"Jim" wrote in message
ups.com...
Is this typical
or am I the exception? Has anyone else had this level of difficuty?

I have had *some* difficulty with HP as well. When I feel like getting a
headache, I use their online chat, I never call them because I feel like I
will blow my head off speaking directly to someone who knows less about
computers then my Grandmother. (Poor thing actually likes her Mac) The
first computer I owned a operated was a Tandy Color Computer 2, when I was
about six years old, no lie. I have been using PC's almost everyday of my
life since, so I feel in the last 18 or so years I am learned a thing or
two.

I installed a new sound blaster sound card, and disable the onboard sound.
Of course my front mic and headphone jacks stopped working. I contacted HP,
online chat (several times) all with the same result.

Me: I installed a new sound blaster sound card, and the front audio ports
are not working.

India: What kind of speakers do you have?

Me: The speakers are working fine, they are plugged into the back of the
tower. I would like to use head phones sometimes so not to wake my wife.

India: Is it a 2.1, 4.1 etc system.

Me: The speakers are working fine.

India: The speakers should be plugged into the back of the PC.

Me: They are, the problem is that I cannot see on the inside of my case,
which cables run from the front ports to the motherboard, so I can
reconnected it to my soundcard.

Then s/he begins using words to describe the cable I have never heard of,
and could not get any results on Google for. So I ask him/her to describe
the cable. Rectangular! They are all rectangular!

I disconnected out of anger. I few days later I reconnect, to a different
person, however with the same results. I ask for the 1-800 number for
support, when I get a live person, I immediately ask to speak to a
supervisor, I explain what I am trying to do, she tells me that they have no
information on the motherboard layouts. So logically, I ask who
manufactures their mobo's, so possibly I could ask them. The answer ladies
and gentleman...HP. If I call Honda, could they tell me where my glovebox
is? She says that I can take my PC to one of their authorized repair shops
in my area, and they could show me what to do. I ask, will I be charged.
Being that I feel like I could do it myself if a person pointed me in the
right direction, she said "Of course you will be charged." The I proceeded
to tell her that all I need is support and not any repairs, and if HP cannot
give me a simple answer to a part they manufacture, why should I have to
pay. After I said that, all she was interested in doing was getting me off
the phone. Problem still unsolved.

Lets just say I will NEVER buy an HP or recommend one of their products.
Hell, I can't get my HP printer to work with my HP computer properly.

WooHoo2You

Another long rant I guess.