dv2000/dv6000/dv9000 recall

Background – I have 25 years of IT experience and a former HP certified technician & ASP.

I recently started having all the known problems with my dv9208nr – one right after another. I called yesterday and got some service agent in India I guess. After about 20 frustrating minutes of getting my information - language barriers - we finally started talking about my problems - won't boot, no wireless connections, no usb ports, cdrom won't read, graphics issues, heat issues, etc. I explained to the guy that I have 25 years experience in the IT field and know how to troubleshoot a computer, not to mention that according to the HP site I was due for the replacement program – Product Number RP114UA#ABA. He continued to insist of going down his list of checks – checking the BIOS for F.3D version, mobility center, device manager, turning the wireless switch off and on. Finally after about another 40 minutes of the useless troubleshooting he wanted me to upgrade the BIOS to a newer version. I was really frustrated now. I told him that I was not going to upgrade the BIOS that according to the HP website my product number (which I had already given him) was entitled to get my laptop fixed for free. He again tried to get me to upgrade the BIOS – I said that was it! I wanted his supervisor or someone above his level. I told him no more troubleshooting, I had the notice pulled up on my laptop & I am supposed to be able to get my laptop fixed! I told him I wanted to get the box to ship this piece of junk off so it could get a bandage put on it that might hold long enough for me to buy a better laptop from a more reliable company. He put me on hold, after about 4 minutes the line picked up again, I get the same guy, but he begins to go thru the spill about after researching the issues I am eligible for the replacement program. DUH!!! So after about another 20 minutes on the phone with them, getting all the ticket numbers, instructions, Status codes, etc. I have a free shipping box coming to me in about 2 days with an expected turn around of 7-10 business days (I'm not holding my breath on the turn around). These guys are idiots!

The big employer I used to work for that got me my HP credentials used to use Compaq exclusively and moved to HP as time went on, but now I wouldn't recommend HP for anything!

 

Yeah I've read all the stories from page 1-End: So what is the deal about this class-action suit(s)? I've seen a couple around, but are they legit or just some advertising to line the pockets of a haughty law-firm, while users only receive a pittance check for double digits, while they pay triple, even quadruple digits for their now defunct laptops? My 6000 has had some strange vid-issues in the past, works for the most part now, but the temps according to speed fan are SKY HIGH, esp the Vid card 70C+ with the LOUD fan roaring away while everyone else's laptop near me is quiet as a mouse.
W-T-F? THIS is HP's "solution," increase the Fan-speed to 24/7, draining my battery in efforts to cool off the flawed chipset? I CANNOT part with my laptop for MONTHS, hell, even weeks. I use it everyday for work/class/life etc... Can someone tell me what's going on? I'll NEVER EVER buy an HP again: their decision to keep users in the dark and mask flawed hardware with BIOS "updates" is a FRAUD!

 

Hi all, thanks for the info . If not for online forums, I would have done a motherboard replacement at HP at my own expense!

I bought a dv2000 (Intel+ nvidia Geoforce7200) notebook Feb2008 in Singapore. Experienced vanishing icons on both desktop & start menu within 1st week of purchase.

After reinstalling OS & drivers (several times as guided by Hp, updated Bios too), notebook frequently ‘hangs’, won’t boot into windows (only booted after several days of rest!), multi- media keys, webcam & dvd-drive stopped working plus notebook base was always rather hot when in use, overheating?

Bios was updated too but soon notebook wont boot into windows & displayed ‘Blue Screen – windows was not shut down properly'. HP eventually recommended a new motherboard but never once brought up defective motherboard design or faulty nvidia GPUs!

Robbed of sgd2600! No repairs no replacements, no refunds and no compensation, not even a beep from HP on defective motherboard design (overheating) or faulty nvidia gpu! No accountability! Never buy HP products ever again!

Good luck all!

 

Greetings to all,

Over the years I have taught myself to diagnose and repair both hardware and software problems, and today I have a large client base of customers who regularly use my services.

