Hello all,
Well, in case your wondering how i'm doing....
Back in December 2013, I clean installed my machine to win 8.1 and have been running great. No problems, loved it.
My computer specs are as follows:
Purchased in June of 2008
HP Pavillion DV9700t Ent Notebook
Video: 512MB Nvidia GeForce 8600M GS
17.0" WSXGA+ BrightView Widescreen
Intel core duo T9500
240GB 7200RPM Sata Dul HD 120GB X2
4GB DDR2 Sys Mem (2 dimm)
SN: [Edited for Personal Information]
PN: KL086AV
My problem now is that I'm pretty sure I blew the video card.
Symptoms: I was and have been using the maching regularly with no problems at all. No error or anything.
The only thing unusual is that the machine is heating up ALOT all around the touch pad and where you rest
your hand and the center of the machine. This has been happening since sometime last fall or maybe alitle
before. Causing no functional problems.
Anyway, I was using it for stuff, when the video 'flashed on/off about 12 times, then gave some error about
'unstable video driver', then the machine 'hung up' for about a minute doing something, then it crashed and
turned off.
When I turn the machine back on, I see the Power light and the cylinder lights from the HD's coming up and
reading the drives. But nothing ever comes up on the screen anymore. No matter how long I wait.
I have to overide and power down, and get same results with multiple retries.
Cannot boot off of any disks or even enter setup mode, since I cannot see what is on the screen.
What does happen is it seems to get an 'extremely' low almost unnoticeable glow to the screen, so i'm
presuming that the video power part is ok. Just nothing else showing on the video.
I've tried plugging in my HDMI cable to my tv and try startup that way, but it won't work either. I think it has
to be booted up further in order for that part to work.
Likewise, i thought about plugging in an external monitor to the 'vga' (if im saying it correct) port, but i think
you have to configure that in the setup????(not really sure)
To make a long story short, I cannot see any video.
I wasn't sure if the video card was onboard or not with the motherboard (i'm betting it is), so i tried to
carefully take it apart. I didn't want to break it so i didn't go to far with it.
The machine is not in warranty anymore anyway so it doesn't matter if i try.
I had an outside computer tech come in and try to look at it also, and they got no further than I did. Except
they were able to get it apart more than me and they did seem to confirm that the video is 'onboard'.
So, there it is.
I have been using win 8.1 fine for 6 months, loved it, and now my video card is blown. That's ok.
My machine is atleast 6 years old and well out of warranty.
I'm just wondering if this is an onboard issue, if anyone has any idea of what it might cost if i send it back to HP to look at, or what are the usual scenarios in this case.
I am thinking that replacing the motherboard will cost several hundred dollars and since the machine is now older, it may be better spent on a newer machine.
I'm just looking for a second opinion here now.
Thanks in advance,