DV2000 Coprocessor Driver

Solution for your DV2000 SMBUS & Coprocessor driver problem in Windows Vista. If you've done a clean Vista install, when you go to download the drivers from HP, surprise, they're not all there! The drivers are hidden on HP's site.

The file to get which contains the drivers is:
SP37730.EXE

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posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 9:26 PM, ,


HP, Compaq Laptop Motheroards No Longer Replaced Here

Effective immediately, we will no longer replace motherboards on the following models. They have defective nVIDIA graphics chips. Even with a replacement board they will fail again. Unfortunately, the manufacturer never released a board without the flawed parts.

HP:
DV2000
DV6000
DV9000

Compaq:
V3000
V6000
F500
F700

Out original link pertaining to the nVIDIA GPU problem is here.

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posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 7:35 AM, ,


HP Laptop Battery Recall May 14 2009

HP has another battery recall. In rare cases the recalled lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. (CPSC Link).

To see if your laptop battery has been recalled, visit HP's battery replacement page here. To just see the newly recalled models go here.

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posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 8:08 PM, ,


HP DV9000 Hinge Problem Defect & Recall

It is well known that many of the HP DV9000 laptops suffer a problem where the left hinge falls apart rendering the laptop unusable. The lid assembly then needs to be replaced. After X amount of opening and closing it will break. There is a recall, or as HP calls it, a "limited service enhancement", out for this specific problem.

Most DV9000 laptops came with a 1yr warranty. The HP warranty service enhancement only covers this factory defect until May 31, 2009, and some customers have already been told their machine will not be covered. That is nice that they are covering it, but, if you have used your laptop sparingly should you be punished? Getting this fixed by a third party is costly ($200-$300 here, or $400 at HP). HP is in the media's spotlight right now after releasing several problematic models and not standing behind them. They aren't even manufactured by HP, one would think they'd save face with their customers and go after Quanta (the real manufacturer) for coverage but that doesn't seem to be happening for whatever reason.

HP's web page regarding the hinge defect is here.

If your DV9000 is out of warranty and you need the hinge fixed, we'll be happy to fix it here. Please email us here for current pricing. We'll give you a discounted price and beat HP's price.

According to HP's site, models affected and covered are some dv9000/dv9100/dv9200/dv9400 including:

DV90**:

ES716AV GG551EA RE373EA RR110EA RU972UA
EW680AV GG552EA RE374EA RR111EA RU974UA
EZ452UA GG553EA RE375EA RR112EA RU975UA
EZ453UA GG555EA RE376EA RR113EA RV112UA
EZ456UA GG556EA RE377EA RR114EA RV116UA
EZ457UA GH766EA RE379EA RR115EA RV118UA
EZ458UA GH767EA RE380EA RR116EA RV119UA
EZ459UA GH768EA RE381EA RR117EA RV121UA
EZ460UA GH769EA RE382EA RR118EA RV767AS
EZ461UA GH770EA RE383EA RR186AV RW753EA
EZ462UA GH771EA RF079AV RR323EA RW754EA
EZ468UA GH836EA RF080AV RR324EA RW755EA
EZ470UA GH837EA RF081AV RR327EA RW756EA
GA074UA GH838EA RF082AV RR328EA RW757EA
GA075UA GH839EA RG139AS RR329EA RW758EA
GA076UA GH840EA RG335UA RR330EA RW759EA
GA077UA GH841EA RG339UA RR331EA RX568LA
GA078UA GH842EA RG340UA RR332EA RY285PA
GA182UA GH843EA RG341UA RR333EA RY527EA
GA183UA GH844EA RG343UA RR335EA RY528EA
GA184UA GH845EA RG346UA RR336EA RY529EA
GA354UA GH846EA RH283AS RR337EA RY530EA
GA355UA GH847EA RL765PA RR338EA RY531EA
GA356UA GH848EA RL766PA RR342EA RY541EA
GA358UA GH849EA RM675LA RR343EA RY542EA
GA359UA GH850EA RP114UA RR345EA RY543EA
GA361UA GH851EA RP115UA RR346EA RY682EA
GF715EA GH853EA RP116UA RR347EA RY683EA
GF716EA GJ156PA RP122UA RR348EA RY684EA
GF717EA GL880UA RP243UA RR349EA RY685EA
GF718EA GL885UA RP245UA RR350EA RY686EA
GF719EA GL886UA RP246UA RR351EA RY687EA
GF720EA GL887UA RP247UA RR352EA RY688EA
GF721EA GL888UA RP248UA RR353EA RY689EA
GF722EA GL889UA RP249UA RR354EA RY690EA
GF723EA GL890UA RP250UA RR356EA RY695EA
GF724EA GL891UA RP282UA RR357EA RY696EA
GF725EA GL892UA RP588AS RR359EA RY697EA
GF726EA KB189UA RP617EA RR360EA RY698EA
GF727EA PC620AV RP618EA RR361EA RY700EA
GF728EA PE926AV RP619EA RR362EA RY702EA
GF729EA RC278AV RP620EA RR363EA RY703EA
GF730EA RC279AV RP622EA RR364EA RY704EA
GF731EA RD017AV RP623EA RS553EA RY705EA
GF732EA RD018AV RP624EA RS554EA RY706EA
GF733EA RD019AV RP625EA RS555EA RY707EA
GF734EA RD020AV RP626EA RS556EA RY708EA
GF735EA RD021AV RP913EA RS557EA RY709EA
GF736EA RD022AV RP914EA RS558EA RY710EA
GF737EA RD023AV RP915EA RS559EA RY711EA
GF738EA RD024AV RP916EA RS560EA RY712EA
GF739EA RD025AV RP917EA RS561EA RY713EA
GF743EA RD026AV RP919EA RS562EA RY714EA
GF744EA RD027AV RP920EA RU312UA RY715EA
GF745EA RD028AV RP921EA RU313UA RY716EA
GF746EA RE042PA RP922EA RU314UA RY717EA
GF755EA RE043PA RP923EA RU688UA RY851LA
GG190PA RE045PA RP925EA RU689UA RZ595EA
GG192PA RE164PA RP927EA RU690UA RZ828PA
GG543EA RE364EA RP928EA RU876PA RZ899PA
GG544EA RE365EA RP929EA RU895PA RZ900PA
GG545EA RE367EA RP930EA RU896PA RZ916PA
GG546EA RE368EA RP931EA RU933PA
GG548EA RE369EA RP932EA RU948PA
GG549EA RE371EA RP933EA RU949PA
GG550EA RE372EA RR109EA RU971UA

