m8530f desktop PC with a m2n78-la mother board doesn't see my drives

[bsmith714]

I also used the escalation link and did receive a call back as well.  I just got off the phone with the case manager and he said that he personally has heard of no issues with the motherboard in my model (a6720f).  I explained that there were numerous people having the same issue detailed in this forum.  I asked if there was a way he could check records and he said he would have heard about it.

He did offer me $150 off of repairs, which I declined as I am afraid they would replace it with the same motherboard.

He also offered an additional year warranty if I were to buy a new HP computer.  I also declined that as it concerns me that the problem is not fixed.

Not sure what I will do now.  😞

Chose HP over Dell because of Dell's awful customer service. 

[geebjen]

Add me to the list. Just last night my p6320f with M2N78-LA Violet6  froze and wouldn't re-boot until I waited a while. Then it gave me all sorts of disk errors etc.  I finally opened the case and re-seated all the connectors and got it to boot enough to run windows restore and return me a a point a few weeks ago.  When I had the cover off is when I noticed how stinking hot the GPU is.  Now I have to leave the case open with an outside fan blowing on it to keep running.  The GPU runs 55C like this, but if I shut off the fan it ramps up very fast and eventually freezes the computer.

Of course, my PC went out of warranty Feb 22.  Still, based on what I found in this forum I'll be calling HP shortly, and if they don't help I'll try the CEO link........I'll keep you all posted on what happens.

[hp-unhappy]

And another one.  m8530f, barely 3 years old. 

HP is so stupid not dealing with this issue proactively.  Like other posters here, I have been very happy with HP products but this experience has left me with a very bad taste.  The sequence goes like this:

- By not making this problem known, users (like me) will assume that the hard drive has failed and go down the path of replacing the hard drive and trying to do a recovery. 

- When the problem initially occurred, I spent  a lot of time looking at the Support site information.  All pointed to hard drive failure, although I missed all the pointers about tattooing. 

- Technology moves on, and identical hard drives are hard to find (and silly expensive). 

- You get a new drive, and put it in the system.  The BIOS sees the drive just fine, and the Diagnostics also work fine (whereas they failed when testing the old hard drive).  Still no reason to assume there is any problem with the motherboard. 

- The Recovery Disks fail, and you assume that this is because the disk is not the same as the original. 

- Where do you go next?  Borrow a friend's VIsta disk and try doing a fresh reinstall. 

- The new install starts off just fine.  DVD working fine to start with.  But then it says it is missing a driver for the CD/DVD.  Hang on; we JUST READ THE DVD JUST FINE TO GET THE INSTALLER STARTED!!! 

- Calm down.  Just happen to have a USB DVD drive.  Try with the DVD in that, and the installer keeps going past the previous point. 

- Now the installer accepts your Windows product key ok (excellent!).  Then it throws an error telling you it cannot see any hard drives.  Hang on; the hard drive was there when the BIOS first fired up.  OK, restart.  Drive is still there in the BIOS, but still missing when you get to the Windows installer. 

- Now I finally join the dots and realize that the hard drive and DVD are both SATA devices.  Ah; maybe the SATA has died. 

- Start looking for different things on Support site and find this thread (and others). 

By this time I am furious with HP.  One other step I didn't mention above is that since I had given up on my old hard drive, I tried to reinstall Vista on it as one of the 'illogical' things I tried to get the system going. 

I could buy a new system (interestingly looks like Asus have the nicest alternatives out there these days), or get a Gigabyte mobo as others have suggested.  I'll take the latter option, because apart from the fact that I NOW HATE HP, I have liked this PC since I got it. 

One question.  I will be doing a new installed of the same version of Vista.  Is my Vista Product Code from HP going to work in this system or am I going to need to go buy a new OS? 

[bomberbob]

If you replace the motherboard with the same model, you will have no problem with Vista. If you swap in another model (Asuz, Gigabyte, etc) then in the opinion of Microsoft and HP, you have essentially created a "new" PC, and the license is no longer valid. They will probably point you to the EULA.

There may be ways to fool Vista into activating with a new mobo, and if you google the subject you will probably find them. I reverted to an XP load, and am happy with the performance.

[quinny714]

add another victim to the seemingly long list failed motherboards.  Can anyone tell me a good replacement board for an HP p6130y.  Owned it just short of two years and the MB is DEAD.  Had an old Dell 2400 that is still chugging away.  What on earth is going on.  How about a recall HP?

[vasilis1965]

I also have the problem same MoBo but Pavilion a6720y just two years old and very light use (email and internet).  Can anyone recomend a low cost mobo that will accept my memory and other stuff and run my vista ?

[tmotech]

I have the same issue with a M9530F PC with a M2N78-LA DEFECTIVE MOTHERBOARD.

I have also emailed the CEO via the link posted on page 12. {Content Removed} if HP does not respond to my allegations and my request to have my motherboard replaced at no cost to me with a non-defective motherboard, including a new operating system, as my VISTA 64 bit OS will be invalidated if they replace it with a different motherboard.

Here is the letter I submitted to HP {Content Removed: no legal discussion permitted}

I suggest you all do the same!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

My name is Chris.

I purchased an HP PAVILION M9530F PC. Your product was manufactured with a flawed design and/or defective M2N78-LA motherboard in multiple different HP desktop models. My computer no longer recognizes my SATA HARD DRIVE or my SATA DVD DRIVE.

There is a topic on your support forums which clearly indicates a manufacturing defect based on the number of affected HP customers who actually found the forum after their computers motherboard failed due to extreme heat conditions. The majority of those customers experienced the issue within a few months of the warranty expiring. Many of them spent hundreds of dollars replacing hard drives, dvd burners, power supply's, fans, etc, when their computer's motherboard failed to see their SATA HARD DRIVES and SATA DVD DRIVES.

I have spoken to your "customer support" and indicated the product I purchased from HP should be considered a "lemon" and that at the very least, my motherboard should be replaced at no cost to myself, even though the computer warranty has expired. Of course, as I knew would be the case, my request was denied. I pointed out the Forum Topic which clearly indicates a flawed product which was causing the computer to stop seeing all the SATA DRIVES attached to the motherboard.

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware/m8530f-desktop-PC-with-a-m2n78-la-mother-board-doesn-t...

Since I will have to replace the defective motherboard myself, of course I would not want to replace it by PURCHASING THE SAME DEFECTIVE MOTHERBOARD!!! Because of this, if I choose to replace the motherboard at my own expense with a product other than the defective one that HP built their machines with, my copy of Windows Vista Home Premium will become invalidated since the motherboard will not be the same one that the copy of Vista was licensed for. Because of that, I will be forced to pay out of pocket to purchase a new license for the OPERATING SYSTEM!!!!!

It is my opinion that HP has SCAMMED their customers by selling LEMON computers and not honoring their commitment to their paying customers to provide a quality product without manufacturing defects.

{Content Removed: no legal discussion permitted}

Please contact me directly {Content Removed: no legal discussion permitted}

Sincerely,

Chris 

[scyber]

Add me to the list also.  I have a p6210f computer and have the same issue.

[kyuu14]

Add the model: e9140f on this list.

[bomberbob]

And yet another satisfied HP customer.

HP should know what motherboards have that NVIDIA chip (that overheats), why do they not contact registered users and try to fix them BEFORE they self destruct? Bury their head in the profits and hope the unhappy customers will just "go away"?