The Nvidia Defect Forum

Hi there,

I purchased a HP Pavilion dv9820ea about 3 years ago from Comet. Last Thursday I noticed that the lap top was stupidly hot but thought nothing of it as it always runs quite hot, however within 20 mins or so the screen went all pixelated, bsod then blank screen ever since. Checked the moniter by plugging the lap top into my desktop moniter but that too remains blank. All that now happens when I turn on the lap top is the blue lights come on and thats it!

I then researched on the internet and found this really detailed video on you tube of a guy repairing this same model saying about that there is a design fault with the heatsink on the mobo causing the GPU to become way overheated which is causing these machines to malfunction (nvidia defect). I also realize that this is affecting 1000s of people and not just me, I therefore tried having a look online to see if there was anything I could do - and came across this fantastic website! I am now very confident that I can get a refund and buy a new laptop (not hp!).

I did however contact HP and the told me that my model was not of those affected by the Nvidia defect and therefore out of warrenty and there would be nothing they could do?

I am going to head into the Comet store where I bought the laptop from but was just wondering if I could have some advice on the right route to take?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Hulk

Hello Hulk and welcome to our forum.

Sorry to hear that your laptop has failed.

The problems you describe are manifestations of the defect and so coupled with the fact that your laptop contains one of the more prolific of the defective GPU's, the 8400, then I would say that it is highly likely that your laptop is indeed inherently defective.

I wouldn't worry about HP denying the fact that your laptop contains the defect as it really does not matter what HP say.

I would concentrate all your efforts on Comet as they are the ones from whom you purchased your laptop and so they are entirely responsible for resolving the situation.

You should now contact Comet and should tell them that your laptop has failed due to an inherent defect with the Nvidia GPU.

They may tell you that your laptop is out of warranty and that there is nothing that they can do. You should tell them that the warranty status is irrelevant as you have six years from the date of purchase in which to bring an action against a retailer when the goods in question are inherently defective.

They may then tell you to contact HP. You should tell them that you purchased from Comet and not from HP so it is entirely Comets responsibility to resolve the situation.

See what they say. If they say they will inspect it for a fee you should refuse and say that due to the "reverse burden of proof" then you will provide your own independent engineers report.

There is a step by step guide on this forum that will help you reach a positive resolution and that is here:- post13.html#p13

If you follow my advice in that guide then you will be successful.

If you have any questions or if you need any advice then please let me know.

Good luck and best wishes

Paul
The Admin Team

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Please note that I am not legally qualified and I only offer my own personal advice. You are advised to seek professional legal advice for formal clarification of advice I give.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your rapid response, I will now indeed concentrate all my efforts on Comet and follow your advice. If I was to get an engineers report where and who do I send it to?

Many thanks

Hulk

Hello Hulk,

Reverse burden of proof is what occurs after the first six months of ownership.

If the laptop had failed during the first six months of ownership then the onus is on the retailer to prove/disprove any fault in the laptop. After the first six months there becomes what is known as the "reverse burden of proof" which means that the onus is on you, the customer, to prove to the retailer what the cause of failure is due to.

Once you have the report you should send a copy to Comet along with a letter before action. There is a template letter in the downloads section of this forum and that is here:- download/letter-with-report.doc

You should download that, edit it with your details and send it along with the report to Comet's head office which is:-

Comet
George House
George Street
Hull
North Humberside
HU1 3AU

Please ensure that you send the package via recorded delivery and please also ensure that you keep copies of the letter, report and postal receipt.

I hope the above helps.

Any questions please let me know.

Best wishes

Paul
The Admin Team

_________________
=======================================================
Calculate the minimum refund that you would be entitled to.
FAQ's
Why you should not accept a repair
Links to evidence
What is the Nvidia Defect?
Step by step help to getting a refund
Do you need an engineers report?
=======================================================

If you like what you see on this forum and would like to help then please post links to this forum in other forums or blogs. The more people we can help the better.


Please note that I am not legally qualified and I only offer my own personal advice. You are advised to seek professional legal advice for formal clarification of advice I give.

Hi there Paul,

Hope all is well.

I sent Comet the first letter from your template that you suggested and this was there response:-



Please could you give me your thoughts and feedback on this so I can prepare the next course of action.

Many thanks

Hulk

Hello Hulk,

That letter is pretty standard so nothing to worry about there.

I would refuse their offer of an inspection and would instead seek your own independent report which is your legal right to do.

It is up to you but I would simply phone or email them and would say that you prefer to provide your own independent report and will forward them a copy once you are in receipt of it.

Once you have the report you should send a copy to Comet along with a copy of the final letter before action.

If you would like us to provide you with the report then please let me know.

Best wishes

Paul
The Admin Team

_________________
=======================================================
Calculate the minimum refund that you would be entitled to.
FAQ's
Why you should not accept a repair
Links to evidence
What is the Nvidia Defect?
Step by step help to getting a refund
Do you need an engineers report?
=======================================================

If you like what you see on this forum and would like to help then please post links to this forum in other forums or blogs. The more people we can help the better.


Please note that I am not legally qualified and I only offer my own personal advice. You are advised to seek professional legal advice for formal clarification of advice I give.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your reply.

I will call them and tell them that I will get my own independent report.

In regards to you providing such a service could you confirm the cost and would that be inclusive of courirer costs?

Would you also be able to provide your company website or trading name?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards

Hulk

Hello Hulk,

The cost of the report, which includes the collect and return carriage, is £65. This amount is fully refundable from the retailer as a consequential loss.

My company name is Lapcure and the website is situated at www.lapcure.co.uk

I hope the above helps.

Any questions please let me know.

Best wishes

Paul
The Admin Team

_________________
=======================================================
Calculate the minimum refund that you would be entitled to.
FAQ's
Why you should not accept a repair
Links to evidence
What is the Nvidia Defect?
Step by step help to getting a refund
Do you need an engineers report?
=======================================================

If you like what you see on this forum and would like to help then please post links to this forum in other forums or blogs. The more people we can help the better.


Please note that I am not legally qualified and I only offer my own personal advice. You are advised to seek professional legal advice for formal clarification of advice I give.

Hi Paul,

Just registered my account with Lapcure and everything seems quite straight forward.

If nvidia defect not found would you still be able to try and repair the laptop subject to my approval?

Regards

Hulk

Hello Hulk,

Thank you for registering with ourselves.

Yes, if it is found that your laptop is not suffering from the defect then I will quote on the cost of the repair. Generally though the cost of the repair would be the same as the cost of the report, which is £65. This includes the collect and return carriage.

If you would like to proceed then all that remains is that you login at www.lapcure.co.uk and click on the "Add a job" link.

Any questions please let me know.

Best wishes

Paul
The Admin Team

_________________
=======================================================
Calculate the minimum refund that you would be entitled to.
FAQ's
Why you should not accept a repair
Links to evidence
What is the Nvidia Defect?
Step by step help to getting a refund
Do you need an engineers report?
=======================================================

If you like what you see on this forum and would like to help then please post links to this forum in other forums or blogs. The more people we can help the better.


Please note that I am not legally qualified and I only offer my own personal advice. You are advised to seek professional legal advice for formal clarification of advice I give.