Laptop Return - Have They Just Sent Back The One I Returned?

[joko]

I recently bought a new laptop, but had to return it.
i was well within the return period, so they said just return it, we will refund and order a new one.
However, i have only had the item on for a few hours and the reason i sent it back - may - be happening again.
its an unusual problem that no-one seems to be able to help with, but it is annoying.
i have looked on the website i bought it from and they now have no more in stock.

i am wondering if they have actually just sent back the one i returned - not realising it was going to the same customer.

the problem is, the computer works fine ... except for this strange noise it makes at random times - so a technician, could sit for hours with the machine and never hear it, and the diagnostics were clear - and so they'd think there is nothing wrong with it an prepare it for resale?

but how soon is that likely to have happened?
it is HP.
Do they assess things immediately - or is there i bit of a queue of returned machines for them to wade through?

If the noise is just one of those things with this model, and totally harmless i could try to live with it - but it is annoying and i don't know if it is a symptom of some other problem.

i ordered it through a friend so when it was returned, he waited for the refund to come through and then ordered another, so they already had it when the order was placed

i didn't even think to take a serial number or anything - and actually it does not have one on the outside of the unit.

this one is immaculate, so i cannot tell if its been used - but i only had it for about 3 weeks before return so unlikely to show much sign of use and also i expect they have ways of cleaning etc.

does anyone work in such a place who would know procedure?

if it was just me, id ring them and ask etc but this is through a friend and i dont want to have to cause him any more hassle of dealing with it - but i obviously dont want an machine that is going to fail!

thanks

thanks

[Tuvok]

What type of noise is it - it might just be the fans running.

If you could take a video/audio recording of it it might help if it is faulty.

[Prudie]

Yes what kind of noise? My Dell is about 4 years old and has always made an occasional weird click and crunch noise (like pacman eating for those who know). It works perfectly.

[Buenchico]

Most (all?) laptops make an occasional 'whooshing' noise. It's simply the fan being boosted to deal with additional heat while the CPU is busy. It often occurs, for example, when Windows is installing updates 'in the background'. (i.e. you might not recognise that the laptop as being particularly busy but it will be working hard, and thus generating heat, while you're unaware of it).

[joko]

thanks, no it is not a normal noise - ive had a fair few laptops and never heard it before. its not the fans.
it seems to be random, and doesnt seem to correspond with anything i am doing.

its kind of a quick Bzzzzt ... but sort of higher pitched.
its not very loud - but it is quite annoying.
and is only 1 second long.
usually it is just once. but sometimes it was a few in quick succession.
it hasnt done it again yet.

its hard to film because i dont know when its going to do it.

when i told HP about the noise they had no idea what it could be.

[mikey4444]

Do you have a record of the serial number of your original laptop joko ?

There are very few moving parts in a laptop, apart from the fan. If it continues, send it back again, this time make a note of the serial number !

[joko]

yes ive tried all sorts of things to see where its coming from and nothing seems to match

and no no serial number

i dont think its the mains, as it seems to be coming from the other side of the laptop, not the jack end.

the item was sent back to very so unless they have a tech dept who checked it over it would have then been sent to HP - it was about a week, before the new one was ordered, and a further 3 days for it to be at Very - so possibly enough time for them to check it and just prepare to resell ...??

i dont know if VERY have the machines with them and send from their own warehouse or order from the manufacturers to send to them THEN to send to customers...
if the latter then maybe its too short a turnaround - but it seems odd that HP would be out of stock, but not very - unless this is a known problem with this model and they have had loads of returns ...

[looobylooo]

Hi Joko
I'm with Methyl on saying it could be a faulty mains connection, because my laptop does the same thing too (and no, the sound doesn't come from the jack end)
Mine's a few years old now and the noise kept happening whenever the mains lead came slightly loose or slightly dislodged, and in the end I had to get the ol selotape out and bind it round and round the jack plug and the latop to hold it steady and in place.