I hope this worked out OK and your laptop is now repaired, however, I am sorry to have to tell you that this might just be the start of the nightmare for you rather than the end.
I have repaired quite a few DV9000's, DV9500's DV9700's etc. They are all pretty similar. I recently repaired a machine that had been to HP for repair only one year ago. HP installed a new motherboard. Unfortunately though, the machine had been rebuilt in a similar fashion to how it was originally built, and was therefore liable to having the Nvidia chip fail again over a similar timespan of one year to two years.
If you have a DV9xxx model, here are a few suggestions that can help prolong the life of your machine:
1) Check your GPU temperatures regularly. Here are two free programs for this purpose:
* Speedfan -
http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php (click on the "latest version is" link for download)
* HWMonitor -
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.htmlYour Nvidia GPU should IDLE at below 70° centigrade. Machines I repair and clean have an idling GPU of 50° - 65° centigrade (depends on model and GPU). If your GPU idles above this, the most likely reasons are:
1) Your fan outlets blocked with dust. After a few months of normal use the fan can get blocked with dust, lint or hair. Try using an air blower to clear it. The main fan vent is at the back of the machine on the left as you face the screen. If you know how to disassemble the machine make sure you clean the fan out by taking the top off and clearing it with dust. The dust can be impossible to see without opening the fan.
2) Poor connection between the GPU and the Nvidia chip. HP contractors have been using thermal pads for this job, but they are pretty useless over a long period. They need replacing. Most repairers are using copper shims and thermal paste for this job. The same goes for the CPU and Northbridge chips.
Once the GPU has gone (symptoms are no Wifi, black screen, blocky screen, machine won't boot etc), it's too late, your motherboard will need replacing or your existing one repairing. The problem is that the high temperature has caused the solder to crack or break on or more of the joints of your video chip (GPU).
There are many online businesses offering DVxxx repair. Some offer reflow services which melt the solder on your GPU chip to get it working again. This is really a short term solution however, and it can be as little as a few days before the problem returns. Reballing your GPU is a better solution, the GPU is removed, the solder is replaced, and the GPU is then put back onto the board. This is a time consuming and often expensive business though.
If you are about to get your motherboard repaired find out if the repairer is going to do a reflow or a reball. Most repairers offer reflow because it is quicker and cheaper.
Some repairers also offer a "fan modification" to improve the fan circulation of your DV9xxx. This is often as simple as snipping a wire to the fan so that it is permanently on at full speed. This may sound like a good idea but the resulting noise means it is more like working with a jet engine rather than a laptop.
A HP repair will involve your motherboard being replaced with a new one.
Other things you can do to help your machine stay cool:
* NEVER rest your machine on a soft surface like a chair or bed where the vents are smothered.
* Regularly blow your fan vents with compressed air
* Use felt pads or similar (the type that are used on the bottom of legs of chairs for example) to raise the machine further off the surface. Try to get the rear of the machine 15mm or higher than it is now.
* Running the machine on the battery will create less heat to dissipate
* Use a power profile in Windows that allows your machine to rest.
* Switch off your machine when you are not using it rather than let it sleep.
Good luck to all of you with a HP DV9xxx!
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