Loss of computer use

[denwilliam]

Having recently bought a new Samsung computer with Windows 8 installed I took it to PC World and had W8 removed and W7 installed and everything was working fine.I then contacted Samsung to ask why "Recovery Solution 5" was not working and was this due to having removed W8.Included in the reply from Samsung was a paragraph advising me to press F4 while booting and I would then find out if this system was working in W7.I complied with this advice and now the computer has ceased to work.Spent best part of an hour with one of the Samsung advisors but to no avail.He said he would make arrangements for my computer to be collected but implied I would have to bear the cost of repairs.Can anyone help?.

 

[FaberTech]

is this a laptop or desktop? whats the model number?

what error message are you getting when you turn it on? or what do you see when it turns on?

 

[Mark Phelps]

From Samsung's perspective, you basically "broke" the PC -- because you replaced something it came with, something it was designed and built to use, with something it was not. They're within their rights to view this as a breach of warranty, so if they charge you a lot to get it working again, that's to be expected.

Did you really expect their Recovery Solution to work after you removed their installation from your PC?

If you really need Win7 working again, it might be best to have it reinstalled from scratch, and this time, do not contact Samsung and mess around with it.

 

[denwilliam]

The model is a Samsung NP350E7C-SO2UK,S/N HYCR98FD1C514EY.When turned on there is only a blank screen showing.The hard drive indicator light on the front of the computer lights up when the power button is pressed then goes out.The only thing that is active is I can access Bios by pressing F2 when pressing power button on,nothing else works.

 

[denwilliam]

My reply to Mark Phelps is that what you say is correct,but please remember this mishap is a direct result of advice from a source where you expect correct advice,is that not so?.

 

[FaberTech]

follow these instructions

How to Fix Windows 7 When It Fails to Boot

Edit: as well as these

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-repair-windows-7-system-installation-disc.htm

 

[denwilliam]

Was talked through all what you suggest by the Samsung rep. but nothing worked. The disk would whir away but nothing would appear on the screen.

 

[FaberTech]

go to the bios and look under your boot options. make sure you see your dvd drive and hard drive listed. also make sure nothing usb is plugged in to the computer at all except your keyboard

make sure your dvd drive is the first priority boot device and hard disk is second

 

[denwilliam]

Have done that but the trouble is it refuses to stay put.

 

[FaberTech]

by "stay put" do you mean save changes?

 

[denwilliam]

It makes the changes o.k,,the message "save changes and exit" appears and I will press enter,then the hard drive indicator light will come on and I can hear the disk working,then the hdd light goes out and thats it,nothing.When I then go back to boot order it has reverted to hdd booting.

 

[denwilliam]

Thought I had answered the above but unable to see my reply so will give it again.I am no techie but it appears to me that if the hard disk drive is not working,as the indicator light for the hard drive goes out in a few seconds,then it will be impossible for anything to work.Am I right or chasing shadows?.

 

[COMPUTIAC]

Did you actually click on "save changes and exit"

or did you just press the enter key ?

 

[FaberTech]

your cmos battery may be dead. you may have to replace it.

 

[denwilliam]

Did manage to get it to stay on boot from CD but still no joy is my answer to Computiac.
Reply to FaberTech>When you say the "cmos"battery could need replacing could that be why the hard drive indicator light is out.Could you please explain what this "cmos"does.

 

[denwilliam]

Due to my ignorance with computers I have just discovered two further clues which may help you to help me.Of the four indicator led's on the front of the computer the one indicating the hard drive is being accessed comes on when power switched on then goes off,the light indicating wireless is off all the time now and my laptop is wireless operated.The only two lights that stay on are charge status for the battery and the right end one which shows the computer is operating.Hope this helps.

 

[denwilliam]

Hard drive o.k.,problem caused by Samsung update for Bios system for Windows 8 only and having adverse effect on those who have downgraded to Windows 7.Having to use boot override to access computer until I can retrieve Bios that supports W7.

 

[Brooklyn67]

The recovery application should not need to rely on a working OS, it should be self contained and be able to perform a recovery even in the event of partition failure or format.

The recovery usually wipes the partition clean and reinstalls windows and programs back to first bought status.

For Samsung to say well, you did something so its your fault is RIDICULOUS!

Their recovery software is the failure..

Id love to argue this case for you but in the interest of fast resolution, you may have to purchase a recovery DVD for about $20 and do it yourself. Its still cheaper than mailing them your laptop.

Did you need to recover personal files from your system?

 

[denwilliam]

What caused the problem is that Samsung updated the bios system for this model which was put on the market loaded with Windows 8 but they overlooked the fact that it caused this problem that I have undergone for those who have downgraded to Windows 7.The only way I can now boot up is by going into bios and using boot override,what a system eh?.Have e-mailed Samsung for how to return to a bios system that supports Windows 7 and now awaiting their reply
Samsung has replied by saying if I want a bios system that supports Windows 7 then I will have to have the bios chip replaced.

 

[denwilliam]

Very pleased to advise that when Amazon was made aware of the problems I had been having with Samsung,even though the warranty had been invalidated by downgrading,they are giving me a full refund on return of the laptop.What a comparison with Samsung eh who have been of no help even though it was them who caused the problem with their bios update.My next laptop for sure will come from Amazon.