My Powerbook Ordeal

[McArenas]

Oct 24, 2003 - Purchased Powerbook with Apple Care; partitioned 80G HD to two; 40G/40G

Jan 2, 2004 - PB just stucked at the gray Apple logo during start-up; thanks to a fellow Pinoymac/PhilMUG dudes, Hans and iDarwin's referral, I was able to get help from Apple Center at Greenbelt; technician was able to save my 'user' folder to 2nd partition, using target disk mode.

Complete reinstall was done. (not archive install)

Aug 17, 2004 - HD freezes; can no longer mount; it crashed totally; Apple Service found that the shop where I bought my PB, tampered my HD with a 3rd party HD; meaning, it doesn't bear the APPLE LOGO so it's not qualified for replacement.

I BTO'd the PB to have 80G, so it's not an upgrade. Out of the box, it's 80G. Indicated in the invoice. Upon checking with Apple's record, unit was originally sold to reseller with a 60G HD. So it was learned that they changed it without disclosing the warranty consequence to the customer. Apple care won't even honor it. So I argue. It beats the purpose of Apple Care's worldwide coverage.

Aug 21, 2004 - Filed a complaint to APPLE HK; Told them that my dealer did not disclose that they changed PB's HD with a 3rd party product; Apple HK boss, immediately ordered the dealer to replace the HD with an APPLE serviceable HD. So they changed it.

Aug 26, 2004 - Received my PB; all my data is gone. it's a fresh installation; HD was partitioned to 1. The very first day, i have encountered KERNEL panic. Then it continues; but kernel panics was intermittent; i can't even reproduce the error; because it's random.

Sept 24, 2004 - Surfing at KFC's wifi, browser just freezed. Keys were stucked; Force quit is not working. No choice but to POWER it OFF. After restart, all seems well. But when I clicked SAFARI icon on the dock, it did not launch, instead gave me a "?" icon. To my surprise, most of the items in my "APPLICATION" folder was gone!!

When I got home, ran disk utility> verify HD. Disk encountered error. Cannot be verified. Clicked REPAIR HD. Macintosh HD cannot be repaired.

Called Apple Care hotline; instructed me to do the same procedure i've done. It failed too. So they advised that it must be a hardware failure, most probably attributable to HARDDISK problem. Asked me to bring it to service. No not again.

MY CONCERN:
I have this doubt that some component other than the HD might be contributing to this recurring problem. Another problem I noticed is: the battery power is rated "C-" using iBatt, when in fact the PB is just short of having its 1st birthday. After zapping PMU, calibrated battery; battery juice is just slightly over 2 hours. Brightness set to middle. I can't even finish watching an 81-minute DVD.

Under what circumstance a PB is qualified for a full-unit replacement.

PB's specs:
1G 12" PowerBook G4 SuperDrive 768 RAM 80G HD APX BT AppleCare

Thanks for your attention.

[Macmon]

I think the only one who can state if your PB is for a full laptop replacement is the apple service center where you will take it to.
As noted in your other post, hope for the best that the HK boss will make the decision for a full unit replacement. Another possible thing to do is simply ask the HK boss very very very nicely.
:2cents:

[randytamayo]

And while you're at it, grab that extended apple care if you havent already done so... you have barely 1 month left on your warranty!

Good luck. And as @macmon said, ask the HK Boss very very nicely...


rt

[stitch]

Thanks for sharing your ordeal. Good luck man and update us what happens next.

[Maverick]

that sucks dude. which shop will you bring it to?

[manilaman2001]

Where did you buy your PB G4?

[peter_ob]

In my opinion unauthorized tampering is reason enough that you get a refund or replacement. That constitute fraud. What was the dealers intention anyway when they replaced the HD? RETURN IT.

[Edited on 9-25-2004 by peter_ob]

[McArenas]

Originally posted by peter_ob
In my opinion unauthorized tampering is reason enough that you get a refund or replacement. That constitute fraud. What was the dealers intention anyway when they replace the HD? RETURN IT.

I don't have any idea why they did replace it illegally. My guess is that: 3rd party HD is cheaper. They got the orig ones so they can resell. In more infamous term "KINAHOY" ang Powerbook ko.

[DRU777]

Pls post the name of the shop in HK where you bought your powerbook.

[McArenas]

Originally posted by DRU777
Pls post the name of the shop in HK where you bought your powerbook.

U2U'd the shop name, branch and address.