X31 Questions about Machine Type 2885RGU

[ychandrani]

Well, finally the 2885RGU that I ordered from IBM has arrived. But, it would appear that all is not well with big blue. This particular machine comes with an X3 Ultrabase and DVD/CD-RW Combo drive. The drive itself arrived with a blank RW CD inside, with some scribbles on the label side of the disk. In addition, the image that IBM used for the factory preload of Win XP Pro did not have either the standard OEM version of a cd recording software (Record Now) or software for DVD playback (DVD Express). I have ordered and set up the X31, T41, and T42 for friends and I gather these two pieces of software are standard. Too bad none of them ordered recovery disks from IBM, otherwise I'd just borrow their CDs.

Repeated calls to IBM tech support only led to me being transferred to a different department each time. The first call I made, the IBM tech support specialist tells me the machine and the serial number that I gave her suggested that it was out of warranty! Same result the next two calls.

I finally managed to convince a tech at IBM that the machine is under warranty for 3 years by speaking directly to their entitlements division, where a supervisor was kind enough to check with academic sales and verify that indeed I had brought a 2885 RGU, which was delivered yesterday to me. And that the serial number in my order record and on the machine label matched. However, repeated requests that they should send me a restore CD with the correct image for this machine got no response other than that I was doing something wrong.

On the fourth call, the tech asked me to restore the factory settings on the machine by reinstalling XP Pro from the hidden partition. Done that, but to no avail.

It appears that IBM's quality control is pretty bad--given that the wrong XP-Pro Image was preloaded on the machine. I had to download both SP1 and SP2 today, since both were missing from the machine. I can uderstand that the preload image does not have SP2; but no SP1 this late in the game is odd.

I had to explain that a T41 that my brother purchased in May 2004 had more up to date Win XP Pro and other files than this machine and that it was my understanding the t4x and the x3x series shared a common image preload.

Any thoughts or suggestions on how I can get IBM to send me the correct restore CD?

On a different note, which carrying cases do folks recommend for this configuration. When making long distance, long-term trips mostly to Asia, I'd like to be able to carry the x3 Ultrabase along with a backup HDD in an Ultrabay 2000 adapter and the DVD/CD-RW drive. Are there any compact, but sturdy and good bags/cases that people would recommend?

Much appreciate your thoughts/suggestions.

Cheers,

Yogesh

[sktn77a]

You should have received a preload with all the software (WinDVD. RecNow, etc) on it. Failing that, you should have received the CDRW/DVD software CD.

Call em back and tell 'em YOU WANT THE RECOVERY CDs!!! You are entitled to them!

[n3il]

I'd want more than just the recovery cds.... a "brand new" unit arriving with a CD in the drive??????!! The nonesense about the unit being Out Of Warranty odds more fuel to the suspicion fire..

I'd get back on the 'phone and find out what it is you have been delivered and then see about getting it replaced with a proper "brand new" machine...

[ychandrani]

Thanks to both sktn77a and n3il.

The warranty issue has been resolved finally. The serial number is assigned to the machine just prior to shipping and the division that does this is in Hong Kong; so it seems their database is not immediately available to either tech support or to the warranty division. A case of a company being so big that the right hand doesn't know what the left is up to...........

IBM has taken the DVD/CD-RW back today (monday) and has already shipped a replacement unit out to me overnight. They have also agreed to send me the recovery cds for the machine overnight. All of this happened today after I had a rather brief, but 'direct' chat with the sales manager who took my order over the phone and who sorted the matter out.

Other than the absence of CD writing software and an old preload, the machine rocks.


now, I just need to find two different sleeves--one for carrying the laptop on its own and one for carrying it with the X3 Ultrabase attached.

Any ideas on this last front?

Cheers,

Yogesh

[sktn77a]

I have a 6 year old old Compaq laptop bag that is perfect for the X2x-3x series with the ultrabase. Check the dimensions on cheap, used, padded cases on e-bay.