DV91**:
ES716AV EZ379AV PC620AV PE926AV RR186AV

DV92**:

CC894AV ES716AV RL015AV RL022AV RX746AV
CC895AV EZ345AV RL018AV RL024AV RX747AV
CC896AV PC620AV RL020AV RL025AV RX748AV
CC897AV PE926AV RL021AV RR186AV

DV93**:

ES716AV GD574AV PC620AV PE926AV RR186AV

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posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 7:02 AM, ,


Wax On, Wax Off



We figured that this laptop repair was blog-worthy. A candle burning on a mantle burned down and melted. The liquid wax ran off the edge of the mantle and onto this open HP laptop. The user was away eating a sandwich. They came back to this mess! A laptop covered in wax! The keyboard was ruined and the unit was covered in wax.

Being a previous AbsoluteRaleigh customer they rushed the unit over here. We were able to replace the keyboard and clean the unit up for under $100! Most of the laptop was cleaned using our special citrus cleaner, alcohol and glass cleaner.

Be careful with your laptop, Danielson!

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posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 12:19 PM, ,


HP Laptops with Defective Nvidia chips Not Covered

Many HP laptops with the notorious failed Nvidia GPU are not being covered by HP, leaving many laptop owners stuck with a broken laptop.

We'll be posting the details here from now on.

First one today:

HP DV6500
P/N: RM098AV
Motherboard P/N: 446476-001
Problem: 1 long, 2 short beeps (GPU Failure)

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posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 9:19 AM, ,


Another DV9000 bad Nvidia GPU not Covered

Another DV9000 came in today, with a defective Nvidia GPU.

This unit had very bad distorted video. On occasion it will not POST. The GPU is bad.

This particular DV9000 was a DV9074cl (P/N EZ457UA). Motherboard P/N = 432945-001.

As of right now, HP will not cover it.

HP's website says they will not cover EZ457UA models but they will cover EZ457UAR models. These are almost the identical model and both use the defective 432945-001 motherboard. The only difference is EZ457UA were sold new and EZ457UAR models were sold as refurbished. They both have the Nvidia GO 7600 GPU.

GPU reads:
NVIDIA 42N3RH 0642A2
A TAIWAN
NA2041.00
GF-GO7600-N-A2

Hundreds, possibly thousands of people have defective GO 7600 GPUs.

There is a thread on HP's site here with several unhappy customers.

At the moment (02/24/2009) HP wants around $460 for a motherboard. We're able to repair these machines for around $449 right now, that is both parts & labor.

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posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 7:41 AM, ,


HP Warranty declined (Nvidia GPU Failure)

Another DV9000 came in today, with, of course, a defective Nvidia GPU.

This unit had very bad distorted video. There were lines over all text- green lines, red lines, the GPU was ruined. Open and close case you'd think- send it off to HP. Well... HP tech support said if the screen turns on that the unit will NOT be covered. Anyone can glance at this machine and realize the GPU is shot but the rep insisted unless it met one of the guidelines (No video, no power, etc) it would not be covered. For a small charge we'll handle the warranty here. It WILL be covered.

It is bad enough these machines were sold with so many problems (the DV9000 has wireless issues, a LCD hinge that breaks, a defective GPU, etc) but to not be covered is just wrong. Hopefully it was just the rep. We'll find out Monday...