In the past 2 weeks I have seen 3 of the HP dv series computers with the kind of problems described in this forum. They are failing at an alarming rate, especially if they have been used for over 2 years. The NVidia problem seems to be quite common.

Based on these observations and HP's response to the problem, I am no longer recommending any HP products to my clients.

 

I was aware of the problems that were occurring with the DV series for a while. I was using an Antec laptop cooler with my DV2312US in an attempt to extend it's functional life. Ultimately, it didn't help.

I got a call from my son the other night. He told me the HP stopped booting. He brought it to me ( I moved on to an Asus F6A) It was just dead. Power LED's were on but nothing else worked. No display, no hard drive activity, no nothing. I called HP, they are sending a box for it.

So, the repair experience begins for us. I'll post what happens.

 

We own a dv2000, however, the number that HP asks for off of the bottom is a 2660se, which they say is not part of the recall and evidentally my warranty has already ran out. So they want to sell me technical support.
Can anyone tell me how to fix the problems or should we pay for the technical support?
When worknig on the internet on the computer it will let you be on it for awhile and then it quits switching pages. (message website found waiting on reply) however, it never does anything.
Then you have to restart the computer to get the internet to work again, however, the computer won't shut down or restart, so your forced to hold down the power button and do a forced shut down. So when you do restart it you get the whole black page with white message and you have to choose to start windows normally.
Also, it won't let me do a restore point, it keeps giving me an exception error.
What should I do?
Thanks for any help you can give.
MeLisa

 

I just got mine back from its second repair. I sent it in in dec, they replaced the system board, sent it in last week, another new system board. I have until may on the warraty.

Even the UPS driver today told me not to buy an HP computer. He also told me to send it in for a thrid go because they will replace it. How pathetic is it that the UPS guy knows this? Honestly!

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=347497

 

HP received our laptop on 1/29. It was repaired and shipped back by overnight Fedex on 2/02. It seems to work OK and run cooler. Despite my misgivings about HP service I'm impressed with the speed of the repair.

On the customer repair receipt under parts replaced it says
6K.4V5MB.001 SHIBA13 MB FF 052345-5..W/O C&D

Anyone knows what this means? Is "MB" motherboard? Why the hell do they have to be so cryptic?

 

i have the dv2000, it falls in the "recall" qualifications... however, when i called hp today to see about getting it repared, i was told that there is a confidential expiration date for the whatever waranty and i was not eligible for the repare............
i havent had my laptop for more than 2 years and its just recently begun to... well stop working for lack of better words. anytime you close the top and later try to use the computer, you have to take out the battery and unplug everything and reboot in order to get it to work again...
ontop of that, my wireless hasnt worked for the majority of the time i had the computer. lately the screen either just goes blank, or it sort of freezes in the middle of using it, and has to be unplugged and rebooted to work...... last night alone i had to do this 8 times in 20 minutes.
from what ive read, im thinking theres just no hope for reparing this laptop ...

let me know if anyone has any sdvice on what i should do about this problem. having a working computer is vital for me.. and this one is anything but working.

 

^^

Did you go to the web page listed in the 1st post of this thread? You need to call the special toll free number listed on that page. If you call the standard support number they'll give you the run around and tell you your out of warranty. At least that's what happened in my case.

I'm sorry to say this, but if having a properly functioning laptop is vital to you my best suggestion is that you move to another machine. Although I have indicated in a previous post that HP fixed and returned my sons laptop quickly It just doesn't work reliably anymore. As you have described your problem, our DV 2312US will sometimes just stop working. The only way to get it functioning is to remove the battery, hold down the power key for 30 seconds, reinstall the battery and plug in the AC cord.

If you have browsed through this thread you will no doubt realize that HP repair service is something of a joke with some members here getting their machines repaired multiple times. If you can get HP to agree to "fix" it I suspect you'll be in for much the same experience. HP will usually relent after a 3rd repair and send you a new laptop. I couldn't wait for that to happen. I picked up an Asus. If it is at all economically feasible I recommend you buy another laptop. Good luck.

