RADIO SHACK / COMPAQ / QUICKEN - software purchased does not ability to restore programs

# 11 for April 1, 2002

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on March 31, 2002:

From: Clifford [ Email User ]

RE: RADIO SHACK / COMPAQ / QUICKEN - software purchased does not ability to restore programs

This is a multi-faceted complaint that should be aired. Radio Shack contracted with Compaq to sell a computer "pre-loaded" with Windows, Micro Soft Stuff and various other programs and sold it for around $2g.

That sounds great, but, Radio Shack did not include the software they loaded because they used one disc for several computers. The result is if anything happens to any of the programs you do not have a disc to re-load it, although you paid Radio Shack for the software.

They do not tell you at time of purchase this is the case. They give you a 'restore disc' which restores original settings and you lose everything you have added since. I had a problem with Quicken and could not re-load because I had nothing to re-load.

Quicken is not very accommodating when it comes to simple contact info-you cannot contact Quicken except to 'report a bug' . I suppose the bulk of the complaint is Radio Shack for the way they do business and Quicken for no contactability.

Poor Compaq is just thrown in the middle and probably is suffering bad PR because of Radio Shack. I feel others need to be made aware of the situation. When purchasing a 'loaded' computer be sure the discs are available and forget about contacting any of them.