The mystery of the Pavilion

[Demorphic]

Hi there,

I Googled a few keywords and stumbled across the forum. Seems there are some similar problems here to the one I am having, though my own issue seems quite unique.
Just to say that any response or suggestions is much appreciated.

I recently purchased an HP zd8000 laptop (HP zd8227ea).
It is very new, and barely used now.

I recieved it with no operating system. I then installed Windows XP.

I then installed Norton Antivirus and Windows Defender. I then jumped to the HP site and installed all drivers.

After that time, I have been plagued with a peculiar problem. The laptop keeps shutting down, generally without any warning, no error messages, no pause or lockup.

I have disabled the "Shutdwon on system error" option to see if there is an error message, and there is none.

I struggled for some time with the solution, finding none.

After a bit of trial and error, I found that when I unplugged the mains AC adaptor, so the laptop was basically running on battery power, there are absolutely no problems.

With the laptop running on mains power, it shuts down regularly, when on battery power, no issues, it is perfect. I would be happy to continue like this if only the battery lasted a lot longer than the 1.5 hours I am getting from it right now.

With regards to the AC adaptor, the light is lit as normal, when plugged into the laptop, it seems to power it as normal, and not switch back and forth to battery. When switched off, it will recharge the battery as normal. The power light on the front of the laptop is lit normally when plugged in to the mains. This seems to rule out most AC adaptor problems.

I think that I have updated all drivers correctly from the HP site, including updated BIOS. I have run all Windows updates and all Nortons updates. The fan vents are clear. It does get warm on both battery power and mains power. The AC adaptor also gets pretty hot, quite quickly it seems.

So, when on battery power, all is perfect. When on mains power, all is misery.

If anyone has experienced this, or can point me to a possible solution, I would be hugely grateful.

Best regrds.

[mjc]

Did you have any problems running on the mains between the time you installed XP and the time you went with the HP driver updates?

[rond36]

Did you buy it new or used?

You say "The laptop keeps shutting down".

Does it shutdown gracefully as in closing programs and logging you off, or does it shut down hard not closing programs, not logging you off, and scanning the hard drive for errors on the next boot?

If it is a graceful shut down you may want check the power schemes in control panel.

I have a HP NX9600 and it has two power schemes one for plugged in and one for running on batteries.

I have my plugged in options all set to "Never" and running on batteries set to:

Turn off monitor: after 10 mins
Turn off hard disks: after 20 mins
System standby: after 30 mins
System hibernates: never

If it is a hard shutdown I would say you have a faulty power supply and it should be replaced (http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?product_code=DR911A%23ABA&cross_link=1).

"I then installed Norton Antivirus and Windows Defender".

It isn't a good idea to install two antivirus products you need to uninstall one of them.

[Demorphic]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the response, much appreciated. Learnt a couple of things there.

The shutdown of the laptop is a hard shutdown. Programs are not ended normally. The system freezes for a split second and then a black screen, then reboot. I have no error message once it starts up again. Sometimes it does not start up successfully, it simply shuts down once again. This normally happens when it has been running a little while and the power brick is hot.

I did indeed have problems after installing Windows, and before installing the drivers.

One issue may be related to the laptop being a US laptop (I believe) with a UK AC adapter, the 3 pin plug, and I am using it in Germany (European plug design). Could this be a problem?

[mjc]

I did indeed have problems after installing Windows, and before installing the drivers.

Then it is more likely a hardware problem, as opposed to a software one...

One issue may be related to the laptop being a US laptop (I believe) with a UK AC adapter, the 3 pin plug, and I am using it in Germany (European plug design). Could this be a problem?

The ouput of the power supply should be the same, so that part should be fine. The input side of the supply...yeah, that could be a problem. Especially if it is a US supply running through a series of adapters.

[Demorphic]

Looks like the probelm is being narrowed down, thanks for the advice.

I am indeed using a UK power supply (3 pins) plugged into an adaptor to fit the 2 pin German socket.

I will be able to test it in the UK next week and will see if the same problem exists.

Thanks for the help so far.

[Demorphic]

Hi again,
I managed to test this laptop in the UK, with the original AC power supply (UK is three pin). The same problem occurred - hard shutdown.
Unfortunately, due to the customised nature of this Power plug on the zd8000 series, I cannot find a replacement.

[HP_HATER]

Hi, Ive Just read All The Info on this machine of yours. Basically. its RUBBISH!!

I Know, Cos I Bought Mine From PC WORLD oct 2005 [£999] & I Updated mine around Xmas. Mines EXACTLY the same pROBLEM. These Things Get Way Too Hot To Run!. Hence the 1Hr 15 min Battery Time!.

One Querstion?
Does Yours Have A twin Tuner Built In?
According To HP, It Should Have....Mine Doesn't!

Ive Decided, If HP or PC WORLD, doesnt Sort This Crap Machine out.
I'm Gonna Get My Large Hammer, Vid Cam & YOUTUBE Account Ready

Keep You Posted!

[PrntRhd]

Hi, Ive Just read All The Info on this machine of yours. Basically. its RUBBISH!!
Please refrain from posting if you don't have a constructive answer, the members here are to be treated with respect or you will lose the privilege to post.

[Sylvander]

Unexpectedly Removing the Power Cord from Armada 7800 Laptop May Cause Computer to Shut Down even though the battery is fully charged. (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283670/en-us)

Microsoft Windows XP may shut down unexpectedly (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829884/en-us).

No Warning Message Appears Before Shutdown When Battery on Portable Computer Is Low or Critical (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305907/en-us).

Description of the Shutdown Event Tracker (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/293814/en-us).

Battery power may be drained more quickly than expected on your Windows XP-based portable computer (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/884575/en-us).

Battery power may drain more quickly than you expect on a Windows XP SP2-based portable computer (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918005/en-us).

[Fallax]

I just came across this forum while looking for help. I have a HP Pavilion zd8000 laptop and it is just out of warrenty and it is also experiencing the close down problem. I have it in an airconditioned room and a fan pointing at the back of it, hoping to keep it cool. Still it closes down. The software is XP Pro and every other piece of software in it is the HP software that came with it.

I am near in tears, I cant do anything with it, it just closes down. I dont have the money to send it for repare, I had to save for two years just to buy it in the first place. I have looked all over the web for help and all I can find is people with the same trouble and none of them have been able to get any assistance from HP. Even after sending their computers away to the service departments they come back with the same problem. I am at a loss...does anyone know what it could be or have any advice.

[Sylvander]

Make a Knoppix Linux Live CD (http://www.knoppix.org/) on some other computer and boot the laptop from that [you may need to go into the BIOS Setup and make the CD-drive (I'm assuming there is one) first in the boot menu].
If Knoppix runs just fine with no sign of the problem, then this is not a hardware problem [HDD excluded].
If the problem is still there, then this is a hardware problem [HDD excluded].

You should be able to go online using Knoppix and one of its 2 web browsers.

[ComputerNerd19]

I also had the same probelm, what i narrowed it down to was it was getting to hot try using your laptop somwhere that the exhaust fans are not block. It that still dosent help try cleaning your cpu heatsink and all the fans...