HP zv6000 questions

1. Memory Upgrade-

I don't have the manual for this unit. It's my father's. He has 2x256mb sticks. When I remove the access panel on the bottom, I find 1 stick, not two. I have a spare stick of 512mb Kingston PC2700 and when I insert it, it does POST but won't boot into Windows. -- Word on the street (Circuit City actually haha) is that I have to remove the keyboard and remove - reinsert the other stick of RAM after I put the 512 upgrade into the unit, but before I boot. ????


2. "Hibernate" switch -

I call it this for lack of knowing what it's really called. It's that little grey peice of rubber that pokes up out of the chassis above the keyboard that, when the LCD is closed onto it, shuts the unit down.


My father's zv6000 has issues with that unit. Sometimes the LCD won't power on. After hours of tech support telling him to remove the ram, reinstall the ram, remove the hard drive, reinstall the hard drive, and sending the unit back to HP only to have it returned with the same problem and a wiped out hard drive (factory restored Windows), I played with it and figured out that if you jiggled that little 'Hibernate" switch, the LCD comes on just fine.

The unit was purchased new in May 05.

Has anyone else had problems with this part malfunctioning?

HP wants him to return it but he's sick of having to setup his computer since everytime he talks to them, they format the drive.

Suggestions?

 

1. It sounds like the Kingston part and your existing 256MB SODIMM just aren't playing nice together. That happens sometimes, though usually not with Kingston (I still like Crucial the best). I recommend replacing the internal SODIMM with another Kingston 512MB stick. Double-check the service guide on hp.com, but I think you get to that the same way you do with my zv5000z: unplug, remove the battery, remove the four screws along the bottom back edge of the notebook, remove the bezel above the keyboard, unscrew the keyboard, and you'll see what to do from there. I don't know what Circuit City was talking about, but it sounds like what you'd do to get a non-HP miniPCI WiFi card to work.

Actually, try flashing in the current BIOS if it's not there already first. Unplug all USB devices, shut down as many other programs as you can, disable power management (set Power Scheme to Always On), and then do the flash. BIOS updates often improve RAM compatibility.

2. Ugh. Dunno about that one.

 

wow, all that to dig out some ram. lol. THANKS HP! Nice work! Can I buy that engineer a beer? (stale one)

Thanks man. I'll look into it. I'll check into the bios thing. I already have all of his updated drivers and such on a memory stick.

 

I work at best buy. The issue with the screen was a common problem with that line. We had two machines of one brand that were on display that had the same problem. As for the ram, the two slots on the bottom should be the only ones. Iv done memory upgrades on this line with no problems... by replaying 1 or both of the 256 sticks with 512's, 1gig's, etc.

Go into the power management settings, go to advanced, and when it says "when i close the lid to my portable computer..." change that to "do nothing" if you already havent. That keeps the computer from hibernating, but the screen will still turn off when you close the unit, and turn on again when that button is not depressed.

 

1. Actually the Circuit City guy is partly correct. The ZV6000 series have only 1 user accesssible memory slot. The 2nd memory slot is under the keyboard. You have to download the Maintenance and Service guide from hp, and it will show detailed instructions how to get to the 2nd memory slot. Just remember that opening it voids your warranty.

As oppose to what CC guy told you, it shouldn't matter which module you plug first.

I agree with Brianstretch, upgrading BIOS usually improves memory compatibility.


2. Version F.1A (F.1B is the latest, i believe, at least for the zv6130us) should solve the hibernate issue.

The power management setting in Windows is just a setting on how you want the system to behave when you close the LCD lid. If you don't want the system to hibernate when you close the LCD lid, then yes, change it to "do nothing". However, if you really want the system to hibernate everytime you close the LCD lid, then your setting is fine right now.

Going to hibernate mode shouldn't prevent you from "waking-up" the system.. it's a BIOS issue. I have seen this in lots of laptops, not only HP, Dells too. Usually a BIOS update fixes the problem.

