New Purchase (8790)... Need Accessories... Full review coming.. - Page 6

The Beginning Of Teh Circle Jerk

Spoke with Richard from Phillips dispatch, he said he would be shipping me a box to go to Micromedics. I told him very nicely that my laptop will not be going to Micromedics per my request to Gary the technician. I told him to refer to the technician's notes and confirm my request. He promptly referred me to customer service while he'd look fro another repair provider.

Spoke to Lindsay, who was a very nice lady southern accent and all. She basically told me that since I'm not an authorized repairperson of Sagers, that any work on my laptop will void the warranty. (Glad I didn't tell her I clean the heatsink and such bi-monthly ) She also noted to me that she has 'heard' stories about Micromedics, and understands my concern.

Richard will be calling me back within the hour to discuss possible local options that I can go with. I'd be happy to drive 2-3 hours to a repair place that's OK'ed to work on Sagers, anything but Micromedics.

Oh noes!

Phillips is REALLY efficient with their calling their customers. Spoke with Richard again. He tried helping me with finding local repair shops that would be able to work with my machine. He said that IF I found one, that the repair shop would have to call Phillips and jump through their validation department to ensure that they were legit.

Clear as mud?

I think I'm setting myself up for failure, considering my sub rural location yields shit for repair shops, and I don't think Sager would be very considerate of telling me that a repair shop that they authorize will be nearby. So I agreed to have a Micromedics box shipped to me, so that I can send it back to them.

Hey Friedtoast, can I borrow your specially designed 8790 pins and needles bed?

Getting Started...


These are picture of the box that Micromedics sent me:



I'm seriously thinking about buying my own, but I eventually want to sell it for money for a new laptop. Should I take a chance and buy a new drive and fix it, voiding my laptop in case something REALLY bad happens?

I'm going to call Phillips right now and tell them (and try to show them) what they sent me.

I have the original Sager box at home, considering sending IT in, but I'm worried that that'll pitch a fit, saying "You used the wrong box, we aren't doing ****"

Sent this to Micromedics Contact Us:

Occam's Razor

Bought this drive from Zipzoomfly.com per G-Ohama's review of his second 8790, hope it works when it comes in. A poster and "former employee of Micromedics" at the NBR.com message board said that it would be a better idea to replace it myself. He said he would will be calling me to talk me out of sending my 8790 to Micromedics; he won't have to say too much, but it will ease me mind when I look at my warranty.

Worst case scenario for me would be that the new drive doesn't work quite right or totally screws up the system would be to put the old drive back in and send it, as if nothing happened.

The new drive came in Wednesday:


First I had to remove the old drive. It was actually quite simple to do. First, see the white looking bracket in this picture? It's a screw that serves a dual purpose:
1) Holds the ODD in place.
2) Holds the memory/heatsink/processor/important shit piece on.


Side By Side of the new drive and the old drive. Notice the bracket screwed on by the two screws. Note: These screws are as small as about a piece of rice. If you're doing this, keep a magnet around so that you don't lose these!


Empty hole where old drive used to be. Note the PATA power plugin and the bracket location.


The old drive removed with the bracket on it.


The new drive with the bracket on it.


Easy does it.... the drive went in nicely. Required a little push at the end for it to line up with the screw hole and the plugin to the PATA power slot.


Success! See how the bracket is lined up?


Finished product. The drive isn't spring/tray loaded; it's like in-car CD players. Sucks it right on in.


Now that the new drive is in, Windows is running and finding the drive normally, time to do some basic read tests from burned and pressed/bought media:

Data CD - Pressed (Guild Wars) = Passed
Video DVD - Pressed (Jackass) = Passed
Audio CD - Pressed (Van Halen's 5150) = Passed (and ripped successfully )


Data DVD - Burned = Passed
Audio CD - Burned = Passed

I've yet to burn CD's or DVD's, but when I do, I'll post the results of the tests.

Small Update:
The secondary HDD failed on me, I got it replaced with the same type (a 60GB 7,200 RPM Hitachi TravelStar).

Well, the warranty is up on this beast. It's still kicking and in great shape. But alas, I demand a new laptop. So, I bought one for my birthday treat to myself.

Specs are in the newly updated sig.