Mifi 890L NIGHTMARE
Posted here just a few minutes ago and I even had friends look at the post. Then suddenly the post disappeared and no traces of it could be found, even the bookmark I made of it has disappeared. Might there be a mod trying to censor what the customers have to say about their service provider? https://community.verizonwireless.com/thread/781785 was the link to my post. Someone care to explain what happened to it? Anyways I'll try to repost it though it won't be exactly the same. This time I'll save a copy and keep reposting until whomever deleted it gets tired or bans me. I had a Mifi 2200 for about 2 years and it worked OK. The charger port broke on that one and we were forced to get an upgrade to the Mifi 890L "JetPack." Worst thing I could have done apparently. This new device has been nothing but trouble since day 1. It struggles to get 2-3 bars when the 2200 got 3-4 bars consistently, I don't see how a device that sits in the same spot and never moves can fluctuate in signal strength so much. Frequently it goes to 1x and even roaming and sometimes it spikes and goes up to 4 and 5 bars of 3G signal but when it does that the device is unusable and I always get disconnected from whatever I'm doing. I get disconnected from chat, VoIP, online games and downloads no less than 10-20 times a day. How can verizon charge premium broadband prices for such an unreliable service? Frequently when it disconnects I have to manually connect it to the verizon network from the configuration page or it will just sit there in a "disconnected" state. The modem restarts itself whenever it feels like it, which is quite often. It has the latest firmware, I've gotten a replacement device and even a replacement SIM card that isn't the right size for the slot but it still "works" if you can call it that. Even the wifi the device puts out is sub-par, I'm only getting 2-3 bars of wifi signal from the device and it's sitting less than 8 feet from my computer in the same room. Verizon reps have told me that I'm stuck with this device even though I know there are other mifi models available because I saw one in the verizon store. It looks like a 2200 with a few more buttons on the front, so I don't understand why I'm being forced to use a clearly flawed model. I've also had quite a few reps tell me that it's safe to leave the device plugged into the charger but I've read quite a few user posts that say otherwise so which is it? I'm at the end of my rope with this "service" that I spend more time screaming at the modem than getting any use out of it. I'm about 1 more call to customer "service" away from telling everyone I know and even random people I meet in public that verizon is a sorry excuse for a phone and internet service provider and they DO NOT care about their customers. I guess they just know that if you're desperate enough to pay high dollar for limited access to an unreliable service, that you have no other options so they stick it to you hard as they can and care not if it works like it's supposed to. I'm furious!!!
This is the THIRD time I'm posting this, the last time it stayed up for about 20 minutes before someone removed it without sending me a message as to why, I'm just going to keep posting. Either tell me what part of my post breaks the rules or let it be. I've posted no personal threats, no personal information, no offensive or derogatory language. All I've done is describe the terrible service I've been given. Just to keep record the link to the last post that was deleted is: https://community.verizonwireless.com/thread/781786 and when you go there it only states "Access to this place or content is restricted. If you think this is a mistake, please contact your administrator or the person who directed you here." I'd like a moderator to speak up and stop cowardly deleting my posts.
Fourth time now, I can do this all day and since no one is contacting me to let me know if I'm breaking any rules then I must not be breaking any. URL for my third post is https://community.verizonwireless.com/thread/781787 and I am taking screen shots now for proof.
Fifth post
(Deleted previous posts as per Verizon Wireless Terms of Service..duplicate post is not allowed)
Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator
Sounds like a loose USB port on the Jetpack. Only way to repair that (without voiding your warranty) is to contact VZW and have them send you a replacement under the warranty. USB ports are normally very quick and easy to troubleshoot with VZW reps. They will get you a replacement without much effort as long as you are covered. If not then they will review your options for purchasing a replacement or upgrading your device.
Similar Messages
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Jetpack LTE and older imac w/airport connection issue
Hello,
I get an error message when trying to login to jetpack lte with an older imac G4 OSX 10.4.11 via the airpot card. Can I disable WEB security on this unit to bypass the WEP security password issue? I can login onto this unit with my Macbook Pro no problem.
This is my mom's computer and I am trying to help her out. It is her only means of internet where she lives.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
MartenMarten,
If you disable WEP from the MiFi you will disable security for everyone and leave your device open and vulnerable to moochers. I do not suggest opening your connection up to the world as anyone who connects without your consent will hold you liable for thier data usage.
Instead, a better technique would be to change the password type from WEP to WPA or preferrably WPA2. The newer security types will be more secure than WEP anyways and should always be used whenever possible.
Regardless, the steps to change your password to disabled or another type are all the same. Test them out and choose which ever option will work the best for you. See the MiFi 890L User Guide for more details:
http://cache.vzw.com/multimedia/mim/vzw_890_jetpack/eufi_890_manual.pdf
To change the MiFi 890L Security Type:
1. Connect a computer to the MiFi
2. Navigate to 192.168.1.1 or http://vz.hotspot
3. Sign into the MiFi with the admin password printed on the back of the device
4. Navigate to WiFi Settings > Security
5. Change the Security Type
6. Confirm and record your wirelss password in the Password field (this will change from type to type)
7. Click Apply -
Crazy data usage suddenly on Mifi! 10gb in one day?
I noticed earlier this month that I got a notification for my data usage only about 10 days into my plan and thought it was unusual, but as my son had been streaming a music video I increased my plan, downloaded said video and disconnected his computer from wifi. Then, 3 days ago I get another notification and tell my son to no longer play games on his iphone and increase my plan yet again. Today, I get another notification (son at school and wifi on his phone and computer are off) and I increase, yet again to 40GB!!! I then go around and see what is connected to wifi, our ipad (which was only on a kindle book, not a game or surfing internet, nothing unusual), our Hopper from Dish (which I then disconnected, we do not stream as 4g is too slow and we don't want to use up our data) and turn off the wifi on 2 other iphones (that were running nothing in the background, but did it just in case). I then almost immediately get an alert that I am at 77% of my new data plan (30.8 gb now) and I begin working on an excel spreadsheet with nothing running on my computer. A couple of hours later I am at 90% of my data and now, as I write this message, I have gotten 2 more alerts saying that I am now over my 40 gb, so that would be at least 10gb of data used just in the last 6 hours! A few hours ago I chatted with a Verizon chat and she said that it could be my phones, ipads, hoppers, basically anything but they cannot tell what, I disconnected everything except this computer and restarted the mifi. Something is clearly wrong. They want me to turn it off every night for the next week before they will open a problem ticket but at this rate my bill is going to be absolutely insane! I haven't changed any of my habits from the last year, other than what I mentioned earlier this month so I am completely baffled. Help!
See my log:I have had VERY high data usage. 3GB in a few hours time. Verizon help line could not figure it out. I had a Verizon Jetpack 890L. I up graded to a newer model Verizon Jetpack MiFi 6620L in the middle of November. Data usage when even HIGHER! I noticed HIGH data usage in August of 2014. The HIGH data continued in September, October, and November of 2014. The newer Jetpack MiFi 6620L used even MORE data!
Verizon tech support was not much help. They wanted to know if I had changed the Jetpack password and they thought that someone was using my Jetpack WiFi. The problem is I live in a VERY rural area. My nearest neighbor is MORE than a mile away. My wireless network connection does not show ANY OTHER users! I still changed my password on the Jetpack. I normally change my passwords on a monthly basis. These changes made NO DIFFERENCE in my HIGH data usage. They also asked what was connected to my Jetpack. I have a phone by another provider. I DO NOT use the phone with the Blue Tooth or WiFi on my Jetpack . It's NOT needed for a clear phone signal. I only have my laptop (HP Pavilion) connected to the Jetpack. I have connected my printer by cable and don't even use the wireless printing functions. STILL NO CHANGE IN DATA USAGE!
The Verizon tech also suggested that I have an Internet Security and Antivirus software. I have used Norton Internet Security and Antivirus software for a decade or more without any problems. The tech suggested that maybe that was the problem. NOT! He felt that the Cloud setting maybe using all this data. I use Norton 360 with the Norton Zone Cloud. I DID NOT receive ANY FIXS from Verizon!
I also called Norton who provides my Internet Security and Antivirus software. I had been running these packages on an on going basis. I had not shown ANY threats or problems in the past year or more. I had the tech go over my settings to make sure that they were not the problem of HIGH Data Usage. My Norton Zone or Cloud settings were average without any high drain. He asked that I go back to Verizon!
I finally have found that I may have had Malware that was in my software. I used Malwarebytes. It works well wth my Norton 360. It has slowed my high data usage BUT NOT ELIMANATED the problem. Malwarebytes is a free service. You can also download it for free. You can purchase advance or premium packages on the internet and at some stores if you want a hard copy. It's always worth a try!
At this point I have run out of options! -
<Post branched to a new discussion to better fit the topic.>
What is the difference?
Hi Contributors
I have a Mifi hotspot and a newer Jetpack 890.
I can use both with no distinct difference in use with the exception of one.
I play scrabble on my iPod and can do so with no problem when using the MiFi
hotspot. When I switch to the Jet Pack I cannot play scrabble on the iPod. WHAT
is the difference???
Message was edited by: Verizon ModeratorMiFi is a trademarked name for Novatel Mobile Hotspot devices. Jetpack is a name from Verzion used to sumarize thier Mobile Hotspot devices. All MiFi's are considered Jetpacks, but not all Jetpacks are MiFi's.