 

hey guys sorry to hear about all of these problems. I just recently got my dv2310us repaired by hp even though it was out of warranty for almost a year.
My problem was the wireless card did not show up in device manger and the VGA output port on the side gave my external monitor crazy line/desorted picture. Sent it in on the 29 of jan got it back today. ohh n they gave me 90 days warrenty on the replaced motherboard. Hope it last :O

 

By saying your out of warranty, do you mean the standard 1 year HP warranty when you buy it brand new or do you mean the extended warranty HP is granting to fix problems?

As an example. Our DV 2312 was purchased on 6/07. HP extended the warranty on it from the standard an additional year to 6/09. Despite the fact that the repair warranty expires in 90 days sometime in April, the extended warranty will still be active until June.

If you bought your laptop with a credit card, it's possible you may still have additional warranty coverage available under whatever terms and conditions your cc company had in effect at the time of purchase.

Whatever the case, please post what happens with your laptop.

 

sadly, my dv9000 is not on the list. I have had my laptop for almost 2 years now. Last year, when it was still under warranty, the wireless kept disconnecting while I was playing online game with my friends (their laptops were running fine). And one or two month after the warranty had expired, my laptop just broke, fried motherboard T_T. Had to send it to HP to fix, cost me 400 bucks. They were nice enough to give me a stupid 3 months warranty, but then my laptop starts acting up after that warranty period. I'd never buy a HP products until I see some significantly improvements on their product lines @_@

 

My dv2416us (purchased ~8/07) started acting weird on occasion about a month ago (briefly showing what I describe as digital static: a badly garbled image). Then it stopped booting entirely. The power button works, and the fan usually turns on, but the LCD shows nothing, and no buttons have any effect.

Yesterday I read through all these pages during and after describing this situation to a man in India. He gave me a ticket # and said I'll be getting a box some time next week. Hopefully they'll replace the mobo and everything will be fixed.

I'm currently typing this on my cheapo acer aspire 3680, which I bought at the same time for ~1/2 price, and has given me absolutely no problem in the intervening 18 months. Does the lemon law apply to laptops?

Now the only remaining question is what to do with the HP's harddrive. There are pictures and videos saved on there. Will it be wiped? should I go out and buy a HD enclosure so I can make backups?

Thanks for this forum, and hopefully I'll get my laptop back in the promised 2 weeks.

 

im not sure on the exact date. But the warranty expired sometime in march 2007. So it's been a while since the warranty ran out. I called hp they told me to do a few things n said ok ur laptop is out of warrenty but we do have the enhance repair service thing. and the next day i got an empty box to send the laptop in. Following up on the repair the laptop works fine now wireless is perfect. runs cooler since the fan is on most of the time now Bios f.3c. The mini usb connector looks sort of rusted.........

 

My DV2310US, purchased in May-2007 just failed about a month ago. I've contacted HP and had it sent in earlier this week. Will keep you guys updated.

Here's some information on the Class Action Lawsuit:

http://www.sfmslaw.com/pages/cases.php?id=300

 

Hey everyone!! -- I had the same issue too with my DV9000t 7600go Intel. I put together a website for users with this problem and we are waiting for 200 submissions to our database before sending it to HP, the BBB, the AG, and the Consumer Safety Agency (many people, including myself, get GPU temps above 100c)




If you do have this issue, be sure to add yours to the list - we're at 182 now (and the database has only been up for a week):




http://database.hplies.com





Let me know if you have any suggestions for this!

 

.

I did. They sent a fed Ex box. After they rcvd. the unit, and after the message I got back initially saying In Warrenty. The next communication said "Out of Warrenty" and a charge of $768.XX for repair. Suddenly it needs Motherboard (We know that from the RECALL as it was expressed to me from INDIA!!).

But now also the memory is bad. RIP OFF CITY. I asked them to return it, do people fall for this bait and switch?? .

Want Good will? Hire Americans, We are in trouble here!! Do not lie to your customers who spend crazy $$ for your products. Make us happy, we will do your marketing. Rip us off and we will do the opposite.

Running the ship from a bridge with no windows!

