DV8000 Series - Keyboard problems. Anyone else?

Cheffy, This isn't the only board talking about the problems with the HP dv series notebooks. I wish I only had a couple of missing key strokes then for sure I would not be going through the HP ringer, I could live with 2 missing keystrokes, I'm talking at least one or more keystrokes per sentence including the space bar . If you don't need to type very much, don't need HP to honor the 1 year warranty, don't need to send your notebook in for any repairs, don't care if the caps keep locking then keep it. We also didn't pay the discount price you did, I know jav and I both paid full retail price. If I had paid what you did and only had 2 keys sometimes missing I would not want to return it either.

 

My model is a base model dv8000z with the turion 1.8 ghz ml-34, 80 gb hd, 1 gb ram, and the ati radeon x200m - this explains the low price! It's not the 8000t, but from my understanding they probably use the exact same parts for the keyboard etc. Believe me, even $1000 is a very big purchase for me right now, fresh out of university and working a very entry level position in my field that I need a notebook for (not provided). I can't afford to buy a notebook that will give me anything less than reliable service for 3 to 4 yrs to come. If the consensus is that the DV8000z will not be able to give me this, I cannot afford the risk.

Really too bad, this notebook seemed so nice, and construction quality fairly good. I previously had an ancient IBM thinkpad that stoppd working on AC current (the AC adaptor is fine), and a bad battery. Although ancient by modern standards (166 mhz pentium, 64 MB ram, 2 GB HD), it actually runs word, excel, and basic 2D mapping software fine. Plus it feels like a tank (and weighs like one too). MAybe I can get that badboy going again...

 

jav, just ran across this on the HP website: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=77212

so they are admitting they've come across the problem gave this person all these different things to do to fix it but also say that hers is an isolated case. When I have time I'm going to start researching class action lawsuits and submit our situation to a couple of law firms with online request forms and see what happens. What state are you in?

 

Idaho.

I'm calling that Lemonlaw place you found ubatz, and see what they have to say. I also know some good lawyers as well, so I'll broach it to them on the class action side of it.

 

jka, sounds good, I've got people hear visiting from Europe until next week so I don't have much time for this right now but will get back on it as soon as I can. I do call my case manager every day and still no call back. Every time I have called up until today a person answers the phone who gives me their name and tells me my case manager is on another line. Today I call and there is a recorded message, not a good sign. I'm calling 877-917-4380 ext. 94. Is this the same number you've been calling for your case manager?
I don't have much hope for this situation we're in but if I do feel I have to see it through as far as I can. We can also write complaints to the Attorney Generals Office and our state Office of Consumer Affairs. I think the problem is so huge that HP has to pretend it is not there. Hewlett Packard is by far the most arrogant company I have ever dealt with. Their limited warranty should just say eff off.

 

Jka, called case manager just now and a very friendly, cooperative, understanding Cara answered the phone. Told me my c.m. has taken a personal leave and she looked at my case. Cara told me there was enough in my file to warrant a replacement and she agreed to send me an email documenting this pledge, also stated she was taking over my case. She will get back to me tomorrow to discuss which replacement is available after she gets approval for the switch. This is quite a change in attitude but could just be a new ploy. I behaved on the phone as I always do, kept my cool, didn't make any demands or go through my litany of problems, just said I wanted to discuss a replacement. This is the first positive experience I've had so far. Perhaps you should try calling that number also and speaking with Cara. Dare we have hope? At least we would get a unit we could sell and get out of this quagmire.

 

if you got this, it might be a ploy...but experience tells me this might be the real McCoy. at the very least, try pursuing it. you'll know if this is real or not in a day or two.

your previous case manager took a personal leave?...sounds like she was fired given your negative experience with them.

just make sure that whatever replacement they send you has the same specs, if not some decent upgrades.

 

Well Ubatz, that is good news indeed.

My Executive Customer Relations person (Sara), still has not returned my call. I figure she'll wait 2 weeks, and say her voicemail had problems, same thing she did the first time I tried to get in touch with her months ago...

Let me know what they say with a product type for replacement, and I'll call this Cara as well.

And I agree, if we can get something that will be sellable, then that's at least a step in the right direction.

