HP iq772.uk multi coloured vertical lines on boot

Question

Hi guys,
I've got a iq772.uk all in one shaped brick at the moment. All it does on start up is show me some random bunch of different coloured vertical lines. The hard drive and fan are buzzing away, so I just think this is a graphics card issue.
It's well out of warranty, I just wondered if anyone knows if it has an integrated chip set or a separate graphics card that I could replace before I take it apart? Obviously if it's built in it would be a bit of a no go.
Cheers,
Nicola

Answer 1

Keywords: IQ770 IQ772 graphics problem fix disassembly
I experienced similar problems. From digging around on the web, I found that HP Quinn Outsmarts suffer from a few different video issues. A really excellent website is www.touchsmartdevzone.com (look at the vertical lines screen problem thread).
Mine had a failed video graphics card. Here's what I did to resolve the situation:
Objective: Remove fried EXTERNAL graphics card and swap to the ONBOARD card (you won't be able to play graphically demanding games, but in all other situations there will be no difference), which is a Gofer 6610 with IAMB RAM.
Remember: Switch the power OFF, but leave the plug in. Earth yourself first by touching the chassis AND remember these instructions aren't aimed at technically incompetent people who are likely to hurt themselves, hurt others or break things along the way
Method:
Uncover the back part of base section. This is quite easy, as all you need to do is unscrew the two screws on the back of the base (one just above the power socket and the other on the opposite site, just by the Ir Out). The plastic cover slides backwards with a bit of a pull. This reveals around 75% of the motherboard.
Remove the DVD player. This, too, is quite easy. Looking from the back of the unit, the DVD is to the top right. Remove the cable connector on the end of the DVD. A bit fiddly and you may have to pull the cable for the mini VGA out to make some space. Lift the black plastic tab near the corner of the DVD and slide the DVD back and out.
Remove the front part of the base section. This is a PAIN. There are five screws: two at the front and three at the back. The two at the front are hidden under the label for the front USB ports, just behind the little door next to the power button. Use a sharp knife to gently lift the sticker - it will go back on again. Two of the three at the back are under where the DVD was. The last is right on the edge on the opposite side. Once all five screws are out you have to fiddle and push the panel forwards. It's held on by three spring clips, so it feels like you're going to break something. This reveals the rest of the motherboard and importantly the external graphics card.
CHECKPOINT: You can't go back after this step without buying some [cheap] bits. It may be worth (a) checking that the cooling fan is spinning and free from dust/hair, and (b) checking that simply wiggling the graphics card & heatsink & lead doesn't fix the problem.
Remove the graphics card. N.B. You will break some clips doing this, so be sure you want to go ahead. The graphics card sits under a heat sink at the very front of the base unit, right in the middle. You should be able to follow a strip of copper (CM wide) from its top to the cooling fan at the back of the base section. A second copper strip runs to the CPU. The heat sink is held down by four plastic clips/springs. You need to break these to remove them. A small pair of pliers will do the job. Now remove the two small screws holding the card in place and then remove the card from its slot.
Swap the graphics lead from external to onboard. This is easy, but took about ten goes before it worked (no idea why). The lead is plugged in at the front of the motherboard, just under where the DVD locates. It has a Mm white block connector that plugs into a slot labelled ELVES. Pull it out of this slot and plug it into the slot next to it, which is labelled ELVES.
Powering up should reveal a working screen. Windows will start with a generic driver, but can automatically detect the new card and, after a restart, you'll be back to normal (exception being the games).
You can buy replacement graphics cards, but they're not cheap (serial number is on the back of the cards). The card is an INVALID unit (could be 5188-7147 MGM GRAPHICNESS GM-MM CROSSFIRE). In theory, you could replace it yourself, but it will fry if you don't buy new spring clips, clean off the old CPU paste and apply new paste.
As I said in the Method, the first ten times I swapped the lead over, it simply didn't work and I was convinced the PC was for the bin. I reinstalled the old card and got it working for again for about five minutes, before it died with a bad burning smell. I reverted to the onboard slot one last time and found that it worked.
GOOD LUCK
Arnie