it successfully?

Thanks -

Robert
Not a direct answer to your question, but...
I would get another one.
It is possible that the mistreatment could have damaged
a circuit board trace that a minor bump in the future could
cause a total failure or intermittant problems.

A year from now it will be on your dime.

basilisk

On Mar 7, 12:45*am, "
wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. * One big problem; the box
was crushed. *The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. *I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use that is for Windows 7. *Those programs tested all
memory sectors, HD sectors, and did hours of read/write exercises,
cache filling and dumping and CPU tests. *You wound up the programs
and let them go, and a few hours later you had your results.

I can't find anything like that for Windows 7, and want to test ALL
aspects of this machine within my "emergency replacement" time frame
window.

Anyone have any suggestions? *A program that you have personal
experience with or know someone that has used it successfully?

Thanks -

Robert

Six months, a year, a long time from now, if something on your laptop
doesn't quite behave the way you want/expect, your automatic
inclination will be "I wonder if it DID get damaged." The possibility
of that thought alone, would make me get a new one. It's the only way
to remove that doubt.

On 03/06/2012 10:45 PM, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use that is for Windows 7. Those programs tested all
memory sectors, HD sectors, and did hours of read/write exercises,
cache filling and dumping and CPU tests. You wound up the programs
and let them go, and a few hours later you had your results.

I can't find anything like that for Windows 7, and want to test ALL
aspects of this machine within my "emergency replacement" time frame
window.

Anyone have any suggestions? A program that you have personal
experience with or know someone that has used it successfully?

Thanks -

Robert

Here's a good standalone memory tester: http://www.memtest.org/

Download, write to a CD, boot up the CD and let it grind.

I'd be more concerned about hard drive shock damage than MB/memory damage.


--
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure,the creed of ignorance, and the
gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery"
-Winston Churchill

On 3/6/2012 11:45 PM, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

That damned Butch ... screw up everything!

I would worry more about the hard drive than the memory.

Can't imagine why RAM would be effected even it the laptop was thrown
across the room.

That said, MSFT had a memory test program on their website that could be
burned to a CD. Memory diagnostics or something like that. You also want
to back that up with another program, like memtest, as a matter of course.

Having used, and dropped more than a few, of well over a hundred
removable hard drives in the studio, they are pretty robust as long as
they aren't running, the floor is carpeted, and you're not standing on a
ladder.

Use the built-in scan disk to test your hard drive. Unless there is
visible signs of damage to the laptop exterior and something is
rattling, I seriously doubt that you have a problem at all.

All that notwithstanding, send that sucker in and get a new one. No
sense in taking a chance ... or else get a subscription to Carbonite and
protect the data you're going to put on it, just in case.

--
www.eWoodShop.com
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
http://gplus.to/eWoodShop

wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use that is for Windows 7. Those programs tested all
memory sectors, HD sectors, and did hours of read/write exercises,
cache filling and dumping and CPU tests. You wound up the programs
and let them go, and a few hours later you had your results.

I can't find anything like that for Windows 7, and want to test ALL
aspects of this machine within my "emergency replacement" time frame
window.

Anyone have any suggestions? A program that you have personal
experience with or know someone that has used it successfully?

Thanks -

Robert

Are you sure the apps you mention do not function on win 7. Just because
it isn't listed for it doesn't mean it wont run.

Another option is to just have the computer do some very processing
heavy app (like a high spec 3d game or something). Have it keep running
through so that it is really working hard.

Keep that up for 48 hours (or whatever you want - but 24+). If it is
still running and working then I doubt there is anything happened. I did
find a "test" for Ram once - I would download and download and almost
every time the file was messed up - turned out my ram had gone bad. It
was still allowing the system to run but data was corrupted.

If it is running and not crashing - sounds like it is fine.


--

Michael Joel




For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes,
His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen,
being understood through what has been made,
so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God,
they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became
futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
- Romans 1:20-21 (NASB)




parksfamily2 ------ ---- --- gmail ----- ----- com
replace dashes with correct symbols

On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 21:45:14 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use that is for Windows 7. Those programs tested all
memory sectors, HD sectors, and did hours of read/write exercises,
cache filling and dumping and CPU tests. You wound up the programs
and let them go, and a few hours later you had your results.

I remember those vividly. I used to test all memory and hard drives
with 'em.


I can't find anything like that for Windows 7, and want to test ALL
aspects of this machine within my "emergency replacement" time frame
window.

