What to watch out for with refurbished computers ?

[steve2470]

I have bought only one refurb laptop off Newegg. So far so good, knock on wood.

Am I lucky or is Newegg really good with refurbs ? Info please, thank you kindly in advance.


Steve

[hlthe2b]

1. I've purchased two laptops refurbished ove the past 6 or 7 years... All were fine.

But, I bought refurbished in order to be able to afford a high end model-- both times--so I would certainly have expected it to be quality.

[hollysmom]

2. the key to buying any computer or electronic thing is to leave it on for 2 days

if there is going to be a problem, this should help it appear during the warranty period.

[SwissTony]

5. So, this is 2 days on but you are using it as normal?

Do you advocate more intensive use (i.e. more than normal)? Burning CDs, downloading big files etc.

I appreciate the logic and it sounds like good advice (and, I have to admit, I wouldn't have thought of it - so, thank you). Just want to know if you're looking at "destructive" testing.

[hollysmom]

6. You want to try out as much as you can,

Those warranty dates come so soon.
Leaving it on will find fan problems, over heating problems, the most destructive stuff, but you should try and find any problems so try out every thing you will use.

[SwissTony]

7. Actually, this is good advice for new computers too.

And I've just got one!!!!

I'll be configuring it over the weekend, but I'll leave it on and see how it goes.

Thanks.

[Mnpaul]

8. You can use burn in programs

free for 30 days
http://www.passmark.com/products/bit.htm

[sir pball]

18. If you're feeling really hardcore

Do your burnin in a 170-degree oven.

No, seriously - it's called heat-soaking and it's how "they" get truly critical electronics ready for primetime. Naked boards can go way hotter, but it's a bad look to melt your LCD..

[Galileo126]

3. I've bought two refurb laptops

...from NewEgg, and both lasted about 5 yrs each. Mind you, this was back in 1998, and the technology is so much better today. (They were both Compaq LTEs, what I used to call 'The White Whale' - but they served their purpose for 1/2 the cost of new.)

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Look out for bait and switch -- model received does not match model advertised

I've bought refurbed machines by mail and from local dealers (I especially recommend the latter, it's easier to return or fix). The only really bad deal I got was from Mac Of All Trades. I double-checked the model info (they included a link to Apples' Web site) and *specifically* inquired about the modem. Then they sent me one which not only lacked a modem but which did not even have an opening in the case where a modem could be installed. They never responded to my emails after that, and I wasn't going to pay for shipping to return an item without a return authorization. It would have been easy for them to correct their error by sending a USB modem, but they evidently don't care about their customers after the check clears.

If you buy a refurb, open it up and check that all the components supposedly inside are really there, and in good condition. No missing screws, support posts, retaining clips, etc.. I once bought a machine that had a broken RAM ejection lever -- when I went to upgrade the RAM (long after the warranty expired, of course) I discovered I could not remove the installed RAM without taking the case apart. Lesson learned -- always check that planned upgrades will be possible during the warranty period.

My first non-Mac purchase (in 2001) was a Dell refurb, complete with WinXP installation disk; that machine is still running today, with RAM and processor upgrades maxed out. I did have to reformat the hard drive a few months ago, but otherwise, pretty trouble-free (by Windows standards).

[Phillip McCleod]

9. i always buy refurb & always thru ebay..

..so no newegg experience. what i look for is a return policy i can live with and high marks for *lots* of sales. like 99.9% approval for >10,000 sales and 30 day money back guarantee.

so far i've never had to use the return policy. i'm always happy.

[astral]

22. Ebay-Refurb=Good.

I recently got a used mac with an older operating system from Ebay for +-200 including shipping, I am very happy. I am pretty new to Macs and am not going back to Windows. I can surf the net with my wifi and it comes with lots of bells & whistles I don't need or want right now.

Long ago I bought a couple Dell Optiplex's secondhand (bought a second one when the first one was sending me into the depths of hell) and I had real good luck with those for a couple years, but not without the occasional computer crash which would take hours or even days to figure out.

I'm sticking with Mac and I'm sticking with refurbs. Just carefully check out the seller's ratings before buying. The ones who stay in business don't want any black marks on their chart and they will try to sell you exactly what you agreed to buy. (Of course these can come with only a 30-day warranty so it can be a bit of a crap-shoot going this route.)

[Why Syzygy]

10. I'm miserable with mine.

I bought a Dell Optiplex from a seller on amazon. What I didn't anticipate was the crappy Intel video chipset. And tonight I encountered what may be an inferior audio chipset as well. Can't play a movie. It also runs very loudly. It appears to be related to playing certain types of video. It is so loud I can't even hear the video! I could return it for a refund. But if I do, I'll end up paying all most as much in shipping here and back as the refund amount would be. IOW, shipping amounts to about 1/2 the price, should I return it. THAT tells me I want to look local next time. It's possible, I guess, that if I add a decent video card, the sound won't be so loud. I have yet to open the case. It really pisses me off that I HAVE to open the case on a computer I bought two months ago.

[hobbit709]

11. Dells are underpowered and undercooled.

What model Optiplex? Some are more easily upgradeable than others. What are you using to watch the video? If you are using Windoze Media Player that may be part of your problem.