 

I have an HP zv6000 and have not had any issues so far. I don't have the hibernation problem and have not yet tried to upgrade my memory. I do know there is a user accesible slot on the underside of the laptop and another one that you have to remove the keyboard to get to. I would suggest going to www.notebookanalysis.com to help you. This is a site solely devoted to the HP zv6000 and its twin, the Compaq R4000. Good luck!

 

Props for all of the replies. Thanks.

Seems foolish for HP to not grant the owner access to both memory banks. Allowing access to just one is the result of a designer not being hugged enough as a little boy or something.

As for the hibernate issue. I guess we'll have to send it back to HP.

I'll upgrade the bios today. He's in the hospital (pnumonia) and won't know the evil I'm about to perform.

Thanks again.

 

Hey, i have a few requests to anyone with zv6000 running linux out there

if you have the ati 200m card with 128mb dedicated memory and ati's propietary driver installed and atleast 3200+ amd64 cpu, can you please post the following results here ?

xvinfo
glxinfo
lspci -v

(optional)
glxgears results ?
xengine results ?

ps. any comments on the tv-out ? did you get it working under linux and is the image ok ? flickering or any other issues ?


thnx in advance

 

you might to do better posting a new thread or going to the 'software' section.

 

Not really HP's fault. Until very recently, one stick was always under the keyboard - sometimes even both. Users upgrading their RAM just wasn't something that the ODM thought about. Everybody, not just HP, had the RAM under the keyboard. Being able to access even one stick was a bonus!

 

The slot underneath the keyboard is easily reached. I have done it on both a zv5000 and a zv6000. I have a Crucial 512MB underneath the keyboard. Whenever I need to upgrade my memory I'm ready.

 

I just did the RAM upgrade on mine and the second card is under the keyboard...a pain in the @%# but do able...4 screws on the bottom, remove keyboard bezal, 4 more very small screws, lift up the keyboard and theres the second card.

 

So you're telling me that ALL laptop computers follow suit and have one memory slot under the keyboard and one under an easilly accessable panel on the bottom of the machine?

If you're saying that's how things WERE... then okay, fine... nice.. doesn't make it right. All memory slots should be accessable by the end user for potential upgrades without furthering expense. PERIOD. Disagree with that and I'll send you to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting.

TPM and OVERCLOCK... Thanks. I'll check into removing the keyboard and upgrading both banks of memory while it's out.

Anyone know if the Sempron uses Dual-Channel? lol. jk.

I have to go solder a DC jack onto a COMPAQ now (04 model). Just got the part in. Wish me luck? or ... just pray for me. That'll be fine. Or send me some of those narcotics.

:hp: :dell:

 

I'm not sure about that.... I have a 5 year old Dell Inspiron, which has 2 user accesible memory slots.

IMO, HP really screwed up the design on zv6000/R4000. Disabled dual channel & memory slot under keyboard.

 

I agree - My 4.5 year old Toshiba has both slots underneath the notebook. It was bad designing by the ODM.

 

I also upgraded the memory on my zv6130us and had no problem with it. I did freak out when I saw only one memory slot under the laptop. I visited HP and did a chat with tech support, thats how I found out where the other slot was at. I figure if I am going to have tech support for one year, might as well use it.

 

The only problem with it is, if you access the slot under the keyboard, then you void your warranty.

In case you need to contact HP or send your laptop for repair, be sure to put back your original memory module. that way they won't know that you opened the notebook.

 

Very good advice. Funny thing though, the hp technician was the one who told me how to do it. He even gave me links to the pdf that show how to dissasemble the laptop. He also knew that the laptop was under warranty.

go figure...

 

hey i am thinking in upgrade my zv6000 procesor to another better choice, and to upgrade the memory ram, so, any of you has an idea of how I could disarm my notebook and do this stuff?

I mean if exist some detailed guide or something else. I have not warranty, so I can open and modify it as I wish.

 

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00364919.pdf