Naming aside the MiFi (4510L, 4620L, 5510L) is essentially the same device as the Jetpack 890L at its core. There are a few features and limitations to each device but in general they all connect your WiFi devices to the Verizon wireless network to access the internet.
You might need to be a little more specific if you want to know exactly what the differences are between them. For example, can you able to connect to the Jetpack at all with your iPod or is it just the scrabble site/app that does not work. If you cannot connect then your iPod most likely has a password mismatch or is connecting over a technology that is not supported or configured correctly. If you can connect the iPod to the Jetpack and other sites work but the srabble site/app does not work then there may be something else going on.
Please try to collect and post some more information on the problem for us so we can narrow it down. -
Total Nightmare with PSE9 Slideshow
Help !!, I've had a nightmare all day, I have PSE9 and did a very good slideshow which took a couple of hours, with the intention of burning to DVD so that my neices 3 years old could see her holiday pics etc, which "should" be an easy task, but it's not, clicking dvd with menu an info bar comes up with install from dvd, download trial or cancel, so I downloaded the trial for premiere elements 13 and still cannot creat a dvd ?, I've gone into premiere elements 13 and have got nowhere fast, I've spent most of the day trying to get my creation on a dvd, and have got to the stage where I am seriously considering uninstalling PSE9 , becuase I don't see a point of having a product where you cannot save the pse creation to dvd. I've tried goind thru windows dvd maker and proshow all with no luck, even when converting to wmv. The other very annoying feature is while previewing a few slides in PE13, there is a copyright (trial version) across the frame.
You'd have thought PS9 and PE13 would communicate together, why can't pse9 detect that I do have PE13 installed ?.
And help would be greatly appreciated, as I am well and trully miffed at how Adobe have made such an easy process into the hardest.i agree this is a nightmare. apparently rumour has it, probably started by apple, that if one does a complete fresh install rather than an upgrade., all works fine.., but this is not an answer to anything that relates to those of us who 'updated..,' when does the next update come that is supposed to fix this.., or are we suppsed with it and pretend its not there.., or better, do we bow down at actually being honoured by our purchas of FCP 2.
what a mess.
M:) -
Hi all, first time posting but this site has helped me several times in the past so thank you for that,
Having an absolute nightmare with an external drive. I've got a Hitachi Touro Pro 4TB USB 3.0 that recently had some trouble with the power supply, over the last couple days the hard drive wouldn't power on if the power cable was hanging the wrong way off of the plug (if that makes sense), haven't had time to get a new power supply so have been dealing with it the last couple of days until I can get a new one.
Suddenly my hard drive stopped showing up in Finder, I checked Disk Utility and it's still there. The actual hard drive model and, stemming down from it, "EYES DRIVE" (which is what I named the drive) are both still there, but the EYES DRIVE is greyed out. I've tried verify disk which lead to a warning saying it needed repairing, but when I try to repair it I'm told the disk cannot be repaired and to backup any files and restore the drive. It also won't let me mount from that menu.
I've tried booting up to the Disk Utility menu and repairing from there to no avail, also tried DiskWarrior which tells me there's a hardware issue with the drive, I get the error "Directory cannot be rebuilt due to disk hardware failure (-36 2738)". I'm currently doing a surface scan on it with TechTool Pro, but it's a 4TB drive and this is proving to be taking a very long time. No bad blocks encountered so far but I'm only 15,000,000 blocks into a 976,000,000 block hard drive.
What are my options here? The data on the drive is extremely valuable and I cannot really afford to lose it. Is it a good sign that the drive name still shows up in Disk Utility or am I still in big trouble?
Also, I realise I should have multiple backups of all of my stuff, but this drive originally started off as a backup drive that I would keep safe and not touch except for backups, until I got a new retina MacBook Pro and the lack of space on it (256GB) forced me to use it as storage as well as Time Machine backups. There's about 5 years of hard work on it, I'm absolutely kicking myself that I didn't have it backed up elsewhere.
Thank you for any responses and let me know if you need any more info, I'm really freaking out here!Managed to find a solution of sorts for anyone suffering from the same problem,
It turns out I was unable to access the drive at all because of my MacBook trying to fix the drive before letting me use it, I stopped this by killing the process "fsck_hfs" in activity monitor, an error came up saying I was unable to repair the drive but I was then able to mount the drive as read only and all of my data was still there, ready to be copied onto another drive.
I tried DiskWarrior immediately after this to try and repair the drive but it put me back to square one (with the drive not showing up and the "fsck_hfs" process running again), so it looks like the hard drive itself is a lost cause, but the data is saveable. I don't think I've ever been this relieved in my life, hope this helps someone else! -
Have others experienced a nightmare in signing up for 3 computers on Creative Cloud?
Have others experienced a ridiculous nightmare, wanting to register 3 computers for Creative Cloud? I signed up for TWO subscriptions. Spoke to supporton the phone to do this. Got all signed up on my Adobe ID.... and have been charged for the second month now.
I only just realized that I couldn't use Photoshop on my laptop, because I have "exceeded my limit" of reigstered devices. ON the phone with support, obviously in India, I spun my wheels, and spent an inordinate amount fo time, trying to figure out how to fix the issue... with the agent we couldn't even figure out how to FIND my two serial numbers on the computers, to determine which computer was registered with which computer.
After more than an hour of this, and the agent consulting his senior manager, he comes back on the line and informs me that I cannot register two subscriptions on one Adobe ID and email!!!
Then I insist on speaking with the manager. He tells me the same. I say why then did they even ACCEPT my two subscriptions on my ONE Adobe ID and email?? When I go to MY ADOBE account, it clearly shows the two orders, and the two subscriptions... and on my singel Adobe ID and email.
This is clearly ridiculous.
The manager has now asked me for 48 hours, for him to "discover who gave me the misinformation and when". I told him that that is their internal issue. I could care less about WHO and WHEN. I only care about this issue being resolved, and as quickly as possible. I will also insist on a refudn of the two months charged for a second subscription that was fraudulently accepted.
Has anyone else experienced this story, wanting to register for 3 computers (or more)? What was your coutcome?
Adobe needs to fix this.Just wondering why you didn't take the Creative Cloud for Teams route, rather than take out two subscriptions. But do you the Application Manager installed on each machine? If so, that should show who is signed in on each computer. It sounds like the same user is signed on with all three computers, in which case sign out from the one with out your apps installed on, and sign in again using the other subscription ID.
If this proves problematic, uninstall the Application manager from the third machine, and sign in on the Adobe CC site with the new ID and start from scratch.
But surely it would be better to sort out the mess you are in, and swap your two subscriptions for a 'Team Subscription'. Go ask in the Creatice Cloud Forum, and make it clear in the thread subject window that you need help from an Adobe staff member. We frequently see Adobe staff step in on these forums, to fix complicated issues.
http://forums.adobe.com/community/creative_cloud -
I have now had 4 Mi Fi's since August 2011.
The first one lasted less than 3 months (It was brand new) Spent half hour on the phone troubleshooting.
I was sent a "certified preowned like new"-it lasted less that 4 months when a connection came loose-I was sent another "certified preowned like new".
This one did not work-spent a half hour on the phone troubleshooting-paid $12.99 to have another one shipped over night which arrived 3 days later. This one (another ceritified preowned like new)did not work either-I spent an hour on the phone troubleshooting it- I asked to be released from my contract or sent a new one- I was told that they would have to put in a "work order" and would call me in 2 or 3 days- I asked how much time I would have to spend on the phone this time and was not given an answer.
DO NOT BUY ONE OF THESE. (they also suddedly turn off)Rosie,
Could you elaborate for the rest of us what your problem was?
You mention the Mifi did not last and did not work but any extra details you can spare would be very helpful for the rest of us so we can compare currently known issues and document new ones. Anyone who has gone through 4 mifi's in 8 months must have a pretty serious issue we could learn from.
For example common issues with the MiFi are disconnections from VZW, disconnections from local devices, slow speeds and failure to handoff between 3G and 4G. -
i recently purchased an in app purchase which is showing up on my itunes account as a purchased but has not shown up on my ipod touch 4th gen. (think it was due to losing my wifi connection during download).
i went into problem solving on the itunes store to rectify the issue to discover that i needed to go via my app store on my ipod to purchase history, which on the ipod touch 4th gen is supposidly at the bottom of downloads... after trying this i discovered that i have no option to go into purchases as this does not exist on my downloads options nor does it exist anywhere on my ipod version of the app store?? can someone please help?? im miffed. :sThanks King_Penguin for taking time to read and reply.
I just purchased this movie on Thursday, May 15, so just a few days ago. I have never had any trouble whatsoever since I have been in Vietnam. I have downloaded several movies and even music and they have all synced to my respected Apple products except for this purchase.
Sorry, I don't quite understand what you mean by studios and different versions. Could you please explain?
I checked my purchased list in my purchase history under my account and there are no hidden items. -
Cross-reference tag errors in Trados preventing MIF creation
Our Spanish translator provides files from translation memory with unresolved cross-reference text in English; when we update the book the cross-references are translated to Spanish and the page numbers are also updated within the cross-reference text. After our DTP process, when we return the files to the translator to update the translation memory, he gets a misalignment in the tags and Trados prevents him from creating a MIF file. Trados won't let him ignore the cross-references. We're using unstructured FrameMaker 2009 and he has Trados 2007. We're in the midst of a deadline for a project due next week and he wants to charge us an enormous fee to fix the tags manually. Can anyone suggest a solution the translator can use? I'm a newbie forum user, but I checked the FAQ and did not see anything. Thanks! Sue
As far as I know, FM cross-references (which came into Trados via MIF and S-Tagger) are handled as placeables. I suppose the mismatches stem from a "placeables differences penalty", which by default is 2%, even for otherwise exact matches.
