Sims Life Stories--didn't ship with dv5z

If you look under the Specs tab of the dv5z product page, you'll see a section called "Software - full versions". Within that section there are about 10 pieces of software that ship with every dv5z notebook, one of which is labeled "the Sims Life Stories laptop edition".

Every other piece of software listed in that category came preinstalled on my computer but the Sims Life Stories did not. I searched my entire computer, even going so far as to searching for anything labeled "sims".

I have called HP Support about this issue and was transferred more than half a dozen times to numerous agents in numerous departments.

Customer service said they couldn't help because it's software, which is an area covered by technical support. Technical support said they couldn't help because this problem doesn't involve something that's already on the computer, it's something I WANT on the computer.

I don't know if this was intentional, but they hung up on me once. It could've just been a bad connection, but it's interesting to note that this only happened after the first round of questioning, after 4 people couldn't tell me the problem. This is in addition to the horrible automated service that I had to wade through each time I called back.

All in all, I spent an hour and a half on the phone. I had to ask for a supervisor numerous times, and even then they wouldn't transfer me to one until I became audibly agitated. This supervisor said that she was assigning a case manager for this problem and that he/she would call within 2 business days. Because of Labor Day, I don't believe I'll hear from anyone until Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

I just want what was promised to me. I even went back and checked the dv5z product page a minute ago and the Sims Life Stories laptop edition is still listed. I also took a screen shot and saved a copy of the page as an HTML file as evidence. I either want a copy of the game or I want a refund for the amount the game is worth.

Interestingly, I don't even know for sure if "the Sims Life Stories laptop edition" is an actual product. The Sims Life Stories is all over the web, but when you google "the Sims Life Stories laptop edition" the only products that appear are things listed on websites in New Zealand and South Africa. My assumption is either that this game never actually came out or that it only came out in countries other than the US.

Either way, I want the game or I want a refund. I'm posting it on NBR because there may be someone else in the same situation as me. And, I don't know, one of you guys may even be able to help me out.

I will wait for a phone call until the end of next week. If I don't receive one by Friday I will post this story to the Consumerist and various other news outlets. Then I will call HP again.

This situation is unfortunate because I really do enjoy the laptop quite a lot--I have no complaints beyond the Sims not shipping. I'm making a big deal out of this, though, because this is false advertisement. What if someone ordered this laptop for their child that was a huge Sims fanatic? For that matter, my girlfriend is a huge Sims fan and I know she'd be interested to play it.

Furthermore, if HP can get away with doing this with the Sims Life Stories then there's no telling what else they might do. The next time it could be the drivers for the trackpad or something else even more crucial.

 

I've uninstalled that game multiple times on HP laptops, so it's definitely real. Though HP did you a favor by not including it - **** bloatware is all it is.

 

mine dv2700t came with this game too, anyway, i would not able to open this game somehow...my sys is vista home premium 64

btw, dv2700t has been returned.

 

Are you sure it was something labeled "laptop edition," or was it just Sims Life Stories?

I have Vista Premium 64-bit, but I don't think that'd make any difference. And if it did make a difference, HP should note as much on their product page.

 

It is supposed to come on every laptop in the new series. Did you do a system recovery because I know that the recovery will not reinstall the game. I think the only way you will be able to get it is if you actually get another laptop or if there is another way to get the game that hp has.

 

Nope, I haven't done anything major to the system, much less a system recovery. I haven't had the notebook very long. The Sims Life Stories is one of the first things I looked for when I got it.

Does HP not use CDs anymore??? It seems to me that they could just ship me a CD with the game on it and let me install it. I don't understand why it has to be this difficult.

If "laptop edition" is a real game, why isn't it listed anywhere? Can anyone tell me how much it's worth or provide me with a link to a US-based store where it's in stock?

 

Not sure if they can send out a cd, considering it might be a deal with whoever makes sims to inculde it with the initial install. You should have technical support for a year for both hardware and software now. Mostly with software you can only really update, uninstall, restore, or reformat tho. Not really sure what you can do except return the nb or call hp again. I have no idea why the would not include all the programs if you do a recovery, but I can imagine alot of people doing a recovery and calling to complain that sims isn't there anymore.

Did you buy in store or CTO.

 

I don't know what CTO means, but I ordered it directly from the HP Home & Home Office Store. And I ordered off their site too, not over the phone.

Yeah, that's what tech support told me: since it isn't something that's currently on the computer, they can't do anything to help.

It's like no one even knew what I was talking about though...I can't tell you how many times I had to spell "Sims," even when I was talking to a supervisor. And even after I told them about it they couldn't locate it in the computer or anything like that...

I thought it'd go down like this: I'd tell them I didn't have it, and they'd either send it to me in the mail or they'd refund me the amount of money it's worth. Why isn't that possible?

 

"Laptop Edition" just means that it's preinstalled on the laptop. They can't send you a disc, because they probably don't have access to disks. It's not like HP has set up a warehouse where they keep random disks of the Sims laying around. Their contract with the Sims developer probably only limits them to the preinstalled copy anyways.

As far as a refund - you're welcome to return the computer if you wish. HP has a very liberal 25-day return policy on their laptops. Since you can't actually buy the Sims "Laptop Edition", its value alone is $0.00, and I, personally, will be happy to give you that.

