HP out of warranty repair advice:

Hi guys - looking for some friendly advice here, ok so:

# Had an Envy14 1050ea when it dropped into the UK a few years back
# 2 year extended warranty ran out about 8 months ago
# Laptop was sent off twice in that time, once for the track-pad and once for the HDD (where they also replaced loads of other stuff)
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# Upgraded from 4GB to 8BG RAM
# Upgraded to 500GB SSD
# Upgraded to Windows 8 .... ... .. . downgraded back to Windows 7
# Updated ATI drivers because for some reason HDMI out wasn't behaving
# Once I think the laptop has shut down when gaming through HDMI out from overheating (reverted back to official drivers)
# One blue screen a week back - thought nothing of it, didn't Google the info (schoolboy error)
# Yesterday, under no particular processor intensive task, laptop just turned off ... and wouldn't turn on.
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Here in lies my problem. My laptop is dead! Eliminated the variables (replaced/removed: HDD,RAM,CMOS, BATTERY,CHARGER... nadda!) Not sure if its worth noting but when the charger is plugged in (in any of the above configurations) the little blue charging light on the side is on - this is all. When the power button is pressed, the light goes off - this is the only visual feedback I have from the laptop.

Took the entire thing apart, dusted - put back together, nothing. Only thing I haven't done is reseat the CPU.

My thinking is that the on-board ATI has given up the ghost - or the mobo perhaps? Either way i'm left with a few options, hence this post:

- Out of warrant repair - cost £221.36 (quote for mobo replacement but said that this payment would cover anything) <--- i'd love some feedback on this. if this covers the repalcement of everything i'll put back in my dying 500GB SATA and my old busted RAM and get some fresh stuff.... 'IF' it's included in this rather expensive quote.

- Ebay repair - cost £70-£100 with like 80% success rate, not really feeling this to be honest.

- Ebay doner machine - cost £300 salvage parts and potentially sells spares back online.

- EU consumer law - I'm not sure about this - some people say 5 years, some people say 2 - either way I'v had a warranty for two years and the device for about 3; or just over.

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So - if you've made it to the bottom of this post, well done - and thank you! Any help would be much appreciated, even if you can think of something I may have missed or can point me in the direction of some super cheap parts.

Thanks again,
Nathan.

 

Something is shorting the board or the board is dead.

Some eBay seller let you return for a restocking fee, or you can just claim doa if it don't work. (depends what kind of person you are )

If it is the radeon display, then I would definitely try to fix it.

 

Yeah - I just wish I knew what the exact cause was. Wondered if anyone else out there had experienced a similar problem. It all costs money to replace parts so I don't really want to be buying stuff that doesn't need replacing. Maybe I should work out how to use a voltmeter!

This is the 1050ea model - one of the very first. There have been a number of revisions since then and these aren't sold new anywhere anymore.

If it is the mobo - i've found one for about £80 delivered to the UK: http://goo.gl/0fByIe

Again, if that doesn't fix my problem, that's another £80 down the drain before getting this thing fixed. What do you guys think?

 

I'll leave it a few more days for others to share their thoughts on this - then it's off to HP for a new mobo.