A possible solution could be to impose no penalties for placeables in Trados, i.e. set the placeables differences penalty to 0%. But be careful, this may overshoot the mark, as there might be relevant differences in placeables that must be reviewed. I'm not aware of a setting in Trados where you could specify this more selectively.
Johannes -
I have had a reinstall nightmare getting my loops back they are in the apple library, I can access them through the media browser but I only have a few available through the loop browser, how do I get them all back there again? please help
"Where do I find my hundreds of dollars of downloads I have done since 2005?"
They will only be where you put them If you are doing the very basics, then they will be on your computer and they will be in your backup copy of your computer.
The itunes store is not global at all, never has been. You cannot redownload your content from another country. You can only use the countrys itunes store for the country that you are physically located. -
NIghtmare - Brand new S230u from major retailer: Lenovo says warranty expired
I just purchased a new (sealed) Lenovo S230u factory box with security tape on both ends unopened, with no additional tape, from a major online retailer that also have physical stores in selected States.
It is a refurnished machine, according to the major retailer website, it has 90 days warranty from Lenovo with Levono phone number etc. Having bought several 1000+ Thinkpad and 3000 desktop from IBM, with the *very good* price offered and manufacture warranty, I am willing for the first time to try out the Thinkpads after it is owned by a Chinese company Lenovo. I had been very skeptical whether the Chinese company Lenovo would provide the same level of support as IBM. And this is where the nightmare begins.
I called and checked with the online retailer and they had a few hundred machines but I bought one of the last one they have in stock since it went to SOLD OUT within hours. I confirmed with them they are factory refurnished machines and they had hundreds of them. With the low price and short warranty, I made sure I have the ability to purchase extended warranty and went to Levono online chat for warranty to confirm how much it would cost to buy extended warranty and that shipping for any needed service is free BOTH ways. My last machine was HP and I loved how they provided two way free shipping and excellent technical support service. HP helped me fix an unexpected motherboard issue, deemed manufacturer’s defect and replaced it for free. No way I am buying any laptop with worse off warranty for a cheap price. The agent confirmed that I will be able to buy extended warranty with 2-way free shipping but need to receive the machine and give them the serial no. for a quote.
I felt safe, guaranteed by BOTH the online retailer and Lenovo and went ahead with my purchase.
Having read online discussions, I am very cautious to buy refurnished machines sold on eBay, non-major retailers that may switch off parts and discredit the warranty. I still checked that machine came with security tape sealed on both ends, nothing was altered.
However, when I started using the machine, I realized that it said my warranty expired! I called Levono immediately and the first agent gave me the lenovo_pop email address to send in my warranty and told me they can update and extend it for a year - I thought WOW, great if it is one year. I had tech issues as I performed a series of windows, lenovo, microsoft updates randomly, and getting some registry error message and wanted tech support to guide me quickly to restore to factory condition but the request was denied because warranty expired! Furthermore, he said they do NOT honor any warranty of refurnished machine NOT sold by lenovo.com! WHAT??? That is NOT what they informed me from online support BEFORE i purchased the machine!! And if my warranty end date is AFTER the day I called, they could have easily helped me? The machine expired 1/14/2014 (a year from manufacturer’s date) and I bought it beginning of Feb 2014. Oh great, I guess the few hundred customers that bought the same machine a few weeks before me won’t have this problem as I bought the last few machines – no wonder the cheap price for a wonderful laptop.
This issue was stretched out for weeks! With my case no. CLOSED – reason: no customer contact, when I was waiting for the agent who promised to call me back AFTER I emailed to Lenovo my proof of purchase twice to different emails - yet no one called. An agent then told me new info saying that the major retailer should be responsible to contact Lenovo. Then another agent said they don't honor any third party refurnished machine, even major retailers!! Another case no. opened and a supervisor escalated to a different Lenovo team with screen captures of links to retailer product page, warranty info, as well as my conversation with the Lenovo rep, yet I still receive no resolution 10 days after. This is night and day experience compared to previous IBM or HP experience I had. All contradicting info and the customer penalized.
With the major retailer, I have escalated the issue twice to supervisors, yet the Lenovo closed the first case no. when Lenovo supposed to call me back and the retailer couldn't do much while I still didnt' hear back from the second supervisor but they extended my 14 days return policy to 30 days. Their name not mentioned yet, because unlike Levono, the low level support person called me daily to follow up while I have been chasing after Lenovo every few days and know it would be ignored if I don’t keep pushing it.
This is madness, and if for the diligent cautious buyer I am, this is what I go through from a major online retailer, I can not imagine what a normal buyer would go through. Loyal customers should NOT be the ones who pays for this.
I sincerely hope something can be resolved within a day before my extended return date expired and a senior forum administrator can help me. If not, at least loyal and potential customers would know that things like this could happen and consider this before you buy a refurbished levono anywhere other than Lenovo, and you can be the judge whether Lenovo and it’s policies are worth supporting.
To be honest, I loved IBM, I love my new laptop and I just want the technical support I deserve to check on some potential driver issue and windows 8.1 upgrade support. I want to be able to perhaps buy the extended warranty that was promised. The peace of mind. Now I even have doubt about the company and whether to spend extra money for protection that does not protect customers! To be fair, 90% of the many agents/supervisor I talked to have been professional and helpful which made the process tolerable. The reason I waited so long to post this message on a public forum. It just seems like their system, policies and communication between departments are ridiculous and customers are penalized for it. If you don’t honor ANY third party refurbished warranty - deal with your wholesale agents, retailers, don't sell new or refurbished machines to them. Your loyal customers should NOT be penalized for it and make sure that customers are well informed if they do simple research! Information across departments should be consistent. And the supervisors of the departments should be able to honor and fix a mistake related to wrong info (if it was wrong) provided by another Lenovo department and handle things in a TIMELY manner. I should not have to spent over 15 hours on this for nearly a month! This is NOT what I expect from a top computer company in the US market. Something needs to be done so other loyal customers do not have to go through this and also ensure that customers who support Lenovo would NOT fall into traps of dishonest merchants.wabibi,
Thanks for the additional details via private message. My apologies for the troubles you have had so far - let's look into the situation and see what can be done to help you get this resolved.
Best regards,
Mark
ThinkPads: S30, T43, X60t, X1, W700ds, IdeaPad Y710, IdeaCentre: A300, IdeaPad K1
Mark Hopkins
Program Manager, Lenovo Social Media (Services)
twitter @lenovoforums
English Community Deutsche Community Comunidad en Español Русскоязычное Сообщество -
I just brought my IPad home but can't get it to connect to my MIFI. The MIFI is on and working as it's sending a signal to my IMac. How do I get it to recognize the MIFI so I can go online with my IPad?
Does your iPad see you network? If no, are you broadcasting its SSID?
-
We just changed to ATT MIFi and every time I try to go into firefox it give me "The connection has timed out". My husband's laptop doesn't give him that error. I had previously been on satellite (hughes.net). I had problems with explorer but that has been fixed. I really like firefox and would like to get it fixed.
iphoto its pictures are still on your computer under the pictures folder.. it will be one file that says iphoto library. Its a separate file from the actual program.
If you still have the disks that came with your unit they have the ilife applications on them. put the disk in your drive that says mac os x applications dvd. it will auto mount and there should be a folder called bundled software open this and there should be a .pkg file to reinstall the ilife suite which includes imovie iphoto iweb idvd and garageband . After installing don't forget before runnig the program run software updates to download the any fixes
if you r unit has disks labeled disk one and disk 2.. you need to boot off of disk one and choose install bundled software.
I believe there is a KB article through apple.com/support -
Envy x360 battery short and CMOS/RTC | No dedicated CMOS battery = Kafkaesque HP support nightmare
Relevant Case Number:
3015038426
Caveat:
If I'm wrong about this, I'll eat my hat with a sauce made of ultra-expensive brand-name HP ink.
Question:
Does anyone at HP want to take reponsibility for a series of the company's tech support representatives giving horribly wrong hardware information, wasting customer time and money?
Summary:
1. I have apparently experienced a short in my main battery.
2. In the x360, the real-time clock (RTC) and BIOS settings are apparently powered by the main battery, not a separate CMOS/RTC battery.
3. (1) and (2) explain why my symptoms include a CMOS checksum error and 0-set RTC on boot.
4. Three separate HP representatives have been absolutely insistent that:
(a) I have a CMOS/RTC battery that just isn't disclosed in the service manual.
(b) My symptoms indicate the need for CMOS/RTC battery replacement.
(c) This requires a 2-week+ send-in service, even though I live right next to an authorized support center.
(d) A much less intrusive main battery replacement could not help me, since I have a CMOS issue.
5. I have already had to pay $54 and change for a local shop to confirm that HP support has been, for want of better terms, full of it -- they have been BSing me by phone and live chat, and there is no dedicated CMOS battery.
6. Because of HP's intransigence, I now face the choice of either
(a) paying another $54+ to get myself a new main battery on the open market
or
(b) completely unnecessarily going without my primary work machine for weeks in order to get a new main battery for free from HP. That's assuming that the people at the service center know that replacing the motherboard won't do anything for this machine.
