Well, I seem to be having a hard drive failure on my main computer that I do all my work with.   :-/

I am backing up files and transferring operations to my old computer which is made of wood.  So....I will be somewhat crippled as I try to work with my wood and stone tools.   :P

Apologies for the any delays or inconvenience as I struggle to restore and get things back up to speed.

http://www.autonerdz.com/images/stoneage.gif

Hi Tom,

Have you solved your problem with your main computer?

Carl

Hey, Carl.

Well, yes and no.  Apparently the Toshiba 6100 Satellite Pro series has a problem with the board connections.  This causes all kinds of problems.  Sounds like a GM ECM huh?  Acts like one too  >:(  When I called the service center, they were so familiar with the problem that they ordered up the upgraded boards and I take it up there tomorrow to get them installed.  Then I have to put all the changed files back to start using it again.

Luckily it's still under warranty or it would be a $500 fix.

OUCH!  I just got another splinter in my finger.   :o

Well, so far so good.  I'm still reconfiguring and moving data back, but seems to be fixed now  ;D

Tom,
Aren't computers just the neatest things to have around?  I am very glad you were able to get your pc back up and running again! :)
                                                                   Ziggee

Well, here we go again.  I am effectively out of commission, as this Toshiba bit the dust again  >:(

This time I doubt anything I have left on that PC will be recoverable.  I have much critical stuff backed up but am still assessing the damage.  

So, back to the stone age for a while.  All projects are on hold until all the dust settles.   :-/

Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Hi Tom how is your computer going it is scary that we are lost with out them. Well keep in touch when you get going again.

Hi Rich,

Thanks for your concern.  I am getting things reloaded and configured.  The hard drive was a total loss.  I had things backed up in various places so didn't lose too much.  

This Toshiba has all new guts in it now.  Luckily, Toshiba stepped up and extended the warranty for this incident.  I must commend them for that.  Nevertheless, I can never trust this machine again and got a backup solution that will regularly back up everything.  I don't expect it to last but another six months before it happens again.

In the meantime, I will be looking at other brand computers.

Hmmm, I miscalculated.  The Toshiba repair lasted only two weeks.  It had it's first symptom last night and today it is a paperweight  :-[

Perhaps some of you have wondered where I have been.  Well I have been reloading and configuring applications and then just beginning to get back up to speed, working on my presentation for the iATN convention next month and then planning that long awaited Flash movie on Pico Save On Trigger.  Now everything is in the toilet again.  Everything is backed up but with the Toshiba down again all projects are on hold ..... again.

I have ordered a new high end IBM R51 series.  I'll let them try to repair the Toshiba again but I'm writing it off as a total loss.  The IBM is a couple weeks away so I will be hobbling on crutches for a but longer.  

You guys are doing a great job here on the forums and again, my apologies for my lack of attention to the usual things.  This Toshiba problem has been a real nightmare. :'(

I'll keep you posted.

Hi Tom it's ok when you get up a runing we will be ready  I really like the little movies. Sounds like you need a vacation ya right better go.

Tom,
     Try this Toshiba Therapy. No guarantee, but it might make you feel better anyway ;)
http://www.members.aol.com/bgoode007/mylastpc.jpg

Well, the Toshiba went to the doctor today and got all new guts, just like it did two weeks ago.  The hard drive also only lasted two weeks along with the system and power boards.  

I have never had such a bad experience with any PC.  The only conclusion from all this is that the quality of the internals is very poor.

I just completed a complete system restore from my backup drive and aside from a few software quirks to be ironed out, it seems to be up and running for now.  Hopefully it will last long enough for my IBM to arrive  ???

That will take a week to configure.  

Just a little update.  The following is my letter to Toshiba headquarters about my experience.  I'll keep you posted as this continues to evolve.  


Toshiba America
Information Systems
9740 Irvine Blvd
Irvine, CA  92618
September 1, 2004


Dear Sir or Madam:

I have contacts worldwide and have never even heard of a computer as bad as this Toshiba 6100 Satellite Pro (serial # Z2120013P), which I purchased a little over a year ago.  During that time, it has had three catastrophic hardware failures, which have diverted much of my attention away from my business.  The last two events were two weeks apart.  Now it appears to be having another failure merely two weeks after the last visit to the service center.  

I have a presentation to do in front of an international audience at the end of this month and do not have a reliable computer to use.  I don’t think, after all these attempts, that this Toshiba laptop will ever be a reliable machine.  I really got a lemon here.

I really appreciated the fact that Toshiba stepped up and covered the last two failures, even though they were slightly out of the warranty period.  Nevertheless, it makes no practical difference if the machine cannot be repaired well enough to be somewhat reliable.

