This HP Pavilion dv6000 series laptop is crap. Just crap. It’s 2 1/2 years old and it’s on the fritz again…this is like the 4th time. Right around the 17 month mark is when I started having issues and spending a lot of time talking to people in other countries. Repeating the same problem to each new person they connected me to. You know how that goes. At 24 months it went back for a recall. Not booting up. The amount of laptops affected was phenomenal and very wide spread throughout HP’s various lines of laptops. At 30 months it stopped booting again. And the ‘one time fix’ for the recall was already spent 6 months before so I was shit out of luck. But they offered to fix it again for the small fee of $299.
Well, I talked to the laptop real nice and it came back eventually but was very sporatic. Well….now, just a couple weeks later, it’s even worse. After spending all of Saturday in the forums….and trying all the suggestions and fixes….here is what I find helps. I have to wrap the laptop in a thick blanket to retain some heat. Then it will boot up. (I’m totally serious.) But the horrible part is the wireless connection. My wireless adapter is no longer recognized by my laptop inards. I’ve been reading that those who buy a new wireless card are wasting their money because they still don’t work. So this is what I’ve resorted to. I’ve taken the WIRED adapter off the desktop and taped it to my laptop. lol. But it works. So this means I can actually use my laptop to go online now. Which is why I bought it in the first place. I just wasn’t anticipating having wires and stuff hanging off of it in order to use it.
The tech support guy told me that a laptop is only built to last 3 years. Five tops. That’s disturbing to me considering what the going rate is on laptops. The HP service is HORRIBLE and their tech support is VERY frustrating. And this problem with the wireless? Apparently it’s an issue with the NVIDIA graphics and the motherboard …..or some crap. HP and NVIDIA recognize the issue, but cannot find a fix. (or it’s too expensive for them – there’s tens of thousands with this issue). I’m so sick of getting the short end of the stick on major purchases. No more HP computers for me.
Okay, off my soap box. I feel better. (not really). Next time I buy a laptop, I’m researching the brand for complaints.
UPDATE: downloaded (from HP’s update site) Broadcom – Network – Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN
this seemed to do the trick and my wireless was again recognized!!!. Well…for 3 days until I turned it on in the morning and was back to square one…the system wasn’t recognizing it any longer. Went back to HP update to reupdate that DRIVER. No luck. It wasn’t appearing on my available updates probably because I had just downloaded it 3 days prior. Have emails into Broadcom and HP to see if they can send me a link to the download. *no luck. one keeps referring me to the other. Back to the Linksys adapter 
I'm Sheila. In addition to raising 1 husband and 3 teens, I've founded 
Buy a Macbook. You won’t have any of these problems!
That is awful! I have an HP Pavilion dv7 and I love it. But I’ve only had it for a few months. I hope mine doesn’t develop the same problems yours did. I’d like it to last a while because it was expensive.
I know Macs are great but I don’t think I’d ever be able to afford one of those.
Not good to read. We have an HP laptop…not sure what model, etc but I’d want it to last longer than 3 years.
.-= jen@OurDailyBigTop´s last blog ..I heart faces – before & after =-.
So sorry for your troubles on this. You’re the 4th person in a week, me included having laptop problems.
I’m in the market for one but will NOT be getting an HP.
I’ve never had a Mac before but I just might look into one, thanks to Julie.
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Like a bord on a wire, 10 — Double Cod Edition! =-.
Well, I guess I’m sticking with Dell. My kids have both had Dell business grade laptops. My daughter’s is going strong at 5 years now and my son has only had his for one, but no problems so far. I don’t have a laptop. I wish I did but I guess I sure won’t be getting that one!
.-= blueviolet´s last blog ..Here’s What My Monday Looks Like =-.
Yeah, starting to think Julie is right.
Also, when you check out brands, check out the customer service reports, and how good or bad it is.
As one who worked in CS for years, I like that people can APPRECIATE when its done well. Too bad they didn’t appreciate us before they outsourced us!
.-= DaisyDeadhead´s last blog ..Another reason to avoid Facebook? =-.
So, if the cords are long enough you can choose to use it in either the living room, dining room or kitchen? And I love the image of you swaddling your computer to get it going in the morning! Egads- I’m glad cost considerations have kept us from purchasing a laptop.
.-= Gettysburg Mom´s last blog ..First Day of School. =-.
::::Types tentatively from her HP Pavillion laptop::::
Uh oh.
Awww…sorry you’re having so much trouble. Good luck on the next purchase. Computers are the new “Can’t Live With ‘Em, Can’t Live Without ‘Em”.
.-= Jeve (aka John and Steve)´s last blog ..SH#T. I Finally Did It. =-.
QUICK! Head to your local Apple Store and put yourself out of misery! Get a Mac! They may cost a bit more but the difference is the service! My battery was old. I knew this but was avoiding getting a new one. Then one day my mouse pad stopped “clicking” right. Took it to the Apple Store and within 20minutes they found my battery was warped and pushing up in my mouse pad from the under side. They replaced it for free. No, this doesn’t always happen but it’s just an example of the excelent care I always get when I go there.