Hilarious and/or Depressing Support Record:
1. Symptoms
This is an HP Envy x360 15t hybrid notebook, model u011dx (G6T85UA).
It had been suspended but suddenly appeared off. It would not power on until AC power was attached.
It showed a CMOS checksum error (502) on boot, and its real-time clock did not hold the time between power cycles.
It had inconsistent problems with failed or severely delayed POST completion.
If AC power was removed during operation, it immediately died. Information about the main battery still showed up in the OS, where it appeared fully charged but never discharged at all.
The light next to the AC plug would often blink blue depending on the power state.
The machine could POST normally (except for the CMOS and RTC failures) with the main battery physically detached.
2. Call ("Amit")
I don't have a transcript of my initial call with HP ("Amit"), but here is the gist of it. My 502 CMOS checksum error implicates the CMOS battery. My steps are to attempt a BIOS upgrade. Failing that, the computer would need to be sent in for service so that the CMOS battery could be replaced. Amit described it to me as the shape of a small tablet.
3. False Hope
When I had initially called, the case was off of the PC and both sides of the motherboard were accessible so that I could try to see if there were any visually obvious problems with the CMOS/RTC battery. Naturally, I couldn't find it, and I had hoped the call would help me. In any case, Amit would need to call back in 60-90 minutes after I had the chance to take care of other things and re-connect the machine's components so that I could boot it and do a BIOS upgrade.
Just before he called back, the machine appeared for one or two power cycles to have overcome its problem. It even seemed like it was drawing main battery power for a few moments during a session with AC power detached. Amit closed the case for me pending the problems recurring.
I concluded that one of the following two things must have happened. Either:
(a) All of the problems were related to the main battery, and the main battery connector had just gotten jarred loose so that one or two pins were not contacting properly. By disconnecting and reconnecting the main battery in my search for the RTC/CMOS battery, I had solved the issue by reseating it properly.
or
(b) All of the problems were related to the CMOS battery. But by having it on AC power for testing for a little while, I had charged the CMOS battery enough to enable POST and for it to mediate the transition from AC to battery power (I know this probably isn't how it should work, but hey).
I also updated the BIOS to the newest version so that I could ensure I was following the pre-shipment troubleshooting step set out by Amit.
Fairly quickly after the second call and the closing of the case, all of the symptoms recurred. I carefully re-checked and re-seated the main battery to rule out (a) above. I then decided to run the computer on AC power for several hours to test theory (b) above. When this failed, I went back to the HP site and opted for chat support.
4. First Chat (KARISHMA BARPANDA)
Gist:
I clearly have a problem with my invisible CMOS battery. Also, this CMOS battery is absent from the manual because it isn't supposed to be user-removable, not because it doesn't exist. Note especially the exchange at 2:02.
Transcript:
Spoiler (Highlight to read)
1:38 PM Support session established with KARISHMA BARPANDA.
1:38 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Welcome to HP Customer Support & Services for Notebook support. My name is Karishma and I will be your technical support specialist today.
1:38 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Hi
1:38 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: How are you doing today ?
1:38 PM Adam Colligan: Hello; this is related to case 3015038426
1:38 PM Adam Colligan: I'm good; just a little confused
1:39 PM Adam Colligan: PC symptoms implicated RTC battery: CMOS checksum error on boot. But also instant death when AC power removed. Temporarily resolved after re-seating main battery cable, so chalked up to that. Now not so sure: maybe I had just partly charged RTC battery during testing. Now trying long run on AC to rule this out.Query: x360 service manual (unlike other Envy manuals) makes no mention of RTC/CMOS battery. Didn't see one exposed on board. Can you verify presence and location of CMOS batt?
1:40 PM Adam Colligan: Just to clarify: I'm not asking you to walk me through changing a CMOS battery or anything like that -- I know you want notebooks sent in for service if they need that officially. But I just want to make sure that I actually know where the thing is on this model
1:42 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: I am sorry, I can't understand you.
1:43 PM Adam Colligan: Okay, I'll back up. Have you heard of something called a CMOS battery or an RTC battery?
1:43 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Yes.
1:44 PM Adam Colligan: Would you be able to find out where it is located on my Envy x360 15t notebook (u011dx)?
1:45 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Alright !
1:46 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: In this situation, we need to take the notebook in free servics repair.
1:46 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Please, provide me the complete sdhipping address along with the zip code.
1:46 PM Adam Colligan: It is not confirmed yet that the CMOS battery is actually the problem
1:47 PM Adam Colligan: I don't want to set up a service yet. I just want to know *where* the battery is attached to the board.
1:47 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: We need to replace the CMOS battery,
1:47 PM Adam Colligan: How do you know that we need to replace the CMOS battery?
1:48 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Because tHe CMOS battery is not removable.
1:48 PM Adam Colligan: Well, in that case we're probably talking about replacing the whole motherboard. Do you mean *not removable* or just "not user removable" ?
1:48 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: We will take the notebook in service reapir and our HP certified technician will do the complete hardware diagnostic of your notebook.
1:49 PM Adam Colligan: I don't want to do anything yet except *LOOK* at the board and see if there is anything obviously wrong with the CMOS battery connection
1:49 PM Adam Colligan: I just want to know *where* it is; I don't need to actually do anything to it
1:50 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Let me explain.
1:51 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Let me check.
1:52 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Please, allow me few moments.
1:52 PM Adam Colligan: Thank you
1:56 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Thank you for staying connected. I appreciate your time and patience.
1:56 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: I am sending you a link, please go through page number 33 and 34.
1:56 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA has sent a link: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04513489
1:57 PM Adam Colligan: That's okay; I understand that it may take time
1:57 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: CMOS battery is not a customer replaceable part.
1:58 PM Adam Colligan: 33 and 34 refer to the main battery, not the CMOS battery
1:58 PM Adam Colligan: I know that the CMOS battery is not a customer replaceable part. However, I want to visually inspect it.
1:59 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: It is not listed there.
1:59 PM Adam Colligan: Exactly. Compare that to this manual for the HP Envy 17, page 41
1:59 PM Adam Colligan: http://www.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02160120.pdf
2:00 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: If you are facing any issues with the battery then, we need to take the notebook in service reapir and will fix the issue.
2:01 PM Adam Colligan: Sigh.
2:02 PM Adam Colligan: Look, here is a theory. What if this PC does not have a separate CMOS battery, and it's been using power from the main battery to keep the clock and BIOS settings current? In that case, the symptoms might just be a result of poor seating of the main battery cable. To rule that out, I would like to confirm for a fact that a CMOS battery actually exists on this motherboard, and I'd like to see it with my own eyes.
2:02 PM Adam Colligan: ...before I go without my PC for days or weeks
2:03 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: The CMOS battery exsist in the motherboard and it is not a customer replaceable part.
2:04 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: You cannot see it.
2:04 PM Adam Colligan: So where on the motherboard is it?
2:04 PM Adam Colligan: It's on the motherboard but it's invisible?
2:04 PM Adam Colligan: Maybe it's under a piece of foam by the HDD indicator light? There aren't many places for it to hide
2:05 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: I would suggest you to sent the notebook in service repair, and if there will be any hardware issues, then HP technician will take care of it.
2:06 PM Adam Colligan: Please answer this question honestly for me. Is the location of the CMOS battery actually available to you? It's okay for you to say, "I don't know where it is, and I don't know how to find out where it is". But it seems like you are avoiding saying that.
2:10 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Let me know are you facing any issues with the HP notebook right now ?
2:11 PM Adam Colligan: Yes. Why won't you answer that question?
2:24 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: I would like to inform you that, the CMOS battery is not a customer replaceable part.
2:24 PM Adam Colligan: What does that have to do with whether or not you know where it is?
2:24 PM Adam Colligan: Is there some rule that you are not allowed to say "I don't know" ?
2:24 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: That is the reason, it is not shown in the manual.
2:25 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: That is the reason, it is not shown in the manual.
2:25 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: The CMOS battery can be replaced by the HP hardware engineers.
2:26 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: So, the CMOS battery can be replaced only in our service center.
2:26 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Do you want to send your notebook for a free service to replace the CMOS battery ?
2:26 PM Adam Colligan: I think we've established that. I am not asking you about how to replace it. I'm asking if you can find out where it is.
2:26 PM Adam Colligan: It's perfectly alright if the answer is "I don't know", but I do expect that amount of honesty
2:26 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: No, it is not listed in the manual.
2:27 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: I can understand your concern.
2:27 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: As, it is not listed in the manual, let me know how can I assist you.
2:28 PM Adam Colligan: So then the next question is: can I contact a technical support professional who can tell me where it is attached so that I can visually inspect it before committing to a service by mail?
2:30 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: This is the only technical support and you can contact our voice technical support. However, they will tell you the same thing, which I have told you.
