HP laptop motherboard failure

So.... the motherboard on my HP laptop just fried and, within about 10 minutes of google searching it was apparent that this is a serious problem with HP laptops and they have issued a recall on some models.  http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=uk&docname=c01087194  I'm not super knowledgeable about computers, but from some reading it looks like there's an nvdia chip that overheats and causes the motherboard to fry. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13554_3-10020782-33.html 

I have the Pavilion tx1000, which is not covered by the recall but has the same parts and the same motherboard problem.  http://forums13.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?admit=109447627+1243011411322+28353475&threadId=1245319 I have not called HP yet but will do so soon.  I'm wondering if anyone out there has had this problem yet and has any advice for me calling in to customer service or any other tips or insight that might help me?

be nice to em.. i had a hard time with an hp a while back.. but being patient and nice never hurts. i assume your laptop isnt under warranty anymore?

My HP laptop also died because the motherboard failed.  I just tossed it and bought a Dell, which also died because of hard disk failure.  Dell was nice enough to send me a replacement, but I got a MacBook anyway. 

Originally posted by (K) Yea, HP laptops are very...frail to say the least. I've had mine (dv1000) serviced over 6 times in the past year. LCD, backlight, inverter, motherboard, touchpad, screen...after a while the warranty pays for itself. If you're out of warranty though...might as well go buy a new laptop for $400-$500.

Yea I have had problems with my DV1000 too but when i sent it in to be fixed they didn't do anything which sucked.
Yea be great to wait a long time to talk to someone in India. If you use your cell phone call when you have free min like sat or whenever.

Originally posted by denver303   pm sent

Strange... was that sent to me?  I don't think I got it.  Yet....

Originally posted by ridegnudude hp laptops are ok, my sister hasn't had any problems yet

Well, they very happily and politely told me that I could send it in for repair for $350.  Somehow by the end of the conversation that price jumped to $398.  Needless to say there's no way I'm paying a cent for a new motherboard that will fry also.  Geez.  What crappy deal.

Yeah, it's a bummer.  I didn't have to wait long and wasn't on the phone for more than 15 minutes total.  I was nice and polite and just explained the problem, and you can tell from their responses that they know it's a problem, but you can also tell they have a script to read from, "you are out of warranty and your model is not included in the recall, we can replace it for $398."  Although it was pretty shady how he switched from $350 to $398 and then acted like he had no idea what I was talking about.  I talked to the supervisor, same script.  It's clear that unless HP decides to publicly acknowledge the problem there's nothing I can do.  Not even two years old!!!!  Thanks for the info on the mac, I've heard so much good about them that it seems like it's probably worth whatever small inconvenience (if any!) there might be with using microsoft on it.

Originally posted by barnyard I used to work on the financial audit for HP and they had warranty reserves for laptops that exceeded the total revenue on them.  They were a disaster.  When I asked why they even made them, they said it was to help sell printer cartridges (which make tons of profits)! While on their audit, they gave me a free one, and it died 6 months later.  Piece of shite.

Hah!   you didn't even buy it and it still took a dump on ya?! I guess you got what you paid for 

I never buy HP anything!

sucks

hmmmm, i should see if Costco will give me a return on mine. it doesn't list my exact model, but it says dv6000 series, and normally, HP just makes a particular model for Costco, but with similar parts. 

Originally posted by anigel21 Mac convert here!  I love my new Macbook....

macs are where it's at.  runs mac os and windows if you use vmware fusion.  amazing!

My HP DV6100 died after 2 years 4 months.  Took it to Staples & they said it's probably the motherboard.  See the recall on the HP website & my computer's on it.  Called HP tech support & they say the extended warranty was only for an additional year - so even though they know it's a defect - they will not replace it.....Unbelievable!  I will never buy another HP or Compaq!

HP Pavilion | Windows Vista Home Premium
Model: dv9715nr
CPU: NVIDIA GeForce 7150M/n Force 630M (BIOS vF.27, 20080111)

Purchased: May 5, 2008

First failure: September 2008 - Phone support gave me a band-aid fix (power drain).

Second failure: December 2008 - I didn’t call phone support because previous band-aid fix (power drain) worked.

Third failure: May 2009 - I tried the previous band-aid fix (power drain) but it didn’t work. I called phone support but was told I’d have to pay $49.99 since I was out of warranty. Instead I used their free on-line chat. I was given the same band-aid fix (power drain) which didn’t work, and then another fix (reseat memory module) which did work, but only for one day.

Fourth failure: May 2009 - I tried both band-aid fixes (power drain and reseating of memory module), but neither worked.

I have spoken to several people at different levels at HP over a dozen times in the past months. The most they will offer me is $100 off of a repair cost of $421.88. I do not wish to pay for the repair of an inherently defective computer. I ended up using my CC company's extended warranty protection benefit and was able to get back $321. Now I'm looking into my options for getting this HPos working again, but NOT by HP. They stole enough of my money. I don't WANT this computer anymore, but can't afford a new one. I'm stuck with it so I may as well get a few more years out of it. I will never buy another HP product again, and I will be filing complaints everywhere I possibly can.

HP KNOWS of the Nvidia defect and has been providing bios updates and bandaid fixes that will make the computers last just until they are out of warranty and then we are screwed! The number of affected laptops is larger than people realize--but HP knows this! They are counting on people NOT being informed of the inherent defect, and they are charging people an average of $400 to fix someting that HP should be footing the bill for! HP has been censoring their own support boards. Go to hplies.com or nvidiadefect.com for the truth.

HP sucks!

Same problem with my HP laptop - motherboard fried.  My warranty had expired also - two months ago.  I actually emailed the HP CEO (do a google search for email) and he sent it to his repair department and they actually fixed my laptop for $116.00 - which is better than having to buy a new computer.  However it's only guaranteed for 90 days and I don't have a good feeling about it.  They replaced the motherboard and hard drive.  If you complain enough- they'll fix it for you - not free - but at a discount.  They know it's a defective chip.

Shock, are you saying that it's true that HP knows how widespread this issue is? I suppose you can't share much info... but heck, I'm gonna ask anyway. Is there anything you can tell us? Any advice?

get an apple there so much better, i love mine