 

I got my dv6000 back yesterday with its 3rd MB and guess what after one fricking reboot the wireless card was gone again. I then spent an hour on the phone with some JA telling me that now they think it is the wireless card itself. I had a spare and tried it with the same result. I demanded it be escalated. I am now waiting for a call back.

 

Got a call from the JA in charge of telling bad news today. They admit replcing tons of Motherboards. But will do nothing for me. I will eother be buying a MB on line or selling parts. They also told me the ram is bad. I checked it b4 it left and all was fine. Just will not work in their overpriced bug loaded poor design.

Back to Toshiba.

 

I have the dv9000 (dv9201ca) and I have had these problems. I sent in my first repair for the hinge last year - replaced no problem, but screen became pretty wobbly.

Then, another service enhancement came out, and I was starting to get intermittent problems with boot and VGA-out. So I requested a hinge re-repair, and the mobo replacement. The hinge was tighter on return, and they said they'd replaced the mobo.

In fact, the mobo was giving me even more boot problems than before, so I sent it in again. Finally, I think they replaced it good. I got it back within the week...the system runs far cooler, a little faster. I also noticed the VGA-out on the side is now a BLACK port (it used to be blue). So they've definitely changed the mobo this time.

Too bad it took me so long to get it all straightened out, and too bad they didn't upgrade me. But seeing as I will now get a couple more years out of this thing, it was worth the hassle.

 

Mine is going back for a fourth time this week. Going to call tomorrow. My GPU temp hit 75C tonight and its hot to touch on the finger reader thing.

This is crazy. My warranty is up the end of may. I have had two new mother boards, a new hard drive, the hinge fix (which is squeaking and never did before), and lord knows what else.

I'm totally fed up.

 

"F'ed" up sounds more like it, unfortunately!!!:laugh:

 

yes it is TOTALLY f'ed up. GPU hit a high of 84 degrees

Can't even join the stupid lawsuit bc its only US. Grrrr.

$1k for a doorstop

 

I have the dv2138xx and the wifi stopped working then found out the express card slot doesn't work either. Everything else works okay so I just bought a USB wireless N for wifi. My laptop didn't qualify for the recall and didn't want to take a chance of it being ruined by having it repaired. Besides I already bought another laptop.

 

I am so sick of this 2 guys i've never had such a problem with a computer company before. I'm currently a pc tech so i see tons of computer problems but never before have i seen a problem like a problem with the dv200/dv6000/dv9000 series before. Iwill post my chat logs with the them as soon as i get a chance. Every bad one i get is going straight to http://hplies.com/memberlist.php?mode=searchuser&sk=z&sd=d I've had it with HP and their crappy support today i was online with a guy for over 3 hours. I currently have a hp dv1000 with no problems at all i've had it for 5 years never once been in for repair where did hp go wrong? i dont know but i'm never telling any one to buy a HP again.

 

my one and half year old notebook had wireless died and at first I called HP to find out why wireless is not working they told me they offered me one time extended warranty they want me to send my notebook to HP but I didnt because I have read many complaints so I sent it to the store where I bought it from with 5 yr warranty but I am curious did they replace motherboard on my notebook as stated on OP? I cant tell if it was replaced and when I got it back after a week notebook was in good condition no scratch or broke or anything.

 

I am having the problem with my dv2000 too, screen goes black and then have to restart 2 times to get it to work (figure it's only a matter of time before it stops working completely.) Also my wireless goes undetected and doesn't even show it under network adapters in my control panel. I googled the problem and found out that HP is offering repairs for ironically the same problems that I have been experiencing. But of course after a call to the service center, my model # is included but unfortunatly my product number is not! So just 15 months later my laptop is on the verge of being unusable. I am so sad because other than the recent problems my laptop has been great. How sad they aren't correcting this obviously common problem with the product that they distributed.

On another note, has anyone paid the $99.00 for the extended warranty. I am willing to [ay the extra money if I need to but don't know if it will cover the repairs that may be necessary. It's unfortunate however that HP doesn't stand behind their products! Ironic that this occured 4 months out of the warranty.