1:38 PM Support session established with KARISHMA BARPANDA.1:38 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Welcome to HP Customer Support & Services for Notebook support. My name is Karishma and I will be your technical support specialist today.1:38 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Hi1:38 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: How are you doing today ?1:38 PM Adam Colligan: Hello; this is related to case 30150384261:38 PM Adam Colligan: I'm good; just a little confused1:39 PM Adam Colligan: PC symptoms implicated RTC battery: CMOS checksum error on boot. But also instant death when AC power removed. Temporarily resolved after re-seating main battery cable, so chalked up to that. Now not so sure: maybe I had just partly charged RTC battery during testing. Now trying long run on AC to rule this out.Query: x360 service manual (unlike other Envy manuals) makes no mention of RTC/CMOS battery. Didn't see one exposed on board. Can you verify presence and location of CMOS batt?1:40 PM Adam Colligan: Just to clarify: I'm not asking you to walk me through changing a CMOS battery or anything like that -- I know you want notebooks sent in for service if they need that officially. But I just want to make sure that I actually know where the thing is on this model1:42 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: I am sorry, I can't understand you.1:43 PM Adam Colligan: Okay, I'll back up. Have you heard of something called a CMOS battery or an RTC battery?1:43 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Yes.1:44 PM Adam Colligan: Would you be able to find out where it is located on my Envy x360 15t notebook (u011dx)?1:45 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Alright !1:46 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: In this situation, we need to take the notebook in free servics repair. 1:46 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Please, provide me the complete sdhipping address along with the zip code. 1:46 PM Adam Colligan: It is not confirmed yet that the CMOS battery is actually the problem1:47 PM Adam Colligan: I don't want to set up a service yet. I just want to know *where* the battery is attached to the board.1:47 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: We need to replace the CMOS battery, 1:47 PM Adam Colligan: How do you know that we need to replace the CMOS battery?1:48 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Because tHe CMOS battery is not removable. 1:48 PM Adam Colligan: Well, in that case we're probably talking about replacing the whole motherboard. Do you mean *not removable* or just "not user removable" ?1:48 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: We will take the notebook in service reapir and our HP certified technician will do the complete hardware diagnostic of your notebook. 1:49 PM Adam Colligan: I don't want to do anything yet except *LOOK* at the board and see if there is anything obviously wrong with the CMOS battery connection1:49 PM Adam Colligan: I just want to know *where* it is; I don't need to actually do anything to it1:50 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Let me explain. 1:51 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Let me check. 1:52 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Please, allow me few moments. 1:52 PM Adam Colligan: Thank you1:56 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Thank you for staying connected. I appreciate your time and patience.1:56 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: I am sending you a link, please go through page number 33 and 34.1:56 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA has sent a link: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c045134891:57 PM Adam Colligan: That's okay; I understand that it may take time1:57 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: CMOS battery is not a customer replaceable part. 1:58 PM Adam Colligan: 33 and 34 refer to the main battery, not the CMOS battery1:58 PM Adam Colligan: I know that the CMOS battery is not a customer replaceable part. However, I want to visually inspect it. 1:59 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: It is not listed there. 1:59 PM Adam Colligan: Exactly. Compare that to this manual for the HP Envy 17, page 411:59 PM Adam Colligan: http://www.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02160120.pdf2:00 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: If you are facing any issues with the battery then, we need to take the notebook in service reapir and will fix the issue. 2:01 PM Adam Colligan: Sigh.2:02 PM Adam Colligan: Look, here is a theory. What if this PC does not have a separate CMOS battery, and it's been using power from the main battery to keep the clock and BIOS settings current? In that case, the symptoms might just be a result of poor seating of the main battery cable. To rule that out, I would like to confirm for a fact that a CMOS battery actually exists on this motherboard, and I'd like to see it with my own eyes.2:02 PM Adam Colligan: ...before I go without my PC for days or weeks2:03 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: The CMOS battery exsist in the motherboard and it is not a customer replaceable part. 2:04 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: You cannot see it. 2:04 PM Adam Colligan: So where on the motherboard is it?2:04 PM Adam Colligan: It's on the motherboard but it's invisible?2:04 PM Adam Colligan: Maybe it's under a piece of foam by the HDD indicator light? There aren't many places for it to hide2:05 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: I would suggest you to sent the notebook in service repair, and if there will be any hardware issues, then HP technician will take care of it. 2:06 PM Adam Colligan: Please answer this question honestly for me. Is the location of the CMOS battery actually available to you? It's okay for you to say, "I don't know where it is, and I don't know how to find out where it is". But it seems like you are avoiding saying that.2:10 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Let me know are you facing any issues with the HP notebook right now ?2:11 PM Adam Colligan: Yes. Why won't you answer that question?2:24 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: I would like to inform you that, the CMOS battery is not a customer replaceable part.2:24 PM Adam Colligan: What does that have to do with whether or not you know where it is?2:24 PM Adam Colligan: Is there some rule that you are not allowed to say "I don't know" ?2:24 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: That is the reason, it is not shown in the manual.2:25 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: That is the reason, it is not shown in the manual.2:25 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: The CMOS battery can be replaced by the HP hardware engineers.2:26 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: So, the CMOS battery can be replaced only in our service center.2:26 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: Do you want to send your notebook for a free service to replace the CMOS battery ?2:26 PM Adam Colligan: I think we've established that. I am not asking you about how to replace it. I'm asking if you can find out where it is.2:26 PM Adam Colligan: It's perfectly alright if the answer is "I don't know", but I do expect that amount of honesty2:26 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: No, it is not listed in the manual.2:27 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: I can understand your concern.2:27 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: As, it is not listed in the manual, let me know how can I assist you.2:28 PM Adam Colligan: So then the next question is: can I contact a technical support professional who can tell me where it is attached so that I can visually inspect it before committing to a service by mail?2:30 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: This is the only technical support and you can contact our voice technical support. However, they will tell you the same thing, which I have told you.
5. I pay money to have the CMOS battery checked
Clearly, I wasn't inspired by that chat. Maybe the rep was just wrong about the hardware. More likely, it was just my own ignorance that kept me from finding the CMOS battery, and so I would benefit from a real technician checking it, maybe replacing it or telling me I really did need to send it to HP for service, and also looking at the main battery circuit.
A couple of hours and $54.13 in diagnostic fees later, I had my answer from the technicians. My main battery had a short in it and needed to be replaced. There is no dedicated CMOS / RTC battery on this motherboard. The clock and BIOS use main battery power, and it makes perfect sense that the main battery fault would therefore include symptoms normally associated with a simultaneous failure of a main battery and a dedicated CMOS battery in another computer. This PC is not unique in lacking a dedicated CMOS battery. I could buy a new main battery for around $55.
Obviously, I was now thoroughly upset at HP Support. With this clearly being a main battery issue and the main battery being easy for me to replace and covered by warranty, HP could just send me a new main battery. I wouldn't even care if they wanted to tell me that swapping it myself would void the rest of the warranty period -- better than going without my PC for weeks on end. Failing that, I would probably rather even pay the money for a new battery from a retailer rather than go through the stupidity of sending this PC in just to have the battery swapped out. But now I had already paid the equivalent of that new battery cost just to get the correct information about my hardware, solely because official HP Support had given me false information -- twice!
6. Second chat ("Justine")
Gist:
So I re-connected with technical support in the hope that something could be done to make the situation right. I briefly summarized the problem and gave the case number in the webform submission not shown. Make sure you're sitting down for this transcript and have either whisky or popcorn depending on whether you work for HP or not.
Note in particular at 5:28, where my soul tries to escape my body, and 6:00, where Justine accidentally states the whole issue without actually understanding.
Transcript:
Spoiler (Highlight to read)
5:10 PM Support session established with Justine.
5:10 PM Adam Colligan: Hi Justine
5:11 PM Justine: Thank you for contacting the HP Customer Support & Services. My name is Justine and I will be your chat support specialist today. Please give me a few minutes while I review your issue description details. NOTE: For security reasons, PLEASE DO NOT send credit card information via chat. Also, If you are using a mobile device (iPad, iPod, iPhone, etc....) and experience difficulties viewing the chat window, please initiate a new chat from a Windows or Mac computer or use a different browser for better compatibility.For DISCONNECTED or failed to reconnect, we keep records for all interactions feel free to initiate another chat.
5:11 PM Justine: May I have the phone number and e-mail address associated with your HP product?
5:11 PM Adam Colligan: [redacted]
5:12 PM Justine: In order for me to assist you better, can you please provide the Product and Serial number of the system that is having an issue.
5:13 PM Adam Colligan: Are the contents of the form I filled out not sent? The SN is [redacted] . This is a model G6T85UA
5:15 PM Justine: Thank you for verifying me those information, Adam. I have read your issue description and it seems like you need help in processing a replacement for your computer's battery, is that correct?
5:15 PM Adam Colligan: Yes.
5:16 PM Justine: I apologize for the inconvenience. I will do my best to help you resolve this issue.
5:19 PM Justine: Alright, regarding the incorrect information that our tech had provided you, what is that information again, Adam.
5:20 PM Adam Colligan: My own hunch was confirmed by an independent service center that I had to pay to diagnose this problem: this machine has no dedicated RTC/CMOS battery.
5:20 PM Justine: -
5:22 PM Justine: So the issue is that you went to a local tech and they are charging you for your battery replacement correct?
5:22 PM Adam Colligan: So I wasted both a day of work and over $50 because two technical support representatives told me in no uncertain terms that I was looking at symptoms of a CMOS battery fault. And I *now* face also having to double that money on a new battery unless you guys can make it right.
5:23 PM Adam Colligan: I paid for the diagnosis because they had to go in and determine that HP tech support was, for lack of a better phrase, full of it
5:23 PM Adam Colligan: I even have a hilarious piece of transcript: 2:02 PM Adam Colligan: Look, here is a theory. What if this PC does not have a separate CMOS battery, and it's been using power from the main battery to keep the clock and BIOS settings current? In that case, the symptoms might just be a result of poor seating of the main battery cable. To rule that out, I would like to confirm for a fact that a CMOS battery actually exists on this motherboard, and I'd like to see it with my own eyes.2:02 PM Adam Colligan: ...before I go without my PC for days or weeks2:03 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: The CMOS battery exsist in the motherboard and it is not a customer replaceable part. 2:04 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: You cannot see it.