This particular DV9000 was a DV9250UA (P/N RP250UA) which came with a 434659-001 motherboard.

Printed on the GPU:
NVIDIA
U702B310 0707B1
S TAIWAN
NA 8639.OOP
GF-607600-H-N-B1

This particular GPU had red glue all the way around it.

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posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 12:28 PM, ,


Some DV2000 Nvidia GPU failure NOT covered?

Apparently, some of the DV2000 laptops with a bad Nvidia GPU are NOT being covered.

Today a DV2418NR came in with a bad graphics chip and HP would NOT replace the motherboard for us.

The model's P/N is KA253UA.

The rep we spoke to could not explain why the unit was not covered. He said maybe it was sold outside of the US. We're pretty sure that info is incorrect.

According to HP's page here, the only DV24xx models they ARE covering are:
GA532UA GA535UA GM035UA GM039UA RX693AV
GA533UA GA536UA GM037UA GM040UA RX694AV
GA534UA GA537UA GM038UA RX692AV

We'll dig further into this and see if thy use the same GPU or not. If it does not use a known defective GPU then obviously HP will not cover it. But, we've seen so many dead DV2000 laptops w/ bad Nvidia GPU......

You can read more about the Nvidia GPU problem here.

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posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 8:07 AM, ,


HP Pavilion DV1000 Problems


HP Pavilion DV1000 Problems and potential solutions.

Over the last year or two we've had a significant amount of DV1000 laptops in. Some of the problems and cures are listed below. Please note that the Compaq V2000 is almost identical to the HP DV1000.

No Power, No Post:
If the DV1000 is not powering on it could have a bad power jack, a bad adapter, or a bad motherboard. Finding a DV1000 motherboard is not easy. At the moment we purchase ours through a vendor who purchases directly from HP. For less $ one can get a motherboard on eBay but this is risky. There are a lot of “repaired” boards on there for $200 or so, unfortunately, these boards normally develop more problems in the near future. Most skilled enough to repair this board are also smart enough to not mess with them anymore- often when one problem arises it leads to a chain of events on the motherboard which shorten its life. In the event one finds a good used board on there- how much time could it have left? If the adapter is bad this is a relatively easy fix- simply replace the adapter. We stock new adapters for $39 for this model. Do NOT use a generic “universal” adapter on the DV1000 as it will eventually cause damage- plenty of people will disagree with this but they are normally the people “selling” these junk adapters. These adapters are found at major electronics retailers and even at many computer stores who simply don't understand mobile computers. If the power jack is bad you will normally have some warning signs, but not necessarily. If the machines shows no signs of life one day it is likely the board but we do get the DV1000 in often enough with a bad power jack. For this we offer a power jack repair service. Please call for current motherboard pricing.

No Display:
We get quite a few DV1000 laptops in with no display. This is almost always a bad inverter or bad backlight. A large percentage of the DV1000 laptops we get in have a bad inverter. In fact, we keep the inverters in stock. We get in quite a few DV1000s with a cracked LCD screen, too. As of 11/2008 the LCDs are $249 installed. We also offer an inverter and backlight repair service for a lower flat rate.

Overheating:
If the DV1000 shuts off after a random amount of time it CAN be related to motherboard problems- we have seen plenty of these. However, most of the time it needs a fan. The CPU fan bearings can get weak. If you fire up a DVD and it shuts off 4min later the fan needs to be replaced. DV1000 fans are relatively inexpensive.

Battery problems:
As far as we know most DV1000/V2000 laptops do not have these batteries in them, however some do have lithium-ion batteries that can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. If you have one of these laptops you should check to see if the battery is under recall or not. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately. Find out more about the battery recall here.

If you have a DV1000/V2000 or a general laptop question feel free to email us via the contact form on this page.

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posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 8:32 PM, ,


Battery Recall 2008

Yes, it is yet another battery recall, not to be confused with the first recall.

We'll call this recall "Battery Recall 2008".

Affected models:

HP/Compaq:
HP Pavillion DV1000, DV8000, ZD8000
Compaq Presario V2000 and V2400
HP Compaq: NC6110, NC6120, NC6140, NC6220, NC6230, NX4800, NX4820, NX6110, NX6120, NX9600

DELL:
Latitude: 110L
Inspiron: 1100, 1150, 5100, 5150, 5160

Toshiba:
Satellite: A70/A75, P30, P35, M30X, M35X, M50/M55
Tecra: A3, A5, S2

Note: The Consumer Product Safety Commission lists the Toshiba models as P30/P5 but we believe this is a misprint and should read P30, P35 as we have printed above. The Toshiba site verifies our correction as well.

Note #2: Some models are just bad models. Eg: The 5150 has been subject to all kinds of problems, recalls, lawsuits. Same with the Toshiba M35x. And the Compaq V2000 is now part of the Nvidia recall which we'll be covering shortly..

REF:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Article
Toshiba Battery Recall Info
HP Battery Recall Info
Dell Battery Recall Info

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posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 9:18 AM, ,