 

I recommend filing a compliant with http://www.bbb.org/ before you decide to shell out any more money. HP Lies is a good place to find ways to deal with this issue.

 

I have a DV9207us notebook from HP. I purchased from CompUSA on June 3rd, 2007. About 9 months after I purchased my left hinge broke. I sent the laptop back to HP for warranty repair, which they performed. Over the past couple of months I noticed that the hinge seemed to be getting ready to break again. This past Sunday Jun 28th my screen went dark with many small colored dots/lines on it. This happened while I was editing pictures running Windows XP. I have had the system set up for dual boot for about 1 1/2 years, so I tried to boot into Vista. Vista would make it to the screen where I enter my password and then a black screen. My laptop works in Windows XP until I plug the power cord, which according to my local repair shop indicates something with the video card as XP only uses the graphics card when it is plugged in. I have contacted HP for support on several occasions only to be told that my model number is not part of the extended warranty program and that I would have to pay to have it repaired. I cannot afford to pay $400.00 to have my computer repaired and I really need it for school. I will never purchase any HP product ever again, and everyone that I meet will know how awful and immoral of a company HP is.

 

Awful, quite possibly. But where does morality actually come into this. Keep in mind I had a faulty compaq that had some of the same issues and hardware failures these recalled models have, was built and sold within the same time period and they dont cover myne, im guessing because its a cheapo. So i understand your pain to the extent of what it is, but i was able to move off it so not as big of a problem for me as it is to you.

If its out of warranty its out of warranty, they often dont have any obligation to you past that period. There are certain exceptions and these usually are met with recalls or forced out by class action lawsuits.

 

ronnie76: see if your notebook is on the list:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01087277&lc=en&cc=us
and if so give HP a call. Your almost certainly have the usual failing NVIDIA graphics chip. If HP won't help you, reflowing the solder inside that chip package is the only known fix short of replacing the motherboard.

 

I bought two dv9000 and HP refused to repair either of them.
That is $3.000 invested on two beautiful shiny doorstops.
The first DV9000 is on the list, and even so person on the phone said that my warranty
had already expired and the second unit -AMD unit- has one of the defective video chips
and still he told me it does not make any difference.
I told the case manager that I had the impression that HP is designing the units
with some kind of built in electronic timer, and although I was joking the case manager
stopped talking for a few seconds, and then laughed about it.
Then offered, because I kept complaining, to repair on of the units at $200 as a special
favor, but I refused, he said, SORRY, and hung up.
The laptops have barely any fingerprints on them, and it seems to me that these
systems go bad just by sitting there inside the box.
We have seven HP and HP Compaq bought in 2007 and four of them have problems.
The DV9000 Intel unit, we have used about 20 times in two years, no time enough
to get hinge damage, overheating or anything else, and basically the same situation
for the second unit, but they do not care about any of this.
I do not know what else to do about it, but I decided I'll be giving another call
in a couple of days.

 

My (second) DV2000 (purchased 8/2007) has now been repaired 3 times (see previous posts -- including 2 HDD replacements and 2 MB replacements, as well as some other unknown parts). The main issues were not booting, black screen, and running so hot it could burn your house down. They gave me the "update bios" BS originally, like that would help?

I only have 1-1/2 months left in the enhancement warranty. I sold my other DV2000, thank goodness.

For the previous 2 repairs, the laptop came back (after months at HP) working, but still running super hot and the fan was on 24/7 and still hot even during sleep mode. It also had this weird glitch where if the computer was off and you plugged in the power jack, it would magically turn the computer on...not sure if that is related to the same problems.

This third repair July 09 (hot and black screen issues), the computer came back actually running cool and I can't even hear the fan and the power jack glitch is gone. Maybe this time I actually got it repaired correctly? Replaced Parts were: ARRY MICROPHONE PA(SUN MOWING), ASSY HEAT SINK SHIBA CCI, SHIBA 13 MB FF 05234-5..W/O C&D. (Although they replaced the MB last time too).