5:25 PM Adam Colligan: I had even checked the x360 service manuals and compared them to other Envy models, since the CMOS / RTC battery is specified for the other ones. Hence this (apparently completely false) gem: KARISHMA BARPANDA: I would like to inform you that, the CMOS battery is not a customer replaceable part.2:24 PM Adam Colligan: What does that have to do with whether or not you know where it is?2:24 PM Adam Colligan: Is there some rule that you are not allowed to say "I don't know" ?2:24 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: That is the reason, it is not shown in the manual.2:25 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: That is the reason, it is not shown in the manual.2:25 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: The CMOS battery can be replaced by the HP hardware engineers.
5:25 PM Adam Colligan: Apparently the truth is that it's not in the manual because *it doesn't exist*
5:27 PM Justine: I apologize about that, Adam. But to explain this properly, yes the CMOS battery is not a replaceable part. We do not ship CMOS batteries. But if you want, you can consult your local tech about it.
5:28 PM Justine: May I ask why do you want the CMOS battery to be replaced, Adam?
5:28 PM Adam Colligan: Oh my god.
5:28 PM Adam Colligan: You're going to have to just give me a moment here.
5:29 PM Justine: Okay Adam. Please take your time.
5:31 PM Adam Colligan: Before I explain again, let me just ask a question or two. Let's say that, hypothetically, HP Support thought that I needed to replace my CMOS/RTC battery. So I ship it off. Imagine that it arrives at the service center and the techs there discover that there is nothing wrong with the CMOS battery. Instead, they find that the main battery has a short in it and needs to be replaced. Would I have to pay for the replacement of the main battery?
5:32 PM Justine: Alright, first the repair process is that whatever that is we need to replace, we will. also, fortunately, your warranty covers the repair for this computer. We could send it for repair for you.
5:33 PM Justine: Whether the CMOS battery or the main battery, we will fix this computer like brand new for you.
5:34 PM Adam Colligan: And you're saying there is no charge for this?
5:35 PM Justine: Yes Adam.
5:36 PM Justine: It will be for free.
5:36 PM Justine: May I ask for your shipping address?
5:37 PM Adam Colligan: Wait; see, I don't want to do that yet. How long would the whole shipping and repair process take?
5:37 PM Adam Colligan: I've already been told that I have to go through the whole shipping nightmare even though I live right near an authorized service center
5:38 PM Justine: Okay, we will ship you a box with a return label within 2-3 business days, then the repair process would be 7-9 business days maximum. This is for us to make sure that everything will be checked and diagnosed so that when it comes back to you, it would be like brand new.
5:39 PM Justine: We could still send you the box if you want, the box would be active within 30 days, so you could decide when you want it to be dispatched.
5:40 PM Adam Colligan: See, and that's the problem: I might rather just buy a new battery for $53 rather than be without my main work machine for 2 weeks+.
5:40 PM Adam Colligan: And so here's what happened:
5:41 PM Justine: Well, if we send it for repair we can determine if it is really a CMOS issue or the main battery.
5:41 PM Justine: But it would depend on your decision, Adam.
5:44 PM Justine: Are you still there? I want to get your issue taken cared of today. Please respond if you are available to chat.
5:44 PM Adam Colligan: In order to make that choice, I needed to know whether this could really be a CMOS battery issue. If it were, then I would have no choice but to send it in, because that would mean replacing the motherboard (or at a minimum re-soldering to it...so probably replacing it). I would probably also have to spend the time before and after the shipment taking the thing apart myself and putting it back together again because I have my own RAM and my own SSD in there. And so I discussed my symptoms (which included a CMOS checksum error) with two technical support representatives. The initial one was going to take me through a BIOS upgrade attempt and informed me that if it did not resolve, it would need to be sent in for a CMOS battery replacement. I think I had already let him know that I had looked for it just to check if there was anything obviously wrong and couldn't find it, and I had wondered if there really was one.
5:46 PM Justine: Actually if it already gave a CMOS error, it is already that.
5:46 PM Adam Colligan: In the end I did upgrade the BIOS, but when it appeared to work afterward, it was a coincidence. The ticket was closed but I discovered quickly that the problem was still there. It appeared that maybe I had partially charged the CMOS battery and so just needed to try running the machine for several hours to see if it would recharge. When that failed, I contacted HP again, which is where those snippets of transcript come from
5:47 PM Connecting...
5:47 PM Connected. A support representative will be with you shortly.
5:47 PM Support session established with Justine.
5:47 PM Adam Colligan: Once again, I was assured that this really was or could be a CMOS battery issue. I specifically raised my concern that there might not even be a CMOS battery, which is why I tried to focus the conversation on getting the rep to tell me where it is. She very directly and repeatedly told me that it was there -- which meant that I had no choice between a long service and replacing the battery myself.
5:49 PM Justine: The issue is that the CMOS could have already failed so technically, even though it is physically there, the computer is not detecting it anymore. For this, since there is already an error with the CMOS, it should be replaced.
5:50 PM Adam Colligan: But between the fact that the reps had not sounded competent and the possibility that it might be worth it to replace the CMOS battery myself and void the warranty, I was still suspicious. And that's why I found myself spending $54.13 for a third party service provider to tell me what HP should have known all along. This machine does not have a separate CMOS battery. When the main battery fails -- as mine has -- it will cause all the symptoms of a main battery failure *plus* the symptoms of a CMOS battery failure, since *the main battery* powers this board's real-time clock and RAM environment memory
5:51 PM Justine: I could wait for your decision if you want to send it in for repair, Adam. I will still send you a box for the repair, that would be available for use within a month. It is still up for you to decide, Adam.
5:51 PM Adam Colligan: And now you're saying the same thing: that my CMOS checksum error (and also my clock resetting) means there is a problem with the CMOS / RTC battery.
5:51 PM Adam Colligan: Am I correct that that is what you are saying?
5:52 PM Justine: I highly suggest sending it for repair, really. In this case we could provide a proper explanation in your issue.
5:52 PM Adam Colligan: Are you or are you not telling me that I have a CMOS / RTC battery and that it might need to be replaced?
5:53 PM Justine: Every motherboard has a CMOS battery, yours have already failed so it needs to be replaced.
5:54 PM Adam Colligan: See, I think -- and the service center that just looked at it thinks -- that that statement is flat-out untrue.
5:54 PM Justine: You could replace it by yourself like what you want, but first, we do not ship CMOS batteries, and replacing it by yourself will jsut tamper the warranty.
5:55 PM Adam Colligan: And so the important question is: will HP give me a free main battery, which I can install myself without needing to send the computer off, if it turns out that you just became rep #3 to give me false information?
5:56 PM Justine: Actually, we cannot determine that without really having it physically here for further details and with sufficient tests. Our technicians will be testing it not just inside, but physically.
5:57 PM Adam Colligan: You don't need my computer in front of you in order to know whether or not this model *has* a CMOS battery. You are essentially swearing up and down that it has one. If you're wrong, then you've not only cost me the $54 I already spent but will also unnecessarily cost me two weeks+ without my computer
5:57 PM Justine: I apologize but we can only replace the battery if we have the computer in question, and we cannot do that without the error in the main battery itself.
5:57 PM Justine: Every computer has a CMOS battery, what I mean is that we have to perform tests on your computer physically to determine the real issue.
5:57 PM Justine: I apologize about that.
5:57 PM Adam Colligan: So I want to know: if it turns out that this model has no CMOS battery, will HP comp me a main battery in return for the time and money that it has already made me waste?
5:59 PM Justine: Actually, we can send you a box with a return label, so that you can decide. At this point we will just wait for your decision.
5:59 PM Justine: We will only replace or provide on the part that neede to be replaced.
6:00 PM Justine: The CMOS and the main battery has different roles, so we couldn't send you a main battery when it is a CMOS issue.
6:00 PM Justine: Is that okay?
6:00 PM Justine: May I ask for your shipping address please?
6:01 PM Adam Colligan: That. That last thing you said. That is the heart of the whole problem! If the CMOS battery doesn't exist, then you would *know* you could just send me a main battery?
6:01 PM Adam Colligan: As long as it's not costing me anything, sure, send me a stupid box. My address is [redacted]
6:02 PM Justine: If the CMOS battery doesn't exist, the main battery doesn't have anything to do with it. If it does not exist, we can send it for repair, since we do not send CMOS batteries. That is the only thing that we can do.
6:02 PM Justine: Alright, is there anything else I could help you with?
6:03 PM Adam Colligan: Oh lord. If the CMOS battery doesn't exist, then the main battery is the whole point, because it's the main battery that's supplying the power to the components that normally draw from the CMOS battery on most other systems.
6:03 PM Adam Colligan: Nope, there's nothing else. You've provided another great transcript for the file.
