Why buy from the UK? You get better statutory consumer rights buying from Ireland, as per this example from Apple:- http://www.apple.com/ie/legal/statutory-warranty/
What? Other sellers don't highlight your rights like Apple do? Stunned is what I am, stunned.
The only way to find out for sure is to contact HP.Have I any chance of a replacement from HP?
That will give the manufacturer a "get out of jail" card... once you open it up, then there will be no comeback. Also, if the OP is a novice in relation to the internal workings / connections of a laptop, then there isn't much point really.If it was me, I'd open it up and check any internal connections.