I'm going to use it constantly to see if it gets hot or black screen issues before my warranty runs out in 45 days and maybe they will send me a new one (for the 4th repair).

I have already bought my daughter a replacement for her DV2000, an MSI NetBook, that she totally loves. It runs quiet and cool and has XP, which we love way more than Vista. But you can't fry an egg on it like my HP!

 

The repairs are done with the same defective stock motherboards.

As I mentioned on the previous post, I have seven (7), HP, Hp-Compaq units.

I have problems with four of them and because the warranty run out a couple
of months ago or they are not included on the recall (although they have the
same symptoms), they would not honor any repairs.

I just called them on the two DV9000,s, and I was denied a repair on both.

The fact is that less than 1% of people complaint and the rest take the loss,
and they do not really care if thousands of people have the same problems.

I will never buy HP computers again. I hate to be a "disposable customer".

 

In HP's defence, while I wasn't happy sending my lappie in three times, it does seem like the third was the charm. My dv9000 (9201ca) runs cooler, quieter, and, at least some of the mobo parts I can confirm changed: the VGA port was blue in the first two repairs, but it was a black-coloured port on the third.

 

I just learned of this issue after a customer of mine brought in here dv6000. Her wireless card had failed. After a quick search on the forums I found this thread and similar ones. The laptop is 8 months out of the 3 year warranty (1 standard + 2 extended service) and the rep I spoke with said that they were under direct orders not to escalate the call for out of warranty laptops. I am contacting the BBB now on behalf of my client.

 

i think hp has integrated timers inside that make it stop working correctly after the yearly warranties expire, as soon as my 12 month warranty was up it had numerous problems and they told me that they have a standard $450 fee for repair regardless of the problem... how can u have a standard repair fee?? thats pretty suspicious of you ask me,.. what kind of service technician sells products that have a worldwide standard fee... i beleive they enter a secret keystroke code that repairs the problem because they programmed fake problems into their systems in order to feed their stupid kids years later well i dont care about hps kids because they dont care about mine apparently i hope your kids choke hp now tell me the code to fix my shat... it is having the exact same problem as the recalled versions of this same laptop but they tell me since mine isnt on the list of recalled laptops even tho it has the exact same defect i have to pay the $450 fee t0 get it repaired yet it works in safe mode and if it was actually broken for real it would not work at all

 

hey guys, i've bought a dv2310 from circuit city about two years ago. i've contacted HP several times and they are using all types of excuses to deny my warranty claim. i kno they extended the warranty to 2 years. they refused to repair my defective laptop under warranty when i told them i wasnt able to find the receipt. they tried to offer me a $150 discount off the $398 repair fee including parts and labor. of course i rejected it because i know for a fact i am eligible for that Service Enhancement crap.

so anyways, now that i've FOUND a copy of my receipt which i've made two years ago. i called HP support again and they told me the "pop team" will contact me about validating my purchase. so i've scanned my receipt copy and emailed it to them, yet their reply was "still unable to update the records for your product". i asked them whats the matter, and requested a reasonable response instead of that automated reply BS. its been almost a week and I still havent heard from the pop-team.

i've spoke to the case manager before i've found my receipt so obviously she refused to accept my warranty repair claim. should i continue to fight? this is really frustrating. i've had a supervisor on the phone told me, "b/c this machine is very powerful at the time of release in 2007, so its expected to fail prematurely."

i dont have the original receipt because i sent it in for rebates two years ago. but i did make a very legible copy to keep. circuit city is no longer in business so i am unable to have them provide me the proof of purchase 2 years ago. i only have 3 weeks before my 2 years warranty is over.. sigh..

 

I juslt happen to be one of the unlucky owners of a dv6000 that is only 20months old and I am having problems with the wireless card and the mother board overheating. I have not been able to get on the web wireless for months now. I tried to contact HP and they had the nerve to tell me that it was going to cost me $399. to have the problem fixed. Can anyone give me some feed back, a suggest what avenues to take from here. Please

 

Follow the instructions here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4792475&postcount=15
Not for the faint of heart but it does work.