Anyone have any suggestions? A program that you have personal
experience with or know someone that has used it successfully?

Ask a local computer shop who does anti-virus work for a suggestion.
They usually have the best techs.

Or googlit: "computer testing software" and cautiously download some
from a known good site, like PCWORLD, CNET, or TUCOWS.
http://tinyurl.com/66hgdt

I think I'd just send the thing back if it were mine. Be sure to
write down the serial number so it doesn't come back.

--
Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.
-- Robert J. Sawyer

On Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:01:57 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 21:45:14 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I understand your concern, but it sounds as though the packaging did
its job. Items like a laptop are tested to withstand a minimum of 8
drops from 36", possibly higher. The protective packaging is designed
to take the force of the impact.

OTOH, don't think that the perfect looking package did not suffer even
more severe damage internally. Depends on how the damage was
inflicted.

UPS regs say they can drop a package 15' onto a hard, concrete floor.
I've seen it happen. Conveyor systems are elevated in all UPS and
FedEX processing plants. It sounds like more than that happened to
Naily's unit.

--
Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.
-- Robert J. Sawyer

On 3/7/2012 9:36 AM, Swingman wrote:
On 3/6/2012 11:45 PM, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

That damned Butch ... screw up everything!

I would worry more about the hard drive than the memory.

Can't imagine why RAM would be effected even it the laptop was thrown
across the room.

That said, MSFT had a memory test program on their website that could be
burned to a CD. Memory diagnostics or something like that. You also want
to back that up with another program, like memtest, as a matter of course.

Having used, and dropped more than a few, of well over a hundred
removable hard drives in the studio, they are pretty robust as long as
they aren't running, the floor is carpeted, and you're not standing on a
ladder.

Use the built-in scan disk to test your hard drive. Unless there is
visible signs of damage to the laptop exterior and something is
rattling, I seriously doubt that you have a problem at all.

All that notwithstanding, send that sucker in and get a new one. No
sense in taking a chance ... or else get a subscription to Carbonite and
protect the data you're going to put on it, just in case.


I don't know about all computers but there is a test for all components
for HP computers. It test memory, hard drives, the video card, and
other subsystems.

If there is damage, I believe it would be to the mechanical hard drive
and not to the solid state systems.

It would take a terrific jolt to cause physical parts to come together
to cause physical damage to a circuit board or other solid state system.

However why risk the problem when you can exchange it now for nothing,
the company that made the delivery not the computer manufacturer or
distributor that will ultimately pay.

On Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:52:29 -0700, Doug Winterburn
wrote:

On 03/06/2012 10:45 PM, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use that is for Windows 7. Those programs tested all
memory sectors, HD sectors, and did hours of read/write exercises,
cache filling and dumping and CPU tests. You wound up the programs
and let them go, and a few hours later you had your results.

I can't find anything like that for Windows 7, and want to test ALL
aspects of this machine within my "emergency replacement" time frame
window.

Anyone have any suggestions? A program that you have personal
experience with or know someone that has used it successfully?

Thanks -

Robert

Here's a good standalone memory tester: http://www.memtest.org/

Download, write to a CD, boot up the CD and let it grind.

Memory is the last thing I'd think damaged in shipping. And with all
the pins on newer memory, they stay in their sockets very, very well.


I'd be more concerned about hard drive shock damage than MB/memory damage.

And I'd be worried that the whole thing got twisted, too. Mama is now
arcing internally, the drive head is angled, and the display is
tweaked but still working. Joys!

--
Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.
-- Robert J. Sawyer

On Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:11:03 -0800, Larry Jaques wrote:

I think I'd just send the thing back if it were mine. Be sure to write
down the serial number so it doesn't come back.

This seems to be the nearly universal advice. I definitely agree with
it. A new computer has enough probability of failure during the first 6
months that you'd like to be sure it wasn't the shipping damage that was
responsible.

--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw

[This followup was posted to rec.woodworking and a copy was sent to the
cited author.]

In article ,
says...


I think I'd just send the thing back if it were mine. Be sure to
write down the serial number so it doesn't come back.


More than the serial number - write down the MAC address of the network
controller. Serial number labels or the case pieces they are glued to
can be changed. Less likely that the MAC address would be changed unless
the unit went through a factory test after a re-furb.