5:10 PM Support session established with Justine.5:10 PM Adam Colligan: Hi Justine5:11 PM Justine: Thank you for contacting the HP Customer Support & Services. My name is Justine and I will be your chat support specialist today. Please give me a few minutes while I review your issue description details. NOTE: For security reasons, PLEASE DO NOT send credit card information via chat. Also, If you are using a mobile device (iPad, iPod, iPhone, etc....) and experience difficulties viewing the chat window, please initiate a new chat from a Windows or Mac computer or use a different browser for better compatibility.For DISCONNECTED or failed to reconnect, we keep records for all interactions feel free to initiate another chat.5:11 PM Justine: May I have the phone number and e-mail address associated with your HP product?5:11 PM Adam Colligan: [redacted]5:12 PM Justine: In order for me to assist you better, can you please provide the Product and Serial number of the system that is having an issue.5:13 PM Adam Colligan: Are the contents of the form I filled out not sent? The SN is [redacted] . This is a model G6T85UA5:15 PM Justine: Thank you for verifying me those information, Adam. I have read your issue description and it seems like you need help in processing a replacement for your computer's battery, is that correct?5:15 PM Adam Colligan: Yes.5:16 PM Justine: I apologize for the inconvenience. I will do my best to help you resolve this issue.5:19 PM Justine: Alright, regarding the incorrect information that our tech had provided you, what is that information again, Adam.5:20 PM Adam Colligan: My own hunch was confirmed by an independent service center that I had to pay to diagnose this problem: this machine has no dedicated RTC/CMOS battery. 5:20 PM Justine: -5:22 PM Justine: So the issue is that you went to a local tech and they are charging you for your battery replacement correct?5:22 PM Adam Colligan: So I wasted both a day of work and over $50 because two technical support representatives told me in no uncertain terms that I was looking at symptoms of a CMOS battery fault. And I *now* face also having to double that money on a new battery unless you guys can make it right.5:23 PM Adam Colligan: I paid for the diagnosis because they had to go in and determine that HP tech support was, for lack of a better phrase, full of it5:23 PM Adam Colligan: I even have a hilarious piece of transcript: 2:02 PM Adam Colligan: Look, here is a theory. What if this PC does not have a separate CMOS battery, and it's been using power from the main battery to keep the clock and BIOS settings current? In that case, the symptoms might just be a result of poor seating of the main battery cable. To rule that out, I would like to confirm for a fact that a CMOS battery actually exists on this motherboard, and I'd like to see it with my own eyes.2:02 PM Adam Colligan: ...before I go without my PC for days or weeks2:03 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: The CMOS battery exsist in the motherboard and it is not a customer replaceable part. 2:04 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: You cannot see it. 5:25 PM Adam Colligan: I had even checked the x360 service manuals and compared them to other Envy models, since the CMOS / RTC battery is specified for the other ones. Hence this (apparently completely false) gem: KARISHMA BARPANDA: I would like to inform you that, the CMOS battery is not a customer replaceable part.2:24 PM Adam Colligan: What does that have to do with whether or not you know where it is?2:24 PM Adam Colligan: Is there some rule that you are not allowed to say "I don't know" ?2:24 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: That is the reason, it is not shown in the manual.2:25 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: That is the reason, it is not shown in the manual.2:25 PM KARISHMA BARPANDA: The CMOS battery can be replaced by the HP hardware engineers.5:25 PM Adam Colligan: Apparently the truth is that it's not in the manual because *it doesn't exist*5:27 PM Justine: I apologize about that, Adam. But to explain this properly, yes the CMOS battery is not a replaceable part. We do not ship CMOS batteries. But if you want, you can consult your local tech about it.5:28 PM Justine: May I ask why do you want the CMOS battery to be replaced, Adam?5:28 PM Adam Colligan: Oh my god.5:28 PM Adam Colligan: You're going to have to just give me a moment here.5:29 PM Justine: Okay Adam. Please take your time.5:31 PM Adam Colligan: Before I explain again, let me just ask a question or two. Let's say that, hypothetically, HP Support thought that I needed to replace my CMOS/RTC battery. So I ship it off. Imagine that it arrives at the service center and the techs there discover that there is nothing wrong with the CMOS battery. Instead, they find that the main battery has a short in it and needs to be replaced. Would I have to pay for the replacement of the main battery?5:32 PM Justine: Alright, first the repair process is that whatever that is we need to replace, we will. also, fortunately, your warranty covers the repair for this computer. We could send it for repair for you.5:33 PM Justine: Whether the CMOS battery or the main battery, we will fix this computer like brand new for you.5:34 PM Adam Colligan: And you're saying there is no charge for this?5:35 PM Justine: Yes Adam. 5:36 PM Justine: It will be for free.5:36 PM Justine: May I ask for your shipping address?5:37 PM Adam Colligan: Wait; see, I don't want to do that yet. How long would the whole shipping and repair process take?5:37 PM Adam Colligan: I've already been told that I have to go through the whole shipping nightmare even though I live right near an authorized service center5:38 PM Justine: Okay, we will ship you a box with a return label within 2-3 business days, then the repair process would be 7-9 business days maximum. This is for us to make sure that everything will be checked and diagnosed so that when it comes back to you, it would be like brand new.5:39 PM Justine: We could still send you the box if you want, the box would be active within 30 days, so you could decide when you want it to be dispatched.5:40 PM Adam Colligan: See, and that's the problem: I might rather just buy a new battery for $53 rather than be without my main work machine for 2 weeks+. 5:40 PM Adam Colligan: And so here's what happened:5:41 PM Justine: Well, if we send it for repair we can determine if it is really a CMOS issue or the main battery.5:41 PM Justine: But it would depend on your decision, Adam.5:44 PM Justine: Are you still there? I want to get your issue taken cared of today. Please respond if you are available to chat.5:44 PM Adam Colligan: In order to make that choice, I needed to know whether this could really be a CMOS battery issue. If it were, then I would have no choice but to send it in, because that would mean replacing the motherboard (or at a minimum re-soldering to it...so probably replacing it). I would probably also have to spend the time before and after the shipment taking the thing apart myself and putting it back together again because I have my own RAM and my own SSD in there. And so I discussed my symptoms (which included a CMOS checksum error) with two technical support representatives. The initial one was going to take me through a BIOS upgrade attempt and informed me that if it did not resolve, it would need to be sent in for a CMOS battery replacement. I think I had already let him know that I had looked for it just to check if there was anything obviously wrong and couldn't find it, and I had wondered if there really was one.5:46 PM Justine: Actually if it already gave a CMOS error, it is already that.5:46 PM Adam Colligan: In the end I did upgrade the BIOS, but when it appeared to work afterward, it was a coincidence. The ticket was closed but I discovered quickly that the problem was still there. It appeared that maybe I had partially charged the CMOS battery and so just needed to try running the machine for several hours to see if it would recharge. When that failed, I contacted HP again, which is where those snippets of transcript come from5:47 PM Connecting...5:47 PM Connected. A support representative will be with you shortly.5:47 PM Support session established with Justine.5:47 PM Adam Colligan: Once again, I was assured that this really was or could be a CMOS battery issue. I specifically raised my concern that there might not even be a CMOS battery, which is why I tried to focus the conversation on getting the rep to tell me where it is. She very directly and repeatedly told me that it was there -- which meant that I had no choice between a long service and replacing the battery myself.5:49 PM Justine: The issue is that the CMOS could have already failed so technically, even though it is physically there, the computer is not detecting it anymore. For this, since there is already an error with the CMOS, it should be replaced.5:50 PM Adam Colligan: But between the fact that the reps had not sounded competent and the possibility that it might be worth it to replace the CMOS battery myself and void the warranty, I was still suspicious. And that's why I found myself spending $54.13 for a third party service provider to tell me what HP should have known all along. This machine does not have a separate CMOS battery. When the main battery fails -- as mine has -- it will cause all the symptoms of a main battery failure *plus* the symptoms of a CMOS battery failure, since *the main battery* powers this board's real-time clock and RAM environment memory5:51 PM Justine: I could wait for your decision if you want to send it in for repair, Adam. I will still send you a box for the repair, that would be available for use within a month. It is still up for you to decide, Adam.5:51 PM Adam Colligan: And now you're saying the same thing: that my CMOS checksum error (and also my clock resetting) means there is a problem with the CMOS / RTC battery.5:51 PM Adam Colligan: Am I correct that that is what you are saying?5:52 PM Justine: I highly suggest sending it for repair, really. In this case we could provide a proper explanation in your issue.5:52 PM Adam Colligan: Are you or are you not telling me that I have a CMOS / RTC battery and that it might need to be replaced?5:53 PM Justine: Every motherboard has a CMOS battery, yours have already failed so it needs to be replaced.5:54 PM Adam Colligan: See, I think -- and the service center that just looked at it thinks -- that that statement is flat-out untrue. 5:54 PM Justine: You could replace it by yourself like what you want, but first, we do not ship CMOS batteries, and replacing it by yourself will jsut tamper the warranty.5:55 PM Adam Colligan: And so the important question is: will HP give me a free main battery, which I can install myself without needing to send the computer off, if it turns out that you just became rep #3 to give me false information?5:56 PM Justine: Actually, we cannot determine that without really having it physically here for further details and with sufficient tests. Our technicians will be testing it not just inside, but physically. 5:57 PM Adam Colligan: You don't need my computer in front of you in order to know whether or not this model *has* a CMOS battery. You are essentially swearing up and down that it has one. If you're wrong, then you've not only cost me the $54 I already spent but will also unnecessarily cost me two weeks+ without my computer5:57 PM Justine: I apologize but we can only replace the battery if we have the computer in question, and we cannot do that without the error in the main battery itself.5:57 PM Justine: Every computer has a CMOS battery, what I mean is that we have to perform tests on your computer physically to determine the real issue.5:57 PM Justine: I apologize about that.5:57 PM Adam Colligan: So I want to know: if it turns out that this model has no CMOS battery, will HP comp me a main battery in return for the time and money that it has already made me waste? 5:59 PM Justine: Actually, we can send you a box with a return label, so that you can decide. At this point we will just wait for your decision.5:59 PM Justine: We will only replace or provide on the part that neede to be replaced.6:00 PM Justine: The CMOS and the main battery has different roles, so we couldn't send you a main battery when it is a CMOS issue.6:00 PM Justine: Is that okay?6:00 PM Justine: May I ask for your shipping address please?6:01 PM Adam Colligan: That. That last thing you said. That is the heart of the whole problem! If the CMOS battery doesn't exist, then you would *know* you could just send me a main battery? 6:01 PM Adam Colligan: As long as it's not costing me anything, sure, send me a stupid box. My address is [redacted]6:02 PM Justine: If the CMOS battery doesn't exist, the main battery doesn't have anything to do with it. If it does not exist, we can send it for repair, since we do not send CMOS batteries. That is the only thing that we can do.6:02 PM Justine: Alright, is there anything else I could help you with?6:03 PM Adam Colligan: Oh lord. If the CMOS battery doesn't exist, then the main battery is the whole point, because it's the main battery that's supplying the power to the components that normally draw from the CMOS battery on most other systems.6:03 PM Adam Colligan: Nope, there's nothing else. You've provided another great transcript for the file.
