Wireless Problems with HP DV9000

Hi,
So recently, the wireless light on my notebook turned solid orange, and is not able to detect any wireless networks. I have read many posts regarding this and have looked o HP's website, and apparently my model number is under a recall for this problem (something to do with the motherboard). I was wondering if anyone has had this same problem and if they got repairs from HP and if they charged them for it. I am dreading calling HP due to their POOR standards. Thanks for your help.

 

If it's under a recall, I doubt if you'll be charged for it. Are you still under warranty as well?

 

Yes, I've seen three machines with this problem, but it was not a recall -- it was an extended warranty. The extended warranty on this computer has, I believe, expired, though. I saw another laptop about one month ago experience this problem and informed the own and he attempted to get HP to address the issue, but they refused because the laptop was more than one year beyond the normal warranty (the extended laptop was for one additional year).

 

Did he nonetheless go ahead and pay HP for the repairs?

 

No, we pulled the drive and he junked the laptop and bought a nicer one for about twice as much as the repair would have cost and we moved the data. As I recall, they wanted to charge him about $250 for a new motherboard (not including shipping) so he bought a new laptop for around $550 that was twice as powerful as the old one.

 

Try calling HP anyway and give them a push.

Normally they dont charge because of the warranty enhancement service but if your notebook is out of the enhancement period then i suggest you just buy a USB wifi adapter.

 

That's probably the best solution of all, particularly if the repair's gonna cost $250 (and probably more for shipping, insurance, and the like). The wireless card on my old Sony died two years ago, and I just slapped a PC-card based wireless adapter into it and it's been working fine (in fact, it works even better than the internal card used to work).

In fact, considering that these adapters can be had for around $50, the shipping and insurance alone to send the system to HP for repairs would probably cost more.

Flipfire is correct - as usual - go with the external wireless adapter and just put a bit of black paint or something over the orange light so it doesn't show any more.