--

Michael Karas
Carousel Design Solutions
http://www.carousel-design.com

On Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:16:34 -0800, Larry Jaques
wrote:




UPS regs say they can drop a package 15' onto a hard, concrete floor.
I've seen it happen. Conveyor systems are elevated in all UPS and
FedEX processing plants. It sounds like more than that happened to
Naily's unit.

How did you come up with that conclusion? It is also possible than it
was not dropped at all, but the protective packaging material was
crushed when something was placed or dropped on it and inflicted no
damage.

FWIW, I've been in the protective packaging industry for the past 42
years so I've seen lots of different scenarios.

http://images.fedex.com/us/services/...nder150Lbs.pdf
http://www.theswisscolony.net/docume...-01-08_000.pdf

On Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:49:13 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:16:34 -0800, Larry Jaques
wrote:




UPS regs say they can drop a package 15' onto a hard, concrete floor.
I've seen it happen. Conveyor systems are elevated in all UPS and
FedEX processing plants. It sounds like more than that happened to
Naily's unit.

How did you come up with that conclusion?

When I wanted to ship something via UPS eons ago, it was written in
their guidelines for packaging. And it's likely that Robert wasn't
reacting to a simple ding on one end of the package. Most of us see
and accept dinged packages, but we hold the deliveryman if there is
more than just a wrinkle, making sure he either notes the damage in
his recorder before he leaves or watches us open the package. Most
people don't react like that or ask for assistance on a minor crease
in a the cardboard box, knowwhatImean,Vern?


It is also possible than it
was not dropped at all, but the protective packaging material was
crushed when something was placed or dropped on it and inflicted no
damage.

Yes, that is a possibility. Not having seen the package, I couldn't
say. I added the possibility of a twist to the scenario, too.


FWIW, I've been in the protective packaging industry for the past 42
years so I've seen lots of different scenarios.

http://images.fedex.com/us/services/...nder150Lbs.pdf
http://www.theswisscolony.net/docume...-01-08_000.pdf

Then you should know that the test procedures are not actually
representative of what can happen in the real world. Ideally, the
foam packaging absorbs almost all of the impact, but a 15' fall onto a
single corner just might overstress the packaging. I wonder if Robert
has pics...

--
Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.
-- Robert J. Sawyer

Robert,

Take a look at SpinRite at www.grc.com

Your current issue may not warrant the cost of the program. However, going
forward with whatever you decide to do with the laptop, you may find it a
useful tool.

I've seen some scenarios where dropping a laptop has dislodged internal
components, such as RAM or video cards, that once reseated allowed the
laptop to work again.

The usual disclaimers apply. No affiliation with the company, just a
satisfied end-user.

Hope this helps. Let us know what you decide and how it turns out.

Peter.

wrote in message
...
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed. The monkey men of UPS did their best impression of the
old Samsonite commercial and really mashed it.

(NO advice needed on how to proceed with a claim, informing the
shipper, documentation for the vendor, damage claim number
assignments, photographic evidence, etc.)

I am really concerned that this machine could have been damaged,
although it seems to be performing OK. I have a 72 hour window in
which the vendor will send out a new one without charging my account
as an emergency replacement if I need one.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use that is for Windows 7. Those programs tested all
memory sectors, HD sectors, and did hours of read/write exercises,
cache filling and dumping and CPU tests. You wound up the programs
and let them go, and a few hours later you had your results.

I can't find anything like that for Windows 7, and want to test ALL
aspects of this machine within my "emergency replacement" time frame
window.

Anyone have any suggestions? A program that you have personal
experience with or know someone that has used it successfully?

Thanks -

Robert

"Larry Jaques" wrote in message

Then you should know that the test procedures are not actually
representative of what can happen in the real world. Ideally, the
foam packaging absorbs almost all of the impact, but a 15' fall onto a
single corner just might overstress the packaging. I wonder if Robert
has pics...

But it may or may not overstress the contents. One of my customers required
a 26' drop (yes 26 feet). That was to simulate the drop from the cargo hold
of and airplane. The package can be damaged, but the radioactive product
could not leak.

On Thu, 8 Mar 2012 14:59:22 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski"
wrote:


"Larry Jaques" wrote in message

Then you should know that the test procedures are not actually
representative of what can happen in the real world. Ideally, the
foam packaging absorbs almost all of the impact, but a 15' fall onto a
single corner just might overstress the packaging. I wonder if Robert
has pics...

But it may or may not overstress the contents. One of my customers required
a 26' drop (yes 26 feet). That was to simulate the drop from the cargo hold
of and airplane. The package can be damaged, but the radioactive product
could not leak.

