Gen1 DV5t Screen Flickers - Send to HP under ext warrenty or try to repair myself?

I purchased a BTO DV5t 22 months ago (Jan 2009), and I got the 2-year extended warranty /accident coverage.

I've been pretty careful with it, and it's held up really well, and is used daily. My only problems prior to this was the 6-cell battery wearing out (twice).

In the last couple of months, I had issues with portions of the LCD panel (1680x1050 panel) flickering (snow/scrambled) when the laptop was not resting on a table-like surface.. i.e. when it's been in my lap etc. So far it's not been enough of a problem to warrant action (i.e. I move/reposition the laptop a bit and it stops). So I am suspecting a loose cable or something similar is causing the problem.

In addition, the edge of the left side of the screen bezel (when looking at the screen) is flexing when the screen is opened/closed as if the back and front pieces are no longer as tightly coupled as they were when new.


So my dilemma is this: Do I use the warranty protection plan that I purchased for these issues, send the DV5t back to HP (or their "authorized service center') and risk them screwing it up or damaging something else, as well as the time without my main machine....

... or ...

Do I disassemble the DV5t laptop myself (I have the service manual PDF) and attempt to check and tighten all cables to the LCD, and tighten up the LCD frame when I put it back together - minimizing my downtime, and having accident be my own fault? (I am pretty comfortable tearing into electronics).


I would love to hear from anyone who has taken apart a DV5t, dealt with these problems, or has a sense of how much confidence I should have sending my DV5t in under the extended warranty plan.

FYI - I pulled the original HDD with Vista out when I got the unit and saved it (and stuck a bigger, faster HDD in the DV5t and installed XP). If I send in my DV5t, I would of course swap the hard drives and not let the data out of my sight - so in worst case I wouldn't lose the data.

P.S. If I do open it up myself, I would be really, really tempted to swap the CPU out for a P9600 or P9700. Would that be a can of worms I don't want to open?

 

Use the warranty while you have it.

 

I've taken apart my DV5 a number of times to install bluetooth, fingerprint reader and TV tuner. It's really quite simple to do.

You can install a P9600 or P9700. The BIOS supports it. It's merely a simple swap of CPU's. Remember to properly apply thermal paste.

In any event, your issue is one of the LCD cable. You will likely need to replace it. You can get the cable from various places. Try eBay and HP parts store.

I'm of the opinion that if you know what you are doing, do it yourself - regardless of warranty. Just be sure to work in an organized manner and read the relevant parts of the service manual before and during.

 

@2.0, Thanks for letting me know it's not too hard to do.

I think I'll pursue the DIY approach, and assume that the LCD cable needs replacing (and is not just loose). I worry that a depo tech won't be as careful as I can be, and I can't really afford to be without it for more than a few days (I'm traveling a lot for the next 2 months).

I've read through the manual some time ago, and it seemed to document the steps pretty well.

I keep looking around for a laptop that represent a good upgrade from this one, and I just am not seeing anything good (Screen Resolution being my #1 gripe -- and this one runs XP nicely) so I want to get a couple more years of use out of this one.