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An Ubuntu install smashed my HP Compaq 8510w built-in LCD display and presumably the firmware/BIOS.

I did an install a while ago of Lubuntu 12.10 - somewhere in the process, my laptop display started flickering, and went black.

I could use the PC with an external VGA monitor, when the lid was closed.

An installation of Fedora 18 and NVIDIA binary drivers cured the flickering display, and I could use both displays again.

I decided trying a fresh Ubuntu 12.10 install - the nouveau drivers for NVIDIA made my display flicker and shut down again; this happened during installation.

After a reboot, I could not turn on the PC, the hard drive LED just blinks - perhaps some firmware/microcode was flashed - I don't know.

I have removed the battery, performed a 15 seconds power button press while off AC and battery power, as the HP support webpages recommends -but the Notebook seems permanently unable to start.... the hard drive LED just blinks.

Thanks.

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For bugs specific to Ubuntu, try bugs.launchpad.net. – vasa1 Feb 17 at 6:30
thanks. filed as bug #1127845 – Jens Peter Nielsen Feb 17 at 6:57
Are you sure you put the battery back in correctly? Usually a flashing hdd led means something is wrong with the hardware. I recently adjusted the RAM in my mom's computer and got a flashing HDD LED because I didn't put the RAM in correctly. – Jack Feb 17 at 7:01
Im running the PC on the A/C without battery - I took out RAM and put it back in. I've tried powering up without Harddrive and DVD drive. – Jens Peter Nielsen Feb 17 at 7:07

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