4 days and sending my DV4000 in for repair.

I have had issues with this computer that drive me crazy.

1. Power adapter is SO hot it melted through m plastic binder
2. Power adapter refuses to stay in the computer
3. Trackpad is unresponsive 60% of the time.. usually leaving it alone for 5 seconds fixes it
4. When I type repeat character on the keyboard it usually does not recognize the 2nd or 3rd character.
5. Fan is ALWAYS on
6. I have one dead pixel (Not that big of a deal) but EXTREME light leakage on the lower right hand corner..... it makes every appear to be much darker than it is.


One more thing that bothers me is I have the 12cell battery and am getting about 2 1/2 hour battery life.

 

That does seem low for the 12 cell. Are you dimming the screen some?

 

Yup dimming the screen to low and processor is running at 787mhz.

 

YIKES!! All of those defects? Thats some pretty bad luck right there. This is why I'd always buy my computer from a store, maybe I can't customize it to my liking but there'd be little to no hassle involved.

Really, only 2.5 hours on the 12 cell? I mean, I get about 3 hours on the 6 cell with my DV4000.

 

Maybe you should ask for a whole new unit?

 

That is just bad luck (crossing my fingers) so far my new Dv4000 is working great.

 

I would send it back. I know you will have to wait a while like I am waiting for my dv1000 but if you are having all those problems now I wouldn't risk it.

 

I would surely send it back and order a new machine before my grace period expired. HP wants to keep you happy and buying from them, so they will usually sell you a new machine under the same deal used to get the one you're returning... I almost sent mine back and was assured I could still get the free battery deal and ATI card for $99 in the form of a credit toward my total bill for the new machine...technically I'd be buying the new machine at the current price and then having ithat price adjusted. It turned out the problem I was having was cured with a new up to date mouse and I kept the Dv4000 and so far I'm very happy with it. I would be left with a bad feeling if this machine were repaired and returned to me.

 

This is seriously crazy. I NEVER got a confirmation email about the repair. And they have the worst CS ever! I miss Apple :-(. I'm starting to regret coming into the Windows world. They are telling me the problem why they can't do the repair is that my computer doesn't exist. The said the serial number and the product number aren't in the system. I am really thinking about packaging it up and sending it DHL Express Overnight right back to HP. The computer is FAST but so many issues.

 

Oh, you'll hear plenty of horror stories from Apple, they aren't that perfect you know. I've overall heard good things from HP, sounds like you got hit by some bad, bad luck. Try not to let this sour your mood for PCs.

 

Dump that puppy and insist on a brand new machine....

 

They said since it was broken it would be replaced upon arrival

 

Thats good news to hear, hope you're new DV4000 will be A-Ok!

 

Yeah, that's truly awful to hear.

My dv1000 came with IMO the best power adapter I've ever owned. After 6 hours of use it's barely warm to th touch at all.

In fact, this lappy is absolutley cool as a cucumber all the way around. Fan is on only when doing a major insall thus far.

I'm able to get 3.5 hrs out of my 6-cell, and I have two so I'm loving that. I had a look at the 12 and can't imagine lugging that uglt beast around. It's like having a 2nd lappy!

The 2nd six will equal to the same weight if I ever have to carry it, but often times I won't.

How has tech svc treated you? I've found them to be wonderful. I'll never go back to either Dell or Alienware after this experience.

HP' reps are in India, but they speak VERY well, are polite, attentive, and are working off an excllent software package.

Dell's India workers are AWFUL! They cannot be understood, nor understand, and they really didn't seem to comprehend the technology they were speaking about.

It's all in the training and HP must be doing a wonderful job there.

For the 1st time ever with a tech company HP gets an A. A-, but an A all the same.

Hope your new lappy works much better for ya. Please come back and let us know how it went. Turn around time, level of satisfaction, etc.

 

They were going to replace it but seriously I can't deal with these issues SO I am just going to return it.

 

Of the issues you listed paperinacup, I have noticed two of the same with my dv4000.

- One dead pixel (in lower righthand corner, so it's not a deal breaker). I too notice quite a lot of light leakage, but to me personally it's not a bothersome issue.
- The touchpad routinely goes unresponsive, particularly the vertical scroll strip. It happens all the time for no apparent reason, and for the same reason it stops it seems to mysteriously restart. Not sure what the deal is with that, and of the issues that I have noticed this is by far the most annoying!

I've never checked on the temp of my power adapter, but I'll be sure to give it a feel later on tonight. My fan kicks off and on quite regularly, but again to me this isn't a big deal.

Sorry to hear about your bad luck.

 

Kinda regretted spending all this money on 2GB of DDR2 Ram BUT then I remembered the updated Powerbooks now use it

 

Hey Josey,

Have you noticed that there is a little on.off button for the mousepad just above it?

