RPI3 B+

Hi Janos,

It should normally be handled by the place where you purchased it from. But different countries have different laws. If it was from a retail store (consumer purchase) then it is definitely worth reading up on your rights in the country that you're in.

Please see here:

https://www.element14.com/community/message/165063/l/faulty-pie#165063

Having said that, it could be worth trying to re-image the card in case it is corrupted. Maybe you have already tried that. If you have not, then it is worth a try.

Did the card come with the Pi? Some sellers may supply lower-quality micro SD cards perhaps. Anyway, more information would be needed to help more accurately, unless you've already determined it really is a fault with the hardware.

Hi shabaz ,thank you for your replay,do not understand why the store not handle that but i could make a pic with my phone even they have a sticker on the box NO WARRANTY,when i ask,they told me they do not have warranty because that is only the factory will do.Today i try to call the second store,Canada Robotic what they will tell me.Sorry but here in Canada they took your money wary fast and after that sorry we can do nothing about that.There is any chance to upload the pics from the box?Thank you for your time and replay.

Hi Janos,

I don't know Canadian law, but it will really benefit  to read up on your rights - what if tomorrow some other store does the same thing to you, but with a $500 computer or something, instead of a $50 or so Pi. You'd be stuck unless you know your rights.

I think knowing your rights is more important than the Pi. Canada has consumer rights laws, so you should feel confident.

This is really fundamental, and worth spending some time exploring. Once you know your rights, you'll feel more assertive and confident with how you deal with the store.

Also, if you don't mind, could you describe in more detail how you've determined it is faulty? It may be easier to just solve the problem even though you may be in your rights to return it.

A hardware failure after a few weeks is possible, but often can be due to something less reliable failing (e.g. a power supply or SD card) or file corruption.

Hi Janos,

I don't know Canadian law, but it will really benefit  to read up on your rights - what if tomorrow some other store does the same thing to you, but with a $500 computer or something, instead of a $50 or so Pi. You'd be stuck unless you know your rights.

I think knowing your rights is more important than the Pi. Canada has consumer rights laws, so you should feel confident.

This is really fundamental, and worth spending some time exploring. Once you know your rights, you'll feel more assertive and confident with how you deal with the store.

Also, if you don't mind, could you describe in more detail how you've determined it is faulty? It may be easier to just solve the problem even though you may be in your rights to return it.

A hardware failure after a few weeks is possible, but often can be due to something less reliable failing (e.g. a power supply or SD card) or file corruption.

Hi sabaz thank you again for your replay,today i will go back to the store,and ask about the warranty.That happened 2 times with me,was running the program perfectly for 3 weeks and i remove the power from RPI 10 minute later not start again.Read true 4-5 different forum ask question most of the time they suggested wait for 2-3 day and the Polyfuse will rebuild.Have no clue what is that so i just wait 2-3 day try again nothing happens.Bought 3 different SD card loaded the new Raspberry software nothing helped than somebody in the forum suggested run from USB stick,do not help anything. Funniest thing bought new RPI 3 B+ and i try without SD card and it started no problem.Now is running the program no problem. Unfortunately this is my 3rd PI,(my wife not to happy)and now am happy but i promise to my self not to pull the plug,but sometime we have power outage so i just hope the best.Do not take me wrong love that little RPI but in Canada is not $35  lost one 69.99 plus tax.  Again thank you for your time i do not know ho are you,but thank you    

Hi Janos,

Power outages are very likely to cause the OS to not start up, but this is not a hardware failure, it can be resolved. All it means is that you'll need to download Raspbian and re-image the micro SD card yourself.

Before You Start Coding the Pi

You'll lose any setup and data, but the Pi will be restored to its usable state.

The polyfuse is a very different, unrelated thing, Although it is by extremely slim chance possible in theory for it to need recovery, it is far more unlikely than the reason mentioned above, i.e. the micro SD card is corrupted.

If you're in the habit of removing power to the Pi, then again corruption is very likely. A controlled shutdown command is needed.

Having to replace a third Pi is extremely unusual. I've owned maybe a dozen over 5 years, and not one has developed a fault.

