Yep, tried the hard reset, thanks.
Checking the soldering, and I've had some success with discrete legs on early LSI, but buggah, that looks hard. No poking around legs that look like centipede legs then? Who ever came up with .6mm balls? Oh, buggah!
One will look at it again in the morning. Not that that it will make much difference. I can't even see how the HD comes out, and it doesn't get much more basic than that.
I've downloaded the manual, and will chat up HP on Tues. Don't hold out much hope though.
The Rivetess is off to the UK in two weeks, so my feeling is it will be a new laptop simply to get over our disastrous logistics at the moment. Should have put in for a new board when Keef posted, but too honest. Wish I wasn't.