Problems Resetting Laptop To Factory Settings ...

[joko]

i have a laptop running win 8.1 - its an asus X550C

i have only had it since mid january

i am trying to reset it to factory settings, but when i go through the process

when i try a full reset, it says it cant reset because a necessary partition is missing ...

when i try to do a refresh, its says the drive is locked, and i need to unlock it and try again!


i have not locked it so i dont know what this means

i have also checked the partitions in disk management and there are 3 recovery partitions- all listed as being 'healthy'

i like to reset my laptops every few months - sometimes because it starts to get a bit annoying and running all the usual cleanups and scans etc don't sort it - this one is now also running strangely - freezing for a few seconds very often and just annoying

i used to do this all the time to my other laptop - windows 7 one, an asus X54C - and it always worked fine.

i have not deleted a partition (not to my knowledge anyway) but in the windows explorer, none of the recovery partitions show up, even though its set to show hidden files

what can i do?

i could sent the laptop back but i wanted to try this first - plus it was bought through a friend using his staff discount so don't want to have to have him dealing with issue for me, if possible

thanks

[Buenchico]

With regard to Methyl's post:
If you've had the laptop for 3 months (and not previously reported any fault to the retailer) it's likely that a court would rule that you'd legally 'accepted' the product. If so, your entitlement to a full refund will have lapsed. You'd therefore only be entitled to a repair or replacement.

However Methyl's suggestion seems at odds anyway with your desire not to have to go through your friend (who presumably obtained his staff discount on the basis that the purchase was for his own use). The retailer would be entitled to ignore any direct approach from you on the grounds that their contract of sale was between them and your friend (with your contract subsequently being with your friend). Further, it could result in disciplinary action being taken against your friend for abusing his entitlement to staff discount.

I'd therefore suggest contacting the manufacturer (even though you have no contract with them). Phone [phone] (Mon to Fri 0900 to 1700, 5p per minute from a BT landline) to speak to the Asus UK support team.

[joko]

he ordered it on the 10 of january, so i still have a couple of days to get in with a refund i think

so there is no way i can reset to factory settings then?

[Buenchico]

>>>In UK consumer law your claim is against the retailer

I totally agree!!!

However it was Joko's friend who entered into that contract with the retailer, who is also his employer. He obtained the laptop (almost certainly in breach of his employer's rules) by using his staff discount to make a purchase which was allegedly for his own personal use. Joko can't make a direct claim against the retailer as:
(a) Joko's own contract was with his friend, from whom he purchased the laptop after the friend had bought it from the retailer ;and
(b) if he tells the retailer that his friend used his staff discount to purchase something on behalf of a third party, he risks getting his friend sacked!

Joko can, of course, get his friend to continue the pretence that the laptop was for his own benefit (although that might be a bit risky if there are account details on the laptop using Joko's name) but he's made it clear that he'd rather not do so.

I have therefore suggested that Joko asks the manufacturer for support in resolving his problem. That's what manufacturer's support helplines are for!

[joko]

i will of course ask my mate to send it back if i have to - i just thought i would try to see if a reset sorts it first, as i feel a bit bad, him having done me a favour and now he has to go through this rigmarole, just hope it wont be a massive palava for him

my friend paid on his card with his name, and i paid him back with mine.

[Buenchico]

Crossed posts, Joko!

>>>he ordered it on the 10 of january, so i still have a couple of days to get in with a refund i think

The length of the 'pre-acceptance' period, during which a consumer has the right to a full refund in respect of faulty goods (rather just a repair or refund) isn't defined in law. It can sometimes be a few days but there are occasions when it can be far longer. (e.g. a court ruled that a woman who didn't discover that the air conditioning on her car didn't work until the summer, after purchasing it in the winter, hadn't legally 'accepted' the car and was therefore entitled to a full refund). However many retailers work upon an assumption that around one month is a reasonable period for customers to check that a purchase works and to therefore 'accept' it. Unless the particular retailer involved here has stated that they'll offer a full refund within 3 months, you might find it difficult to obtain one. (Or, rather, your friend might find it difficult to obtain one).


>>>so there is no way i can reset to factory settings then?

Quite possibly, if you seek the support of the Asus techies. That's why I gave you their phone number!!!

[joko]

ah sorry i misunderstood i thought you meant 3 months was the limit

it looks like they give 28 days, and then ask that you send any electrical items to the manufacturer to be dealt with as they have a special deal with them
thanks all