Maddie's dashboard

Okay, so it wasn't actually my computer, it was my boyfriend. Let me start this story off my explaining that my boyfriend was laid off about 6 months ago, and since then he spends about 12 hours per day using this computer to look for a job.

He got a virus. He took the computer to Best Buy and they said they could remove the virus for $200. He said great, do it. After not hearing from them for 5 days, he called them. They told him that everything was fine with the hardware on his computer, but they hadn't start work on removing the virus because in order to fix the problem, they needed to basically wipe everything and start from scratch. This process would delete all his files, so they needed his permission to do it. They could back up his files, but it would cost another $100. He got a little annoyed at this point since they told him it would be $200 to fix, and now the price was jumping up, but he really just wanted it fixed. He has 2 hard drives so he asked if it would be $100 for each drive. The guy told him, "Nope it's $100, no matter how much data you have."

The next day, Best Buy called with more bad news. They could not back up his data because he had too much. Apparently the way they back up data is by saving it to a DVD. If it won't fit on a DVD, they can't do it. A DVD apparently holds about 4 GB. So, $100 to back up "no matter how much data you have" means 4 GB limit. They told him to come in the store to buy a external hard drive, and then they could back it up to that hard drive. So he bought them a drive of over a terabyte and dropped it off with the Geek Squad people.

Then they told him one more thing: he needed to bring in his disks to reinstall the operating system and programs. He has a partioned hard drive, so he has no disks. Apparently Geek Squad doesn't understand partitioned hard drives, so they had to order back up disks from the computer manufacturer. Those disks took a couple of days to arrive, during which time Best Buy was supposedly backing up his data.

This brings us to yesterday. He went to Best Buy to pick up his computer. They explained a few things to him. First, they told him his second hard drive was corrupted and they couldn't back it up. This was puzzling since a week ago, they told him they ran the diagnostics on it and it was fine. Now, I'm not techie person, so I had no idea what my boyfriend was talking when he explained this part to me, but he basically thinks they tried to convert his dynamic drive into a standard drive and royally messed it up. Whatever happened, it was fine a week ago, and now it's useless. The only people who touched it were from Best Buy, so I'm thinking it probably had something to do with Best Buy.

After they explained all this to him, they told him to sign a form to confirm he was picking up his computer. On the standard form they have you sign, you state that you are "completely satisfied" with the repair. My boyfriend, of course, said he was not signing, picked up his computer and the external drive he purchased and started to leave the store. The Best Buy emplyee shouted after him that he was not allowed to leave without signing, which my boyfriend ignored and kept walking. Alerted by the shouting from the service area, the security guard then stood in front of the exit to block my boyfriend from leaving. My boyfriend then shouted at the security guard to get out of his way, and thankfully, the security guard let my boyfriend walk out the door.

So my boyfriend went home and set up the computer to figure out what had been done to it:

It appears they did successfully back up his first hard drive to the external hard drive he purchased. Though it was less than 4 GB, so there was really no need for the external drive.

They did reinstall the operating system, but not any other programs, like I don't know, MS Office. So he still can't do much with his computer other than turn it on.

Now the computer, which was always fast before, operates at a snail's pace.

The second hard drive is completely useless.

Now he's going to take it somewhere else to be repaired, and I'm sure he's probably going to call up and ask for a full refund since the work Best Buy did for him was actually worth negative value.

Just wanted to share this little story. Please, please do not take your computer to Best Buy to be repaired.

I am trying to watch USC v. Oregon on ESPN 2. Unfortunately, that channel is black. Every other channel is working just fine. WHAT THE HECK IS CAUSING THIS? PLEASE SOMEBODY FIX IT.

I called, and (after 20 minutes on hold) I was very nicely told by your rep to try the non-HD channel. That channel is coming in just fine, so that's what I am watching. Then she told me she'd "put in a ticket" whatever that means.

So, I'm just wondering, why am I paying for HD?

I already have a service person coming out on Tuesday. That was the first date I could get someone to come out when I called last weekend about the constant pixelation that makes some channels unwatchable. Still, all they are going to do it replace the box. It's not the box.

It's just so frustrating to pay for something that never works when I want it to!!!!