HP charging me 400 bucks for repair need help - Page 2

Unfortunately no power led when I plug it in. It's probably worth checking the internal contacts anyway. Thanks.

ya, it sounds like your machine is overheating buddy. Download a program that tells you how hot your laptop is running . . .

I have started having simular issues. I have a:

ze2117-us
1.6 sempron
1 gig ram (upgrade from original 512)
120 gig HD (Upgrade from original 40)
xp pro

So the other evening I sat down and turned on my laptop. It ran just fine for about 15 minutes or so then jsut powered off. It was as if the power went out. I had to fight with it to get it to repower up and then it turned of within the first 3 - 5 minutes.

Now, this laptop has always been ESD prone and the last known event prior to my problem did involve ESD. I had turned off the laptop and pulled a USB cable out and put it away. When I came back to the laptop I reached for the power adapter and got zapped (again, the laptop was off). I finished putting my laptop away and headed for home (aka, the eventual problem).

I have swapped out the ram with the original, swapped out the hard drive with the original, swapped out the ac adapter, pulled the battery out. Does not matter what I do it will eventually turn off. I did flash the bios and it seemed to stabalize a little bit but the system will still turn off any where from 15 minutes to 2 hours.

I also ran some testing software and stressed the processor. The hotest it climbed to was 61, well below the hot mark. I did at one point plug the battery into the laptop with it up and running and then ran the battery testing software and it tested fine. I also was able to pull the ac adapter and run the battery back down to 31% and start charging again. But eventualy the laptop just turned off again (after battery had charged and was not in use again). When it turns off suddenly, I have to pop the battery to get it the laptop to turn back on. Also when it turns off like that I lose all led indicators on the front of the unit.

HP offered me $300 plus parts to fix but by every other repair shop, it is my understanding that most likely the MB will be replaced and that is 500 - 800 dolalrs. Now on the off side that they (HP) fix it at the componant level, 300 dollars would be robbery. I did find another company on the web that claims to fix at the componant level and I may attempt that. I also may attempt to rip it open myself.

This laptop is also only about 14 months old. At this moment I am furious with HP quality (not sure if that is warrented) and come feburary when I get my next batch of money I am thinking about a mac book pro dual booting with windows over another one of these!

putz3000,

If the unit is 14 months old, it's out of warranty... Warranty on most HP's (and other computer mfg's as well) being 12 months.

While I can understand your distaste for HP at the moment, Keep in mind that laptops in general have much higher failure rates that desktops machines, and going with a Macbook Pro may land you right back where you are now.

What I'd do is look into either one of these two deals:

http://www.notebookforums.com/thread180564.html

Hot Deal - Compaq Presario V5305WM Media Center Notebook - Only $398

Compaq Presario V5305WM Media Center Notebook - Product Specifications http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...reg_R1002_USEN

Hardware
Product Name: V5305WM
Microprocessor: 2.00 GHz Mobile AMD Sempron™ Processor 3300+
Microprocessor Cache: 128KB L2 Cache
Memory: 512MB 333MHz DDR (I bet you this comes as 2 256 modules which means on a upgrade you waste some ram)
Memory Max: 2048MB
Video Graphics: ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M IGP
Video Memory : 128MB DDR (shared)
Hard Drive: 60GB 5400RPM
Multimedia Drive: 24X DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
Display: 15.4” WXGA High-Definition BrightView Widescreen (1280 x 800) Display
Fax/Modem: High speed 56k modem
Network Card: Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
Wireless Connectivity: 54g™ 802.11b/g WLAN with 125HSM / SpeedBooster support
Sound: Altec Lansing
Keyboard: 101-key compatible
Pointing Device: Touch Pad with dedicated vertical and horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad
PC Card Slots: 1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)

External Ports: 2 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
1 headphone-out
1 microphone-in
1 VGA (15-pin)
1 TV-Out (S-video)
1 RJ-11 (modem)
1 RJ -45 (LAN)
1 notebook expansion port 2
1 Consumer IR

Dimensions: 10.2"(L) x 14.1"(W) x 1.38"(min H) /1.77"(max H)
Weight: 6.4 lbs

Security: Kensington® MicroSaver lock slot
Power-on password
Accepts 3rd party security lock devices