[Why Syzygy]

13. It's this one

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002H9RL5O/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dell Optiplex 745 Desktop Computer, Fast and Powerful Intel 3.0GHz Pentium D Dual Core Processor, 2GB DDR2 Interlaced High Performance Memory, 160GB Super Fast 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, DVD/CDRW, Record CD's and Watch DVD Movies, Intregrated Lan/Audio, Onboard Video, Wireless Capable (Adapter Sold Separately), Windows XP Installed with COA, Windows 7 Capable


I spent a lot of time on the Intel site trying to update drivers, etc. The chipsets are just crap.
I've only tried VLC and the program that comes on the disk, InterActual Player.
IT gives me this error:
Error PL4014: Playback failed due to an error with the audio subsystem - This error can occur if support for the DirectSound component of Microsoft DirectX® is either not available in, or not supported by, your audio card's drivers. To correct this problem it may be necessary to update either DirectX or your audio card's driver. This error can also occur in the InterActual software if your system has the Ulead DVD Player installed. This software apparently does not have DirectSound support in its DirectShow sound filters, so when our player attempts to use it to play a DVD then the error will occur. For information about DVD decoders that properly support Microsoft DirectShow functions, visit the "Buy A DVD Decoder" section on our main website.

[Mnpaul]

14. Those little boxes are crap

I saw one site where system admins were claiming 25-50% failure rate after one year.

Maybe you can get Amazon to take it back due to false advertising

At the top of the page it states 3 ghz Pentium D, 160gb hd

Under technical specs it tells a completely different story
Core 2 Duo processor , 80 gb sata hd and ATI x1300 video card

I think the second one is a better setup

[Mr. X]

15. Can't remember what specific model

But some Optiplexes were built with craptasic capacitors which were prone to popping after a year or so of use. Some computers can function without a capacitor or two, abit with random shutdowns, but if enough or a really important one goes pop then it's lights out for the computer.

[Why Syzygy]

16. Wow!

I didn't even notice that. I admit I was going for the 3 ghz! There are many of these on amazon. Prior to this I had a locally refurbished HP. I HATE HP. When I looked at newegg before this purchase, it seemed all the refurbs were HPs!

What a pain. I guess I'm going to ship it back. When I submitted a return authorization, I got a bunch of stuff to print and it said it had to be returned by 3/18, two days later and on a SUNDAY! I left a very bad review on the seller. This is even worse.


edit: Mine does show a 3 ghz processor installed. If the seller has a 90 warranty, I don't think they can insist I return it w/i 30 days...


90 Day Warranty / Please note that our refurbishing process revolves around the functionality of the computers. Items may show signs of normal cosmetic wear and tear, which do not affect the functionality of the computer. / Specification: Pentium D 3.0Ghz, 2GB Ram, 160GB Hard Drive, DVDRW Windows XP Professional Preinstalled with License & Original Installation CD, Keyboard-Brand may vary, Mouse-Brand may

[Mnpaul]

17. How about Microcenter?

I see they have Dell, Hp and Lenovo/IBM. There might even be a store nearby depending on where you live. I see they have an Optiplex 755 with Windows 7 for $139
http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?N=4294967292+519&sortby=pricelow&page=1&cat=Refurbished-:-Desktop-Computers-:-Computers-:-MicroCenter

[Why Syzygy]

23. Today

I'm going to call their service line and make arrangements to return this one. I haven't opened it yet, but I feel sure the mb is popped. Too much noise. It's rather unusable when it sounds like a jet sitting here.

I'm going to take a look at this place you linked. thanks.

[sir pball]

19. That's not a refurb problem..

You just bought a POS computer in the first place

[Why Syzygy]

21. Now I feel better!

Thanks.

[hobbit709]

12. First thing I do with any computer I refurbish is run a disk test on the hard drive.

Any big errors and I replace the hard drive-which is usually the part that wears out fastest.

[hunter]

20. My computers are all old. My $10 Pentium III laptop is held together with duct tape and hot glue.

My desk computer is a little less primitive, but it's a hand-me-down too.

Hard drives are the weakest part of any computer, even a new one. The VERY FIRST THING you want for any computer is a good backup strategy. I use external USB hard drives and the internet. I've got personal files going back to the 'seventies. There's also an emulator for every computer I've owned, just a mouse click or two away from my current desktop. I can still play my old atari 800 games whenever I wish without digging the old machine out of the garage.

I also use Linux which makes it very easy to build a new machine or refurbish an old one. I don't tolerate any hassles with Windows and other proprietary software. If anyone wants me to use proprietary software they have to pay me. If somebody gave me a new machine with Windows on it I'd simply delete it. With Linux I never have to fuss with serial numbers, there are no "product activation codes," I don't have to connect to a bunch of different sites and ask anyone's permission to set up MY machine exactly the way I want it. There is nothing like that. I install Debian and the free, open source software I use, most all of it from a single Debian repository, and then I copy the home folder from my old machine onto my "new" machine. Done. Other Linux distributions are similar, Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, etc...

Then I put the hard drive of the old machine on the shelf and drop the rest of the machine (which is truly trash at this point...) into my junk box or take it to the electronic waste recycling place.