Harvey Norman: mains power may over power your harddrive and crack the disc inside

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Harvey Norman: mains power may over power your harddrive and crack the disc inside

MadEngineer

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#165559 13-Feb-2015 12:48

Crack up. I was given a mates 13 month old laptop to check as it wasnt booting up and thought I'd call Harvey Normans incase they might be able to make a quick exception for a fail just out of warranty

I can tell by the clicking that the hdd has failed

I was told no to the warranty as its past 12 months. When questioned on cga he stated the fault could be caused by power overheating the hardrive and mentioned nz's hydro generation. I actually started laughing at him and questioned if he was serious before hanging up.

I'll let my mate push this further if he wishes or save time and he can simply buy a new hdd.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

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#1237232 13-Feb-2015 12:51

Irrespective of outcome please put this in writing to Harvey Norman and post the reply for LOLs

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4possm

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#1237253 13-Feb-2015 13:12

HAHA it amazes me the people that can get jobs at Harveys, DSE, Jaycar etc. As an ex Jaycar assistant Manager I am often disturbed at the customer service people they hire now with absolutely no real world knowledge in what they are selling. And they do it simply because they want to pay minimum wage.

markl

348 posts

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#1237260 13-Feb-2015 13:15

No, it's completely true! With so much of NZs power generated by hydro stations, we have fairly damp electricity in this country. Because it is relatively humid power, that means that it is more dense overall and the extra effort required by the components in the hard drive to use this power mean that you simply cannot expect it to last longer than the warranty period.

Wet electricity is a REAL PROBLEM! Stop mocking it!!

MadEngineer

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#1237261 13-Feb-2015 13:15

Jaycar must be a dangerous place to work. I could see myself spending all my wages on toys.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

4possm

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#1237263 13-Feb-2015 13:21

MadEngineer: Jaycar must be a dangerous place to work. I could see myself spending all my wages on toys.

Pretty accurate. I have a few draws full of Jaycar stuff haha 3 1/2 years worth of collecting.

wellygary

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#1237291 13-Feb-2015 13:44

markl: No, it's completely true! With so much of NZs power generated by hydro stations, we have fairly damp electricity in this country. Because it is relatively humid power, that means that it is more dense overall and the extra effort required by the components in the hard drive to use this power mean that you simply cannot expect it to last longer than the warranty period.

Wet electricity is a REAL PROBLEM! Stop mocking it!!

Also the Hard Drive motors have to work twice as hard in the Southern hemisphere as they have to overcome the reversed coriolis force when compared to a drive that has been manufactured and is being used in the Northern Hemisphere.

deadlyllama

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#1237301 13-Feb-2015 13:47

That's hilarious but imagine how many people have been told that and believed it. Friends have been told similarly laughable things by salespeople whom to them sound knowledgable.

Even if your mate buys a new HDD he should still CGA them; a laptop should last more than three years (arguably, 5). It's easy enough to write them a letter.

trig42

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#1237309 13-Feb-2015 13:52

markl: No, it's completely true! With so much of NZs power generated by hydro stations, we have fairly damp electricity in this country. Because it is relatively humid power, that means that it is more dense overall and the extra effort required by the components in the hard drive to use this power mean that you simply cannot expect it to last longer than the warranty period.

Wet electricity is a REAL PROBLEM! Stop mocking it!!

If only he'd bought the Monster Electricity Dehumidifier.

But Seriously, CGA and HN should cover him. Most retailers now have a Warranty Policy (for example: http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/images/2014/jb-nz-20141113-consumer-guarantees.pdf ) that should cover a laptop like that for at least two years.

frankv

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#1237310 13-Feb-2015 13:53

markl: No, it's completely true! With so much of NZs power generated by hydro stations, we have fairly damp electricity in this country. Because it is relatively humid power, that means that it is more dense overall and the extra effort required by the components in the hard drive to use this power mean that you simply cannot expect it to last longer than the warranty period.

Wet electricity is a REAL PROBLEM! Stop mocking it!!

Well, really, I wish people wouldn't post here if they don't know the full story. Whilst all of that is true, it's not the whole turth (Copyright Eddie Kingswood).

The real problem with wet electricity is that when the HDD spins up, the moisture tends to accumulate in the corners, being heavier than solar or wind electricity. If you drill a hole (10mm worked for me) in one corner of the HDD, and give it a few good bangs while keeping the hole downwards, this gets rid of the moisture. HDD manufacturers have been suppressing this information for years, so that they can sell more HDDs. I was told this by a Seagate rep who was pissed because she had recently been fired.

sidefx

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#1237318 13-Feb-2015 13:57

Let's hope noone at HN reads this thread... I can just imagine them adding some of the above excuses to their reportoire and dread to think what percentage of the public would buy it.

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blakamin

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#1237322 13-Feb-2015 14:02

We have the opposite problem here in Adelaide... Our electricity is too dry. At least once a month I have to pour half a cup of water over all the laptops in the house. And I regularly throw my phone in the pool after I charge it, just to add some humidity.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#1237360 13-Feb-2015 14:26

Stick to your (friend's) guns. It's covered by CTGA, regardless of whatever this sales person says. Push it back.

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kiwitrc

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#1237373 13-Feb-2015 14:40

markl: No, it's completely true! With so much of NZs power generated by hydro stations, we have fairly damp electricity in this country. Because it is relatively humid power, that means that it is more dense overall and the extra effort required by the components in the hard drive to use this power mean that you simply cannot expect it to last longer than the warranty period.

Wet electricity is a REAL PROBLEM! Stop mocking it!!

That's a bloody worry. Is it possible to get a power switching device (Monster probably make one) that could in effect "packet switch" your power as it comes into the house to stop the wet power getting to the dry devices?

I was thinking I would like the solar power running my lights, dryer and heated towel rails, the hydro could heat my hot water and boil the kettle, geothermal to run the steam iron and gas fired (although geothermal could work here) for the electric blanket (I could blame gas smells in bed on the power source then).

Googling it now, will report back.

groynk

234 posts

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#1237381 13-Feb-2015 14:51

frankv:
markl: No, it's completely true! With so much of NZs power generated by hydro stations, we have fairly damp electricity in this country. Because it is relatively humid power, that means that it is more dense overall and the extra effort required by the components in the hard drive to use this power mean that you simply cannot expect it to last longer than the warranty period.

Wet electricity is a REAL PROBLEM! Stop mocking it!!

Well, really, I wish people wouldn't post here if they don't know the full story. Whilst all of that is true, it's not the whole turth (Copyright Eddie Kingswood).

The real problem with wet electricity is that when the HDD spins up, the moisture tends to accumulate in the corners, being heavier than solar or wind electricity. If you drill a hole (10mm worked for me) in one corner of the HDD, and give it a few good bangs while keeping the hole downwards, this gets rid of the moisture. HDD manufacturers have been suppressing this information for years, so that they can sell more HDDs. I was told this by a Seagate rep who was pissed because she had recently been fired.

Don't forget to get the last condensation out by putting it in the Microwave on low power for 47 seconds (plain oven 8 mins on fan bake in a pinch, just make sure to leave the door ajar).

sidefx

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#1237399 13-Feb-2015 15:00

kiwitrc:

That's a bloody worry. Is it possible to get a power switching device (Monster probably make one) that could in effect "packet switch" your power as it comes into the house to stop the wet power getting to the dry devices?

I wouldn't trust Monster. But I'm sure AudioQuest has you covered while also improving the fidelity of your power.

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

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