PROBLEM SOLVED BY ADJUSTING NVIDIA CONTROL SETTING -- SEE MY OTHER POST BELOW
I have a HP HDX X18T-1200 CTO Laptop purchased new in 2008 directly from HP. It has a Intel Core 2 Quad Q9100 CPU @ 2.26 GHz processor, 8 GB RAM, 64-Bit Windows 7, and a NVIDIA GEForce GT 130M GPU with 1 GB storage.
PROBLEM: Persistent and random power shutoffs, which happens while the laptop is plugged in. I suspect a deteriorating GPU or power supply, but I am not sure which should be first to troubleshoot and replace. Here are my observations:
O/S Issues seem to be ruled out. This laptop has separate, bootable O/S’s on its two disks, one a SSD and the other a HD, either of which can be booted and used as a W7 O/S C: with the other as simple D: drive. With EITHER O/S booted, the problem happens. Both O/S’s are current with Windows 7 updates.
Problem happens independent of external power sources, including plug-ins at other homes. Replacing the AC/DC converter and Battery with their verified backups does not fix the problem, either. I keep the unit well ventilated on an open-air mount, in a HEPA filtered dust-free room, and regularly vacuum the cooling air entrance ports.
There seem to be no temperature issues reported in the Windows Event monitor, other than an “Unexpected Power Shutdown”. Immediately after a power shutdown, I used Open Hardware Monitor to determine the temperature of the quad CPUs (55-65 deg C), the NVIDIA GPU (55-62 deg C), and the SSD & HD (30 deg C). The monitor also indicates plenty of the 8 GB RAM and 1 GB GPU storage is also still available.
It frequently happens when my Startup window ‘flashes’ from selecting a User to displaying that user’s Desktop, or flashes when the laptop’s lid is closed to switch to my 25-inch HP 2509 monitor. It also happens while I am using either Firefox or IE browsers, especially if I use certain graphics-intensive YouTube videos. However, Paint and Word are also victimized without a browser being activated.
If I restarted the laptop and leave it alone, it used to stay running overnight, but now it is getting worse. Recently, I discovered the problem does NOT happen while I am in Windows Safe Mode. Moreover, the problem does NOT happen if I disable the NVIDIA GPU’s device drivers using the Device Manager. As a result, I suspect the NVIDIA GPU is deteriorating.
Alternatively, a power supply problem might be indicated. The battery system stopped working nearly a year before the power shutdown problem. I have changed batteries, chargers, and dissected the whole system to change the internal power connector. Despite these, the system will only run on wall socket power. Moreover, the battery will not charge. I mention this is to speculate the possibility of the NVIDIA GPU exceeding the power demand on a deteriorating power supply.
On this forum, I have seen other similar problems reported with other systems, but no clear resolutions that I understand. I have tried posting on Windows and HP forums, but without any feedback. HP’s manuals do not discuss replacing graphics cards or power modules.
I really want to keep this system, because its big 18-inch screen is very helpful when I am tutoring my students. Alternatively, it might be simpler to swap my W7 disks into a refurbished system. So, comments and suggestions for remedies would be profusely appreciated!
Thanks!
Joe
I have a HP HDX X18T-1200 CTO Laptop purchased new in 2008 directly from HP. It has a Intel Core 2 Quad Q9100 CPU @ 2.26 GHz processor, 8 GB RAM, 64-Bit Windows 7, and a NVIDIA GEForce GT 130M GPU with 1 GB storage.
PROBLEM: Persistent and random power shutoffs, which happens while the laptop is plugged in. I suspect a deteriorating GPU or power supply, but I am not sure which should be first to troubleshoot and replace. Here are my observations:
O/S Issues seem to be ruled out. This laptop has separate, bootable O/S’s on its two disks, one a SSD and the other a HD, either of which can be booted and used as a W7 O/S C: with the other as simple D: drive. With EITHER O/S booted, the problem happens. Both O/S’s are current with Windows 7 updates.
Problem happens independent of external power sources, including plug-ins at other homes. Replacing the AC/DC converter and Battery with their verified backups does not fix the problem, either. I keep the unit well ventilated on an open-air mount, in a HEPA filtered dust-free room, and regularly vacuum the cooling air entrance ports.
There seem to be no temperature issues reported in the Windows Event monitor, other than an “Unexpected Power Shutdown”. Immediately after a power shutdown, I used Open Hardware Monitor to determine the temperature of the quad CPUs (55-65 deg C), the NVIDIA GPU (55-62 deg C), and the SSD & HD (30 deg C). The monitor also indicates plenty of the 8 GB RAM and 1 GB GPU storage is also still available.
It frequently happens when my Startup window ‘flashes’ from selecting a User to displaying that user’s Desktop, or flashes when the laptop’s lid is closed to switch to my 25-inch HP 2509 monitor. It also happens while I am using either Firefox or IE browsers, especially if I use certain graphics-intensive YouTube videos. However, Paint and Word are also victimized without a browser being activated.
If I restarted the laptop and leave it alone, it used to stay running overnight, but now it is getting worse. Recently, I discovered the problem does NOT happen while I am in Windows Safe Mode. Moreover, the problem does NOT happen if I disable the NVIDIA GPU’s device drivers using the Device Manager. As a result, I suspect the NVIDIA GPU is deteriorating.
Alternatively, a power supply problem might be indicated. The battery system stopped working nearly a year before the power shutdown problem. I have changed batteries, chargers, and dissected the whole system to change the internal power connector. Despite these, the system will only run on wall socket power. Moreover, the battery will not charge. I mention this is to speculate the possibility of the NVIDIA GPU exceeding the power demand on a deteriorating power supply.
On this forum, I have seen other similar problems reported with other systems, but no clear resolutions that I understand. I have tried posting on Windows and HP forums, but without any feedback. HP’s manuals do not discuss replacing graphics cards or power modules.
I really want to keep this system, because its big 18-inch screen is very helpful when I am tutoring my students. Alternatively, it might be simpler to swap my W7 disks into a refurbished system. So, comments and suggestions for remedies would be profusely appreciated!
Thanks!
Joe
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