That's one of the few reasons I can think of why one would blink in and out "mysteriously."

It could be that or some sort of off software conflict. Do you have any other mouse drivers installed or perhaps a hotkey program?

Otherwise, do you notice a difference in what position the machine is sitting when it goes on or off?

 

SpectreMan,

I cannot seem to locate any sort of on/off switch anywhere on the notebook, including above or near the actual touchpad. I'll keep looking, but I seriously doubt that (if there is one) this is the cause of the issue.

As for a software conflict, the problem has existed since the first time I fired up the notebook. I've not messed with any of the drivers thus far (all are the same as came by default, pre-installed by HP). I've thought about trying to uninstall/reinstall them, assuming there is not an updated driver available, but like I said right now everything is as it was when it arrived a few weeks ago.

And as for the position of the notebook, I'll just say that since I received the notebook, there's been a consistency in a couple of areas that I think will dispell the theory that the problem is more prevalent only when the notebook is in a certain position/setting:

- I've been running almost exclusively while plugged in to the AC adapter. Only under a handful of situation did I use the pc while running off of battery power, but I will say that the touchpad behaved the same way (i.e. came and went for no apparent reason).

- For over 90% of it's use it's been sitting on a TV tray next to my recliner; the other 10% or so it's been on my lap. All times being kept in a relatively flat/horizontal position. So, I guess what I'm saying is that if the problem is the result of being in a certain "position" then I'm really screwed because it will be while it's laying flat on it's bottom, the same as if it were sitting on your desk in front of someone.

I'm still confused why this happens, but thanks for the comments....maybe we'll figure out what this is.

Josey

 

It is NOT a software issue. I had the SAME problem while running Windows Vista 5319 and Linux.

 

And I should also mention that I'm running XP Pro, as it arrived pre-installed from HP...no modifications of any sort.

Do you guys think this flaw with the touchpad is enough reason to send the unit back? I still have time left (within my 21 day period), but that's will soon be over...don't want to miss chance if this in fact a big issue (especially since I was torn between the dv4000 and the ASUS z70va back before I ordered this unit).

Suggestions....?

 

The trackpad defeats the whole purpose of me buying THIS computer.... I got it for a cheap mobile gaming system. BUT the trackpad sucks BIG TIME. It is being overnighted back to HP so hopefully I will get a refund this week and order my PB.

 

what's a "PB", powerbook?

 

Yeah Powerbook. Lol sorry I'm used to being on Mac Forums.

 

For those of you that have a touch pad problem. Here is a possible solutions that I have read.

The keyboard on the DV4000 made a good impression on me. The keys are not too small and are very springy yet make little noise when you type on them, even if you do type extremely fast. I experienced no flex with the keyboard, or at least none that I could actually notice. The touchpad did present a few problems. With the ALPS drivers that shipped with the computer, there was no option to deactivate the touchpad while I was typing making it easily the most irritating thing about this keyboard. After just a few minutes of research I actually downloaded the Synaptic drivers for the touchpad and installed them. This presented me with a massive array of options including to turn off the touchpad while I typed and to activate the scroll strip on the right of the keyboard (which also did not work with the ALPS touchpad drivers). The actual touchpad buttons are responsive but occasionally I have to click more than once on something almost as if the touchpad is lagging, but this does not bother me much because it happens very rarely.

 

As part of routine troubleshooting, I uninstalled and reinstalled the ALPS touchpad drivers, per a recommendation from HP Chat Support. I've noticed an improvement with the responsiveness of the touchpad since then, but I'm sorry to report that the problems with intermitent lag/unresponsiveness has NOT disappeared.

The problem is most noticeable with the scroll strip on the right sdie of the touchpad. What happens is as if it completely stops working, and the only soloution is to move your cursor around, tapping the touchpad repeatedly (or hitting the left touchpad button) then trying the scroll strip again. VERY annoying, as it happens quite frequently.

 

I've had no problems with the keypad, in fact I like it a lot...doesn't get in the way when I type and the scroll bar is nice... but, I rarely use it. I bought a Microsoft notebook mouse and it works great, only $29.00 from Staples ($26 or so at Sam's Club) light and works like a charm.

 

My point is that I just spent $1490+220(ram) on this computer I really shouldn't have to buy an external mouse.

 

Agreed.

My complaint about the keyboard is that the spacebar and many of the keys have gotten worn down, they've become "shiny looking" and I've only had the notebook for 2 months.

 

Beg Pardon... wasn't meaning you should have to buy a mouse because the track pad was deficient. Only commenting that I find use of a mouse to be a far better pointing solution for me. I don't care how good a track pad is, its still a track pad....

 

I was wasn't directing it toward you because ALOT of ppl's response was "buy a mouse". I can't use a mouse everywhere I go though