Update and some
excellent news! After 18 months of the runaround with HP I filed against them with the BBB. I also checked my receipt, an sure enough I AM still under warranty. With Circuit City.

YAY. I talked to a guy for a good long time today, an the long an short is this. Circuit City is going to replace my hard drive, fix my CD player, replace my internal battery, and if my lappy is beyond repair, replace it. All at no charge to me. And in 10 days guaranteed! YAY!!! So, Sunday the 13th, in the afternoon, Iris is going away. I'll be out of game 10 days but will be in touch via the forum here. When I come back I will have either a whole new lappy or one that runs like new! Woo hoo!!!