 

Night, I think all three of the case managers I had quit or got fired. I'm just freaking out because this one had manners, was nice, pleasant to deal with and did send me an email confirming our conversation and a replacement was due. What would you say would be an adequate replacement that does not have this wonky keyboard in it? At the computer stores I've gone to all of the HP notebooks they had out on the floor had the same exact keyboard and they were all warped like mine is.

 

Just ordered a dv8000 a week ago after looking at several similar laptops (I hadn’t stumbled across the postings about the keyboard issue yet). Curiously enough though, I've noticed HP took all the old models (dv8000, dv7000, dv5000, etc) off their webpage early this morning. This along with seeing what you folks are going through I'm think I made a bad decision to buy one. I'll report back when it arrives whether it has any of the keyboard problems.

 

Tieger, maybe you got one of the good ones, no way to know. It is probably a good sign that they took them off the web, it means they are taking action which they weren't before. Do a lot of typing on it because at first you'll think it was you who made the mistake with the keys and space bar. Good luck

 

I agree with Ubatz. It takes some typing at first to really see it. And of course, if you get really "lucky" yours might caps lock/unlock, stick, freeze, or randomly make all the keys right mouse clicks. But, you have to be really lucky for that (kidding)

 

Just read through this thread. I too have the keyboard problem with the dv5000....also thought it was just me not pressing hard enough on the keys because of typing too fast. Brand new laptop as well (bought early sept). I've gone through a few of these for my business and things i've noticed are random cd drive opening. I think on all of them if there is a cd or dvd in the drive and you press on the drive door a little (I do when I put it down on my lap), it will activate it and start scanning the disc as if you just put a new disc in.

Also noticed rattling in fan noise...volume keys sometimes didn't work...touch pad scroll function occassionally doesn't work...

just bad QC...the metal baffle on one of them is perfect...whereas the others are raised and not flush.

HP recovery discs are a complete mess/joke.

I first boycotted Toshiba, and now will be adding HP to the list (i've also had problems with their laser printers due to creases on pages that cannot be fixed).

My only problem, is that for the money, I don't know what else to buy...

 

I've had trouble with the DVD drive not opening, have to push several times, also have the volume problem. I just got tired of listing all the misery I've seen with the dv8000 disaster. It is obvious that Hewlett Packard execs were too busy conducting illegal sting operations and forgot they sold computers that needed to be quality checked. What customers, we have customers? Mike Hurd was too busy looking for HP terrorists, much more important business than making sure HP notebooks function out of the box.

 

i also forgot to add that i've had problems with mp3's/videos skipping regardless of program used on one of them, and another i continuously had programs freezing/shutting down. my most recent one has a loose plastic panel on the bottom (under the HD) that "snaps" when I press on it and i've tightened the screws and nothing can fix it. I will admit that HP has better build quality than Toshiba, but that doesn't really say much.

 

...Dude, you're gettin' a Dell.

 

Well, I suppose I'm bringing my laptop back today. I hate to do this, paranoid that I'm just being a bit paranoid, but I don't want the risk of my notebook messing up. Probably a coincidence, but it kept randomly shutting down the mapping program I was using the other day, a stable program I've had no problem running on 3 other computers in the past. If it can't run this without issue, it is useless to me.

Hopefully I won't get a hard time returning it, I took it as an exchange for a different defective notebook (toshiba with dead pixels) about 12 days ago, at a different store location than I will be returning it too. Considering picking up a different toshiba (P100 SD3 for onlyt $1300 cdn) in exchange again, but rethinking the urgency of needing a notebook at the moment. I might just wait until processor prices drop this october and see what is out there again, and do my work on my desktop at home.

Thanks for the info all, and bets of luck resolving your grievances.

 

Don't bother with Toshiba dude, they are very bad news in all my experiences. I realy don't know what direction to go in...but i guess that Asus, Lenovo (maybe not the new ones), and Fujitsu are the way to go.

I also had a dv5000 with a nice little scratch on the top of the lid straight out of the box. nice QC. <-- the "n" in nice was supposed to be a capital but i guess the shift key didn't work because I sure did press it.

