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  • Is this true?

    I have just had a huge problem with my computer - £135's worth! The engineer, who "fixed" it with a disc said there were errors on the hard drive and it was all down to the advanced age of the computer.

    As its less than 4 years old I was somewhat surprised! I bought it to replace a very old one when I retired - I foolishly thought it would be a good investment for the future! The engineer told me that when they are assembled in the factory they often use components that have been lying around for a long time. He said that I can expect the "fix" to last about another year and then I will probably have to buy a new computer.

    Do I start saving now?

  • #2
    I have always worked on a 2 year lifespan for all my computers.. If they keep going longer than that I consider it a bonus

    All components have a 'lifespan' where they can be 'guaranteed' to work without fault, I have seen it reported that with consumer electronics, that lifespan is around the 2 year mark, after which issues can start to occur..

    Yes it is possible to increase this lifespan, but cost will increase alongside it..
    https://squeakerslair.wordpress.com

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    • #3
      Oh dear! Think I will have to look for a job!

      Comment


      • #4
        Its the perils of modern consumerism I'm afraid :( - prices are driven down to try and 'capture' the most sales but the only way you can do this is to drive down the cost of the components..

        If consumer PC's were manufactured to the same quality as business and enterprise class PC's then yes they would be likely to last longer, but the cost would also be likely to be significantly higher for the same capablities
        https://squeakerslair.wordpress.com

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        • #5
          When I bought it - its a Dell - I ordered it from sales information sent by Dell to my office - does this make it a consumer or a business PC?

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          • #6
            do you know what model it is ?
            https://squeakerslair.wordpress.com

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            • #7
              I think its a Dimension 1100 with an Intel Pentium processor.

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              • #8
                Consumer then..
                https://squeakerslair.wordpress.com

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                • #9
                  Thanks for the help anyway!

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Grimsqueaker View Post
                    I have always worked on a 2 year lifespan for all my computers.. If they keep going longer than that I consider it a bonus
                    I'm surprised at that, Grim - I understood that hard drives have a life of about 5 years, and all my computers have lasted about that long with no trouble, although they get an enormous amount of use.

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                    • #11
                      It depends what you use your computer for.
                      If it is mainly text based programs, family history, databases etc. a computer should last many years.
                      I have a computer used many times weekly that was built in the early 1990s and is still going strong.

                      If however you wish to use the latest games computers are virtually out of date when bought.

                      Most components will give up to ten years (sometimes more) service, the main problem with things like hard drives is capacity rather than faults.

                      It should be noted that components like hard drives are easily swapped.
                      A hard drive often requires four screws to be undone and to wires to be unplugged. A very simply job.
                      Components are very cheap as well with average capacity drives (500 Gig) at around £50 retail.
                      Yes you will have to reinstall your operating system (Windows) & programs but you have stored the CDs for that haven't you?
                      Note when buying a new computer always make a CD back up of the operating system. These backups used to be supplied on CD but now they are provided on a partition of the hard drive.
                      If you leave it until the drive fails you will have problems.
                      Cheers
                      Guy
                      Guy passed away October 2022

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                      • #12
                        Unfortunately you cannot mix own experiences with how the industry designs them..
                        10 years ago PC's were built to a higher quality, and this was reflected in the price. Budget PC's can now cost a manufacturer as little as $100 to produce (you will be charged more :(), so that they can target a specific price point and capture sales..

                        Retail prices of components bear little comparison to the bulk prices that OEMs can negotiate, and the components manufacturers will still have a profit margin calculated into that.
                        https://squeakerslair.wordpress.com

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                        • #13
                          I am slightly more encouraged now! I don't play games on my computer (except for jigsaw puzzles, but you didn't mean that kind of game did you!). I only use it for this, ebay, Google, letters, spreadsheets etc.

                          Reference to installation discs - the engineer was very snooty with me because I told him I didn't have any, and he used his own to reinstall everything. After he'd gone, though, I found a paper disc that said I didn't need discs to reinstall the operating system, I just have to go into the Dell PC Restore and Windows Restore programs on the system - does this mean I could have done it all myself do you think?

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                          • #14
                            You shouldn't have to replace the whole computer, only the hard drive. Although I'm told that Dell have arranged matters so that you can only fit Dell components and that other makes are incompatible. It might be worth opening the case and looking to see if the hard drive is labelled by its manufacturer. It might be worth checking with Dell what makes of drive you can fit.

                            Make sure you keep back-ups of all your important stuff, just in case it goes again!
                            Looking for Bysh, Potter, Littleton, Parke, Franks, Sullivan, Gosden, Carroll, Hurst, Churcher, Covell, Elverson, Giles, Hawkins, Witherden...

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                            • #15
                              It is true that some Dell computers have proprietary parts, but this is usually limited to the Power Supply, Motherboard, and Case.

                              As for Hard Drives, Dell use Western Digital or Maxtor/Seagate. These are built to the standard 3.5 inch desktop hard drive specification and you can fit any hard drive in a Dell, and a hard drive from a Dell computer will go into any other non-Dell computer.

                              This has been the case on both the two Dells I have at home, and the 400+ we look after at work.

                              The only thing you'll need to check is what interface your computer is using... IDE or SATA ... so that you can get a drive with a matching interface.

                              IDE is the top one... SATA is the bottom one...

                              Last edited by dave pusey; 18-10-09, 15:19.
                              Dave - Hungry Monkey
                              IT Support Specialist

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                              • #16
                                You are all so helpful, thank you. I am going to save this to show my son-in-law on next visit - the thought of unscrewing anything has me quaking! I am ashamed to have to admit that I don't know how to back anything up!

                                I thought I was doing well just USING the computer.

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                                • #17
                                  That's frightening

                                  Mine finally blew up 2 week's ago - it was 8 years old - only replaced the fan and added extra memory in all that time. Used all the time. I won't moan again!!

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                                  • #18
                                    Had problems with my harddrive. Make sure you back up your data onto another device before the inevitable happens. The lifespan seems to be getting shorter. I suppose if things were built to last there would be no need in replacing , thus manufacturing would take yet another beating.
                                    Researching the names HART,LILLEY,DAVISON & FINN all from around LINCS/CAMBS. HARTS Also in AUS & CANADA

                                    Dont give up in the search for Maddie

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                                    • #19
                                      My b/f's hard drive went last week, it was about 2 years old :(

                                      I thought my puter was a gonna, it wouldn't power up :( thought
                                      it was the power supply, however it would appear the on/off
                                      button was playing up, probably the spring, he he maybe
                                      I use it to much

                                      Clare

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                                      • #20
                                        Update:

                                        Thank you all for your interest and help. The computer finally died altogether last week(no floral tributes please!). Fortunately, my wonderful son-in-law had the chance of a little-used one from his office and I now have it up-and -running beautifully! My old hard drive is being removed so that I can plug it in and still have all the information on it. Aren't I lucky!

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