Elite e9150t Feezes/Locks up

[m9788sc]

This just got worse. As it turned out, the the technicians in my town didn't have permission to repair pavilions, only compaqs. That's bull**bleep** in my opinion, but they left me with no other choice than to repair it 60 miles away, which is going to take approximately 3 weeks. I said replacing the motherboard would take a hour at most, but they're actually going to diagnose the hardware themselves. I swear I'm going to return the computer when it arrives, if the motherboard isn't replaced by the latest version. I read that the revision number is located between the cpu and memory slots, is that right? And the latest version is marked 1.04E01?

[Hanspuppa]

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m9788sc wrote: I read that the revision number is located between the cpu and memory slots, is that right? And the latest version is marked 1.04E01?

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Hello m9788sc, I can't verify this information for sure, since I have not returned my systems for repair, but that is the information that has been posted here.

I do believe this is correct. However, some that reported they received their systems back after having the motherboard replaced  by HP with these version motherboards, and reported continuing issues with these new versions.

Still others have reported that the newer versions corrected their issues.

Who knows for sure. I certainly don't and I suspect HP does not either.

Sorry to hear of your not too uncommon issues. This sort of thing seems to happen far too often.

[Hanspuppa]

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m9788sc wrote: I swear I'm going to return the computer when it arrives, if the motherboard isn't replaced by the latest version.

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Hello m9788sc,  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you, the HP customer, does not have the authority to return a computer to HP for any reason.

Only a Case Manager has this authority, and they don't seem to want to do this, at least until your system has been "repaired" at least 4 times.

That is what I have been told by more than one Case Manager.

[Big_Dave]

m9788sc,

Use the HP Support Assistant to verify your mobo revision level and bios level or use Beltac (it's free) to do so.  Your mobo needs to be 1.04E01 and the bios 5.24.

[Freezin_Jake]

I just wanted to update the forum on my plight so that perhaps someone can benefit from my problems.  If you dont remember, my computer had the motherboard recently upgraded to the 1.04 Rev. E01 board and it began having problems with sleep mode.  Instead of going to sleep my computer would appear to go to sleep and the power light on the top of the tower and HP light on the front of the tower would blink in a blue color instead of turning solid amber/orange. 

The repairman that solved my problem did so by running two programs, the first is called Tattoo, and the second is called DMI.  He said that the information in tattoo was correct but the information in DMI on the hard drive was incorrect.  It had never before been updated to have compatable DMI settings with the new Motherboard.

Now she sleeps like a baby and I am currently not having a problem with crashing since the new motherboard was installed.

[Big_Dave]

Freezin_Jake,

Thanks for the feedback!

[hpsad]

At least BestBuy and Future Shop smartened up and are not carrying the current model of the core i7 920, they carried every previous model and I guess they finally got fed up with all the returns and are not selling the HPE-180.  With the quantity of systems these chains bought from HP this should put a big dent in HP's sales. 

[m9788sc]

Hi again hanspuppa,

3 times actually, at least in my country. What I meant, is that I'm going to send it straight back for repair once again. By doing this, everything will be over in 3 months. What's making me mad, is that it's 5 months since I bought the computer. It'll be outdated before I get to use it. Just throwing the computer back in the store and walk away almost seems worth it.

Thanks for the tip big_dave, I'm sure I'll find a way. Just booting the computer will verify the BIOS version. As far as I know, the latest motherboard is the only one with BIOS 5.24?

[Hanspuppa]

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m9788sc wrote: Hi again hanspuppa, 3 times actually, at least in my country. What I meant, is that I'm going to send it straight back for repair once again. By doing this, everything will be over in 3 months. What's making me mad, is that it's 5 months since I bought the computer. It'll be outdated before I get to use it. Just throwing the computer back in the store and walk away almost seems worth it. Thanks for the tip big_dave, I'm sure I'll find a way. Just booting the computer will verify the BIOS version. As far as I know, the latest motherboard is the only one with BIOS 5.24?

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Thanks for the clarification m9788sc. Here in the US, as I mentioned earlier, the Case Manager is the only person that can issue a return authorization. As you mentioned, in your country that is not the case.

At any rate, I hope you finally get your system as it should have been when you purchased it.

I would suggest, that just because you might get the newer version 1.04E01 board, does not mean you might not have additional issues with it. Others here have reported they have issues with this board and BIOS 5.24.

Thanks also to hpsad, for that bit of information. It does appear that this may be catching up with HP, since they seem to be doing business somewhat differently recently.

[tlkelly]

I too wanted to post an update of a success story.  I purchased my e9180t last August and out of the box I had the ongoing problems with it locking up, freezing, etc., etc.  After countless hours on the line with HP Support with my own set of horror stories with them I finally started emailing and writing HP's CEO.  At least this got me in touch with a case manager who finally approved my returning the PC for repairs in December after it locked up for good and would not respond at all. 

The repair ticket said they replaced the mobo, updated the bios (5.24) and replaced the video card (nVidia) which was also defective.  At first I was skeptical as they told me they would need to format the HD as part of the repairs but the PC returned with all of my old files and settings.  Before shipping the PC I had placed a few markings on a few strategic hardware items like the mobo and video card and sure enough at least those parts had been changed.

Well, I've been using the PC for two months now and have not had one freeze or hang-up.  The PC has worked perfectly. 

With all the problems I had dealing with HP and particularly with the support folks I'm certainly not happy with HP's handling of the situation but after eight months at least my PC now works as it should.  It would seem HP now knows the problem and the repair solution so why not do it.