Rights when returning a freezing netbook?

Bernice101

Help!

I bought an Acer Aspire One D270 netbook 5 days ago. When I took it home the first website I logged onto was the Norton website to install Norton 360. I got a Norton agent to log onto the machine remotely to install the software, which was fine. However I find the machine totally useless for surfing the net, and I’m only talking about flicking onto boards.ie webpages and such. Havent been going onto any dodgey websites, just banking and google. I get lots of freezing, white screens and not responding messages. I had an Acer Aspire One for 3 years before this machine and it was much the same with the internet, but I thought that it had been damaged by a virus or something early on. However now I’m thinking they both are just not up to much.

I have reasonable coverage where I live, O2 is the only network I can get a signal on, but its sufficent. My sis has a Samsung laptop at this address also and doesn’t have any such problems. A Toshiba is working fine here also.

Is this a software issue? I’m no computer wiz, so even if it is I can’t really do much about it, and more importantly I am not going to be messing around with software trying to get it to work. I paid money for this machine, it isnt working properly.

I want to return the unit, but the company i bought it from seem to have it pretty sewn up with their returns policy, i.e. you can only return items if they are in unopened sealed packaging. Naturally I had to open the box to discover it isnt working properly. I know they are going to give me the whole “it is a software issue…..” or “we will have a look at the unit in our specialist clinic” line. The store is an hours drive each way for me, so I’m not going to be taking it to any clinics. Im totally disgusted with the netbook, does anyone know if I have any rights with regards getting my money back?

skinny90

What makes you think it's a software issue?is it the norton?have you tried uninstall norton to see of its a software issue?

Zab

The returns policy you're talking about will be for change of mind. Your basic consumer rights will apply here if their policy doesn't give you a better deal. So, if the item is faulty then you'll be due a replacement, a repair or a refund. However, they'll get to choose and they likely will want to take it into their repairs department if they have one. It's reasonable for them to do this so you really won't have an argument against it.

I have an old AAO and they stocked the early ones with ridiculously slow SSD drives which would cause the issue you mention. The D270 doesn't seem to have the same drive so it's unlikely to be the same cause.

Was it like this prior to you installing Norton? I haven't gone near paid anti-virus in years, free ones like Avira are great.

srsly78

Netbooks are slow. Norton makes computers slow. Netbook + Norton = :pac:

You did "mess around with software" already by installing Norton. Get rid of it.

JimsAlterEgo

if you bought online distance selling rules apply so might have a chance

dvpower

Is other application performance slow, or is it just browsing i.e. how does word processing or playing a video perform?

Also check your internet speeds using speedtest.net.

And turn Norton off to see if that makes a difference. If it does, you might consider using the free Microsoft Security Essentials instead.

Nody

I've had one of those for years and there's no issues with surfing or even watching movies on it. The problem is most likely not the machine but what you got installed on it...

chris85

Norton is notorious for slowing down computers. Remove it and isntall something else. I run AVG free on my netbook (Acer Aspire One D255) and no problem. I would also recommend upgrading the RAM to 2Gb. Will also get a very noticeable increase in performance for minimal money (€15 from Crucial)

Antigone05

did you remove its preinstalled 30day trial antivirus before putting the norton on?

having two on any system at one time will always cause slow down and freezing

RUCKING FETARD

http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12869/session/L3RpbWUvMTM0NDI5OTAwMC9zaWQvNmU3X3cyM2w%3D

Reset it, delete any trial antivirus and install mse and you should be grand.

Bernice101

Thank you everyone for the helpful feedback. The general consensus seems to be that norton is the demon so i will reset and install antivirus from internet. Is there any difference in product quality between antivirus software you pay for and the free stuff? Or is a case of having more trust in something that you pay money for as opposed to getting it for free?

Procrastastudy

Get Microsoft security essentials - free, half way decent and quick.

dvpower

Bernice101 wrote: »

Thank you everyone for the helpful feedback. The general consensus seems to be that norton is the demon so i will reset and install antivirus from internet. Is there any difference in product quality between antivirus software you pay for and the free stuff? Or is a case of having more trust in something that you pay money for as opposed to getting it for free?

When it comes to Anti Virus software (and lots besides) the free stuff is just as good. Microsoft Security Essentials has a good reputation.

uberalles

+1
Microsoft security essentials is world class software
Nortons is muck

RUCKING FETARD

Bernice101 wrote: »

Is there any difference in product quality between antivirus software you pay for and the free stuff?

One month the free ones will score higher overall than the paid ones, the next month it could be the other way around.

Seriously, you'll be grand with the free one.


Malwarebytes, install it aswell and run it once a week or before you do any banking or whatever. It's also free, always scores near the top, free one is same as paid one except that you have to update and run it yourself. Two clicks.

Install Firefox and adblock. Adblock will be a god send for you stuck on O2.