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    Strange noises (dv5000) - what's going on?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by monobeg, Mar 1, 2006.

  1. monobeg

    monobeg Notebook Enthusiast

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    I spent 2 hours working in the office with my dv5020us powered by battery yesterday, and the squeel almost brought me to tears! The thing is, I've noticed something strange,

    When battery powered a high-pitched tone comes from the area around the blue volume buttons (top of keyboard). It can be heard by my 50-year-old parents (so isn't too high-pitched) and is VERY annoying.

    The strange thing is it changes with screen brightness! It gets louder and higher as I set the screen brighter. It makes the computer unusable at anything but lowest screen level. If the screen turns off, the noise stops instantly. It only happens on battery power.

    Strangly, there is a much quiter and lower-pitched buzz when plugged in form the same area. This is also effected by screen brightness, but the other way around: it gets louder as the screen gets dimmer. It's not as annoying, but interesting.

    Has anyone noticed this (particularly the first one)? It's worse when the battery is 40-90% full. If anyone can help it would be great! I have to do something about this - there's no point having a laptop that can't use its battery! Hopefully HP will repair it... :(

    Thanks!
     
    monobeg, Mar 1, 2006
    #1
  2. brianstretch

    brianstretch Notebook Virtuoso

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    I'd bet on something on the motherboard being in the process of failing (voltage regulator module?). HP will have to fix it.
     
    brianstretch, Mar 1, 2006
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  3. monobeg

    monobeg Notebook Enthusiast

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    I hope I don't get stuck in a repair process for months. This thing is 3 weeks old and Circuit City won't exchange it. Wow, I'm pissed at their joke of a return policy!
     
    monobeg, Mar 1, 2006
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  4. chinna_n

    chinna_n Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    It is most likely in LCD backlit inverter. ( actually my LCD TV has little noise which varies with backlit brightness). I do not know if it has been a problem with any laptops, but it is known that some backlit inverters cause that noise. It may be because the supply voltage from battery is lower than direct DC in( 18.5v vs 10.8v).

    But in anycase it should not make that noise, so better get the replacement asap.

    CircuitCity should replace it with new one if it is less than a month. May that Manager is useless, try to some other time and talk to/convince another one.
    ( some of those guys are really .... I do not want to say).
     
    chinna_n, Mar 1, 2006
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  5. segadc

    segadc Notebook Consultant

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    Wow...well good luck...
     
    segadc, Mar 1, 2006
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  6. monobeg

    monobeg Notebook Enthusiast

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    Do you think they'll exchange it after the 14 day policy? Even with the UPC removed from the box?
    I'll try and let you know anyway!
     
    monobeg, Mar 1, 2006
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