Laptop power cable connection

Carmanach1

I recently bought a Toshiba laptop. Everything's fine but I notice that the power cable is a bit loose where it plugs into the computer. It isn't affecting the power supply at all nor is it falling out or anything but is it normal for it to be a bit loose like that? What I mean is I can move it around a bit from side to side but the connector itself has a good grip inside the hole and isn't popping out so I should be worried about this?

It was an ex-display model (not what I would've wanted but it was the last one left in the shop) so could someone have yanked the cord out at some stage?

excollier

Sounds like wear alright, not an issue as long as you are careful I guess. Mine is loose too,(age though) and I have to take great care as I usually run without the battery, but I've just learned to be careful. Ask for a refund or exchange if it is a recent purchase, what's to lose by asking?

Carmanach1

excollier wrote: »

Sounds like wear alright, not an issue as long as you are careful I guess. Mine is loose too,(age though) and I have to take great care as I usually run without the battery, but I've just learned to be careful. Ask for a refund or exchange if it is a recent purchase, what's to lose by asking?

If it's worn it must be on the inside as there's no sign of it on the hole itself which is silver-coloured plastic; no scratching or wearing away of the silver colour around the mouth of hole. The problem is I've already bought Microsoft Office online and downloaded it so if I were to get a refund or exchange, it could be messy with Office. I like the computer a lot but am just worried that if it is worn I'll be creating problems for myself in the future.

excollier

Can you not just re-install office if you have the licence key? I forget now, I only use linux, but you own that copy so you should be able to transfer it....unless it's Office 2013, I heard something new about that somewhere.
Alternatively, get them to fix it, or fund the fixing of it.
My charger connection has been very loose for a couple of years now, but it gives no problems in day to day usage.

Carmanach1

excollier wrote: »

Can you not just re-install office if you have the licence key? I forget now, I only use linux, but you own that copy so you should be able to transfer it....unless it's Office 2013, I heard something new about that somewhere.
Alternatively, get them to fix it, or fund the fixing of it.
My charger connection has been very loose for a couple of years now, but it gives no problems in day to day usage.

It's Office 2013. I'll go look it up. I think the first thing is bring it back to the shop and see what they say. I had got laptaps in another shop before this one and both had faults with the disk drive. I seem to be jinxed or something when it comes to buying computers!

Carmanach1

It's frustrating as I need a computer and if I bring it back they'll probably have it for weeks. I'd expect a loose cable on an old laptop but not on a new one!

excollier

Then ask for a replacement. You are the customer, after all.
As for fixing it, it is only a couple of hours work, tell them you are getting it fixed, and you will be presenting them with the bill (that's if they cannot offer a fast turnaround i.e. one day max).
But in any case, speak to them first, they may be very accomodating, you won't know until you ask.
Out of curiosity, what do Microsoft extort for a copy of Office these days?

Carmanach1

excollier wrote: »

Then ask for a replacement. You are the customer, after all.
As for fixing it, it is only a couple of hours work, tell them you are getting it fixed, and you will be presenting them with the bill (that's if they cannot offer a fast turnaround i.e. one day max).
But in any case, speak to them first, they may be very accomodating, you won't know until you ask.
Out of curiosity, what do Microsoft extort for a copy of Office these days?

They extort a cool €144 for Office.

excollier

Wow!! As a linux user, where all is free of charge, that's scary.
I suggest you get Open Office or Lbre Office for Windows as a back up office suite, just in case....free of course. See here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=231147
Good luck with the new laptop, anyway.

Carmanach1

Thanks but does Linux come with all the supports of Office? I have irreplaceable documents in Word.

excollier

Those programs i linked to are available to install in Windows, Mac and Linux. They are free, and will support MS Office files (.docx, xlsx etc). MS Office has trouble with Open Office / Libre Office files, due to the fact that Microsoft simply don't care to support them, probably to keep people tied into their product.
Try downloading Open Office and open one of your saved MS Word documents with it, it should work ok.

bonzodog2

If you are using Open/Libre Office, and want no problems with other people opening the files, take care what file type you save a document as; choose something like Word2000, rather than the default.

mordeith

Carmanach1 wrote: »

It was an ex-display model (not what I would've wanted but it was the last one left in the shop) so could someone have yanked the cord out at some stage?

I presume you got a few euro off the RRP as it was en ex-display model. As some posters have said you could try and take it back to the shop but I would bet on them being a bit snotty about it (whether they have the right to be or not)

Carmanach1

mordeith wrote: »

I presume you got a few euro off the RRP as it was en ex-display model. As some posters have said you could try and take it back to the shop but I would bet on them being a bit snotty about it (whether they have the right to be or not)

Well, I asked when I bought it but they said they couldn't as it was already on sale and had been reduced by €100 to €999. I should've been more assertive on the day I bought it. Hindsight is a great thing.

Looking back now, I should've asked them to order a new pc in box rather than take the ex-display model. Anyway, that's water under the bridge now.

Will bring it back tonight and see what they say.

bonzodog2

I think you should still have the same warranty/consumer rights as buying a totally unused item.