I'm Exhausted: A Rant About HP Support

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura) 06/29/2018 at 11:51 • Filed to: None

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The disk drive croaked in my friend’s HP Pavillion laptop. I ordered the recovery media from HP, $53 with shipping. The media does not actually recover the laptop because device driver(s) missing. I think. Five calls, a dozen or more different people, six transfers between departments and people who talk right over you and don’t listen and maybe, finally, I’ve got it sorted.

CB > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 06/29/2018 at 12:01

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Helpful life advice from your Uncle CB about tech support: none of them can actually do anything. Well, unless you have a dedicated tech support line (thanks, employer!), then they can do something.

atfsgeoff > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 06/29/2018 at 12:02

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Did this machine originally come with windows 10, or even get at some point get upgraded to 10? If so, just use Microsoft’s media creation tool to create a bootable USB drive to install Windows 10 on a new hard drive. The license for 10 is already tied to your computer’s hardware signature on MS’s activation servers, so no need for a license key. Just install, connect to the internet and it will automatically activate.

For Sweden > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 06/29/2018 at 12:03

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This is what happens when you spend money on things that are not cars

functionoverfashion > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 06/29/2018 at 12:15

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This is why I always encourage people to make a recovery disc/USB stick and put it somewhere, LABEL IT, and remember where it went because one day....

But on that note, could you not get the missing drivers from HP online, and transfer them via USB stick or something? Or was it just failing completely?

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 06/29/2018 at 12:19

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Did you restart your computer?

lone_liberal > CB 06/29/2018 at 12:24

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When it comes to computer companies b usiness product support is usually ok. Consumer product support sucks the big wazoo.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > functionoverfashion 06/29/2018 at 12:27

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It wouldn’t boot to Windows after running the recovery (for 90 minutes). Otherwise, yes.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 06/29/2018 at 12:28

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Yes.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > atfsgeoff 06/29/2018 at 12:29

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I don’t know what exact version of 10 it had and there’s no COA sticker on the machine. I can buy a COA number on Ebay for $7...

BTW, I detest Windows 10... I’ll use Windows 7 until the last possible minute.

atfsgeoff > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 06/29/2018 at 12:31

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there’s only two main versions of 10, pro and home. If this was a consumer oriented laptop, it probably came with home.

10's not so bad after you put a classic start menu on it and disable some services.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > atfsgeoff 06/29/2018 at 12:34

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What do you use for a classic start menu? What services to you turn disable ? Kill Cortana.

Wacko > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 06/29/2018 at 12:56

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install ClassicShell to get a windows 7 style home button, then I get iExplorer11 in program files add a shortcut to the desktop.

Wacko > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 06/29/2018 at 12:59

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note that most HP/LenovoDell restore cds are for the operating system only and are basically generic to many model numbers.

Go to hp web site and go to support, download the drivers you need for your model number.

PS even if the factory restore came with drivers, they would likely be old versions that need to be updated anyways.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > atfsgeoff 06/29/2018 at 16:43

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Yes, that makes sense. I needed a minute for it to sink in...

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Wacko 06/29/2018 at 16:45

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I’ve seen ClassicShell mentioned online. I’ll give it a try.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Wacko 06/29/2018 at 16:48

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Well, it didn’t seem to come with enough drivers...

When I need a laptop or a desktop, I usually buy a top-of-the-line Dell that’s several years old.