HP Pavilion dv9500 Boiling processor.

[something daft already!!]

I am more of a desktop sort of chap but someone has asked me to look at their laptop for them as it keeps shutting down when browsing You Tube or watching videos.

No BSOD, I advised him to update Flash and uninstall any codecs and install Vista Codec pack. This was all a red Herring.

It does not matter what you do, the thing just shuts down after a few minute, you dont even need to run any programs other than the OS. No BSOD, just a shut down.

Me thinks, Ah! Bios shut down due to temps. I was right, installed Speedfan and the processor while idle (AMD x2) was running at over 90 degrees C. Good enough for a nice cup of tea.

So heres lies my problem. I know what the fault is, overheating although the cooling fan is running. So I think it's either a faulty CPU is some manner or the HSF has somehow removed itself from the processor. Its not that old, about a year and its also quite clean, the exhaust ports are quite clear and free of dust. How do I go about fixing it? I dont want to start taking it apart and find myself lost with loads of compacted bits and bobs and thousands of screws, so does anyone here have any experience with stripping laptops? This one is a HP Pavilion dv9500. Are they quite tricky to get at the processor?

 

[ShakenNstirred]

yeah there a right pain to strip, lots of screws everywhere
i gave up stripping mine lol , wanted to add some new paste to the cpu

 

["andy"]

has it got any warranty left ? id try and blag hp before trying to take it apart

heatsink mostlikely needs reseating though. they tend to use crap thermal pads in the first place

 

[something daft already!!]

This is what I thought tbh. Ta for the replies. No sure about warranty, it's not mine and I don't think there is any left.

 

[JonJ678]

Long post, but should be helpful. Needless to say take the battery out and don't wear wool jumpers.

They're a lot easier to take apart than you might expect. Easier than a few oem desktops. I've stripped half a dozen or so down completely, one of those was a compaq. There are many screws, but generally all the case screws are the same as each other which helps. Remove absolutely all of them, then try to gently lift up one corner. Look for where it sticks, and search for screws there. There may be some behind the dvd bezel, behind the plastic screen over the buttons below the screen, and there will be more behind the keyboard.

The keyboard has a ribbon cable underneath it, be gentle with that one. There's a couple of little tabs either side of where it plugs in, if you move these away from the socket the cable comes loose. You push them back in to clamp the cable back in place. Similarly the touchpad has a smaller cable, this one is generally more difficult to put back in place.

Process ends up being take out every visible screw
Remove whatever is no longer attached
Repeat

The chassi will be screwed together from both sides, once you remove the panel below the screen and the keyboard you'll be able to see almost all of them. The area around the hinges requires some finess, a small flat blade screwdriver helps a lot. Slide it into an opening and rotate it, move along a bit and repeat. The screen will be attached by two cables which unplug from the motherboard, and a couple of largish screws beside each hinge. If you remove these, and take the screen off the rest of the job is a lot easier.

If you don't have a near-photographic memory take many many photos and draw diagrams or putting it back together will be interesting.

I vote the fan has died, but that's only because I've seen a dead fan and not yet seen seen a heatsink come off the processor. A few of them were very firmly bolted down. I'd appreciate you reporting back with what the cause turned out to be, as laptop repair is difficult and the more examples I have available the better I'll be at fixing them. Would also be curious as to your opinion on the internal build quality, as its something reviews never seem to mention

Good luck

 

[jlss]

Ive got a Presario R3000, i had the exact thing's happening to me damn thing would shut down.

Lucky i never had to strip it panel on the bottom needed taking out and i could get to the heart sink, it was blocked with 3 years of dust.

All i done was get shot of the dust never undone the heat sink and since ive cleaned it out no probs at all.

Tbh i could have just got a can of Compressed Air and blown it out.

 

[beermonster]

under full load the air coming out the exhaust should be fairly warm, best to hold it to your cheek as its easier to feel the temp difference, try from cold and then under load to see if there is a notable difference, I've never known one of these heatsinks to fail but its possible. If the air is the same under load i would try reseating and possibly replacing the fan/heatsink assembly.

I repair these on a daily basis so if you get stuck report back.

 

[something daft already!!]

snip

Thanks for the tips. (And I hate smiley's so you are honored!)I am going to get it back to give this a try I think. Possibly at the weekend. I have my precision screw drivers ready and a fresh syringe of TIM.

Going to take some picts in case and will post results.

@beermonster: Thanks, I did not try this while I had it. I did hold the back of my hand to it though to test and the air did not seem to get any warmer from the exhaust port. It simply got hot underneath, leading me to my thoughts on a drifting heatsink. I will try this test though, before I pull it apart!