 

Im not sure how they image the machine with OS and included software, but the program your talking about I would imagine they don't just have disc for that lying around. Considering on computers that actual have the game on them, if you did a recovery you would lose the game. Maybe if the service center did their reimage for the Out of Box Experience it may be put back on the computer but I wouldn't put my money on it.

FYI CTO = Configured to Order

 

What's with the snarky attitude? I started coming to Notebook Review because I thought it would be different from all those other sites where people get bashed for no good reason.

Why do you choose to act this way?

I'm not asking for a "random" Sims disc; I'm asking for a specific one. Also, I'd like to point out that you contradicted yourself. You said that "Laptop Edition" just means that it comes preinstalled, but then you say that since you can't buy it it's worth nothing, which is totally inaccurate. You can buy the disc version for $19.99. That brings me back to my original statement: I'd like the disc or I'd like a $19.99 refund. It's false advertisement, plain and simple.

How am I supposed to know what HP does and doesn't have access to? You say it's "not like they have a warehouse of discs," as if you're in charge of that yourself, but then you turn right around and say they are "probably" limited to preinstalled copies. Everything you said in your post is pure conjecture. I'd like to hear something from someone who actually knows what's going on.

If I wanted this kind of attitude I'd go to Engadget or Gizmodo. I come here to NBR because people usually treat others fairly.

Usually.

 

stop making mountains out of molehills. People on here get laptops far worse than you have. consider yourself lucky.

 

So we can have threads where people talk about putting contact paper made to look like wood on their laptops, but I can't talk about an open and shut case of false advertisement?

 

If I had a nickel for every time I've heard people use the terms "false advertising" and "bait-and-switch" on these forums, I'd own this place.

I don't know what more you possibly want. I've clearly seen the Sims installed on HP laptops multiple times. HP has already assigned you a case manager. AND you still have the right to return the computer at no cost to you. So make your choice - wait for a resolution, or return the laptop.

 

"Laptop addition" does not mean just preinstalled on laptops. It is actually the regular Sims Life Stories. This series (there are several games in this series including the Life Stories, Castaway Stories, and Pet Stories) does not take up a lot of resources on the computer so on the box there is a picture of a laptop and a quote that says "PC Laptop Friendly". The actual name for this game is "The Sims Life Stories". The company that produces the game is EA Games.

 

I AM waiting for a resolution. What does it matter if you've "clearly seen the Sims installed on HP laptops multiple times"? That sentence doesn't make any sense.

I posted the story on here because other people might be interested to hear about it. There could be someone else out there who wanted the Sims with their laptop, and maybe they too didn't receive it. I didn't post here because I wanted you, Lithus, to personally send me a copy of the Sims Life Stories.

And according to Schvidah, "laptop edition" does not just mean it's the preinstalled version of Life Stories.

Lithus, when you have something useful to contribute (something other than conjecture), feel free to post here. Frankly, you're just rambling and making this thread longer than it needs to be.

 

Let me explain that for you then. "I've clearly seen" means that I have clearly, without-a-doubt seen. "The Sims installed" means that the game, "The Sims: Life Stories" was in actuality, installed - and playable. "On HP laptops" means on laptops made by the manufacturer Hewlett-Packard. And "multiple times" means more than once.

Get it? Got it? Good.

 

Once again, you're missing the point, Lithus. The sentence doesn't make any sense because it doesn't have anything to do with the rest of your post. I'm talking RHETORIC, not GRAMMAR.

Saying that you've seen it installed only further proves my point, which is that it should have been installed on my laptop when I received it.

You're nothing if not predictable.

 

technically yes, if you noticed theres already enough complaining about HP already. (including my V3000z that just died)

but seriously why not take it up to them, go have an online chat with then or call them and ask them why.....

 

See my original post. I posted the story here in case anyone else noticed that their laptop didn't ship with the Sims Life Stories laptop edition and they wanted to know how to get it. I've already talked to them about it and I will hopefully know more next week. In the meantime, I'm posting the story here while it's fresh in my mind. Additionally, I'm posting now because someone else may have already encountered this and he/she could share the outcome of their situation.

 

I'm interested too - SIMS isn't installed on my dv5t, but its probably not enough to cause me to return it

 

I recently bought a dv5z and it also didn't ship with the sims. I emailed technical support and they promised to mail me a recovery cd, which is supposed to put my laptop back to factory settings, only with the game. In case anyone else would like this option, I've posted the website that links to the appropriate department. I hope this works as well for you all as it did for me.

https://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/email?product=3759541&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us

 

When I did a clean install of Vista (using Anytime Upgrade) and went to reinstall drivers, etc. from SWSETUP, the game was not there; after I subsequently wiped out Vista, the recovery partition, etc. (by accident) while installing XP, and couldn't get my recovery CDs to work, I ordered a set from HP, reinstalled Vista and Viola! the Sims were there again (p.s. - I haven't played the game, it's just something I noticed).

 

For the OP, I have Sims Life Stories on my 9700T, and its NOT the full version. If you start up the game there's a pop-up that says you can play till the end of the chapter courtesy of HP. That if you want to play further to go to the website, which I assume means to pay for the full version. It specificially states trial version when you load the game. So asking for $19.99 is a joke in my opinion. Because this isn't the full game. Maybe where you read it, it's a mistake, but either way, you're NOT getting the full game. I mean most people would assume that you aren't. Normally these laptops always include bloatware to make you try and play it and love it and then buy it.