HP dv6-3210us No Video

[shovenose]

Somebody asked me to take a look at it because "it didn't work".
Fans and lights go on, Wireless indicator goes orange and Caps lock blinks once every few seconds.
External monitor is a no go. According to HP website, it's got an ATI 4250 graphics, and the 1 blink means CPU error...
CPU:
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K10/AM...40SGR23GM.html
I took the whole thing apart and reseated the CPU. Same problem. I'm trying to convince them it's not worth fixing and they should buy my old laptop (Lenovo V570) from me, but in case I'd like to get this working.
Any suggestions? And I've attached a pic.

[sasser]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

1 blinking try to change your Processor AMD turion II. if nothing happen should go to reflow step ATI graphic chipset. its ATI 4250 right?

[shovenose]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

Yes, it is an ATI 4250.
Do those have issues that require reflowing? I thought only nVidia did?

I don't have another CPU, or I would have tried another. I really don't want to spend $20 on a new CPU just for it to not work. Note that it does the same (one blink) when I take the CPU out entirely.

[shovenose]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

Here is the detailed exact product information:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...roduct=4308958

[Herbssat]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

Good afternoon. I have a 3120 that is exhibiting the same symptoms you are describing. The customer has already purchased another laptop but I have this one and am in no rush to fix it. Mine uses a phenom N620. I have got a feeling that it is not the cpu that is bad. I will wait until i can find one dirt cheap to try. Keep us posted.

[shovenose]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

Herbssat,
I have ordered a CPU on eBay for $9.75. I will reply whether that fixed the problem or the motherboard is truly failed.

If it works I will keep the laptop or sell it. If I decide to keep it I will buy a better CPU. what is the best CPU this system will support?

And yes the owner gave it to me "to recycle" so I can do any testing past the CPU.

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

I had a DV5 with the same 1 blink symptom. It had previously been reballed by someone else, both NB and SB, that's how an acquaintance of mine bought it. It still didn't work. Replaced CPU and it worked just fine. Score 1 for thinking, score 0 for reballing without testing easily replaceable parts first...

So there is a chance that it's a bad CPU and not anything else, especially if it hasn't been kept clean. DV series run really really hot, and it's not uncommon for CPUs to fail in them.

Damaged solder balls under BGAs or bad BGAs aren't by any means nVidia exclusive, it happens to any BGA which is allowed to run excessively hot. I've reflowed a few Radeon NB/IGPs (HD3200) successfully, haven't seen a bad 4250 yet, but that doesn't mean they don't go bad. You may be lucky and get away with the CPU tho.

[shovenose]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

LOL 0 points for not even looking at the HP website that says 1 blink = CPU problem.
I certainly hope the CPU will do it; will serve as a decent backup laptop or a good source of income, either way it's a score!

[Herbssat]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

I saw what the hp website said about the 1 blink cpu error when I got it from the customer. However, I have not gotten an easy repair in years. I have programmed myself to believe that any laptop will never be that easy to fix. In just about every case something else has to be repaired before you get to the next problem. I am hoping for the best on this laptop but I wont be disappointed if the cpu doesnt fix it. You are right Shovenose. In your case it is a score.

[siddiq]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

I have had an issue with a 1 blink that turned out to be a corrupt bios. You have to program the bios chip manually if swapping the the cpu and reflowing the gpu doesn't help.

[shovenose]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

So close yet so far

[shovenose]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

Home sick from school today. Should be able to try the CPU today (when it arrives, of course). Out for delivery

[shovenose]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

Well, it did not fix the problem. Still one blink
How would I go about reprogramming the BIOS?

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

It's not the BIOS, otherwise it wouldn't have blinked at all, it woulda sat there doing nothing. Likely needs a reflow.

[c_hegge]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

That's kind of what I'm thinking, especially given how hot those things like to run. Give it a reflow and fan mod

[Herbssat]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

Well Shovenose,I guess it was wishful thinking. I ordered a cpu for $20 but don't really expect it to fix the problem. I don't get lucky with these types of issues. It seems as though a lot of the hp models are plagued with these problems. I have a toshiba that has been run moderately for the last 5 years with no problems at all. It also has an amd cpu. A lot of times as board level techs and it consultants we are preaching to the choir. I always recommend that customers who are primarily working from home use a desktop pc to relieve some of the stress from the laptop if the workload is intensive. Here they burn pirated dvds and cds , do other intensive tasks, and run the laptop 24/7. One cannot expect something to hold up under this stress with wimpy cooling and design flaws. The laptop is primarily for portability purposes. If you use it in a moderate manner you would not have to contend with all this reballing jazz in such a premature time frame. Just my 2 cents.

[senndogg]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

NO, you should reprogram nothing!
-order a already-reballed 216-0728014 from ebay.
-desolder the old chip with a simple heater from the under and a heat gun from the upside. (check youtube home-made reballing guides).
-clean the pcb with solder braid and iron.
-apply RMA-218 soldering paste.
-put the new chip, but not right in the square. just a few visible micrometers offset.
-dont go over 200'C when heating and wait as the solder melts and the chip re-positions right in the middle of the square. this means that the chip is soldered.
-let everything cool down and pray for good results.

In other words the problem with these kinds of HP DV6 ATI based graphics is the chip itself. This time (just like the nVidia G86 chips) reballing won't help, at least in most of my cases it didnt.

[senndogg]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

Sorry my bag!
I thought it was a 45xx instead of 42xx.
If you feel confident you can try swapping it. Remember, reflowing only will extend its life just a little bit but in this case: yes it might work.
Your chip is either 215-0752001 or 216-0674026. anyway when you strip up you will find yourself. It is a chipset with embedded graphics, not a dedicated graphic as i misunderstood.
My suggestion is that you reflow in first place.
If not, plan B. Buy a new leaded solder reballed chip. It is under 10$ i suppose.

[Lumberjack777]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

If you end up doing a reflow. I like this guy's method. I have used it successfully many times. It really helps to have a thermocouple to measure temps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEV43byTP9I

[shovenose]

Re: HP dv6-3210us No Video

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm putting it on local Craigslist for $100 as not working. Don't have the knowhow or time or patience to reflow it.

I definitely agree laptops should not be used 24/7 under high workload. I have a quality custom built desktop (or two) for that. But I still think a laptop should last more than two years! My old Lenovo V570 has and I was/am NOT nice to it! HP stuff just sucks