One would certainly -hope- not, eh?

--
Inside every older person is a younger person wondering WTF happened.

On Mar 7, 9:49*pm, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

How did you come up with that conclusion? *It is also possible than it
was not dropped at all, but the protective packaging material was
crushed when something was placed or dropped on it and inflicted no
damage.

FWIW, I've been in the protective packaging industry for the past 42
years so I've seen lots of different scenarios.

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I have been using the crap out
of the machine and it seems to be in good order. Still testing, and
looking at read/reread/write/testing software to make sure it is OK.
So far so good.
ED P. a special thanks to you. I got to thinking - hey, I should call
MY buddy in the shipping business and let him look over this box and
get his opinion. Ed, you were close without even seeing it. My pal
Larry has been in and out of the shipping business for about 20 years
as a pilot/loader/handler, jack of all trades for several cargo
shippers, like a private label UPS, UPS, DHL and has even flown and
loaded packages for FedEx. Working for a private carriers, he has
handled mountains of packages for them.

Larry immediately came to the conclusion that the box was indeed
crushed, not dropped. He inspected for impact damage, punctures,
localized compression (new term for me - that means large impact over
a large area such as a large damaged corner that caused stress over
25% of the length) and other things.

Sherlock Larry further concluded that the entire box had been
compressed due to the corners showing parallel compression folds up
the sides on all four corners in exactly the same fashion in exactly
the same places. With the amount of compression, the tape popped,
tearing off the thin skin of corrugated box. As he pointed out, the
tape itself was not cut, torn or separated, just torn off the box top
itself where it had adhered.

We were able to replicate this action in my living room by pushing the
box against the wall. It folded perfectly along the damage folds in
the box when I compressed the entire face of the box against the wall,
which he assured me was the box performing as it was designed to do.
The box popped open because they did a crappy tape job ( Jeez... were
they running out of tape when they mailed this to you? was his
comment) and the tape tore off the top layer of paper on the
corrugated box because the box was average or less quality.

We put the box that held the computer itself (undamaged)back into the
shipping box, and there was about 10" all the way around the computer
box when inside the shipping box. They didn't use the best packing
material (some kind of wound paper that was about a 6" tube about 15'
long, but it did its job. His conclusion was that there probably
wasn't any damage at all, that someone didn't see the box when loading
and mashed some other freight against the box. I felt 100% better
when we were able to recreate the mashing at will.

Tiger Direct has been princely about this, and told me that they would
extend the replacement window to 30 days. I have a one year accident
policy, as well as a TWO year parts/labor one way shipping on this
machine.
I intend to test it unmercifally, get a backup service and put it to
work. One unknown click, one hiccup, on pixel goes bad, and this
machine is gone.

So Ed, thanks for your post in particular. I appears that you were
right on. And I had that great resource a phone call away and didn't
even think to call him about this problem until you mentioned your
long experience in the freight business. Larry was able to peel me
off the ceiling, and now I can concentrate on getting this machine to
work.

Robert

On 3/9/2012 4:01 AM, wrote:

Snip, Snip

Snip, Snip

Snip, Snip

Snip, Snip

Snip, Snip

Snip, Snip


Larry was able to peel me
off the ceiling, and now I can concentrate on getting this machine to
work.

Robert


Wasn't that what you were concerned about??? Send it back LOL.. ;~)

On Fri, 09 Mar 2012 06:16:05 -0600, Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:

On 3/9/2012 4:01 AM, wrote:

Snip, Snip

Snip, Snip

Snip, Snip

Snip, Snip

Snip, Snip

Snip, Snip


Larry was able to peel me
off the ceiling, and now I can concentrate on getting this machine to
work.

Robert


Wasn't that what you were concerned about??? Send it back LOL.. ;~)

+1, although with the inner box showing no damage whatsoever, I'd be a
whole lot more relieved, too, were it my package.

--
Inside every older person is a younger person wondering WTF happened.

On 3/9/2012 3:01 AM, wrote:
On Mar 7, 9:49 pm, Ed wrote:

How did you come up with that conclusion? It is also possible than it
was not dropped at all, but the protective packaging material was
crushed when something was placed or dropped on it and inflicted no
damage.

FWIW, I've been in the protective packaging industry for the past 42
years so I've seen lots of different scenarios.

