Compocalypse '09: Despair

[cleolinda]

So I finally work up the nerve to set up Camille.

Camille does not come with a user's manual.

I am serious, you guys. There's one of those quick-start foldouts and it's like, "1. Plug in the computer. 2. Flip the power switch on the back. 3. Press the power button on the front." The end. Like, it says this in 56 different languages on the back and the front, but... that's all it says. There are three discs, but I don't know what they are, and one seems to be a recovery disc and the other's "Nero 8" or something and I don't even know what the third one is. I turned on everything and it took me to a black screen with that real DOS-y looking print that said "Press DEL to setup," and it took me to some screen where--you know how you hit F10 to get to somewhere that you can put the computer into safe mode? (BIOS settings?) That scary place I never, ever go? Yeah. It looks like that. I don't know what to do with that.

So I'm currently on the ASUS troubleshooting page, but I'm not seeing a category for Here's How to Turn the Fucking Thing On Since We Neglected to Give You a User's Manual, Sorry About That. Next possible step: calling people.

Comments

[palmetto.livejournal.com]

The same thing just happened to rathanylakan. No, seriously, new ASUS wouldn't turn on. She called tech support and the guy told her that they're having that problem with the model she bought, particularly the ones sold through Best Buy. She ended up returning it and getting something else.

So, um. You might wanna call ASUS and see if you just acquired the same thing she did. >_>

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

FUCKING HELL, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

[rorqual.livejournal.com]

Typically, if you don't press 'del', or whatever, it will proceed onward and boot you into windows as normal. Nero 8 is software for handing media (like burning CDs and such), so you should be able to ignore that for now. Try turning on and not pressing anything. If that doesn't boot you through to windows....yeah, call a friend who can talk you through fiddling around. That's probably the easiest.

Good luck!

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I tried waiting. It cycled back to the "Press DEL..." screen.

[jrs1980.livejournal.com]

Some companies aren't including user manuals anymore. You should be able to download it (http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us) from the website. Edit: Found it. (http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?model=CM5570&os=22&SLanguage=en-us)

[greenfairyels.livejournal.com]

I've never understood that. You have to go online to find the manual for the computer you need to get working to go online...yeah that works :-/

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Well sheeeet. What is up with that?

I have no advice better than that already given. Just sympathy, which I offer willingly.

*offers*

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

I guess now you know why it is called an ASUS.

Seriously, at worst you'll have to install a fresh copy of Windows from your Win XP CDs. You might have to change the BIOS settings briefly to make it boot from the CD, but that's the worst case.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Well, and they included a Vista recovery CD, which I guess is how you install that yourself. It's a 64 bit whatever (as opposed to 32 bit, I mean), so I was told that XP wouldn't run, or wouldn't run well, on that.

[sawcat.livejournal.com]

You can make it boot up from normal on that screen where you can boot into safe mode. Should be one of the options in the list. If it actually took you into bios (some color bars top and bottom), its supposed to boot normally after exiting. Bios isn't that scary if you are following directions on what in particular you are doing.

If they are doing things anything like Dell, the user manual is probably on one of the disks you got

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah... if they would give me any directions, that'd be great.

Maybe it's on the Support CD, then?

[sideofzen.livejournal.com]

Dude, that is messed up. If it doesn't work out of the box, I'd take it back.

[farasha.livejournal.com]

This (http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-3-setting-it-up/) might help you set up the BIOS. But if you feel too nervous to touch the BIOS (it's a pretty simple interface, and that page gives you a list of the settings you'll need to do it right), I would boot from the disc.

If you still have your XP disc, boot from that, but if you don't, just use the Vista disc. Vista blows pretty hard but it's better than no OS.

Or you can order a free Ubuntu disc and tell Windows products to fuck off in general.

[farasha.livejournal.com]

If need be, I could also walk you through BIOS setup. I've done it multiple times.

[micksangel.livejournal.com]

Dude, did you beat a computer to death with a sledgehammer when you were a kid or something? The PC gods really seem to smite on you hardcore.


Seriously, though, I hope it all gets worked out. Comp issues can be the most insanity-inducing issues of all time. Good luck!

[kvschwartz.livejournal.com]

Icon win.

[kijikun.livejournal.com]

Nero is a ripping and dvd burning software. The disks are probably just copies of what's on the computer.

Best bet? Put it back in the box and take it back to the store. Either get a new unit or a refund. Don't mess with the tech support or anything else or trying to reinstall anything. You shouldn't have too.