 

I'm fixing a dv9000 for a lady the wireless is went out! I wonder if she is better off buying a USB wireless card?

 

No. Sooner or later the NVIDIA chip will completely fail. Reflowing the northbridge and replacing the thermal pad with a copper penny or a proper copper shim (see eBay) is the best fix that I know of.

 

HP IS THE WORST!

​

dv6000, dv9000, dvxxxx, is doesn't matter, ALL PAVILLIONS ARE COMPLETE GARBAGE. They are the Worst Laptops in the world. HP makes the worst computers on the market.

DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM HP!

DON'T YOU KNOW HP HAS THE HIGHEST FAILURE RATE?


WHY DO PEOPLE STILL BUY THESE?
PRICE? HELL, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!​

 

Lol overreact much?

But seriously, this was mostly due to the nvidia defect, which does not affect new pavilions - this was only a problem for the dvxxxx (and some before that) series notebooks, not the new dv6/7/dm3/hdx etc.

I do agree though that HP handled the situation very poorly - by not replacing all of the defective nvidia chips

P.S. What is the original source of that chart?

 

I am sure this thread is dead by now but I was hoping for some advice.
I have sent my DV9000 back once for the north-bridge chip-set overheating, but now it has burned out the memory chips, this laptop heats up so much . I am not able to afford a new one .Is there some way to make H/P for a replacement ?

 

I too have just had this problem and am going to continue calling HP until they repair my laptop and I'm going to continue posting and telling everyone I know about this issue. There is a website hplies.com that deals with this issue.

 

Another fun problem: it appears that taking these notebooks outside in brutally cold weather then starting them up inside may be too much for these defective NVIDIA chips. The rapid temperature swing from freezing to HOT is just too much. Let your notebook warm up a bit inside before starting it, just to be safe. I'd hoped to do a little business repairing and reselling broken HP NVIDIA notebooks but even with a copper shim they just aren't reliable enough. On the bright side I've become fairly adept at tearing down and reassembling HP notebooks.

 

I have used many HP products in the past, and was satisfied. When I purchased my very first home unit I had a horrible experience with my HP Pavilion dv9000 series laptop. The nVidia caused a problem with motherboard, memory, etc. Long story short, my machine went bust just AFTER the two year extension and my warranty had also expire. At the time I was in a bind, and purchased another machine and set the old one in the closet.

A few months later, I happened to overhear a conversation regarding the almost the exact experience with the HP Pavillion dv9000 series. The gentleman informed me that HP had promised to do the repairs for free since it was an intrinsic problem. I was so excited because I really did prefer the Windows XP to the VISTA I now used, and erroneously thought that HP was still a great company. I do believe the problem is more widespread than HP wants to admit...because I have seen the same complaints on PC message boards. I have contacted the office of the CEO office previously and received a pre-formatted e-mail...shoddy service again! I have tried the on-line chat (disconnected 3 times!) I have tried calling (several 2 hour phone calls, and the poor men in the off-shore call center were helpless to address the situation, plus the communication was strained due to my inability to understand them at times!) The most appalling thing that I find with the whole situation is that when I spoke to the so-called supervisor, and asked to speak to his supervisor regarding my displeasure...I was told that "upper level supervisors don't talk to customers, I have the authority to make this decision. The best I can do is a repair for about $300.00 USD. Your machine failed outside the extension. You should have kept up with the updates we put on the website. This is really not our problem, at this point we are doing you a favor." WHAAAAT! I paid over $1500.00 USD 3 1/2 years ago for a piece of equipment (no to mention the purchase of an expensive printer/FAX/scanner at the same time!!) and you are doing me a favor by repairing it for about half the cost of a new computer today. No thanks HP.

I have told this disgusting story to anyone I know considering a new computer or other technology. Bad customer service will cost you much, much business. In this economic climate bad experiences by even a few people can have a ripple effect on your bottom line. You can bet that when my committee for new technology meets, we will not be buying any HP products if my vote has to make the decision. Several others in the group have also given up on HP, due to similar bad customer service experiences.