 

In the end I returned the DV8305, and picked up nothing else. I am sad to see the HP go, as the screen size and full keyboard along with the nice multimedia features made it a real pleasure to use. But in the end I decided it wasn't worth the potential problems, and if QC was that bad for these things, what will happen a year down the road when the warranty is gone? Plus while the screen seemed nice at first, it seemed much cheaper to me once I used it for a week, and I was becoming frustrated with the shift in colour brightness no matter how I angled the screen. Made watching DVDs a bit of a chore. The Toshiba P100 does not seem to suffer from the same problem. But hey for $999 + tax cdn I suppose I couldn't complain, but in the end I didn't bother.

Too bad HP, I've alway had a good association with your brand name. But I see that the budget performance market requires you to cut quality in many areas - slightly poorer screen quality and little things here and there I can tolerate, but with the types of problems noted here, I can't risk that.

 

HP never again. First I boycotted Toshiba (for great reason) and I thought HP was lightyears ahead...boy was I wrong, and now i've put the Pavilions in the same category as Satellites - junk.

So after about 4 of these dv5250's i've exchanged for various problems...keyboard, cd drive, programs crashing, skipping, etc. I decided to give them ONE last final chance. So I come home with a brand new sealed box (once again) PRAYING that everything will be fine and I had a good feeling it might be.

What happens? DEAD right out of box. It went through it's initial setup/install/whatever and then the HD started making a weird chirping noise and it froze. So I reboot and now the fan starts making a loud clunking sound, and HD can't boot up...just a faint chirp noise. I am able to get into bios but nothing else....I unplugged and tried again and again....couldn't get to the desktop...what a distaster. Funny thing, when I picked it up there was one other one on hold for someone who was coming in for an exchange because of a dead HD. I checked CNET and some other sites and it seems that the HD is a major problem in addition to the keyboard problem. What crap.

so I bought a Lenovo N100...dead pixel and tonnes of dancing blue pixels around text, as well as ultra high resolution (too high for me) so it's going back. Shame though because the build construction is awesome. The screen is also grainy.

Too bad HP....you have such garbage HD's....Toshiba's have garbage mashita optical drives....what the heck is any good...it's like no laptop is decent...although I hear Fujitsu's, Asus, and Thinkpad's are the best. Out of my budget though. ****.

 

any updates?

 

Not yet, Ubatz and I are currently still in the battle.... Hopefully better knews monday!

Paleo, sorry to hear about your issues, but knowning how bad the DV8000t is, it's no surprise other models are as bad...

I'd suggest Asus, or Compal. I, if things go well, will get one or the other as a replacement. I'd rather assemble the dang thing myself, then go through the crap I've been going through with HP!

 

RE: "I've gone through a few of these for my business".


You need to buy a business machine.

 

Because they are a little more robust? Or because all the consumer class machines are complete garbage?

 

Hi Guys,

OK, got my CTO DV8000t today. So far, so good, no keyboard or DVD drive issues yet. I'll be reinstalling the OS soon to get rid of all the bloat-ware and also to install Linux (it'll be a dual boot setup). Only thing I noticed so far was that the Windows Authenticate Label on the bottom is a little messed up. The two metallic "security" strips are there, but the paper around them is torn and missing. I also took the recommendation from Sledgehammer70 and ordered a shaggymac screen protector, should be here soon. I'll be posting again here in a few days once I get everything installed and start using it heavily. I still need to get a bag/case to carry it around in, anyone got any suggestions. I'm probably going to go with a backpack style since it seems it would be easier to lug this machine around on my back, lol.

 

i thought i had the same sticker problem on my nc8430. apparently, it is a new security feature my Microsoft. here is the link to the Microsoft COA page...it shows these stickers with that hole in it.

 

HP has agreed in writing to the BBB and in an email to me that they would replace my lemon dv8000 notebook. I'm now waiting to see what the replacement is going to be and will keep you posted. The magic number was 3 repairs for the same problem and no fix, file a complaint with the BBB, this is what seemed to do the trick. I'll believe it when I have a new functioning laptop in my posession.
My keyboard has become so much worse that it is missing a keystroke on almost every word, space bar also much worse.