[bibliotech.livejournal.com]

The husband ended up getting the same computer (except with Vista, sadly), and he is having so much freaking trouble with it. He's already had to box it up and go to Best Buy to see why the disk drive doesn't work, and it keeps randomly deciding that it can't locate a wireless connection. (But part of me still loves it because it's so pretty-looking, even though I want to hit him and it with a shovel.)

[roseredhoofbeat.livejournal.com]

Call Best Buy and sweet talk the Geek Squad into coming out and getting this baby up and running for you. Flirt if you have to. If that doesn't work, get your mother to talk to the manager.

[internal666.livejournal.com]

Not quite sure about the Geek Squad, but deploying Mama Jones? Definitely a good option now.

[dachelle.livejournal.com]

I have no solutions, but I can imagine how frustrating this must be, and I hope someone is able to get it sorted for you soon.

[gamethyme.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the perfect chance to put Best Buy's Twelpforce (http://twitter.com/twelpforce) to the test.

[piccgirl.livejournal.com]

OH NO!

That really sucks. I hope you can find the answer! They really should give you a user manual; I know that I couldn't even turn on my (supposedly intuitive) Mac with out mine.
Maybe the ASUS/BestBuy people will see your tweets like the UPS people did.

[elbales]

*incoherent flailing*

Ugh, Cleo, I'm so, so sorry. D:

[kerri]

o.O Wow, I cannot believe the computer guides seem so determined to screw you over!! I hope it gets sorted soon.

(frozen) I told you to get a Mac...

[franklanguage.livejournal.com]

Maybe you'll listen next time. (To be fair, they also include a very limited user manual, but there are multitudes of books (http://books.google.com/books?q=Mac+user+manual&source=in&ei=GYV_SszaDo2cMfOGyPIC&sa=X&oi=book_group&ct=title&cad=bottom-3results&resnum=11) to guide you through all conceivable crises.

Best of all, with a Mac you're up and running when you bring it home. I guess no one else here uses a Mac; because Mac users are such a severe minority, we have fewer viruses to worry about. True.

The interface is "only different enough from Windows to avoid a lawsuit." So you would probably learn it quickly. Just something to think about for next time.

(frozen) Re: I told you to get a Mac...

[redcoast.livejournal.com]

Also there's a cool Macs-only application for writers called Scrivener that I like.

[redcoast.livejournal.com]

Shit I've got to get me one of those.

[xerinmichellex.livejournal.com]

Jeez...The Computer Gods just don't want you to have a computer, huh? I also vote for calling tech support/Best Buy. And typically those disks that come with the computer are the program CD's that are already installed. Y'know, in case something happens and you need to re-install everything.

Take it back!

[promise19.livejournal.com]

I bought a Dell laptop last August from Best Buy and when I got it home and took it out of the box, it had what looked like a huge, dark, oily looking smudge on the top cover. Not normally a big deal, but it is the microsatin finish. I knew it wasn't coming off. I put it back in the box and took it back. They swapped machines with me and even let me check the finish on the new one before I left the store.

I feel SURE they will swap machines for you. (I mean, if they would take mine back for a smudgy top!) This should NOT have happened! The computer should have booted right up.

Good luck-- and I'm so sorry you had to have one.more.thing go wrong.

[redcoast.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't really use the Geek Squad, by the way. They're nice people, but undertrained, and Best Buy is more into hiring kids who are good salesmen than hiring kids who are good with computers. You're better off befriending a geek who will fix your computer for cookies and a beer.

[delle.livejournal.com]

take. it. back.

you shouldn't have to flail around on the internet to find set up instructions.

am so sorry. how *frustrating*

*Unlurks*

[hitchhiker-42.livejournal.com]

Okay, I know I've never commented on your posts before, but I read you pretty regularly, since you are made of awesome.

Anyway, I'm commenting because I had the exact same problem with my brand spanking new computer last year, and I thought perhaps I ought to pass on the following good advice my dad, a programmer, gave to me: "New computers are not supposed to have problems, and it will only get worse as time goes on. Exchange the computer now, and save yourself from problems down the road." And so I did. And it was totally the right decision. I've not had any problems with the laptop (same model) that I exchanged it for.

Good luck with your new computer, whatever decision you make!

Re: *Unlurks*

[razzymelon.livejournal.com]

This. Out of box computer should WORK and if they do not, take it back immediately. They will not get better as time passes.

[syustat71605.livejournal.com]

I am very sympathetic to your situation, and cannot offer any more help than has already been suggested...

I just wonder what the Shelfians have to say about this debacle.