The Nvidia Defect Forum

Hello,

If you are offered a repair by HP or any of the retailers you should always ask for the part number of the motherboard that they intend to use in the repair.

Once you have the part number you should pop back here and let me know so that we can establish whether or not it contains a defective GPU.

I have evidence that some repairs being offered by HP and therefore some retailers are being undertaken using a motherboard with the part number 447983-001.

This motherboard is one of the boards that HP released a "fix" for. I use the word "fix" in quotations because it doesn't work.

This can be verified quite easily and by using HP's own resources.

If you go to the HP Parts Store which is here:- http://h20141.www2.hp.com/HPPARTS/

Next, click on "Search by part number" and enter the part number 447983-001

If you then click on the first entry that is returned you will see a list of all the laptops that use that part number.

If you select any one of the model numbers that use that part number and then go to the following site:-
http://welcome.hp.com/country/uk/en/support.html

This is the HP support site.

Select the option to download drivers and enter the model number that you previously selected.

Select Windows Vista as the operating system and you will see a list of updates that are available.

Click on the plus sign next to BIOS and you will see a BIOS update. Click on the link that says "Previous Versions Available" and you will see an update named F.51 dated March 2008.

The purpose of this update is to "Updates the fan-control algorithm for the system to reduce the likelihood of future system issues."

"What does this mean?" you may ask.

Well, this means that HP are fully aware of the potential of the premature failure of this mainboard. Otherwise why release a BIOS update that switches the fans on 24/7.

This is conclusive proof that the part number 447983-001, is as inherently defective as the board it is replacing.

If this board is defective how many of the other boards that are being used in repairs defective?

Which is why it is imperative that you request that part number before accepting a repair.

Though to be honest, a replacement laptop or a refund is a much better option.

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.

Paul,

Just for curiosity, if someone is not able to manage a refund or replacement, how much does it cost to recify this issue of the GE Force 8400G M chip based motherboards?

Do you guys repair this?

I am getting a refund from John Lewis but a friend of mine is struggling to get it sorted with an online dealer.

Could you please let me know how much it would cost to repair this problem if my friend doesn't go to HP for an out of warranty repair?

Ani

Hello Ani,

To be honest I would not want to repair the laptop for you. Not that I like to turn work away but because there can be no guarantees when repairing this fault.

It could last a few weeks, it could last a few months, but as sure as there are clouds in the sky it will fail again.

I would rather not repair the laptop than to repair it only for you to be out of pocket further down the line.

I know that there are a lot of companies out there that will make all kinds of guarantees as to how long a repair will last, but believe me when I say that nobody should give a guarantee when repairing these as the length of time it will last is something that is hard to quantify.

I hope you don't mind me saying this but I would rather be honest with you rather than give you a guarantee that I myself have no confidence in.

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.

Paul,

Thanks for your honest reply. I'll ask my friend to pursue the refund / replacement option.

Regards

Anirban

I've found another good resource to be HP's PartSurfer,which you can find at http://partsurfer.hp.com/Search.aspx

Simply enter the product number of your laptop, e.g. RP122UA, GA673AV, etc, and you'll get back a list of all the spare parts available for it, along with their part numbers.

More importantly, it will also tell you whether these parts are available any more. For example, entering "RW758EA" for the French version of the HP Pavilion dv9220eu notebook, I can see that HP haven't supported the laptop since July 2010, and that the system board is no longer supplied - with no alternative listed.

For me, this is great news, as I don't see how a repair can be offered if no parts are available - so hopefully a refund is even more likely.