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Re: [LUG] Getting a Windows refund from Acer

 

Hi Rob,

I would just like to interject something here. The laptop that you are 
considering buying sounds a lot like the one that I bought about 3 
months ago. It may be a slightly later model - mine is a 2920. It is a 
really nice laptop but, doesn't quite suit my needs - however, it may 
suit yours.

It came pre-installed with Vista and I tried it out briefly but, really 
didn't like it. What I wanted to do was dual boot Windows XP and 
Mandriva 2009, as I have some specialist software that only works under 
Windows. Funnily enough, Mandriva worked really well, even the 
wireless.  However, installing Windows XP proved extremely difficult.

Acer have only produced English Vista drivers for most of the hardware. 
I did eventually get XP working with Chinese drivers but, did not want 
to have to jump through all of the same hoops again, when it needed to 
be re-installed. Therefore, I was just considering putting it up on EBay.

As I have not used it much, it is in really good condition. I bought it 
for a contract that looks like coming to an end soon. So, if you don't 
mind a slightly used laptop, feel free to make me an offer, if you are 
interested. Also, let me know if you would like some additional info 
about it. At least you won't have to jump through lots of hoops as I 
have done that for you, already (-:

regards

Viv

Rob Beard wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> I'm looking to get a laptop, probably in the January sales. The laptop 
> I've decided on is an Acer which comes with Vista Home Premium.
>
> So I decided to see if I could get a Windows refund. After doing a bit 
> of searching I found this...
>
> http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=139627&pp=15
>
> To cut a long story short the poor guy had to ship his laptop back to 
> Acer so they could confirm Windows was removed. He had to pay to send 
> the laptop back to Acer and then pay again to have it sent back to him. 
> After all that he got something like £20 back.
>
> I then started reading this with interest...
>
> http://www.zdnet.co.uk/misc/print/0,1000000169,39286228-39001058c,00.htm
>
> <quote from ZDNet>
> Tech support wanted to send us an email to explain its policy. In the 
> email Acer said: "These items [the notebook] will need to be returned to 
> your local Acer Repair Centre in order to allow us to remove the Windows 
> Operating System and refund you for it. Acer will refund you in 
> accordance with the value of the operating system shipped: XP Home = €30 
> and XP Professional = €60. Shipment of the product to our repair centre 
> and back to you after the removal of Windows will be at your own 
> expense. As this is not a manufacture defect and not covered by the 
> warranty, you would have to organise your own courier when the machine 
> is ready to be sent back to you. Following the refund, any remaining 
> software support on your Acer warranty will be void."
>
> _Acer's sole repair centre in the UK is in Plymouth._
>
> </quote>
>
> So it looks like I'd possibly be in luck. If I do buy one I'll have to 
> confirm with Acer first, but I wonder if it would be possible to drop 
> the machine in and have it done there and then. If so, I could head down 
> to Plymouth, pick up a laptop from Comet and then drop it in for my 
> refund. :-)
>
> Still I don't think a customer should have to jump through so many hoops!
>
> Rob
>
>
>
>
>   


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