eberger1981

I Have a HP Pavilion Entertainment Laptop MDL #dv2815nr OS is Windows Vista
B4 it stopped working it had it shut down a cpl times after the screen went to a zig/zag pattern of multicolors. Last time it did this and shut off, it wouldn't come back on... except for panel lights and fan at low speed.
Have talked with HP tech support and becuz its about 3 months out of a 1yr warranty...I can't get it fixed thru them w/o paying... Have been told it could cost as much as $400.00plus for a new motherboard alone which is what they are saying is the issue....
Any Suggestions? Anything else I can try b4 I give up and take it as a loss..since I cant really afford a new one or to replace parts at that price!

I would appreciate any help anyone can give... I hate to think its a lost cause this soon... Thnx in Advance for any help given!

TriggerFinger

It is possible that it could be a failing screen (or backlight) or inverter. I would try to boot into BIOS settings first and see if LCD shows something. If none, try hooking up an external monitor.

eberger1981

Thank You for your reply...
I have tried hooking up to an external monitor, but the screen stays blank. As I said previously, the panel lights do come on But sometimes even they don't stay on long. Also sometimes the light showing the hard drive is running or "the computer is thinking comes on but also doesnt stay on. I hear the fan running but at a seemingly reduced speed than I've been used to from it and I don't hear the drive working at all...doesnt appear to even be trying to run anything else. I guess in a nutshell... nothing appears to be happening at all... fan runs but there is no other sign of life besides the panel lights.

TriggerFinger

If that is the case it could be the motherboard. I suggest you try to take it apart. Leave motherboard, RAM, power ON switch and LCD still assembled (but take out HDD, CD drive, WLAN card, etc.). Try to power ON. If symptoms persist then it could be one of the remaining components.

AustrAlien

Have you tried the following?

Use Hard Reset to Resolve Hardware and Software Issues
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...roduct=3686731

Please confirm whether or not you can you get to the BIOS Setup Menu?

HP Pavilion dv2500 and dv2700 Notebook PC
Maintenance and Service Guide
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01295820.pdf
Starting the Setup Utility
The Setup Utility is a ROM-based information and customization utility that can be used even when your
Windows® operating system is not working or will not load.

To start the Setup Utility:
1. Turn on or restart the computer.
2. Before Windows opens and while “Press <F10> to enter setup” is displayed in the lower-left corner
of the screen, press f10.
(Try this if no luck with HP's instructions: Start rapidly tapping the F10 key after pressing the ON button .... and see if that works?)

eberger1981

Yeh, I have tried the hard reset..numerous times.. and mostly while I spent quite a few hours on the phone with HP Technical Supprt. that along with other things such as removing hard drive and motherboards... none of which made any difference in how it started... it just plain doesnt. As I posted above.. most of the panel lights lite up and I even hear the fan running, but it seems to be on pretty low speed.
The times that the light above the HD symbol lights, nothing stays on long, but when it does chose to stay on, that light doesnt seem to want to stay lit or rather it flashes, then nothing and all go out shortly after .
Nothing at all comes up on the screen or even sounds like its trying to load when I do what you suggest.(or anything else)... I do have another question now tho.. what does it mean when the light below the lightening symbol lights up.. it does stay on now when I plug in this laptop..even when all the other panel lights wont stay on... but yet on the one I am using at this time to type this, it isnt lit up at all.. and it is also plugged in. I don't remember noticing that b4 now.

Probably grasping at straws here I know.. but hate to give up on it as it is only about 15-16 months old and cant afford a new one or to replace the motherboard for what Ive been told that costs too.
Again, I appreciate any help you can give

eberger1981

I think I mis spoke.. I believe now it was the memory cards I had to remove while talking with the technicians on the phone, not the motherboard..

AustrAlien

Re: lightning symbol ... ?

Have a look at the link in my previous post to the Maintenance and Service Guide ....
>> External components
>>>> Top components
>>>>>> Lights

You might be able to figure out which light does what ... but it sounds like a power/battery indicator to me.
--------------------------------

*Check that the internal display switch is not jammed .... thereby disabling the display even though the lid is opened. (That is the little switch/button on the lid, that pops out when the lid is lifted.)

*Try removing the battery altogether, and using only the mains power when attempting to start the system.
------------

The Maintenance and Service Guide seems as though it would be pretty handy to have when dismantling the laptop. I wonder how much of it you have dismantled? I am guessing not much ... just the hard drive and memory ?

You have nothing to lose by dismantling the machine. I certainly wouldn't be giving up on it. I would pull it to pieces, checking all connections, and putting it back together again, in the hope it would be something simple like a poor connection. That is the very least you can do. If you stuff up, there's nothing lost. (Just don't ask me about it because I have never pulled one apart.)

Raylo

Can't hurt to try all that stuff but def sounds like a bad mobo or video card, which is prob part of the mobo. Been through this twice with 2 different brands of laptops. Still hoping to find a reliable one some day..... You don't have a lot of good choices. $400 for a repair is getting up to near the price of many new machines. Or you can try to find a mobo from HP or in the aftermarket and DIY and save perhaps half the cost. Good luck, and welcome to the broke laptop club. We have lots of members. :-(

Oh, another handy tool/device I have found is the Thermaltake Black Widow SATA USB hard drive docking station. When your laptop dies you can pull the HD and pop it in the docking station (connected to a desktop or another laptop) to check the HD, retrieve important data, and/or use it as an external HD. They make single and double models.

eberger1981

Raylo:
TY for your input... Not sure what I'll do for sure at this point as I can't really even afford half the cost of a motherboard at this point in time.. unfortunately.
Also, as to your other idea.. the the docking station or "enclosure" is a good idea and actually I was able to afford that and it came in handy for sure. I was able to retrieve some things off my HD that I was afraid I lost. As far as the broken laptop club..lol I know I'm not the first nor will I be the last, this just happened at a bad time for me... Thank You Again for your advice..I'm not really sure what it was you meant by "mobo".. or is that the same as a video card? I'm not familiar with that term. But I may still look into it if my financial situation changes....

AustrAlien:
I did look and yes, you're right.. it is the battery charging light.
As you say I have nothing to lose by dismantling the laptop, as it is useless this way anyways...but have never done anything thing like that b4 and yes all I've really done to it so far was to remove the HD and Memory. I will look into the other suggestions too..just to be safe.. Just not too sure about the dismantling of the unit, I have no idea what to look for. As much as I like taking things apart..lol I am still leary of doing that. Thanks again for all the advice and I will get back to you when I've got some more info to report.

AustrAlien

mobo = motherboard

Taking things apart: It is a learning experience .... perhaps one of the best methods for learning. Go for it!
Best of luck with that one.