O.T. Sending gateway in, need help

I am going to bring my almost three year old gateway laptop, running
windows xp(I have a 3 year warranty on it), to best buy geek squad for
repair.
It was purchased their and warranty is with them.
To protect my self, I want to purchase an external hard drive, and clone
the laptops harddrive to it.
I then want to basically wipe out the laptops hardrive, and just install
the operating system that came with it, using the restore program, so they
have no information they can gleam from it.
When I get it back(The back light for screen, periodically goes off), I
want to take the cloned external hard drive, and basically restore my
laptop, to exactly the way it was before I sent it out to geek squad.
QUESTION
How do I perform this task successfully, and what do I need? I
havent purchased the drive or have any software for this matter. Do I need
to purchase some software? Any suggestions on an external hard drive.
Circuit city has a 500 western digital for 109 dollars on sale.

Thanks to all, Much regards Jerry

Jerry,

Remove the hard drive and bring it in to them. Let the geeky ones deal with the
computer that way. And good luck with them... Ben Myers

On Sun, 18 May 2008 15:33:41 GMT, "J.Lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote:

> I am going to bring my almost three year old gateway laptop, running
>windows xp(I have a 3 year warranty on it), to best buy geek squad for
>repair.
> It was purchased their and warranty is with them.
> To protect my self, I want to purchase an external hard drive, and clone
>the laptops harddrive to it.
> I then want to basically wipe out the laptops hardrive, and just install
>the operating system that came with it, using the restore program, so they
>have no information they can gleam from it.
> When I get it back(The back light for screen, periodically goes off), I
>want to take the cloned external hard drive, and basically restore my
>laptop, to exactly the way it was before I sent it out to geek squad.
> QUESTION
> How do I perform this task successfully, and what do I need? I
>havent purchased the drive or have any software for this matter. Do I need
>to purchase some software? Any suggestions on an external hard drive.
>Circuit city has a 500 western digital for 109 dollars on sale.
>
> Thanks to all, Much regards Jerry
>

Thanks Ben:
Let me get this clear. You are telling me, to just take
the harddrive out of the laptop, and present the geekys with a laptop, with
no drive in it??
If so, could they return it to me, and state something, like this
problem is a "software" problem, and they couldnt diagnose it, because the
harddrive is missing?, Even though we both know its not a software problem?
What do you think? And just curiously, on a laptop, what happens if
you try and boot and theres no hard drive present?

As always Ben, Much regards. Jerry
"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
news:13l134hhthm2tt7ht9ijg150m5v9jg6seg@4ax.com...
> Jerry,
>
> Remove the hard drive and bring it in to them. Let the geeky ones deal
> with the
> computer that way. And good luck with them... Ben Myers
>
> On Sun, 18 May 2008 15:33:41 GMT, "J.Lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> I am going to bring my almost three year old gateway laptop,
>> running
>>windows xp(I have a 3 year warranty on it), to best buy geek squad for
>>repair.
>> It was purchased their and warranty is with them.
>> To protect my self, I want to purchase an external hard drive, and
>> clone
>>the laptops harddrive to it.
>> I then want to basically wipe out the laptops hardrive, and just
>> install
>>the operating system that came with it, using the restore program, so they
>>have no information they can gleam from it.
>> When I get it back(The back light for screen, periodically goes off),
>> I
>>want to take the cloned external hard drive, and basically restore my
>>laptop, to exactly the way it was before I sent it out to geek squad.
>> QUESTION
>> How do I perform this task successfully, and what do I need? I
>>havent purchased the drive or have any software for this matter. Do I need
>>to purchase some software? Any suggestions on an external hard drive.
>>Circuit city has a 500 western digital for 109 dollars on sale.
>>
>> Thanks to all, Much regards Jerry
>>

Jerry,

Given the overall competence of the Geek Squad (Yes, I am knocking the
competition!), they could well respond that you have a software problem that
they can't fix. But the reality is that any capable repair person should be
able to replace the backlight or the entire laptop screen and test it without
the hard drive. Maybe you should take the system there, show them the
backlight problem, then remove the hard drive while you are there, and let them
fix the system.

I have found with several brands of laptops, notably Gateways(!) and
IBM/Lenovos, that an apparent laptop screen/backlight problem is really a design
flaw that allows the LCD cable to work loose from the motherboard or graphics
card. In one case, the Solo 9500, Gateway actually fixed the problem in the
later 9550, and I scavenged parts from a messed up 9550 to get the 9500 working
100% reliably. Seems like these laptop designers think that an important cable
like a video cable does not need to be ******* down, despite the fact that the
cable itself is subject to a lot of tugging and pulling from opening and closing
the lid.

