DV9000 CTO: Fourth repair trip in 20 months

Here's an all-too-familiar saga:
I bought a customized-to-order DV9000 in November 2006, with a three-year "Care Pack" extended warranty. I formatted the drive the day it arrived and installed XP Pro. I was really happy with it... while it ran. Unfortunately, that was not for long.

In mid-2007, the display split open at the left hinge, so it was difficult to open or close. HP "repaired" it, but the display was left loose so it would flop back and forth about an inch.
I tolerated this until...

Second trip, January 2008: Total system board failure. I contacted HP, and convinced them that I had actually purchased a Care Pack ( that took a week), and then they replaced the system board... and cracked the display cover.
This resulted in...

Third trip, also in January 2008, to replace the parts they broke.

Last week, the laptop failed to start with a beep code: one long, two short. After the usual E-mail exchange with laptop "support," I just dropped it off at FedEx... Fourth trip!
I fix computers for a living, so software is not an issue... if it was, I would be going completely off my rocker over this piece of junk. As it is, I will reinstall XP w/SP3 slipstreamed when (if?!?) they return it, reinstall the applications, and then copy my user profile back onto the drive... I'm on a domain, so even the stored passwords will work fine.

However, I now advise all of my 650+ home and small business customers not to buy HP or Compaq computers. I send out newsletters (and they're quite popular), so this advice will reach well over a thousand people.

 

Update:
The Web site claims it will be returned on July 3rd.
I guess that means they actually HAVE a system board for my model in stock, so I guess I'm lucky there...

I'm also lucky I bought this Dell Vostro, so I have a notebook during the month or so each year my HP spends in the shop!

 

Yeah, if it weren't for the fact that there wasn't a 17" Thinkpad, I would have never bought an HP. And now, 6 months after I bought the HP, Lenovo has announced the Thinkpad W700: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:W700!!!!!

 

I just spec'd out & ordered a Vostro 1710 for my best friend, before Dell stopped shipping XP:

Intel Core 2 Duo T9300, 2.5GHz, 800Mhz FSB, 6M L2 Cache
4GB DDR2 667MHz
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
17.0 inch WUXGA (1920x1200) display with TrueLife
250GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
8X DVD+/-RW with double-layer DVD+/-R write capability
...webcam, Bluetooth, 3 year warranty, yadda yadda yadda...

but that Lenovo looks much nicer, with better video.
However, the Vostro came out under $2K shipped. I imagine that ThinkPad is somewhare on the far side of $3000.

One thing's for sure:
I truly regret buying my HP laptop, and I will never buy another HP computer.

 

Yeah, I'd like to know how much the Thinkpad's going to be. I got the HP in my sig for $900

I just couldn't pass up the price ;/

 

Good deal. Mine was $1400, including $200 for the 3-year warranty.
I bought the Care Pack because my previous laptop, a storebought ZE-series, lasted 2 years and 9 months before the power circuits abruptly failed.

 

Yeah, that tends to happen with consumer laptops. I don't really expect the HP to last too long. I'll probably end up getting something with a smaller screen next time if I have to to get a business-quality laptop.

 

If it needs another repair...demand a Lemon Law replacement or refund.

 

Your problem sounds bad but trust me, its not as bad as mine: http://www.koshyjohn.com/hp

I've a dv9295ea and I've asked HP to replace it or face me in consumer court.

 

Well, this appears to be the fourth time HP has turned my laptop around in a week: it should be delivered this afternoon. Assuming they actually fixed it, I can start reinstalling Windows XP and all my stuff in a few hours.
Of course, the second time they cracked the case, so we'll see.

And, there are 16 months left on the extended warranty, so I guess I can look forward to three or four more warranty repairs...

Like I said:
I will never buy another HP computer.

 

The notebook arrived this afternoon. There is no apparent damage to the case.
They replaced the system board, the DVD drive (which had been popping open, and I had noted that when I sent it in), and the hard drive (with a "certified repaired" Seagate... wow, that makes me feel confident).

I will open another thread to describe the rebuilding process.

 

You should definitely request a complete replacement - and an upgrade for your troubles - if it ever needs repair again. I currently have my own nightmare with HP support, after my laptop came back mutilated. Good luck.