*HP EliteBook 8540w Owners Lounge!*

[NUTSH3LL]

happy to see the screen worked out well for you. I just ordered mine today
quick question, when you removed the screen bezel... how did you go about doing so? Did you pry from the inside or the outside casing? Did you start with top to bottom or side to side? Any other tips you can give? I started the removal process, but a bit nervous about breaking the plastic clips...

as far as the fan, I'm of no help... only thing that comes to mind is change the settings in BIOS?

[scophone]

Everybody is good! I'm a beginner. Everyone please take care

[VisionLight]

I've found a good a wireless speaker for our machines that impresses me. If you don't checkout the 8740w thread, you can find my mini-review there in post #2147.

[caimakale]

I'm having a problem (and have since the day I bought my 8540w...in November of 2010) that I'm wondering if any of you have seen and/or know what is wrong. I've lost a considerable amount of time in support calls, chats, technician visits. At this point, the laptop has cost me double to triple what I paid for it in lost productivity. I'm giving up on HP support at this point and am ready to trash the laptop and buy something else. In my experience, real world users are typically the best help in a situation like this because you're not reading from a script.

Here's what happens:

My laptop will randomly "freeze" up and become unresponsive. When it happens, a weird color pattern is displayed on the screen.



This happens 5 to 10 times per day. It happens when the only thing open is firefox and I'm watching a youtube video. It happens frequently when downloading something in itunes. It always happens when using photoshop, premiere, quickbooks, virtualbox, or anything else that is resource intensive.

It's very frustrating because I lose everything that is open. It strikes without warning and it happens often.

Here's what HP has done so far.

1. Replaced video card (nVidia Quadro FX 880M)
2. Replaced motherboard
3. Replaced CPU
4. Replaced memory
5. Replace hard drive

I've performed a format and install of the OS on 4 different occasions. I've installed the drivers from the supplied disk, downloaded all of the latest/greatest, and have done an install with drivers supplied by tech support. None of which have worked. My exact model is the 8540w FN095UT.

Any suggestions or ideas as to what the problem is? All feedback is welcome.

[knight427]

I would push hard for a full system replacement. If you have had the same on-site tech for all the repairs, they should be ready to recommend you get a replacement. Start using the term "lemon" in all of your communications with HP in regards to your machine.

[caimakale]

I would push hard for a full system replacement. If you have had the same on-site tech for all the repairs, they should be ready to recommend you get a replacement. Start using the term "lemon" in all of your communications with HP in regards to your machine.

Knight...thanks for the response.

I've called HP a couple times asking for it to be replaced as well as the local tech that performed the repairs to no avail. They now want me to take it to a local repair center to have them look at it. Like I mentioned in my initial post, I'm so upside down in this laptop right now that I'm finished working with HP on it. I'm truly surprised that HP doesn't feel this same way with all of the service calls and replacement parts they've invested. I truthfully have lost all faith in HP and their ability to take care of the situation and don't have the time to waste on the phone with them any longer. My fear is that I'll end up having the exact same problem.

I'm just hoping that someone here has experienced something similar and found a fix for it.

Thanks again!

[Star Forge]

I'm having a problem (and have since the day I bought my 8540w...in November of 2010) that I'm wondering if any of you have seen and/or know what is wrong. I've lost a considerable amount of time in support calls, chats, technician visits. At this point, the laptop has cost me double to triple what I paid for it in lost productivity. I'm giving up on HP support at this point and am ready to trash the laptop and buy something else. In my experience, real world users are typically the best help in a situation like this because you're not reading from a script.

Here's what happens:

My laptop will randomly "freeze" up and become unresponsive. When it happens, a weird color pattern is displayed on the screen.

*Picture Above*

This happens 5 to 10 times per day. It happens when the only thing open is firefox and I'm watching a youtube video. It happens frequently when downloading something in itunes. It always happens when using photoshop, premiere, quickbooks, virtualbox, or anything else that is resource intensive.

It's very frustrating because I lose everything that is open. It strikes without warning and it happens often.

Here's what HP has done so far.

1. Replaced video card (nVidia Quadro FX 880M)
2. Replaced motherboard
3. Replaced CPU
4. Replaced memory
5. Replace hard drive

I've performed a format and install of the OS on 4 different occasions. I've installed the drivers from the supplied disk, downloaded all of the latest/greatest, and have done an install with drivers supplied by tech support. None of which have worked. My exact model is the 8540w FN095UT.

Any suggestions or ideas as to what the problem is? All feedback is welcome.

One thing you didn't try to do and that is check if the LED screen is the culprit. Maybe the screen is acting up for some weird reason.

[knight427]

Knight...thanks for the response.

I've called HP a couple times asking for it to be replaced as well as the local tech that performed the repairs to no avail. They now want me to take it to a local repair center to have them look at it. Like I mentioned in my initial post, I'm so upside down in this laptop right now that I'm finished working with HP on it. I'm truly surprised that HP doesn't feel this same way with all of the service calls and replacement parts they've invested. I truthfully have lost all faith in HP and their ability to take care of the situation and don't have the time to waste on the phone with them any longer. My fear is that I'll end up having the exact same problem.

I'm just hoping that someone here has experienced something similar and found a fix for it.

Thanks again!

If anyone here was able to fix it themselves, that would most likely be a software issue. You have reinstalled your OS several times and updated all drivers. That seems to eliminate software (though I am far from an expert).

I agree with Star Forge that the screen is the next/last logical piece of hardware to try replacing. See if you can get your on-site tech to replace it. I would also persist in pushing for continued on-site service. They sold you the on-site warranty, so make them honor it. Note however that I'm sure the warranty fine print allows them to require depot service when they deem it necessary, but you don't need to convince the lawyers, you just need to convince your tech or another support specialist that on-site means on-site. Eventually they should cave on the replacement when they run out of parts to replace. Still frustrating though.

[Siorah]

if it is 5 separate repairs, then it's clearly 'not fit for purpose' - just add that to your communications with them as well.

i would also summise this is a screen/FW issue - although i've see that screenshot you posted on a faulty GPU.. and you state several programs that interact with the gpu in a HW acceleration way (flash/premiere/photoshop etc)

don't back down and state after 5 repairs it is not fit for the designed tasks, and you are due a replacement machine altogether. in the UK thats the trades descriptions law, i don't know about the US.

but yes, thats horrendous.

[HiddenUser]

Does this pattern appear outside Windows? My previous screen (8740w) showed sometimes patterns like yours, inside Windows and outside too. You said this effect only appears when doing certain tasks in Windows, but do the following test, because it's likely you can isolate the problem better:

Power on the laptop and press the ESC key when prompted. Now, leave the laptop on for five up to ten minutes with the on screen menu. Watch carefully the screen searching for waves or interferences from time to time (I know it's hard to watch the screen continually). If you see one, you'll know the problem is hardware related and independent from software issues (drivers...) If you can, take a photo of the on screen menu with the defects. This proof is irrefutable for the service center - they won't say again you should format your hard drive and reinstall the OS.

In my case, my screen was replaced and that solved the problem. It was faulty.

Good luck and keep us posted with your results.