UPDATE: Phone call, 0730 : Mr Webb (pronounced Mr Weeb.. is that really a difficult one?) this is Charles a level 3 technician from HP. After reviewing your issue that you discussed with Gabriel (if you heard the accents you'd be laughing at these obviously made up names) and we have decided that instead of taking your laptop in we need you to do a... Read More complete system recovery. If this doesn't resolve the issue then feel free to contact us again with the issue id number given to you by Gabriel. Thank you.
Yes, I didn't answer the phone at 0730 from an 'unknown number'. Though I did call back. So, now you all know where I have been and what I have been doing ALLLLLL weekend between running, whining, and complaining about my joints. Yet, I am almost back up and running were I should be and the issue is fixed!
THE PROBLEM:Every time I boot up my laptop it would be at 800*600 resolution. No matter what I did it would go back. I googled for an answer. Uninstalled and reinstalled my driver, updated bios, and walked through the insanely comical list with 'Gabriel' trying to fix it. In the end, Gabriel told me that he thought it ... Read Morewas a pre-warning (a 'pre-warning'? is that a warning about a warning?) that my NVIDIA card was dieing and needed to be replaced. Charles (Lvl 3 tech) said it wasn't so; just that the initial setting didn't embed into it and it needed to be reset from the beginning. They like to use lots of technical words to try to confuse me like: embedded, pre-warning, re-reinstall, and I wish I had the space (and a copy) of that comical list of things I had to walk through with Gabriel. They included me having to explain to him HOW I reboot my computer and if I clicked the 'apply' when I changed the settings. Anywho.. it seems to all be good now. Just lost all my GiveAway stuff (again) and have to reinstall (re-reinstall in their words).
@WhiteRabbit: I know this sounds super basic and probably something you have tried, but I had a friend that had the same problem. It turned out that the wireless card in his computer didn't accept the N signal. Past that you are WAAAY past my knowledge. I have trouble with all the wireless stuff. I got my wireless router set up and don't mess with it... though I have been advised that it is old and the security isn't as great as it should be. Ahh something for another time to mess with I keep telling myself.
@Desethead47: I find that I always google for an answer and if that doesn't work I ask more tech advanced people before going to the online tech for the computer. They seem to always give you some half fix and an excuse. Then tell you to system restore and call back if it isn't better. To be honest, if it wasn't for the warranty issue I wouldnt have called them. Some of the BEST help and information I have ever gotten is from all the people here. Everyone is honest and helpful without a personal agenda behind their answers. Also, seems if they don't know the answer they will help you figure it out or find it.
Hope all is well with you all,
ibwebb