7. In desperation, I try in vain to attract @HPSupport's attention on Twitter
Spoiler (Highlight to read)
@adamcolligan
6:20 PM - 13 Apr 2015
(1/3) Hey @HPSupport : would you make a wager with me? The question: whether 3 separate HP reps cost me $54.13 + 8 hrs' work with false info
@HPSupport (2/3) If I'm right, you send me a new battery for my x360-15t and say you're super sorry on your twitter feed. If I'm wrong...
@HPSupport then I guess no hilarious Reddit thread with support transcripts, and I'll spend like $1m on 2ml of your official ink. Deal?
@HPSupport (4/3) It's easy to resolve. Alls you have to do is know, and I mean *know*: "Does the G6T85UA have a dedicated RTC/CMOS battery?"
@adamcolligan6:20 PM - 13 Apr 2015(1/3) Hey @HPSupport : would you make a wager with me? The question: whether 3 separate HP reps cost me $54.13 + 8 hrs' work with false info@HPSupport (2/3) If I'm right, you send me a new battery for my x360-15t and say you're super sorry on your twitter feed. If I'm wrong...@HPSupport then I guess no hilarious Reddit thread with support transcripts, and I'll spend like $1m on 2ml of your official ink. Deal?@HPSupport (4/3) It's easy to resolve. Alls you have to do is know, and I mean *know*: "Does the G6T85UA have a dedicated RTC/CMOS battery?"
No response; not sure if I expected one or not.Update time! I know you've been dying to know how this has been turning out.
I provided all the requested information in response to the private message from HP staff. Nothing ever came of it; as far as I can tell, no real human being ever attempted to contact me after being "forwarded" the details of the case.
Three days after I tweeted at them, @HPSupport sent me a series of public replies. In essence, they told me to abandon useless post-sales technical support and get information from HP Sales.
Adam Colligan @AdamColligan · Apr 13
(1/3) Hey @HPSupport : would you make a wager with me? The question: whether 3 separate HP reps cost me $54.13 + 8 hrs' work with false info
Adam Colligan @AdamColligan · Apr 13
@HPSupport (2/3) If I'm right, you send me a new battery for my x360-15t and say you're super sorry on your
Adam Colligan @AdamColligan · Apr 13
@HPSupport then I guess no hilarious Reddit thread with support transcripts, and I'll spend like $1m on 2ml of your official ink. Deal?
Adam Colligan @AdamColligan · Apr 13
@HPSupport (4/3) It's easy to resolve. Alls you have to do is know, and I mean *know*: "Does the G6T85UA have a dedicated RTC/CMOS battery?"
Adam Colligan @AdamColligan Apr 13
@HPSupport No but seriously. Does the HP Envy x360 have a dedicated RTC / CMOS battery or not?
HP Support @HPSupport Apr 16
@AdamColligan Hello Adam, Eddie here. Saw your tweet. Our Product Information team will be able to assist with your inquiry. Dial:.. ^HPCare
HP Support @HPSupport Apr 16
@AdamColligan 1800-752-0900. Follow prompts for “product information”. If you prefer email click this link http://ow.ly/HYnHT .. ^HPCare
HP Support @HPSupport Apr 16
@AdamColligan Once there be sure to choose "Contact an HP sales specialist" as your subject. Let me know if you require further... ^HPCare
HP Support @HPSupport Apr 16
@AdamColligan information and/or assistance. Have an awesome day! Thanks! ^HPCare
Now, being the exhaustive give-it-a-try kind of guy that I am, I tried *both* the phone and the email path to support. I may have been told once on the phone to try the email, but it's hard to even remember at the moment. I'll just paste the email outcome here.
Me (into the webform):
HP reps have directed me to contact sales support after others in the company were unable to help with a technical product question. I need to know whether the HP Envy x360 model G6T85UA (should be board 780958-501 and main battery 760944-421) has a dedicated CMOS/RTC battery. If it does, I need to know *where* it is connected to the board. This is a fairly urgent issue for me implicating a disconnect or swap-out of the main battery while AC power is not being supplied.
HP:
Dear Adam,
Thank you for contacting the hp.com Sales Center.
I understand the you are still seeking resolution for your technical concern and I’m sorry to hear that this remains unresolved.
I'm very sorry, but our email sales team does not handle technical or product support concerns. We can only handles sales inquiries pertaining to orders placed in our store.
HP Technical Support will be able to provide you with service and support for hardware, software, and parts replacement of HP products that are still covered under warranty.
I strongly suggest that you contact the HP Technical Support Team since your matter requires technical expertise. HP Technical Support can best assist you and can be reached 24 hours a day at: http://www.hp.com/contacthp
Below is step by step guide how to obtain the webform/online form:
1. Please copy and paste this link http://www.hp.com/contacthp into a new browser.
2. Please enter your model number in the "Enter my model number" search field provided then hit the "Find my product" button to generate the result.
3. Select the correct product from the search results.
4. On the next page wait for a few seconds to load the webform.
5. Scroll down to find the webform.
5. Complete the webform then hit the "Submit" button.
6. After you fill out the online form, you will receive a Technical Support case number. You will also be able to engage with a Tech Support product specialist either by chat or they will give you a call at your earliest convenience.
By the way, I have seen a link which might help you with this concern. Here's the link:
http://partsurfer.hp.com/Search.aspx?SearchText=G6T85UA
The link shows the the HP ENVY 15-U011DX X360 CONVERTIBLE PC (ENERGY STAR) has the 780958-501 motherboard but has a different battery. It doesn't show also the RTC Battery and where you can find it. Please contact our HP Technical Support for other information.
I hope this information has been of assistance to you, Adam. Please reply to this message if there is anything further we can do. For your convenience, you may also call the HP.com Sales Center directly at 1-888-222-0029 between 7:00 AM - 2:00 AM EST, seven days a week.
Customer Satisfaction is our store’s top priority. Please tell us about your email experience today. To participate, please click on our Customer Satisfaction Survey link below.
Thank you for choosing HP. We appreciate your business.
Regards,
Regine G.
Oh dear. So technical support doesn't have technical information about HP machines, and sales support doesn't answer technical questions about HP machines and refers you to technical support. Brilliant. But by this time, I of course knew better than to actually *believe* what someone was telling me, so I used the sales phone number instead.
The sales guy was super eager to help, especially since I framed this as a problem of future use. I work on disaster vulnerability issues. If I buy Envy x360 15ts and use them in a place where there isn't AC power for a while, can I swap spare batteries into them without screwing up the BIOS and real-time clock settings?
He put me on hold two or three times for what I was led to believe were very thorough attempts to get me a totally definitive answer. And this is what someone eventually told him to tell me. All HP machines ship with CMOS batteries.
So I must have been mistaken all along, right? The CMOS battery must have stopped working at the same time as the main battery. It must just be that neither I nor my local repair shop could find my CMOS battery because we all have the wrong prescriptions on our glasses and contact lenses. Well, there's just one small issue with getting to that conclusion: what HP told me about my machine was, once again, totally false.
How do I know? Because I still didn't believe HP, and rather than shipping my compter off for weeks in the big padded box, I ordered a new main battery for a total of just over $60. I swapped it. Guess what happened, HP? If you guessed, "every aspect of the problem instantly resolved, because there never was a CMOS/RTC battery in this machine in the first place", you would win a gold star. But I'm assuming you'd also lose your job, because this particular piece of information has somehow been banished and outlawed from the minds of HP employees and contractors.
I wonder: would anybody at HP be interested in apologizing to me, much less in finding a way to make up for the $115+ I've lost because nobody at any stage to this point has been willing to act like a human being?
BUT WAIT, THERE'S GREAT NEWS
I shouldn't make it seem through this thread that HP totally lacks competence and doesn't care about me at all. Because within two hours of receiving the email from HP Sales telling me that they weren't going to do anything about my problem, I started receiving advertising email blasts full of great offers and promotions about buying a new HP laptop and other great products! Yay! I guess I'm not invisible after all. And I'm sure if I bought *more* stuff from HP, they would take care of me then. Right?
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