My group of customers and contacts, which number thousands on five continents, have been aware of my difficulty, as it has disrupted service.  I’m hanging in there, but I don’t think a more effective effort to put me out of business could have been executed, had it been planned.  Of course, all of this is very poor PR for Toshiba as well.  This Toshiba needs to be replaced with a reliable computer for me to continue my business.

Is there anything you can do to help reclaim both of our reputations for reliable service?

Sincerely,
Tom Roberts

Hi Tom                                                                      

            while I appreciate your concern for toshiba's welfare, I have already told 10 of my friends about your problem

Hi Dan,

"It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others"

:P

Just a final update...There has been no response from my letter to Toshiba.  That pretty much says it all.

I love my new IBM so far  :)  It's an obviously better machine.  The Toshiba is still functioning but has been retired to backup status.  When it goes down again, I will use it for target practice.   :o

The saga continues:

The Evil Toshiba, now named 'Lucifer' ate it's third hard drive in July of 2005.  This time I bought a Western Digital drive to replace it.  So far so good, but if it stays on schedule I've only got a few weeks until it goes down again.

I'm glad I didn't use it for target practice.  It seems there is a large class action settlement against Toshiba for creating this monster.  Lawyers have apparently forced Toshiba to do the right thing and provide relief to those who purchased one of these unfortunate products.

Here are the highlights:

In January of 2005 several class action suits were filed.  They state that the Satellite Pro 6100 had a number of design defects that resulted in problems like mine.  Further, that Toshiba knew about the defects, concealed their existence, and continued to sell them.

Toshiba denies all but settled for the purpose of "Avoiding the uncertainties, expenses, and time of further litigation"

The settlement provides for various levels of relief for owners of these useless boxes based on the number of times they have been in for service.  Of course the lawyers made off like bandits.   :P

So, Lucifer may not be around much longer as I qualify for the maximum relief level and may end up with a new laptop.  Unfortunately, it would be a Toshiba.  But it has to be better than Lucifer right?  

Information may be obtained from the Independent Claims Administrator 1-800-916-4895 or:

sp6100settlement@gardencitygroup.com

PO Box 91044
Seattle, WA  98111-9144

OK....here is the latest on the saga.  Over a year after my last post, a box arrived today to send Lucifer away.  Lucifer is gone.  Hope I don't have to wait another year to get my credit toward a new PC.   :P

Hi Tom,
 Sorry to hear about the unfortunate experience with Toshiba.  Maybe you could include the forum address so they can see what customer support is all about.  By the way how is the IBM working for you?

Jeff

Thanks, Jeff.  My IBM R51 has been totally reliable.  The odd software issue from time to time, but the hardware has been bulletproof.  I'm thinking of maybe replacing Lucifer with a tablet PC model just to have one and try it.  Unfortunately, it would be a Toshiba  :'(  I'll just be sure to never use it for any mission critical tasks or keep anything important in it.

The stores are open   ;)  Got my $1500 credit voucher today and spent it on a new R20 tablet.  The spec sheet is attached.  I would have never chosen another Toshiba PC but for $121.13 I have a new PC.  I'll risk that  ;)  A bit more with an extra battery pak and tax but whatever....

I customized it:

SYS.BASE01      TOSHIBA CONFIG SYSTEMS                   1  1621.13    1621.13
   BASE0117    SATELLITE R20                         1                        
   APP0006     MICROSOFT WORKS                       1                        
   APP0010     MS TRIAL STUDENT/TEACHER              1                        
               MICROSOFT OFFICE TRIAL VERSION                                
   APP0014     WIN-DVD CREATOR                       1                        
   COM10026    INTEL PRO WIRELESS ABG                1                        
   COM20015    BLUETOOTH VERSION 2.0+EDR             1                        
   CPU0190     INTEL CORE 2 DUO T7200 2.00GHZ        1                        
               4MB L2 CACHE 667MHZ FSB                                        
   GFX0032     INTEL GRAPHICS CARD                   1                        
   HDD0037     80GB HDD (5400RPM, SERIAL-ATA)        1                        
   IDENT0002   NO TABLET PC RESERVE PEN              1                        
   LCD0056     14.1" DIAGONAL WXGA+DISPLAY           1                        
               (1440X900) W/ HIGH BRIGHTNESS                                  
   MEM0066     1024MB (512MBX2) PC5300               1                        
               DDR2 667MHZ                                                    
   OS0038      MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP TABLET           1                        
               EDITION                                                        
   SBAY0027    DVD SUPERMULTI(+/-RDOUBLE             1                        
               LAYER) DRIVE                                                  
   WARR0001    1 YEAR STANDARD WARRANTY              1                        
             MFG Part#: PSR20U-15P00U              

I will report back here in time as to how this works out......                    

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