Notebook won't power on

[Guest]

I have a new HP pavilion Notebook (dv8120ca) running XP Home SP2. The
notebook shuts down normally with no errors but it won't always power back
on. The problem occurs about one out of every five boots. There is no
commonality between episodes (it never hibernated or went into standby before
being shutdown, the battery never died, it is plugged in when it is shutdown,
it is not plugged in when it shuts down, etc). There are no viruses or
spyware and never have been. There also is no non-retail software and no
games installed. The bios has been upgraded and the power management
reinstalled yet the problem persists. HP claim it is a Windows problem. The
problem when on battery is that the notebook is totally dead (no lights, no
fans, no signs of life). The problem when the notebook is on AC is that the
various buttons light up (all but the power button) and the notebook won't
boot. The fix is to unplug it from AC, remove the battery, plug in the AC
which then allows the notebook to boot normally. Shut it down, put the
battery back in and you are good for about another 5 boots. The notebook is
less than a month old and the problem has been around almost since day one.
It has all the Windows updates. I have messed wiith the power settings and
disabled hibernation. Doesn't seem to matter. Any ideas, suggestions?
Thanks

 

[Keith AH]

Take it back to where you bought it

 

[Jon]

I have a new HP pavilion Notebook (dv8120ca) running XP Home SP2. The
notebook shuts down normally with no errors but it won't always power back
on. The problem occurs about one out of every five boots. There is no
commonality between episodes (it never hibernated or went into standby
before
being shutdown, the battery never died, it is plugged in when it is
shutdown,
it is not plugged in when it shuts down, etc). There are no viruses or
spyware and never have been. There also is no non-retail software and no
games installed. The bios has been upgraded and the power management
reinstalled yet the problem persists. HP claim it is a Windows problem.
The
problem when on battery is that the notebook is totally dead (no lights,
no
fans, no signs of life). The problem when the notebook is on AC is that
the
various buttons light up (all but the power button) and the notebook won't
boot. The fix is to unplug it from AC, remove the battery, plug in the AC
which then allows the notebook to boot normally. Shut it down, put the
battery back in and you are good for about another 5 boots. The notebook
is
less than a month old and the problem has been around almost since day
one.
It has all the Windows updates. I have messed wiith the power settings
and
disabled hibernation. Doesn't seem to matter. Any ideas, suggestions?
Thanks

Sounds like a hardware problem. If it's less than a month old, take it back
to the shop and get a replacement

Jon

 

[Guest]

Darren,

I will highly suggest you take it to an authorized HP Service center (in the
US best buy is one for example). This sounds like a motherboard issue. You
can find one nearby here:
http://hp.infonow.net/bin/findNow?CLIENT_ID=HP_LOC_USA_SRV

Though I did not experience the same thing with the same model, and I cannot
say this is the issue, I will share with you what caused my laptop
(HPZD7260US) to do the same thing: bad power regulation in the power
supply/unit. I used it overseas at 220 volts and even though the adapter is
certified it seems that eventually led it to do exactly what you're
describing. Just be glad you're under warranty and hold them to it. My
$3200 was down the drain 1 year and a month in. Spend an extra $99 to extend
your warranty. HP makes the best laptops, so don't chalk this up against
them ... with complex technology things can go wrong. Take this to a service
center and get it looked at by a professional.

 

[Guest]

Tried that. HP Canada have a "sucks to be you" support policy. Their
response basically was "You bought, it's yours, quite bothering us".

 

[Guest]

Tried that. HP Canada have a "sucks to be you" support policy. They
basically said, "you bought it, it's yours, quit bothering us".

 

[Guest]

Because it is an intermittent problem at this time, HP Canada doesn't deem it
a problem worthy of their service center. Thanks though.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a new HP pavilion Notebook (dv8120ca) running XP Home SP2. The
notebook shuts down normally with no errors but it won't always power back
on. The problem occurs about one out of every five boots. There is no
commonality between episodes (it never hibernated or went into standby before
being shutdown, the battery never died, it is plugged in when it is shutdown,
it is not plugged in when it shuts down, etc).