 

so they did responed to BBB complain! Well let us know what you get as a replacement so I can call in too. My thing is getting worst now , heats up, fan stays on when ever visiting flash site / may froze up for few seconds - although it's been doing it since turned on first time but now fan makes noise, like it has enough . Keyboard issue, well it does 2-3 times everyday

 

Still no call back from my case manager and I have been calling and emailing every day. Been 5 working days since I got the agreement to replace notebook. I'll believe I'm getting one when I see it. I'll give them 1 more week and then I will notify the BBB that they are not responding. Hewlett Packard's unethical behavior has permeated every aspect of that company, their products just plain suck. They ignore their customers, have no customer service, knowlingly sell lemon computers, defy the law by violating warranty agreements, the list goes on.
However, they are busy expanding building a new billion dollar lemon computer maufacturing plant, just signed a 7year contract with Pepsi and Yahoo, also bought VoodooPC. All this while being investigated for illegal activities by Congress and being sued by Verizon. Hewlett Packard needs adult supervision and a good kickin'. If others would file complaints with the BBB maybe it would get them moving on honoring our warranties.
Now my HP dv8000 piece of useless junk is making a crackling noise.
Hewlett Packard feels it's customers are unworthy of their concern or respect.

 

i'd give them a week to respond, then file a lawsuit for damages not less than three times the cost of the laptop.

 

ouch, i have placed HP above Toshiba, and now i think i'm gonna flip the 2! Really the only problem i had with Toshiba was the shoddy optical drive, but that was matshita, and used in other manufacturers too....but with HP, it was optical drive, keyboard, and primarily shoddy HD's! brutal.

 

Once again the person who answered the phone at the case manager's number informed me that my c.m. was not there anymore and made himself my new c.m...My new c.m. agreed to send me a custom built dv9000 with an upgraded processor to match the larger dv8000 processor. He would not send me an email to confirm this as he said it had to be approved. It will take 7 to 14 days and the next communication I receive will be the tracking number. I'm sure this c.m. will disappear like all the others did, hope he mails my computer first.

 

I went through a replacement (zx5000->zd7000) some time ago, and I know that they need to get it approved. But it didn't take that long for them to approve it. But once they say that, usually there is a good chance that you will get this through.

Contact him back, explain that you don't exactly trust HP now, and want to be contacted when the order is approved and when it ships. If he argues that it takes too much time for him to do that...well, you've spent enough time with them now haven't you!

 

Thanks for the advice Night. I asked him in every way possible to email me when the replacement was approved and or just email me confirming the replacement order..he flat out refused. I'm hip to the Hewlett Packard stonewalling customers game and have no intention of quitting my pursuit. I'm concerned that the dv9000 may have the same keyboard as the dv8000, c.m. didn't seem to know or knew and wasn't talking. I also can't find any reviews or consumer opinions about the dv9000. Anyone???
If you read about the way HP is handling this unprecedented corporate scandal it mirrors exactly the way they treat their customers. Hewlett Packard is a scam...HP needs an exorcism and Mike hurd needs a good beatin'. The press in England has been doing a much better job reporting the truth about Hewlett Packard: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/05/hp_hunsaker/ All of the articles this journalist has written about HP are an education.

 

at this point I'd seriously start thinking about a lawyer...and when does the dv8000 warranty end? about a month from now? make sure they do NOT push you past the warranty date, otherwise you'll be SOL.

i might have mentioned this before, but keep a record of ALL contacts you have with ANYBODY regarding that computer. record phone conversations as well, if at all possible. prepare for a legal battle to get this resolved.

but then again, they MIGHT actually replace the computer...but just trust your instincts. but if this doesn't pan out, seriously PLEASE get a class-action suit on HP. if the press catches wind of it, it'll doubtless be a high profile thing on top of the scandal stuff. HP might even settle out of court to stop further embarrassment (did I even spell that right)!

 

My warranty is up in February. I've documented everything and saved all emails. I have every intention of pursuing them to the end. I'm also going to send emails to all the journalists who have been covering the Hewlett Packard scandal to let them know how HP's customer service parallels their illegal corporate shenanigans. Consumers need to know about the disdain HP has for it's customers.
I can't find one consumer review on the dv9000 and from the photos I can't tell if it has the same dodgy keyboard. If it works I'm selling it, don't want to have anything to do with that company. HP is just plain rotten to the core and so are their products.

