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which hardware could be faulty? help>>

post #1 of 9
9/19/06 at 8:23am
Thread Starter 
I'm doing my best to make this short:

Compaq Presario B3804, Centrino 1.6G, 512RAM, ATI9700

1 month ago, if game was running, fan boosted to max and won't slow down.
SYSTEM process's 100%CPU. windows can't cut off power automatically. without playing game, or standby computer and wake it, everything's good, normal shut off...

Then, Harddrive formatted, windows reinstalled, drivers updated, Ram upgraded, then Raw windows, Raw drivers from Compaq, ... problem remains.

harddisk replaced(from toshiba 40G to samsung 40G), this time it's getting worse, CPU's 100% all the time(SYSTEM, in task manager, sometimes SVHOST). process explorer shows DPC around 50% and hardware interrupt about 30%. Even nothing is installed (Raw windows).

No problem about network, harddisk and Ram. no problem about software, they worked very well 1 month ago. It seems only motherboard, graphic card or CPU could have problems. No www threads helped. Any master could help me identify the problem? Thankssssssssssssss.
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post #2 of 9
9/19/06 at 9:35am
Sounds like a hardware (disk?) problem that is keeping the OS busy. A few questions for you.

1. Are you saying that the problem started 1 month ago?
2. Why did you replace the Harddisk?
3. In Device Manager is anything Red, and what speed is the IDE controller using?
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post #3 of 9
9/19/06 at 2:32pm

Hardware

Id start with ripping the laptop down and checking the output from the Fan. It likes to plug up with hair and dust. If thats fine i would check to make sure there is enough heat sink grease between the CPU and heat sink.
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post #4 of 9
9/20/06 at 11:53am
I wish when people would post such questions they state the age of the item, how old it is... How much use the item has had.

The heatsink on laptops get plugged up with dirt, hair, etc...

Arrows mark what should be cleaned out before re-assembly. Those fins should be clean looking.

http://www.laptop-repair.info/index.html


Also the heat sink grease can cause alot of problems....
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post #5 of 9
9/20/06 at 11:59am
Another suggestion for the Op is to find out what the parent model number is. I Googled "Compaq Presario B3804" and didn't come up with much in English.

Find out what the "real" model number is...

Example: a dv8232 is really a dv8000t..

(dv8232 being a made up model number, the point is to find out the "real" model number)
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post #6 of 9
9/23/06 at 5:26am
Thread Starter 
OK sorry for a late reply, thank you for all your help. here's the progress:

To Dude:
Yes, it occured 1 month ago. I replaced the harddisk cos the old one's broken, not able to read at all. However, problem occurs with either of these two harddisks. Nothing's abnormal in device manager.

To wearenotalone:
1. Sorry about the model number. The model B3804 is DVDcombo version of B3800.
2. I bought the laptop at Dec 2004. It was produced at around Oct 2004
3. Thank you for your help on the fan. It could be the spot. I wouldn't choose to go to the service department of HP. It's over the period of guarantee. The problem is when I tried to take off the fan, two of those 4 big screws are locked and hardly able to screw out. Any solutions?
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post #7 of 9
9/23/06 at 1:54pm
Willydiamond,

With the unit being two years old the cooling fins on the heatsink could indeed be clogged up.

On the screws, see if anything is noted in the Maintance and Service Guide for your unit. (You can download for most models a Maintance and Service Guide at HP.com)


You could try using compressed air to clean the cooling fins. (blow in the reverse direction of normal flow).... When doing that though, use something to "lock" the fan as blowing compressed air can "overspeed" the fan.
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post #8 of 9
9/24/06 at 4:10am
Thread Starter 
WANA,

I analysed your answer carefully. The dirty environment where she has been working must be the cause. (...I smoke a lot around her). I'm on my way deep cleaning the fan. Quite confident about the source of problem now.

Thank you for your help. BTW, the idea of service guide is just cool I'll need a flatter screwdriver.
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post #9 of 9
9/24/06 at 3:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by willydiamond
WANA,

I analysed your answer carefully. The dirty environment where she has been working must be the cause. (...I smoke a lot around her). I'm on my way deep cleaning the fan. Quite confident about the source of problem now.

Thank you for your help. BTW, the idea of service guide is just cool I'll need a flatter screwdriver.

It's not so much the fan is dirty, it's more the cooling fins on the heatsink getting clogged up.

PS: For nicotine buildup you may have to use a cleaning solution /spray on the heatsink to flush it out.
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