Pavilion DV7 Crap graphics card, freezing, and cheap exterior

[rachyjay]

Here's my story.

Back in 08" I purchased the Pavilion DV7 at Best Buy after paying $1,400 for a package deal (printer). I only got a one year warrenty (should've gotten 2 )

Because I thought it was pretty, and I liked the specs, I decided to purchase it. I did a little homework on it but because it was brand new and looked pretty I wanted it. I'm a female gamer (I was) so I liked the options of having enough graphics to play games, play music, and even create movies with the built in cam. After a year, about a week after the warrenty it starts to fall apart. Now before, I had to order a new battery, and they had to send me a new hard drive. And like I've read everywhere else, it REALLY starts to fall apart after the warrenty.

My graphics card (nvidia) pooped out on me completely a week after my year warrenty. I called for help and nvidia basically told me to delete the graphics drivers and install updated ones. Nothing worked. The computer would freeze up and little color squigglies would be on the screen whenever I moved it. We all know laptops should be carried or say on the lap, no, it would go nutters. So I was informed that it was possibly a windows defect. Since my warrenty was up, I took it to a local repairman and he basically fixed it to his expertise instead of the actual problem.

He deleted all my windows files and put a make shift one on. I had vista and when I got it back, it worked fine except he completely IGNORED the graphics issue! He put a ghetto fake version of windows primium on my laptop so to this day everytime I turn on my computer I get a pop up reminding me to purchase vista! Hmmm I thought I had already done that.

Like I mentioned before, the graphics card is still broken. When I tried installing the right driver those squiggly lines come back up again and it freezes up. I then have to go in safemode and remove the drivers. The computer works afterward but I can't play games, nor create videos because I don't have a supportive graphics card!

Now my issue is simple but very frustraiting. I have a freeze. I go on and not even 2 minutes after I log on, the whole computer freezes. I can't even control, alt, delete. At this time, I already realize how crap HP is. Does anyone know how to fix the freeze issue? The msconfig does NOT work for me. I'm having to go to safemode just to use my laptop. Nevermind creating vids, playing games, etc. I will eventually pay another $175 for someone to actually fix the **bleep** thing. I want windows7, plus a new graphics card. Yeah, I know how hard it is with laptops but I don't want to give up on my baby just yet by purchasing a new one. Anyone have the same issues? Anyone know how to fix the constant freeze? And by falling apart I literally mean things on this PLASTIC laptop are falling off!

[earplay]

I've got a dv7 myself. It developed a glitch the second week I had it. Was never able to find a solution, other than the advice to reinstall the system. The glitch is that the screen can be opened only ninety degrees. If you open it further, the screen goes black. The HP support system was no help other than the suggestion to install a new system.

Now, this is a relatively minor issue, but it reminds me that the Mini I am trying to repair gets short shrift on the HP support site. There, I'm told to order OPTICAL DISCS to repair the system on the Mini. Problem is, HP manufactured the Mini WITHOUT AN OPTICAL DRIVE. Cool, huh? Now that's support!

Good luck with your dv7, maybe a good fairy will make it better, but don't depend on HP. Sorry I can't help.

[donna0909]

Laptop freezes up. It gets so hot it has burned my leg. My first and last HP. Dell products never get hot. I need some assistance on this. Would like to send back for a refund. I ordered from QVC and will not recommend this product. I am certain they have had many complaints. My last Dell lasted 3 years.

[gabbyk97]

Hi,

I also have a HP Pavilion dv7-1232nr laptop.  I have had it about 2 years and it has always run hot, but after the warranty ran out...it started shutting down on its own.  I finally took it to a computer tech and he cleaned it thoroughly.  He said it had a lot of dust and hair next to the cpu.  So I brought it home and it  seemed better, but then I was playing a wild tangent game and right in the middle of it, the laptop shut itself down.  It was very hot again.  I dont' think I will purchase another HP laptop.  My last one was a gateway and I had it for 6 years.  I sold it to my puter tech for 100 dollars and he already sold it.  I wished I would have kept it now....lol.

[AuraLynn]

I've had my Dv7 for 3 years now and my graphics card is finally starting to crap out on me as well. I'm a female gamer as well and I played WoW for several years until the latest expansion when it refused to run. Also, I've been playing the Star Wars Beta for several weeks and It's nearly impossible to move around. At first I thought It was vista, but after some digging into my computer and asking some friends we determined it was the graphics card.

Everything else on my system has a rating above 4.5 (out of 5.9) but my gaming graphics is 3.2. I thought this was ridiculous because this computer is advertised as a gaming system. I'm going to buy and external card and install it here soon and see how that works.

I've never had problems with freezing, crashing, or overheating. I play on a glass surface which solves the overheating problem. The number one thing is to remove all virus protection systems and just use windows firewall. I have never had a problem with virus' and for some reason the Dv7 does not work well with any anti virus systems. My laptop still runs great and I don't plan on giving it up anytime soon.

I do have to admit that I play with it plugged into the power cord at all times, I only get about an hour and a half run time with no cord anymore, but that never really bothered me.

The only problem with the screen I have is a little bit of dust and a poor trapped bug behind it.  Turn the brightness up and I never see it.

I know this post is late but I hope it helps.