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

[jgnbaworks]

Heck of a list here........ and I also am on it. Ok, here is what I am gonna try...

Being a local tech, this computer came to me dead. (M2N78-LA). I replaced the customers MB with a Gigabyte dual core, and now they are happy... anyways, this problem has all of the earmarks of NVIDIA NB failure, which I have had to deal with on more laptop motherboards than I can count. The beauty of this is that I have nothing to loose and possibly you guys have something to gain.

On most of the laptops, its just a matter of "reflowing" the NVIDIA chip. I have done it with about a 98% success rate on laptops, but have never tried it on a desktop board. I have adapted and used the procedure in the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYo-eRLRvWQ&feature=related

Of course I am going to have to modify the plan somewhat, but in this case I have nothing to loose. I will post the results and let you all know how it goes.

[jgnbaworks]

Well, reflow did not work. I will note however that the Northbridge area appeared to have already been burnt. It appears that the NB chip had been arc prone before the failure. Nothing gained, and nothing lost.

Before everybody tosses rocks at HP, please note that this appears to be an NVIDIA issue. I agree that HP should have better QA on their product, but it also appears that NVIDIA is having failure on most ALL of their MB chipsets. Any motherboard with NVIDIA chipset is prone to have this failure... especially laptops.

[runningbull]

My M2n78-la motherboard just crashed as well in my Pavilion a4316f. Tried the CEO link and we'll see what happens as customer service only wanted to sell me a new tower.

[pjmarch]

i had my MOBO replaced once already under warranty, now less than a year later here we are again, i sent a message to the CEO escalation, we will see what happens

[scyber]

So I decided to replace the defective motherboard.  Drives were all recognized correctly.  Unfortunately, windows will no longer boot and recovery gives a configuration error.  From what I am reading I need to do a full windows 7 reinstall/repair b/c the currently installed version doesn't have the right drivers for the mobo.   Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the windows 7 disc that came with my computer.   Anyone know if the computer p6210f actually shipped with a separate windows 7 disc?   I don't want to tear my house appart if it didnt.   I know OEM versions sometimes used to not come with a disc.

[pjmarch]

Spoke to escalations..talked my way into executive escalations...same story different company line towing idiot on both levels..zero admission there was ever a problem with the boards..offered a half price repair..150 bucks..told them I could repair it myself for half that..she suggested I do so..told them they lost me and every person I ever speak to as a customer as well as letting my multi billion dollar company that I work for that has a minimum of three HP desktops and two HP printers In each of our over 2700 locations know how this was resolved...she could not have cared less..her name Is Alicia if she answers the phone..save yourself the migraine and just hang up...

[bomberbob]

Scyber - nobody ships with restore DVDs anymore. Cost savings. Its usually on a partition on your hard drive. Probably not going to help you out. See if you can order one from HP, if you want to give them more money. It may not work if you stuck a different mobo in it. Be creative......

[scyber]

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@bomberbob wrote:

Scyber - nobody ships with restore DVDs anymore. Cost savings. Its usually on a partition on your hard drive. Probably not going to help you out. See if you can order one from HP, if you want to give them more money. It may not work if you stuck a different mobo in it. Be creative......

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Yeah that's what I figured.  As you can probably guess, its been a number of years since I've needed to replace a mobo in my computer.    I had no interest in giving HP money.  Fortunately I found a windows 7 dvd that I had, so I could do a clean install from that.  I wasn't able to repair my install, but at least Im up and running.  

[dunwithhp]

Chalk up another fried mobo.  I have been a loyal HP customer for over 10 years.  I have purchased new desktop PCs every two years.  I have never had any issues with HP.  In fact, until the last year or so, my kids were still using some of the first HPs I purchased.  However, my latest HP (HP p6320y with the M2N78-LA motherboard) will be my last HP unless the company either replaces or repairs the pc at no charge.  I spent $1200.00 on the pc just over a year ago.  To me, that is a major purchase and I cannot afford to replace the machine at this time.  Therefore, I have no choice but to slum it, and use one of the older, slower models that I have. 

[quinny714]

SO!  I just got off the phone with a case manager as well and was told that since my desktop is 360+ days out of warranty they would do a repair at half the cost.  Not sure why they would do this at half the cost unless they thought this is and has been an ongoing problem.  There was a class action lawsuit because of this same problem with the laptops and that is now over.  If I send it in to be repaired they would do a repair install of my HD and I will lose everything on my HD.  I don't want to lose everything on my HD so I asked the case manager if there was another option and he said I could try ebay or newegg and install the MB myself.  I told him I can't find this exact MB anywhere for less than $400 and wouldn't i need to buy another version of windows 7 and he said that shouldn't be a problem.  I am thouroughly confused as to which direction I should go with this.  Just wish they would come forward and admit there is an issue and enact a recall and or replace these computers.  They could refurbish them and sell them elsewhere, no?  Have any of you on this thread been able to buy a different MB for your computer and then have no problem booting up and getting windows 7 to start?