This is purely a hardware problem. Contact HP's warranty support and
insist upon a replacement.

There are no viruses or
spyware and never have been. There also is no non-retail software and no
games installed.

None of which could possibly affect the purely physical act of powering
up the laptop, anyway.

The bios has been upgraded .....

An improperly applied BIOS upgrade, or the installation of an incorrect
BIOS version, could, conceivably, cause the problem. If such is the
case, however, you'll still need to contact HP's technical support for
resolution.

and the power management
reinstalled yet the problem persists. HP claim it is a Windows problem.

That's simply not technically possible. If the laptop won't even turn
on, Windows certainly cannot be booted. If Windows isn't even running,
it can't very well cause any problems. Call HP again, and insist on
speaking with someone who can at least spell "PC." You may have to
firmly, but politely, insist on speaking with a supervisor and asking
him/her to escalate the call to a level of support that's competent to
issue a simple RA (Return Authorization) number.

The
problem when on battery is that the notebook is totally dead (no lights, no
fans, no signs of life). The problem when the notebook is on AC is that the
various buttons light up (all but the power button) and the notebook won't
boot. The fix is to unplug it from AC, remove the battery, plug in the AC
which then allows the notebook to boot normally. Shut it down, put the
battery back in and you are good for about another 5 boots.

This sort of behavior is typical of a faulty power supply inside the
laptop. On rare occasions a defective battery can cause similar problems.

The notebook is
less than a month old and the problem has been around almost since day one.
It has all the Windows updates. I have messed wiith the power settings and
disabled hibernation. Doesn't seem to matter. Any ideas, suggestions?
Thanks

Call HP, and insist that they honor the warranty. If HP continues to
refuse to provide the warranty service they've promised, consider
contacting the consumer protection office of your local law enforcement
agencies. They should be able to either assist, or refer you to the
proper entity. Another route is that many local broadcast media outlets
have consumer rights reporters who just love stirring things up.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry

 

[Guest]

Because it is an intermittent problem at this time, HP Canada doesn't deem it
a problem worthy of their service center. Thanks though.

 

[Guest]

Escalate it. Call and ask to speak to a higher level representative.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply. You have confirmed my feelings on this matter (the
bios upgrade was something HP support insisted on and is managed entirely
through their support tool, no user intervention once you click the link.
problem was there before the bios update and was still there after). thanks
again.

 

[Jon]

Another thought is to consider whether this problem occurs after having used
the notebook for an extended period of time, ie an overheating issue, or
after having run a particularly cpu intensive software package for a period
of time, or whether it occurs independently of those.

Jon

 

[HeyBub]

Because it is an intermittent problem at this time, HP Canada doesn't
deem it
a problem worthy of their service center. Thanks though.

:

1. Pre-heat oven to "scalding" (or whatever it is in centigrade)
2. Cook for six hours
3. Try HP service center again.

 

[paulmd]

Tried that. HP Canada have a "sucks to be you" support policy. Their
response basically was "You bought, it's yours, quite bothering us".

Keep insisting, do not hang up until you get through. If they hang up
on you. Call right back. Then ask for a full refund.

 

[NoStop]

Because it is an intermittent problem at this time, HP Canada doesn't deem
it
a problem worthy of their service center. Thanks though.

One should be able to depend on ones computer to work and do so
consistently. (OK, I know in the Windoze world that is difficult) That is
utter bullshit that they are choosing to ignore intermittent problems. Just
keep screaming for a replacement. If you purchased from a retailer, go
there and scream. If you happened to purchase with a credit card, check on
what purchase protection they offer. The noisy wheel does eventually get
the grease.

 

[Guest]

thanks for the replies. they were helpful in my dispute with HP. it took a
month to convince them it was motherboard but I did get the notebook replaced
with a new notebook. thanks agin.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

thanks for the replies. they were helpful in my dispute with HP. it took a
month to convince them it was motherboard but I did get the notebook replaced
with a new notebook. thanks agin.

You're welcome. And thanks for letting us know how it turned out.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin