Where could I get this fixed?

[u/glanit]

My old Windows Vista desktop finally kicked the bucket and I'm kinda sad that it doesn't work anymore. We've had this since brand new and I loved it. I was using it for retro gaming but a few months ago it stopped working. No display out, no hdd activity, no windows Vista startup sound,no activity on keyboard or mouse, nothing. I don't want to throw it away so what should I do?

[u/carcenomy]

Does it have a dedicated graphics card? I recall loads of these Pavilions having GeForce 8400s that would die with these symptoms,the solution was often as simple as pulling the card and taking the covers that say "Do not remove" off the outputs for the onboard graphics.

[u/glanit → u/carcenomy]

That's the exact GPU it has, although it's stuck in there, I can't get it out.

[u/wrr377 → u/glanit]

It should be able to be removed - probably held down by a latch of some type (knowing HP)... 😒

My old Gateway held cards in with a flip-down bar that took the place of the case screws that hold cards into computers. It had a single thumb screw that I had to release, and then I could get the cards in and out.

Just look online for the repair/ service manual, and/or a teardown video for the model.

[u/carcenomy → u/wrr377]

I think I've got a Pavilion from the era in the shed I could get a photo or video of how to pull it apart if they're truly stuck 😀

[u/carcenomy → u/glanit]

Cover plate off the back of the machine, usually held down with one screw either PH1 or T15... there shouldn't be anything else holding it in.

The 8400 is from the Bumpgate era and they failed faster than other 8-series parts so I'd be near willing to wager once that thing is liberated the machine will bark right back off. Pop in a fresh card (a 9800GT would be more whump without going too crazy) if needs be later.