 

yea, that is the feeling i get regarding their consumer line of notebooks. however, i really don't find anything wrong with the nc8430 that i'm working on right now...knock on wood! I once owned a zx5000 that died 18 months after I bought it; three failed repairs later and they gave me a zd7000 which i sold the next month. while they didn't leave as sour of a taste in my mouth as they did you, i still will avoid their consumer laptops for the rest of my life.

on the consumer side, i think they try to go for the cheapest parts possible to make a quick buck. if you tick of one or three thousand average joe/janes, it doesn't matter in their view. problem is (for them at least ) is that consumers really aren't that stupid...

 

What left the bad taste in my mouth was being treated with contempt by the case managers. Their foul, accusatory, arrogant, spiteful attitudes were beyond offensive. Hewlett Packard is sleazy. We didn't get these computers for free and they have a legal obligation to honor the warranty. You are right they do think we're dopes.

 

hey guys is it me or the keyboard problems lie within the dv8000t series intel t2500 models mostly....just doing my research on a NB and reading these..perhaps its just coincidence

 

My saga continues...

I got my 3rd time in repaired, Dv8000t cto back the 22nd of Sept. I called on the 25th, and every 2 days since then to my contact at HP Executive Customer Relations, as the keyboard, is still missing keystrokes, and caps lock/unlocking, and generally acting like crap. No call back ever. I finally called in to their Case Manager line, and after an hour, actually spoke to someone. She informed me that I would have to send in my unit for yet another repair, as it hadn't ever come in for an "escalated repair"... She said it had to have 3 major components replaced before they would exchange it... I guess the 2 lcd panels, and 2 keyboards they have already replaced, just aren't "major" enough. I sure think that they are minor, I mean, couldn't you use the laptop just fine without either of them??....................

So, now going on 7 months with my defective unit, only resolution is a lawsuit from the looks of it.

 

Boy, so I thought for the heck of it, I'll call in this morning to my Executive Customer relations person, and low and behold she answers. Says, yes, I've gotten only 2 messages from you, and you didn't leave your number... (hmm, I've called and left messages 5 times, and left my number every time, and documented all of them.... weird how that works...) So I'm on hold, and the argument will begin shortly...

 

Wow, and she now tells me that ok, I'll set up a replacement for you. Boy, HP has no idea what one hand is doing from the other, as their case managers told me friday No Way, have to send it in for repair.... I'm in your boat now Ubatz... I'll see what happens.

 

Well now I'm with you guys. First i posted that I had no problems with my keyboard but now its F'in up all the time. I took it back to Circuit City and the told me that since it was past 14 days and it was missing the upc code I couldn't do any thing. WTF. I have read a few pages here and there but I don't feel like reading 44 pages will help me calm down. It seems that most people have had to get three or more returns before they get help. Is there any way to bypass that? A specific person I should talk to, a certain replacement model to ask for, and is there any way to have them pay for shipping?
Thank you and never shop at circuit city ever.

 

Now the executive customer support person contacted the case manager I spoke to on friday, and said well, were not going to replace the unit now, you'll have to send it in for repair. I said wait, you told me please hold on while I set up your replacement. And she said well, I can't do that now. I said as before, this call is being recorded. She said I didn't agree to that, and hung up on me. Now when I call back, she said she is also cancelling my repair order, and hangs up on me again....
I'm calling a lawyer now, I've never been treated so poorly.

 

Sorry to hear that...sue em crazy. Get class action too, send it to the press, and give HP some more trouble.

 

Thanks Night_2004. I'm going to speak to a lawyer today. BBB did absolutely nothing for me.

 

The only thing I have to say to that is HP (and all businesses that you can complain about) are some type of member of the BBB. And guess who pays the membership fees that keep the BBB afloat? Companies like HP.

 

Funny too, Sara from HP says, "it's Illegal for you to record this call without you telling me." Funny, Idaho happens to be a One Consent state:

http://www.pimall.com/nais/n.recordlaw.html

So, not only was she full on rude, she was Wrong!

 

it's also illegal to sell piece of crap computers that they don't support as per their warranty! eh...

anyways, let us know how this goes! it would be REALLY nice if this happily ended after all your troubles!

 

really nice It would definetly be...