6 month old HP dv7-2170us laptop locks up randomly....very bizarre. [ Edited ]

[jonc102]

I have had my dv7-2170us laptop for 6 months now.  I upgraded from Vista to Windows 7.  About 2 months into ownership of this laptop I noticed that the laptop locked up every once in awhile, about once a week.  Lately thing's have become worse and the laptop locks up at least once a day, sometimes multiple times a day.

Things I've tried to diagnose the issue:

1) I have run memtest86 to try detect problems with the RAM, it did not detect any problems after 30 minutes of testing, usually if there's a problem with RAM it picks it up within 5-10 minutes of testing.

2) I ran the memory test that is built into the BIOS, picked up no errors

3) I ran the hard drive test that is built into the BIOS, picked up no errors

4) I used msconfig and disabled every piece of software that was set to startup with the laptop.  The lock up's continued after doing this so it's not a software issue, as far as I can tell.  The laptop would also lock up when I had Vista installed and continues to lock up even with Windows 7 installed so I can rule out the OS as being the cause of the issue.

The lockups/freezes occur completely randomly.  There's no particular thing that I do which will cause the lockups, nothing to replicate and no steps to re-produce which cause the issue.  When the laptop locks up it could be at any time and I could to be doing anything, like working on a Word document, browsing the web, listening to music, watching videos, playing a game, at any point it will lockup, I can be multitasking or have only a single application open and it will still freeze.

The only way to reset is to hold the power button in for 5 seconds and power down the laptop, unplug the battery, plug it back in and it will work for a few hours....until it locks up again.

Also, this could be related but everytime I load a game I hear a 'sharp piano strike'.  I had the problem previously and when I upgraded to Vista SP2 the issue went away but it came back recently.  Again, I'm not sure if this is related in some way or another. Here's the thread on this beeping noise issue.

As far as my options go, am I left with sending this laptop into HP for repairs?  What if, during their diagnosis, they can't pick up anything, will they just send the laptop back to me unrepaired?  It's practically new at 6 months old.

[jonc102]

*bump*  I'm still experiencing this issue.  The problem is completely random.  Any help/guidance would be appreciated.  I'm trying to do everything I can before having to send it into HP for repairs.

[lebrocoli]

Have a look at my post. Do you think it could help? I have not experienced a lock-up since!

[lebrocoli]

Oops, forgot the link:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Lockups-Freezes-Hangs/DV6-2150CA-freezing-sometimes-Intel-Matrix-issue/...

[jonc102]

I'll give it a shot, but why aren't more people experiencing this issue, The Matrix software is common amongst most HP laptops. 

[Motaknar]

I feel your pain, I bought a dv7-4070us about two weeks ago and had this problem from the beginning. At first it was very random, but now it freezes 2 times when I turn it on for the first time every day. The first happens before I get to the windows login. After I force shutdown the first time it will restart and am able to log in. Approximately 10 minutes after restart it freezes again and am forced to hold power button again to shut down. Weird thing is after those 2 forced power downs, the PC will work perfectly. I have had it on for 2 days straight, in and out of sleep mode, and it works great. Only on the first power up of the day for me.

[Bob_in_PGI]

Screen Freeze on my HP dv7 3160us Notebook PC

I received my HP dv7 on May 12, 2010.  It has “Screen Freeze” about once a week, normally after several days of non use.  I have Windows Task Manager displayed at all times normally with performance displayed.  When the screen freezes there in no abnormal indications on the Task Manager.  “Screen Freeze” is a condition where the screen display stops updating and your mouse and keyboard are inoperative.

One time during a Screen Freeze, the exit air temperature was very high indicating a possible overheating condition.  Other times during a Screen Freeze, the exit air temperature is normal.  One time I left the HP dv7 on all night after a Screen Freeze condition.  When I looked at it in the morning the HP dv7 was at the log on display and I could log on and use it.  I have tried all combinations of key strokes and mouse actions including CTL-ALT-DEL to try to get my HP dv7 out of the Screen Freeze condition.  I tried unplugging my flash memory stick and even tried plugging in an auxiliary keyboard but nothing would get it out of Screen Freeze.  My HP dv7 normally goes into Screen Freeze when IE8, Outlook or Windows explorer are being used which are in use 90% of the time.  My HP dv7 goes into Screen Freeze if I am active at the key board or have not used my mouse or keyboard for a long time.  I normally wait 30 to 60 minutes before I hold the power button down to force shut down.

The only way to get out of HP dv7 Screen Freeze is to hold the power button down for about 30 seconds.  My power button is set to shut down when it is pushed.  When I restart I get the message that the HP dv7 did not shutdown normally and asks me if I want to startup in the safe mode.

I have run the various run-in, memory and hard disk tests available on the HP dv7 BIOS.  These tests were run for extended periods without errors.

For the past week I have been running my HP dv7 on a UPS with the HP dv7 battery removed.  I have not had a Screen Freeze while operating is this mode.

Screen Freeze is a very frustrating problem because you cannot reproduce it.

Bob_in_PGI

[Motaknar]

I went ahead and sent mine to HP for repairs. They had it for nine days and stated that they could not duplicate the problem. So all they did was re-image the hard drive. Which I could have done. When I got it back it was still freezing randomly. Nothing had changed except I had to reload all my software and update a bunch of drivers. Thanks for nothing HP.

[engrshahrs]

Hello All,

As described in earlier posts, the laptop freezes at irregular intervals. I have been encountering the same issue from last three days. Have performed all solutions but no success. The strange thing is that all the hardware and software seems to work perfectly, still it gets hang and have to be restarted by power button.

to Motaknar :  After going through your post I felt that I am having same issue as you are having. Did you found any solution to the problem ? I have guess that could it be due to Video card ? I had Ati card in my PC and in laptop as well. In both I experienced same Freeze for no reason. After changing my Video card in my pc from Ati to Nvidia, I didnt encountered the freeze anymore. But I cant repeat the soultion for laptop and change video card in it. Please provide any help or assistance if you can . thanks in advance.

[mcgwynn]

I have a new Dm4.  All the bells and whistles and I use it for very light business apps.  My freezing problem started about a month after I got it.  I am going to contact HP and see if I am still within warranty to return it.  This is my second one (different problems).  I am so fed up, it has sucked years from my life./