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I have been using the crap out
of the machine and it seems to be in good order. Still testing, and
looking at read/reread/write/testing software to make sure it is OK.
So far so good.
ED P. a special thanks to you. I got to thinking - hey, I should call
MY buddy in the shipping business and let him look over this box and
get his opinion. Ed, you were close without even seeing it. My pal
Larry has been in and out of the shipping business for about 20 years
as a pilot/loader/handler, jack of all trades for several cargo
shippers, like a private label UPS, UPS, DHL and has even flown and
loaded packages for FedEx. Working for a private carriers, he has
handled mountains of packages for them.

Larry immediately came to the conclusion that the box was indeed
crushed, not dropped. He inspected for impact damage, punctures,
localized compression (new term for me - that means large impact over
a large area such as a large damaged corner that caused stress over
25% of the length) and other things.

Sherlock Larry further concluded that the entire box had been
compressed due to the corners showing parallel compression folds up
the sides on all four corners in exactly the same fashion in exactly
the same places. With the amount of compression, the tape popped,
tearing off the thin skin of corrugated box. As he pointed out, the
tape itself was not cut, torn or separated, just torn off the box top
itself where it had adhered.

We were able to replicate this action in my living room by pushing the
box against the wall. It folded perfectly along the damage folds in
the box when I compressed the entire face of the box against the wall,
which he assured me was the box performing as it was designed to do.
The box popped open because they did a crappy tape job ( Jeez... were
they running out of tape when they mailed this to you? was his
comment) and the tape tore off the top layer of paper on the
corrugated box because the box was average or less quality.

We put the box that held the computer itself (undamaged)back into the
shipping box, and there was about 10" all the way around the computer
box when inside the shipping box. They didn't use the best packing
material (some kind of wound paper that was about a 6" tube about 15'
long, but it did its job. His conclusion was that there probably
wasn't any damage at all, that someone didn't see the box when loading
and mashed some other freight against the box. I felt 100% better
when we were able to recreate the mashing at will.

Tiger Direct has been princely about this, and told me that they would
extend the replacement window to 30 days. I have a one year accident
policy, as well as a TWO year parts/labor one way shipping on this
machine.
I intend to test it unmercifally, get a backup service and put it to
work. One unknown click, one hiccup, on pixel goes bad, and this
machine is gone.

So Ed, thanks for your post in particular. I appears that you were
right on. And I had that great resource a phone call away and didn't
even think to call him about this problem until you mentioned your
long experience in the freight business. Larry was able to peel me
off the ceiling, and now I can concentrate on getting this machine to
work.

Robert


if you bought it with some credit cards (amex for one), they double the
manufacturer warrantee. keep the receipt with your credit card statement
with the shipping paperwork to get them to honor this.

On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:45:14 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use ...

Why? You didn't buy the box, you bought the computer. And, if
it isn't visibly physically damaged, and has normal disk/screen/keyboard
functions, why would you want to test things (like memory)
that AREN'T particularly likely to take stress/shock damage?

Discard the packaging and enjoy the computer; life's too short to
agonize over imaginary problems.

whit3rd wrote:
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:45:14 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use ...

Why? You didn't buy the box, you bought the computer. And, if
it isn't visibly physically damaged, and has normal
disk/screen/keyboard functions, why would you want to test things
(like memory)
that AREN'T particularly likely to take stress/shock damage?

Discard the packaging and enjoy the computer; life's too short to
agonize over imaginary problems.

He bought the computer at retail from Tiger Direct. People who do that do
not think like most of us.

I just bought five Dell desktops for $100 (total). If one or more of the
desktops act a little funny, well, no great loss.

On 03/10/2012 04:54 PM, HeyBub wrote:
whit3rd wrote:
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:45:14 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use ...

Why? You didn't buy the box, you bought the computer. And, if
it isn't visibly physically damaged, and has normal
disk/screen/keyboard functions, why would you want to test things
(like memory)
that AREN'T particularly likely to take stress/shock damage?

Discard the packaging and enjoy the computer; life's too short to
agonize over imaginary problems.

He bought the computer at retail from Tiger Direct. People who do that do
not think like most of us.

I just bought five Dell desktops for $100 (total). If one or more of the
desktops act a little funny, well, no great loss.


Well, if one or more does act "funny" like my wifes old Dell, it may
well be a result of bad electrolytic capacitors. Her PC started hanging
with no other indications. I opened it up and six or eight of the
electrolytics were bulging out the top. Sent the MB to these guys:

http://www.badcaps.net/

Got it back for under a hundred bucks with every electrolytic on the MB
replaced. Been working great now for almost a year where it was hanging
every few hours before.