OR, one of these.. a BUSINESS CLASS machine:

http://www.notebookforums.com/thread176205.html

HOT DEAL !!!! $500 after rebate !!! RB526UT#ABA Compaq nx6325

$500 after $100 HP mail in rebate. This unit being priced normally at $975

RB526UT#ABA
HP / Compaq nx6325 Notebook AMD Mobile Sempron 3400+ 1.8GHz -

15 inch screen
Magnesium alloy frames and display enclosures
HP Spill-resistant keyboard
HP Biometric Fingerprint Sensor
TPM 1.2 Embedded Security Chip
512 MB (667 MHz) DDR2 SDRAM (1 DIMM) - Note: Max RAM maximum 4GB
ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 (33% faster than a Xpress 200m), not good for "games"... but you get:
4-hours of battery life, up to 16 hours with the high cap battery.

Processor type
AMD Sempron processor 3400+
Processor features
1.8 GHz, 256-KB L2 cache
Memory, std.
512 MB (667 MHz) DDR2 SDRAM (1 DIMM)
Note: Max RAM maximum 4GB
Video
Display type
15.0 inch XGA
Display resolution
Up to 32-bit per pixel color depth .VGA port supports resolutions up to 2048 x 1536 at 75 Hz, and lower resolutions at up to 100 Hz, resolutions are dependent upon monitor capability, and resolution and color depth settings.
video adapter card
ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 with up to 128-MB shared system memory
Storage
CD drive type
DVD+/-RW SuperMulti with Double Layer
Hard drive, internal
60 GB (5400 rpm) SATA

HP's are still the number one failed machine in our shop and I believe this will remain as such.. They manufacture more laptops than anybody else and the technology is NOT up to par so to say. Were getting in brand new lappy's w/FET issues, Rectifier diodes failing,Caps shorting, Jacks failing, Video chipset failure, Co-processor as well as Controller chip failure. Tiawan will never "man" a good board for this company unless they pull the plugs and get to the basics in engineering. Get off your ass HP And spend some money on the basics. You can sell numbers, Show a profit, Tell the consumer everything is fine but guess what? Im the little guy in the trenches and right down to inferior oscillators in the video circuits To the basic being under-amp for adapters and Schottkey rectifiers, You are selling trash..If you need help just yell.

ikenfixit,

So, what brands, or what units from what factories are the units to buy?

Inventec?
Compal?

They all have their issues but these (New HP's) are #1 as far as I'm concerned when it comes to failing. Hate to say it but the new powerbook will hurt the rest, The Mag-safe design came from our shop and was utilized w/out our consent, (Another story all together).. But the Duo core as well as being Intel-based to run both Mac and Windoze is a contributing factor as well as they are #1 for CS and support. As far as the design for the adapter and interface we are persuing this as well legally.

depending on which version of the dv1000 it is, which ya can see from the bottom sticker, it can be repaired easily. i know the fix for those, there are some diodes that go bad, a few caps and some other components. i can do it for ya if you are interested. PM me if interested, id charge less then HP and ikenfixit.com and it will be done better then factory

try wiggling the ac adapter in the dc. try different angles while holding it at that position and pressing the power button. if can be a loose dc or a bad dc.

How do you know the repair would be less than ours NFO? We can fluctuate a little on our costs to accomidate..

because i will beat any price you throw out there to anyone for any type of repair.

Well there you go then! Hell if you get cheap enough we'll just refer all of our customers your way as opposed to dealing with the phone ringing off the hook, Offering free repairs to our past customers even if it was evident of a simple jack getting pulled a little to hard.. Or those Christmas day phone calls for the die-hard I gotta have my unit back for new years.. I dont mind competition as weve helped quite a few shops set up their own repair businesses as well as offering free support but if you want to start a pissing match. Go for it.. You wont hurt our biz by doing this..

send them my way, does not bug me

dude you need to relax there. this is not my business and im doing it on the side for extra cash. if you have lots of motherboards that need repairing lemme know, i wouldnt mind working out something with ya. do you guys repair all logic boards in house or send them out?

No I dont "Job them out" I figure out the issue and repair them here...MOSFET's/CAP's/DIODES/BGA/well you get the point...And yes we have the equipment to do so.. But if you want work I can also refer some your way I dont mind as We are busy as hell and I help everyone I meet..Just no more with the HA HA shit and competitive nature of reluctance please..If you can do a repair as good or better for a lesser ammt than more power to you bud! It still will not hurt our customer base one bit.. No Harm and good meeting..