Question

I just took my computer back to the store (luckily I bought the service contract) for the third time. First, last year, the hard drive failed. They replaced it. Then, the modem went bad. They replaced it. Now, the computer is dead again. They said it is the hard drive and will replace it. They said that they think my electricity at home is bad and need to buy something called a backup battery with an uninterrupted power supply. My boyfriend says that he thinks our electricity is okay since we haven't had problems with it affecting any other apparati or appliance and they just want to sell us something. What are the great-and-powerful Ageless gurus opinions? I thank you in advance since I may not be able to get into Ageless for a while. It is forbidden at work.

Patricia

Patricia...

Personally, I think they are full of it. There's no reason for you to buy a UPS (Uninteruppted Power Supply)....that's for when the power goes OUT....it allows your computer to remain on (because it is effectively a big battery) and allows you to shut it down normally....before the battery wears out...

I would think you would notice other things happening...like shorting your VCR....or something like that. Or your toaster dancing a jig...

It's always possible that they could be giving you bad parts...

I mean, there IS a chance there could be a short in the outlet you are using. But a UPS is not going to solve that problem. Have you tried putting the computer on a different outlet? You can always try that...see if it does that...

It's also possible the power supply could be causing a short of some kind....

One other thing you can do...is plug a surge protector powerstrip into the wall and then, plug the computer into that.

But, there's no way you should have to buy a UPS system. Very few home users have that....they are just trying to get you to purchase more.

I hope that answers your question, Patricia...

*smiles*

If you have any comments or further questions, please feel free to ask away!

~Dan

Thank you, guys! I am back in business now. We will see how it goes. Yes, I have a surge suppressor. I will try the other outlet. Best Buy said that if the hard drive fails again, they will give me a new computer. I hope that doesn't happen, because I am not sure what kind of computer I will end up with. This PC is the first brand new, supposedly-reputable brand I have ever had and it was expensive. I can't believe I have been having so many problems!

I do wonder about Best Buy sometimes...
Although, I tell my friends never to let Best Buy install thier hardware and software, I don't trust 'em...

I charge 'em less to do the installation than Best Buy does...

I'm glad that if it fries again, they will give you a new system. I was thinking about it today...was wondering if something on the mother board was frying that stuff...and, that's possible...

But, it's nothing you would be doing or nothing you could be preventing, Patricia....

Good Luck!