AC adaptor is too hot & All Caps turns on by itself

I am having two issues with this laptop. I have only had it for 2 weeks, and honestly, when I was purchasing it, I was very reluctant on buying a HP/Compaq. Compaq is notorious for gliches and problems, but I thought maybe they had gotten better over time.

First issue: How hot shoud the ac adapter stick get when it is plugged in? I can't even touch it when I want to move it. I really don't think they should get that hot, should they? I had a Toshiba Laptop before this and the adapter never got as hot as this one.

Second issue: Out of the blue, all of a sudden my laptop will be in "All Caps" mode, except the All Caps button is not on. The number pad wont work, the number keys on top only type symbols, the tab button won't work, the mouse scroll button changes pages I am viewing on the internet instead of scrolling, and when I try to click my left mouse button everything highlights. Then out of the blue again, everything is back to normal. HP Support has told me to do a major uninstall/reinstall of some program, which it sounds like I have to go into the "brain" of the computer to do. Then if that doesn't work I have to go into something called BIOS, whatever that is. HP Support wouldn't tell me why it is doing this or what has caused it, even after me asking the question. Has anyone had this issue.

 

Let me guess you have either a dv8000 or a dv5000.

 

Yes, I have a dv8305 actually. Obviously you are not surprised at my issues. Is this common? Should I return this laptop? I still have 2 weeks to return it. Maybe I should have stuck to the Toshiba brand.

 

The power brick will get hot if the battery is charging while the notebook is on, otherwise my similar dv8125's brick gets merely warm.

The keyboard... there have been all sorts of keyboard problems, see the huge dv8000 keyboard thread. Phantom caps lock is a new one to me though.

 

The keyboard problem is afflicting the dv5000/dv8000 series. Other HP/Compaq notebooks do not have this issue. I would say return it and see if you can exchange it with either the new dv9000 or some other brand.

As for Toshiba, you might want to look elsewhere....
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3185

 

Thanks for all the advice, especially the link to Toshiba and the BBB. I would never have known. I now know why my last Toshiba's life span only lasted 3 years before the whole thing went Ka-poot, including half the keyboard stop working. I have spoken with the manager at the store where this laptop was purchased except I was told they probably wouldn't let me return it because I threw away the original packaging. But I am now getting higher authority involved so I can try to return it plus get an upgraded laptop. Any advice on a good laptop, or anything in the dv9000 series is good? What about a Mac notebook? I have heard good, and bad, things about them.

 

This summer i had to chance to experience both the macbook pro and dv8000t. From my experience i would not recommend the macbook pro notebooks. They run way to hot and there is a good chance you will get a cosmetic problem as i have. I went through 4 notebooks due to defects on notebook keyboard/clicker/frame.

 

I finally have the store willing to exchange my laptop, any recommondations on which one I should get. None of our store here carry the the dv9000 series yet. I would like something with the duo core though. Any suggestions. The dv5230ca has a duo core in it, a little more expensive than the one I have now, but is there as many issues with the dv5000 series as much as the dv8000 series.

 

Well, the dv5000 is known to have the same keyboard issues as the dv8000, although not everyone is experiencing the issue with the dv5000. Check out the HP business notebooks, they have better quality and less issues. The nc8430 seems to be very popular, but they are usually priced higher than the consumer series.

If you are open to suggestions from other manufacturers, try completing the FAQ(see What to buy forum). You can get other recommendations which might be better suited to your uses.