One other important thing to do is determine the make of the hard drive, then
download and run the manufacturer's drive diagnostics. If the drive has even
one bad sector, consider it history, show the geeks the drive test report and
ask for a replacement drive under the expensive warranty you paid them for.

On most laptops, the system will boot without a hard drive, but that depends
very much on the motherboard BIOS. I am now in the habit of using a Linux Live
CD as yet another overall hardware test that does not touch the hard drive at
all. A version called Feather Linux loads up real quick and exercises all the
hardware nicely except the hard drive.

.... Ben Myers

On Mon, 19 May 2008 14:46:00 GMT, "J.Lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote:

> Thanks Ben:
> Let me get this clear. You are telling me, to just take
>the harddrive out of the laptop, and present the geekys with a laptop, with
>no drive in it??
> If so, could they return it to me, and state something, like this
>problem is a "software" problem, and they couldnt diagnose it, because the
>harddrive is missing?, Even though we both know its not a software problem?
> What do you think? And just curiously, on a laptop, what happens if
>you try and boot and theres no hard drive present?
>
> As always Ben, Much regards. Jerry
>"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
>news:13l134hhthm2tt7ht9ijg150m5v9jg6seg@4ax.com.. .
>> Jerry,
>>
>> Remove the hard drive and bring it in to them. Let the geeky ones deal
>> with the
>> computer that way. And good luck with them... Ben Myers
>>
>> On Sun, 18 May 2008 15:33:41 GMT, "J.Lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I am going to bring my almost three year old gateway laptop,
>>> running
>>>windows xp(I have a 3 year warranty on it), to best buy geek squad for
>>>repair.
>>> It was purchased their and warranty is with them.
>>> To protect my self, I want to purchase an external hard drive, and
>>> clone
>>>the laptops harddrive to it.
>>> I then want to basically wipe out the laptops hardrive, and just
>>> install
>>>the operating system that came with it, using the restore program, so they
>>>have no information they can gleam from it.
>>> When I get it back(The back light for screen, periodically goes off),
>>> I
>>>want to take the cloned external hard drive, and basically restore my
>>>laptop, to exactly the way it was before I sent it out to geek squad.
>>> QUESTION
>>> How do I perform this task successfully, and what do I need? I
>>>havent purchased the drive or have any software for this matter. Do I need
>>>to purchase some software? Any suggestions on an external hard drive.
>>>Circuit city has a 500 western digital for 109 dollars on sale.
>>>
>>> Thanks to all, Much regards Jerry
>>>
>

Thank you Ben:
I will run a diagnostic, and if it checks out okay, I will remove drive as
suggested and see what happens when I bring it there.
3 yr warranty runs out June 5.
It was purchased as a fathers day gift for me with the 3 year extended. I
would never had taken it, if I was purchasing it myself.
I think the kids paid $199 for the warranty.
I might be inclined to take a laptop extended warranty, from the
manufacturer, but never from a 3rd party such as best buy.
My youngest(his name is Ben) has just ordered 2500 worth of parts
from newegg to build himself a new computer.
His budget made him to take a compromise on the monitor.
He ordered up an gateway fhd2400. It got decent reviews for the price.
Do you know anything about it, or who might be making it?

Much regards Jerry

"J.Lef" wrote:
>
> I am going to bring my almost three year old gateway laptop, running
> windows xp(I have a 3 year warranty on it), to best buy geek squad for
> repair.
> It was purchased their and warranty is with them.
> To protect my self, I want to purchase an external hard drive, and clone
> the laptops harddrive to it.
> I then want to basically wipe out the laptops hardrive, and just install
> the operating system that came with it, using the restore program, so they
> have no information they can gleam from it.
> When I get it back(The back light for screen, periodically goes off), I
> want to take the cloned external hard drive, and basically restore my
> laptop, to exactly the way it was before I sent it out to geek squad.
> QUESTION
> How do I perform this task successfully, and what do I need? I
> havent purchased the drive or have any software for this matter. Do I need
> to purchase some software? Any suggestions on an external hard drive.
> Circuit city has a 500 western digital for 109 dollars on sale.
>
> Thanks to all, Much regards Jerry

Jerry,

That 500GB WD external drive is an excellent backup drive at a great price.
I have one, and I love it. Buy it! Then purchase the Acronis True Image software
and make a drive image of your laptop's drive. When you go to restore the image
after the repair, Acronis True Image will put an exact copy of your drive back
onto the old drive. It's simple and reliable. I've done it many times.