Apparently, the chiwanese have been shipping electrolytics for all kinds
of devices that were like many of their other products.

I also had a rocketfish wireless speaker receiver fail for the same
reason. I may try to see if I can replace the bad caps myself as I
already hard wired the surround speakers.

The cheapest components to produce the cheapest product doesn't always
pay off for the consumer.


--
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure,the creed of ignorance, and the
gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery"
-Winston Churchill

"HeyBub" wrote in message
m...

whit3rd wrote:
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:45:14 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use ...

Why? You didn't buy the box, you bought the computer. And, if
it isn't visibly physically damaged, and has normal
disk/screen/keyboard functions, why would you want to test things
(like memory)
that AREN'T particularly likely to take stress/shock damage?

Discard the packaging and enjoy the computer; life's too short to
agonize over imaginary problems.

He bought the computer at retail from Tiger Direct. People who do that do
not think like most of us.

I just bought five Dell desktops for $100 (total). If one or more of the
desktops act a little funny, well, no great loss.
================================================== ===========
486's

HeyBub wrote:
whit3rd wrote:
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:45:14 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use ...

Why? You didn't buy the box, you bought the computer. And, if
it isn't visibly physically damaged, and has normal
disk/screen/keyboard functions, why would you want to test things
(like memory)
that AREN'T particularly likely to take stress/shock damage?

Discard the packaging and enjoy the computer; life's too short to
agonize over imaginary problems.


He bought the computer at retail from Tiger Direct.
People who do that do not think like most of us.

Please help me translate that last sentence.



I just bought five Dell desktops for $100 (total). If one or more of the
desktops act a little funny, well, no great loss.

Doug Winterburn wrote:
Well, if one or more does act "funny" like my wifes old Dell, it may
well be a result of bad electrolytic capacitors. Her PC started
hanging with no other indications. I opened it up and six or eight
of the electrolytics were bulging out the top. Sent the MB to these
guys:
http://www.badcaps.net/

Got it back for under a hundred bucks with every electrolytic on the
MB replaced. Been working great now for almost a year where it was
hanging every few hours before.

Apparently, the chiwanese have been shipping electrolytics for all
kinds of devices that were like many of their other products.

I also had a rocketfish wireless speaker receiver fail for the same
reason. I may try to see if I can replace the bad caps myself as I
already hard wired the surround speakers.

The cheapest components to produce the cheapest product doesn't always
pay off for the consumer.

Good point. I salvaged a 36" LCD TV that had bad capacitors. For about six
bucks worth of replacement caps and a couple of hours with a screwdriver and
soldering iron, the TV is as good as new.

Bill wrote:
HeyBub wrote:
whit3rd wrote:
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:45:14 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the
box was crushed.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test"
that we used to use ...

Why? You didn't buy the box, you bought the computer. And, if
it isn't visibly physically damaged, and has normal
disk/screen/keyboard functions, why would you want to test things
(like memory)
that AREN'T particularly likely to take stress/shock damage?

Discard the packaging and enjoy the computer; life's too short to
agonize over imaginary problems.


He bought the computer at retail from Tiger Direct.
People who do that do not think like most of us.

Please help me translate that last sentence.


Uh, okay. Sorry for the "whoosh" factor.

It seems to me that most participants here are interested in price. A new
computer costs, well, a lot and often you're paying for the newest
technology that's not really necessary.

Used, last year's model, computers can be had at a significant bargain,
sometimes on Craigslist, often you have to search around.

I got my used computers from a chap that buys them in bulk from Dell and
others. These used computers are generally those that have come back off
lease to banks and other large companies.

Last time I was there he had about ten large pallets, stacked five feet
high, with 15" CRT monitors. In this country, you can't GIVE away a 15" CRT.
His monitors, however, were going to Nigeria. He told me he expects to net
about $25 each.

Point is, there's a thriving market for used equipment: CRT monitors to
Nigeria or two-year old desktops to me.

On Sun, 11 Mar 2012 06:18:36 -0500, "HeyBub"
wrote:


It seems to me that most participants here are interested in price. A new
computer costs, well, a lot and often you're paying for the newest
technology that's not really necessary.


Necessary to some. A guy at work is specing out a new computer. He
is in the $1800 range with a fancy graphics card, Quad processor, lots
of memory, etc. He needs it to store some music and pictures and his
wife can check here Facebook page.

