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What are the most common hardware failures to check before buying a used hp elitebook 850 g2?
I have decided to buy the hp elitebook 850 g2 because it offers a large 15.6 inch screen in a relatively thin and professional looking chassis. Before I hand over my cash in Computer Village I want to know exactly what to test. What are the notorious hardware issues specific to the hp elitebook 850 g2 model? Do the hinges become loose and wobbly over time? Does the soft touch rubber coating on the lid become sticky and melt due to the humid Nigerian weather?
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3 days agoThe hp elitebook 850 g2 is a beautiful 15.6 inch corporate ultrabook but evaluating a used unit requires checking very specific hardware flaws. The most notorious issue with the entire EliteBook 800 G1 and G2 series is the soft touch rubberized coating applied to the magnesium lid. While it felt incredibly premium and grippy when brand new this rubber coating degrades terribly over the years. Under the intense heat and humidity of the Nigerian climate the rubber breaks down chemically turning into a sticky gooey mess that attracts dust and leaves black residue on your fingers. Before paying rub your thumb firmly across the top lid. If it feels sticky like melting chewing gum you will have to spend hours scrubbing the lid with isopropyl alcohol to remove the degraded rubber down to the bare metal.
josh
3 days agoBeyond the cosmetic lid issue the internal hardware of the hp elitebook 850 g2 is generally very robust. The hinges are actually engineered beautifully hidden inside the chassis and rarely become loose or wobbly even after years of use. However you must meticulously test the keyboard. Because it is a 15.6 inch laptop it features a full numeric keypad. The ribbon cable connecting this massive keyboard to the motherboard sometimes wears out causing specific columns of keys (like the T Y U column) to stop working entirely. Open a blank Notepad document and firmly press every single key including the function keys and the trackpoint buttons in the center of the keyboard. If any key requires multiple hard presses to register demand a replacement unit.
josh
3 days agoThe sticky lid issue is an absolute nightmare. I bought a used 850 G2 and whenever I pulled it out of my bag it covered my hands in sticky black goo. I had to use nail polish remover to scrub the rubber off completely.
josh
3 days agoTest the Wi-Fi switch! There is a physical button on the top right above the keyboard that turns the Wi-Fi on and off. On older units this button gets stuck turning the Wi-Fi permanently off. Make sure the light turns white when you press it.
josh
3 days agoIt is a fantastic laptop for the price. The screen is large the body is thin and it is very easy to upgrade the RAM and hard drive by just sliding off the bottom cover without any screws.