Scott

Thanks Scott.
Just a question. The gateway laptop was already
partitioned when I got it. The normal c drive, and a d drive partition, that
says you shouldnt touch it or delete it, or mess with it, as it contains
system restore and recovery files.
When the acronis software, makes a backup, how would
I work this with the partitions, and also get it back. Am I going to run
into trouble?
Also, once I have the laptop hard drive backed up to
the external drive, what would be the best way, of deleting everything from
the backup hard drive, as not to present the tons of information to the geek
squad..?
Will deleting the "untouchable" d partition, cause
me not to be able to reload from the external, and make the drive "whole"

Much regards Jerry
P.S. Funny, In the mail I got a notice from best buy, asking
me if I want to renew my extended warranty. It was originally 199 for three
years, and now they want something like 500 hundred dollars for 3 years.
Probably more then the value of a similar laptop today. Its odd how they
think.
>

Jerry,
>
> That 500GB WD external drive is an excellent backup drive at a great
> price.
> I have one, and I love it. Buy it! Then purchase the Acronis True Image
> software
> and make a drive image of your laptop's drive. When you go to restore the
> image
> after the repair, Acronis True Image will put an exact copy of your drive
> back
> onto the old drive. It's simple and reliable. I've done it many times.
>
> Scott

I know nothing about recent Gateway-branded monitors. He must be building a
fairly high-end Core 2 Duo for that kind of money, a lot these days... Ben Myers

On Mon, 19 May 2008 16:18:59 GMT, "J.Lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote:

> Thank you Ben:
> I will run a diagnostic, and if it checks out okay, I will remove drive as
>suggested and see what happens when I bring it there.
> 3 yr warranty runs out June 5.
>It was purchased as a fathers day gift for me with the 3 year extended. I
>would never had taken it, if I was purchasing it myself.
> I think the kids paid $199 for the warranty.
> I might be inclined to take a laptop extended warranty, from the
>manufacturer, but never from a 3rd party such as best buy.
> My youngest(his name is Ben) has just ordered 2500 worth of parts
>from newegg to build himself a new computer.
> His budget made him to take a compromise on the monitor.
> He ordered up an gateway fhd2400. It got decent reviews for the price.
>Do you know anything about it, or who might be making it?
>
> Much regards Jerry
>
>

Best Buy for computers and appliances is like Sears appliances. It is not at
all odd how they think. They think $$$$$, and selling warranties is a real cash
cow... Ben Myers

On Mon, 19 May 2008 23:51:18 GMT, "J.Lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote:

> Thanks Scott.
> Just a question. The gateway laptop was already
>partitioned when I got it. The normal c drive, and a d drive partition, that
>says you shouldnt touch it or delete it, or mess with it, as it contains
>system restore and recovery files.
> When the acronis software, makes a backup, how would
>I work this with the partitions, and also get it back. Am I going to run
>into trouble?
> Also, once I have the laptop hard drive backed up to
>the external drive, what would be the best way, of deleting everything from
>the backup hard drive, as not to present the tons of information to the geek
>squad..?
> Will deleting the "untouchable" d partition, cause
>me not to be able to reload from the external, and make the drive "whole"
>
> Much regards Jerry
> P.S. Funny, In the mail I got a notice from best buy, asking
>me if I want to renew my extended warranty. It was originally 199 for three
>years, and now they want something like 500 hundred dollars for 3 years.
>Probably more then the value of a similar laptop today. Its odd how they
>think.
>>
>
> Jerry,
>>
>> That 500GB WD external drive is an excellent backup drive at a great
>> price.
>> I have one, and I love it. Buy it! Then purchase the Acronis True Image
>> software
>> and make a drive image of your laptop's drive. When you go to restore the
>> image
>> after the repair, Acronis True Image will put an exact copy of your drive
>> back
>> onto the old drive. It's simple and reliable. I've done it many times.
>>
>> Scott
>

"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
news2e434phpmj5hsanvlfuuvuehbf7oprbj4@4ax.com...
>I know nothing about recent Gateway-branded monitors. He must be building
>a
> fairly high-end Core 2 Duo for that kind of money, a lot these days... Ben
> Myers
>
Yeah it is. Hes a gamer and believe it or not, he was
going to spend a lot more, till I talked some sense into him. LOL(double sli
video cards, or something like that)
But he has a good job, and a secondary job, and he
doesnt spend his money on other things. Hes a good boy and hes an young
adult now.
Maybee he will let me "play" with it once in a while.
If your interested, I can show you the order.

Much regards Jerry