The photo doesn't help (except to highlight, why pay $69CAD for a 'no warranty' product when it costs less new: http://canada.newark.com/raspberry-pi/2773729/sbc-arm-cortex-a53-1gb-sdram/dp/49AC7637

You need to focus on where the likely issue is, and all points to a corrupted micro SD card currently,

Also, where are you buying your micro SD card from, there are many fake and poor quality ones. It is better to buy a known brand one, from a known source (e.g. from Amazon but not from a third party seller on Amazon).

Hi sabaz thank you for your replay but i need to tell you the SD card is working because i bought the new RPI put the card in and is start right at the first attempt,put beck the same card to the wrong PI and it is not start.Downloaded the original software from Raspberry site,that is the new software and is working in the new PI but not in the old PI.Try to go back today for both store and ask them about the warranty.Like you told they have to have 30 day.Let see what they will tell.Thank you again.Sorry if i know that Canadian site (store)what you show me i would shop there.Sometime Google not help,because when i type in Raspberry Pi 3 B+ in Toronto that site not coming up.Sorry for that i need to learn every day.

Hi Janos,

What power supply are you using? What manufacturer?

Also, what are the ratings on it (voltage and current).

Hi sabaz the power supply is 5.1v and 2500ma  model SAW 0512500 FCC and UL listed.Bought in the same store where i bought the first RPI.

Hi Janos,

It's not a brand I've heard of : ( That's not to say it is not any good, just that I don't know either way. PSUs can make a difference, as can the USB cable. As mentioned, it is very unusual for three Pi's to go faulty - I've had zero failures out of perhaps a dozen Pi's in 5 years. I think it could be worth buying the Pi and PSU from a reputable source, because it's strange that it was sold with a 'no warranty' label. Here that would occasionally happen with used/returned equipment.

Hi sabaz thank you for your patience took back both RPI the funny thing what happens the "GOOD STORE" what have name on the internet they told me sorry they have no time to look for a copy of my receive.Even i told the when i bought the pi and more parts from the store,i told them what did i paid that day,they said sorry we have no time for that.Can not complain because i hide the bill from my wife and i do not know where did i put the bill. Except what they told me in the store and just walk away.The second store is funny er,they told me lived here we will fixed,next day they called me and told it is fixed.Drive to the store they try to give me a another RPI when i ask to plug in they told they do not have the operating system,i pull  out my SD card what is working in my 3rd PI the try and nothing.They told me lived here again they download the original Raspberry software and they will call me.Well do not got to many call.Let hope for the best,maybe they give me a another Pi what is working,and i need to be happy with that.Just to understand sabaz am not born Canadian english is my second or third language and am 65.When people in the store feel that,they try to go on the Canadian way,"grab the money and run away"they know you will not go to complain with your language skill.Thank you again for your help,i start to believe i did something wrong so i stop to complain.Thank you for all your time and help.Janos            

Hi Janos,

Sorry to hear that they are not being helpful : (

If they can demo in the store that it is functioning, then that could help, and also if they can explain how they fixed it. If the fix is the micro SD card, then that means that the original card may have been corrupted.

If you can get the Pi back, then if you have access to a PC with SD card slot, then you can download the software and install it on the card, but it sounds like the store may do it eventually - it is not a long task for them, so it's ok to ask them daily I think. Really it's just a few minutes of clicking and waiting for it to download and install. Maybe it's good to ask them to do it while you're in the store, so you can see how it's done. They may prefer that, so that you're trained up on that procedure.

One other thing could be that maybe the Pi functions fine mostly, but the TV/monitor maybe thinks nothing is present on the HDMI. It could be worth unplugging and re-plugging in the HDMI cable if the screen is blank when you power up the Pi. Powering off the pi by disconnecting the USB power should be a very last resort, if unplugging and re-plugging the HDMI (and double-checking the TV is on the correct HDMI setting) has been done and made no difference.

I hope you get it back soon, and this time everything can be observed (e.g. is there any power outage) to see what is causing the issue - I'm convinced it is resolvable, there may be some small pattern of activity (e.g. unplugging before it is fully shut down, or TV automatically switching to a different mode) that could be causing it.