Not to mention that he is also looking for the absolute lowest price,
no matter the quality of the components.

In article ,
says...

On Sun, 11 Mar 2012 06:18:36 -0500, "HeyBub"
wrote:


It seems to me that most participants here are interested in price. A new
computer costs, well, a lot and often you're paying for the newest
technology that's not really necessary.


Necessary to some. A guy at work is specing out a new computer. He
is in the $1800 range with a fancy graphics card, Quad processor, lots
of memory, etc. He needs it to store some music and pictures and his
wife can check here Facebook page.

Not to mention that he is also looking for the absolute lowest price,
no matter the quality of the components.

He's looking for a status symbol. A quad core machine with 8 gig ram, a
terabyte of disk, and a reasonably fancy video board can be had from
Best Buy for about 800 bucks.

On 3/10/2012 6:51 PM, CW wrote:


"HeyBub" wrote in message
m...

whit3rd wrote:
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:45:14 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the box
was crushed.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test" that
we used to use ...

Why? You didn't buy the box, you bought the computer. And, if
it isn't visibly physically damaged, and has normal
disk/screen/keyboard functions, why would you want to test things
(like memory)
that AREN'T particularly likely to take stress/shock damage?

Discard the packaging and enjoy the computer; life's too short to
agonize over imaginary problems.

He bought the computer at retail from Tiger Direct. People who do that do
not think like most of us.

I just bought five Dell desktops for $100 (total). If one or more of the
desktops act a little funny, well, no great loss.
================================================== ===========
486's

286's

On 3/11/2012 6:18 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Bill wrote:
HeyBub wrote:
whit3rd wrote:
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:45:14 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the
box was crushed.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test"
that we used to use ...

Why? You didn't buy the box, you bought the computer. And, if
it isn't visibly physically damaged, and has normal
disk/screen/keyboard functions, why would you want to test things
(like memory)
that AREN'T particularly likely to take stress/shock damage?

Discard the packaging and enjoy the computer; life's too short to
agonize over imaginary problems.


He bought the computer at retail from Tiger Direct.
People who do that do not think like most of us.

Please help me translate that last sentence.


Uh, okay. Sorry for the "whoosh" factor.

It seems to me that most participants here are interested in price. A new
computer costs, well, a lot and often you're paying for the newest
technology that's not really necessary.


NOT ME! I am just itching for Festool to come out with a computer. ;~)

On Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:20:23 -0500, Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:

On 3/11/2012 6:18 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Bill wrote:
HeyBub wrote:
whit3rd wrote:
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:45:14 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the
box was crushed.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test"
that we used to use ...

Why? You didn't buy the box, you bought the computer. And, if
it isn't visibly physically damaged, and has normal
disk/screen/keyboard functions, why would you want to test things
(like memory)
that AREN'T particularly likely to take stress/shock damage?

Discard the packaging and enjoy the computer; life's too short to
agonize over imaginary problems.


He bought the computer at retail from Tiger Direct.
People who do that do not think like most of us.

Please help me translate that last sentence.


Uh, okay. Sorry for the "whoosh" factor.

It seems to me that most participants here are interested in price. A new
computer costs, well, a lot and often you're paying for the newest
technology that's not really necessary.


NOT ME! I am just itching for Festool to come out with a computer. ;~)

Yeah, just trade in that old house you're living in for one, complete
with internal dust collection and Festool green LEDs.

--
Inside every older person is a younger person wondering WTF happened.

On 3/11/2012 6:56 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Necessary to some. A guy at work is specing out a new computer. He
is in the $1800 range with a fancy graphics card, Quad processor, lots
of memory, etc. He needs it to store some music and pictures and his
wife can check here Facebook page.

Been buying "certified refurbished" laptops from Dell's Outlet store for
about twelve years now with good luck. Three years ago, for the first
time and for a nominal price, had to replace a motherboard in one after
three years of use, but that laptop is still trucking in the office as a
multi-media only machine. The others were donated to charity when they
got long in the tooth and are still running last I heard.

Generally stick to their higher end XPS models and buy one that is still
in production, but was returned for one reason or another. I usually
save around $400-600 for the latest technology and spec's ... enough
that the last one was easily paid for from what was saved on the
previous three.

