[Joe]

A friend bought a "floor model" computer in April that came with all sorts of software on the hard drive (but no disks or CDs), with the right to return the computer to the store and get her money back until October.<br><br><br><br>
She has been having some problems with the computer, but it appears that these stem from things like failing to read the manual and set the thing up properly.<br><br><br><br>
But one problem she is having is this: The computer came with Norton AntiVirus 2005, but the subscription has expired. The cost of renewing the subscription would be almost as much as going out and buying the new version of the software.<br><br><br><br>
I put a free "on demand" antivirus program on the computer for her to use to supplement Norton's, but she has to disable (temporarily) Norton's "Auto-Protect" to use it, and it does not have an "auto-protect"/memory-resident shield function like Norton does. I told her I could install a different free antivirus program that does have an "auto-protect" function, but that I would have to uninstall Norton's to do this. I told her I'd be happy to do this for her after the October deadline passes.<br><br><br><br>
She wants me to do this now. I told her that if she is going to return the computer, she needs to return the computer in the same condition it was in when she bought it, except for reasonable usage, which would mean with all the software that was installed on it when she bought it. She thinks she is entitled to return the computer even with some installed software removed, because she did not explicitly promise that she would not delete any of the installed software.<br><br><br><br>
What do you think?

 

[kpickell]

I would have thought the same thing she was thinking. I would think you could remove any software you want, and still return it. I guess my thinking is that if a computer gets returned, the store pretty much needs to format that computer and reinstall everything anyways. If they don't, then they're taking a pretty big risk, because you never know for sure what someone that owned the computer might have put on it. There could be pornography hidden somewhere, or the computer could have been infected by a virus, any number of things that they can't really risk letting a new owner discover. Even if she deleted the whole operating system and the computer wasn't operable, she should be able to return the computer.<br><br><br><br>
But if you're worried, just call and ask the store.

 

[Joe]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>kpickell</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I would have thought the same thing she was thinking. I would think you could remove any software you want, and still return it. I guess my thinking is that if a computer gets returned, the store pretty much needs to format that computer and reinstall everything anyways. If they don't, then they're taking a pretty big risk, because you never know for sure what someone that owned the computer might have put on it. There could be pornography hidden somewhere, or the computer could have been infected by a virus, any number of things that they can't really risk letting a new owner discover. Even if she deleted the whole operating system and the computer wasn't operable, she should be able to return the computer.<br><br><br><br>
But if you're worried, just call and ask the store.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Thanks, kp. I posted this query on another forum and got the same response about the store reformatting the hard drive. Still, I am not sure that they would "pass through" the implications of this into the return policy. But your suggestion to contact the store and ask (first) is an excellent one, and that's what I'll have my friend do. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> Thanks again for your very wise post. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[~Wonder]

If she got this from a mainstream store like BestBuy, then chances are they formatted the harddrive using the manufacturer's restore CDs before they gave it her. She when she returns it they'll do the exact same thing. In fact, it would be in her best interest to format the harddrive before she returns it to the store. What really surprises me is that a store sold your friend a floor model computer with the option to return it.<br><br>
~Wonder <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sunny.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":sunny:">

 

[Joe]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>~Wonder</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
If she got this from a mainstream store like BestBuy, then chances are they formatted the harddrive using the manufacturer's restore CDs before they gave it her. She when she returns it they'll do the exact same thing. In fact, it would be in her best interest to format the harddrive before she returns it to the store. What really surprises me is that a store sold your friend a floor model computer with the option to return it.<br><br>
~Wonder <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sunny.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":sunny:"></div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
She bought it at Sam's Club. The return policy surprised me, too. (Dunno if this is the "regular" store policy--I don't think so--or a special policy to get people to buy floor models.) I had planned to work on the computer and delete and overwrite her personal files before returning it (using a program like Eraser), but hadn't thought about formatting the hard drive. Interesting idea. Thanks for suggesting it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
At any rate, it is looking now like she will keep the computer, but there is still some uncertainty and some problems that have to be hashed through.

 

[Thirsty Johann]

I am not a lawyer, but I believe to sell someone a PC with software on it, you need to actually sell them that software -- so they would have had to give her the Windows disks (including the key) and all the packaging/disks from everything else on there. If they gave her those disks, she could easily re-install everything that's on there. If they didn't, they're most likely in violation of a law.<br><br><br><br>
I would suggest you format it, re-install Windows and install a number of free anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, even before you connect it to the internet. I can recommend <a href="http://www.avira.com/" target="_blank">Avira Anti-virus</a>, <a href="http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp" target="_blank">ZoneAlam personal firewall</a> and <a href="http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html" target="_blank">Spybot Search & Destroy</a> -- all of which are completely free -- to protect from viruses, malware in general and spyware respectively.<br><br><br><br>
I would assume Sam's Club would format the PC after she returned it, anyway, as it could be infected with any number of viruses and much of her personal files and information would be salvagable.

 

[rhino56]

sams club would probably just send it back where they got it from. as far as i know they are a vendor not a pc manufacter. they may not even turn it on.