Acer laptop stopped working after installing Foxit

[skyblue_]

I have this Acer laptop computer that I purchased last spring. It was cheap ($400), but I bought a warranty that the salespeople explained to me at that time it will cover everything, so I gladly paid $200 for three year coverage.

Last Friday, I downloaded Foxit reader 3.0 and I loved it. So I decided to download many options they recommend. I downloaded these extras and next day I saw my laptop doesn't boot into Windows any more. I used "Repair with Last successful...". Still, whenever I tried to login, I get a blue screen if my password is correct; if the password is incorrect, it says that the password is wrong.

One of the blue screen error says:
unmountable_boot_volume

As I said, I have 3 year accidental warranty. But BestBuy says that this is software problem, not hardware, thus not covered. I have to pay $100 to have them repair my laptop.

So my question is:
1. Is it worth to pay this $100 at this point? Or should I just forget this laptop and buy another cheap one at around $300?

2. Do you think I can just break this laptop? Then my accidental warranty will replace this laptop with a new one.

3. Does anyone know how to fix my laptop and can give me the instruction?

[IanS]

If it was bought new then you should, at the very least, be able to re-install windows.

But to answer your questions:

1 - Not in my book. Extended warranties are rarely worth it and $100 fee for installing windows doesn't seem worth it either
2 - Now that you've contacted them it's likely that call will be logged. Apart from the fact to deliberately break it and then claim would likely be fraud they will probably say that you've broken it deliberately anyway to claim. The premium is probably originally calculated on the basis a number of fraudulent claims are made.
3 - Have you tried going into 'safe' mode? (Usually by pressing F8 during boot sequence.)

[YvetteKuhns]

When an error appears, I normally search Google.

When booting up to Win XP you may get a error that reads "Unmountable Boot Volume". (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555302)

Also see this source (http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-xp/unmountablebootvolume-error-plea/134376.html) and this source (http://msgoodies.blogspot.com/2007/08/fixing-unmountablebootvolume-on-windows.html) for more information.

Good luck!

[skyblue_]

How would they know that I intentionally destroyed my laptop or not? They can only guess that I might. But even though I called them and they remember me, still I could have an accident afterward. Right?


Regarding to resolve the problem by myself, I will try tonight and post the result of my efforts later. Thank you for now!

[YvetteKuhns]

You could have an accident while transporting your laptop to/from work or school. I would try fixing it with the links I posted before being so careless. ;)

[tpoynton]

it could be a hardware problem that just happened to surface after installing foxit. they should look at it.

[Doc C]

Best first find out what exactly is covered under the warranty before you go skipping it down the street like a stone.

[skyblue_]

I thought I have a comprehensive warranty covers virtually everything. But it turned out that my warranty covers only accidents. I learnt from this experience: Never buy any warranty. Most warranties somehow escape problems, thus most of time useless. It is better to buy a cheap computer for example and throw it out when encoutering any headaches, and save time and money.

Anyway, my current plan is that I will try to fix this by myself and if it doesn't work, I guess I am forced to break this laptop and tell them that I dropped it accidentally. There will be no way for them to tell that I did it intentionally or accidentally. They can guess it but no way to prove.

Anyway, I will try to fix this tonight and post the result or problems here again tonight.

Thanks always!

[YvetteKuhns]

Can you get a screenshot and explain when the error appeared? Windows goes crazy if you update it, install drivers or other software. Software problems can be fixed, if the problem is related to the software.

You said you noticed the problem after installing Foxit, but did you do anything else? Whatever you did, you should still be able to fix it or reinstall Windows.

[Doc C]

Uh, if it only covers accidents and you are having a software issue, dropping it to break it isn't going to resolve your issue. You damage the case or crack the LCD, all they have to do is replace the damaged part. They don't have to make it work.

And when a salesman tries to sell me an extended warranty, I use a line my girlfriend gave me, "Why should I buy an additional warranty, don't you stand by your product?"

[skyblue_]

I tried to start Windows from Safe Mode, but it seems that nothing works.
I couldn't even format the hard drive. It just freezes at 0%.

So I just called Acer and purchased their recovery CD at 20$.