That said, Dell is not putting the quality in their laptops that they
once did. Although the last one, just a few months back, an XPS 15 502x,
does not have the fit and finish that the older ones exhibited, but it
still runs like hell with it's 64bit OS and Core i7 processor, and
hooked to a 24" monitor and SpaceNavigator, makes a helluva general
office and SketchUp machine.

--
www.eWoodShop.com
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
http://gplus.to/eWoodShop

On 3/11/2012 10:24 AM, Larry Jaques wrote:
On Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:20:23 -0500, Leonlcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:

On 3/11/2012 6:18 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Bill wrote:
HeyBub wrote:
whit3rd wrote:
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:45:14 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the
box was crushed.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test"
that we used to use ...

Why? You didn't buy the box, you bought the computer. And, if
it isn't visibly physically damaged, and has normal
disk/screen/keyboard functions, why would you want to test things
(like memory)
that AREN'T particularly likely to take stress/shock damage?

Discard the packaging and enjoy the computer; life's too short to
agonize over imaginary problems.


He bought the computer at retail from Tiger Direct.
People who do that do not think like most of us.

Please help me translate that last sentence.


Uh, okay. Sorry for the "whoosh" factor.

It seems to me that most participants here are interested in price. A new
computer costs, well, a lot and often you're paying for the newest
technology that's not really necessary.


NOT ME! I am just itching for Festool to come out with a computer. ;~)

Yeah, just trade in that old house you're living in for one, complete
with internal dust collection and Festool green LEDs.

--
Inside every older person is a younger person wondering WTF happened.


The old house I am living in is 1 year old last Christmas.

HeyBub wrote:
Bill wrote:
HeyBub wrote:
whit3rd wrote:
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:45:14 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I just got a new laptop, delivered today. One big problem; the
box was crushed.

I am looking for a program like the old "Burn In" and "PC Test"
that we used to use ...

Why? You didn't buy the box, you bought the computer. And, if
it isn't visibly physically damaged, and has normal
disk/screen/keyboard functions, why would you want to test things
(like memory)
that AREN'T particularly likely to take stress/shock damage?

Discard the packaging and enjoy the computer; life's too short to
agonize over imaginary problems.


He bought the computer at retail from Tiger Direct.
People who do that do not think like most of us.

Please help me translate that last sentence.


Uh, okay. Sorry for the "whoosh" factor.

It seems to me that most participants here are interested in price. A new
computer costs, well, a lot and often you're paying for the newest
technology that's not really necessary.

Thanks for explaining. When I purchase, I stay at least a year behind
the newest models--and I use the stuff until I have decent reason to
replace it. I have found the strategy a good one for cars too!




Used, last year's model, computers can be had at a significant bargain,
sometimes on Craigslist, often you have to search around.

I got my used computers from a chap that buys them in bulk from Dell and
others. These used computers are generally those that have come back off
lease to banks and other large companies.

Last time I was there he had about ten large pallets, stacked five feet
high, with 15" CRT monitors. In this country, you can't GIVE away a 15" CRT.
His monitors, however, were going to Nigeria. He told me he expects to net
about $25 each.

Point is, there's a thriving market for used equipment: CRT monitors to
Nigeria or two-year old desktops to me.

On 3/11/2012 11:47 AM, Swingman wrote:
On 3/11/2012 6:56 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Necessary to some. A guy at work is specing out a new computer. He
is in the $1800 range with a fancy graphics card, Quad processor, lots
of memory, etc. He needs it to store some music and pictures and his
wife can check here Facebook page.

Been buying "certified refurbished" laptops from Dell's Outlet store for
about twelve years now with good luck. Three years ago, for the first
time and for a nominal price, had to replace a motherboard in one after
three years of use, but that laptop is still trucking in the office as a
multi-media only machine. The others were donated to charity when they
got long in the tooth and are still running last I heard.

Generally stick to their higher end XPS models and buy one that is still
in production, but was returned for one reason or another. I usually
save around $400-600 for the latest technology and spec's ... enough
that the last one was easily paid for from what was saved on the
previous three.

That said, Dell is not putting the quality in their laptops that they
once did. Although the last one, just a few months back, an XPS 15 502x,
does not have the fit and finish that the older ones exhibited, but it
still runs like hell with it's 64bit OS and Core i7 processor, and
hooked to a 24" monitor and SpaceNavigator, makes a helluva general
office and SketchUp machine.


This might be a better built XPS and apparent brand new.

http://www.dell.com/html/global/xps1...=us&l=en&s=dhs