P6310y Won't boot up

[travel42]

This is the second computer, same model, within a week, both have same problems.  It can take up to an hour to get to desktop, and if I put it in sleep mode, it won't wake.

Called hp tech support yesterday and today, they acknowledged a problem with this model (and maybe others) in that it does not have the appropriate drivers installed.

I allowed a tech to take over control of machine, she downloaded new drivers which she said would solve the problems.

However, now it's worse.  Machine won't boot up at all.  It's been on for 4 hours so far, just a black screen with HP logo in center of screen.

I tried System Restore, no luck.

Tech told me there are 3 HP computers in same price range that DO have the right drivers.  P6350Z; P6370T; and P6380T.

So tomorrow it's back to Best Buy to get rid of this lemon.  Why doesn't HP issue a recall, or at least acknowledge the problem?  Both techs I talked with told me this model is faulty.

[jolenie]

I have the same problem with the same model. I'm grateful that you posted.  It saved me time and effort trying to repair this computer. 

[wl]

Can you clue me in to what drivers were in question? My model is similar and I am having some issues with mine. It's hard to pin it down when there's confusion about the chipset. Ads say it's a 9100 motherboard chipset but software and visual verification confirm it's a 8200. Driver confusion at it's best. The video was improved and they renamed the entire chip a 9100. It's like they put a horn on a horse and called it a unicorn. Naming it don't make it so.

[travel42]

Sorry, the tech didn't specify which drivers are to blame.  However, failure to boot up is not a problem confined to the model I bought and I decided to even stay away from the models the HP tech recommended.

In fact, Best Buy told me that other brands also have similar problems, so I decided to wait a few months before buying a new computer.

HP obviously knows it has lots of lemons on the shelves right now, and if they are smart they will step up to the plate like Toyota finally did and admit that the problems exist.

[cangelo]

same exact problem,did best buy give you any problems?

[RasterBlaster]

OK. First any major company doesn't want to sell lemons - they'll go out of business due to high support costs. If you return any product to the store it cost the manufacturer a bundle - it's the number one thing any company tries to avoid. Especially when they play in such a competitive marketplace where the margins are tight. This is why you get those little pieces of paper in the box of many manufacturer's product's telling you to call them rather than take it back.

Second, sleep mode issues are a common problem in the computer industry - for Windows-based PCs anyway. Yes, the problem can be related to drivers. But there are a LOT of other factors - Graphics modes, Monitor, Type of video connection, BIOS version, Operating System (in this case Windows 7 I assume), graphics driver... most of all... which sleep setting you use.

I would suggest turning off hibernation and hybrid sleep if they are on and making sure that your sleep settings match what you want. Make sure your display settings for Windows mathc the native display setting for your monitor - including refresh rate. Also, if you have your computer sleep before the screen saver comes on, then turn off the screen saver. In fact, just turn off the screen saver and use sleep - or vice versa... that is, reduce the complexity of the sleep system. Advanced Power saving stuff has gotten WAY too complicated for the home user.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01853693

[travel42]

Yes, I changed the power settings so that the machine would not hibernate and would not go into sleep mode.  I decided I would just leave the thing running 24/7 and not worry about power consumption. 

But then we had an electrical outage and I was put right back to square one.  It would not get to the desktop. or if it did, it took up to an hour.

That's when I called HP tech support, and updated drivers were installed.

But as I said, that made the whole thing even worse.  After 4 hours waiting for the desktop, I just gave up and returned it to BB.  Fortunately it was within the 14 day period so the store gave me no problem.

There was no way I was going to keep it esp since it was the 2nd machine of same model with same problems within a week of each other.

[wl]

How did you set the next PC and how is it doing?

[RasterBlaster]

In case it happens in the future, if you have a power outtage and your computer acts up, try using Microsoft System Restore to set the system back to before the outtage occurred. This should repair most of the damage caused by the power break - you can also try SFC if System Restore doesn't work.

[wl]

I'll ask before researching. What's SFC?