Elitebook 8740/8540W Server 2008 R2 Guide

hiya all, this thread is going to be a guide for those who are needing(wanting?) to install server 2008 on their Elitebook.

It is not for the meek though! it's taken me about 4 days to get a working install of 2008 R2 on a 8740W

Guide to follow. it's a lot of stuff to compile and put into one place, so be patient please! i've pooled information from about 6 different places, plus my own fixes and suchlike.

feel free to discuss this under the first 3 posts.

Sio

-----------------------------------------------

PART 1a

========
Drivers
========

DVD indicates the DVD drivers work from the box. Download indicates the downloaded driver (Most up to date) will work, and is Recommended with a + sign.

Code:

==============================================================================
|Device Type		|Working?	|DVD	|Download	|Fix?        |
==============================================================================
|Sata Controller	|YES		|NO	|YES+		|NOTE A	     |
|Intel Chipset		|YES		|NO	|YES+		|NOTE B/D    |
|NEC USB 3.0 Controller	|YES		|YES	|YES		|-	     |
|IDT AUDIO		|YES		|YES	|YES+		|NOTE C/D    |
|Fingerprint Sensor	|YES		|YES	|YES		|NOTE C	     |
|3D DriveGuard		|YES		|YES	|YES		|-	     |
|Bluetooth		|Sort Of	|NO	|NO		|NOTE E/F    |
|ATI Driver		|YES		|YES	|YES+		|NOTE C/D/F  |
|Nvidia Driver		|YES		|YES	|YES+ (Fermi)	|NOTE D/F    |
|Gobi UN2420 WWAN Card	|YES		|NO	|YES+		|NOTE D/F/G  |
|Intel 6300N 		|YES		|YES	|YES+ (V14+)	|NOTE C      |
|BD-RE/BD-ROM/2nd HDD	|YES		|-	|-		|-	     |
|MDA / DC2		|YES		|NO	|YES+		|NOTE F	     |
|Intel Ethernet		|YES		|NO	|YES+		|NOTE H      |
|SD CARD READER		|YES		|YES	|YES+		|NOTE F/I    |
|DisplayPort (HDMI/DVI)	|YES		|-	|-		|NOTE F/J    |
|Firewire		|YES		|-	|-		|NOTE K	     |
|Touchpad		|YES		|YES	|YES+		|-	     |
|Quick Launch Buttons	|YES		|YES	|YES		|-	     |
|Ambient Light Sensor	|YES		|-	|-		|-	     |
|Cardbus Controller	|YES		|YES	|YES+		|NOTE L	     |
|JAVACARD		|YES		|YES	|YES+		|NOTE M      |
|TPM Chip		|YES		|YES	|YES+		|NOTE M	     |
|BitLocker HDD Security	|YES		|-	|-		|NOTE C      |
|Modem			|YES		|YES	|YES		|NOTE D      |
|Advanced Docking Stn	|YES		|YES	|YES		|NOTE N/F    |
|Webcam			|YES		|YES	|YES		|-	     |
==============================================================================

NOTE A: Device needs installing at the beginning before windows is installed.

NOTE B: Needs to be run with the command prompt in 'run as adminstrator mode' and with the switches -overide -overall, because it will only install the usb drivers!

NOTE C: Needs a role to be loaded before it will function.

NOTE D: Downloaded Driver fixes bug from original DVD driver.

NOTE E: Follow Bluetooth guide for this pain in the backside.

NOTE F: Needs SERVICE PACK 1 before it will function.

NOTE G: Needs HP WIRELESS ASSISTANT INSTALLED TO TURN IT ON.

(For Gobi only: IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE RUN FROM THE SWSETUP FOLDER. Setup.exe from the hp softpaq doesn't work, need to go into the folder called 'Qualcomm' and run setup from there.)

NOTE H: Needs to be run from PROWIN64.EXE

NOTE I: The SD card driver will install fine, but it will leave an 'unknown device' in device manager. You need to be connected to the web and allow search for driver on windows update. this device is the 'WPAVolume Manager' (Windows Portable Devices) The SD Card Update from windows update MUST be installed if you are using 32GB+ cards, or it stays as an unmountable volume in Device manager and 'Disk manager'.

NOTE J: SP1 MUST BE INSTALLED before doing multiple monitors or you'll boot to a black screen!

FOR ATI: It works fine from the box, but the default (old) driver from the DVD has a flickering display. updating to SP1 and updating the driver fixes this issue.

FOR Nvidia: Works fine on all HP drivers / Fermi Drivers.

FOR BOTH: - Aero works fine across multiple monitors on Service Pack 1.

NOTE K: Uses the same system as windows 7.

NOTE L: If you install Service Pack 1 you will get faster transfer speeds on the cards that use the actual PCI-E bus connection. It will improve speeds on Firewire/USB3/Esata cards, but YOU CANNOT BOOT FROM A CARDBUS SSD IN THIS MODE.

If you use a card with a PCI-E->USB connection (Some Cardbus 34 SSD cards use this) YOU CAN BOOT A CARDBUS SSD FROM BIOS, but you are limited to the speed of the USB controller on the card. In some cases, this was a drop of about 65% performance.

NOTE M: Needs ProtectTools to work. Update protectools to the most recent ones or you can lock yourself out of the system. (Don't register data before updating)

NOTE N: Needs to be docked AFTER the install. it will cause a blackscreen on boot otherwise.


----------------------------------------------------

Part 1b

This part is on software on the DVD, what works, what doesn't. Anyways we continue.

Code:

==============================================================================
|Software Type		|Working?	|DVD	|Should I Update|Notes       |
==============================================================================
|ATI VGA Driver		|YES		|YES	|YES		|Note A/B/F  |
|Application Installer	|YES		|YES	|N/A		|Note A/B    |
|NEC USB 3.0 Controller	|YES		|YES	|YES		|Note A	     |
|Camera Software	|YES		|YES	|N/A		|-           |
|Bios Update UEFI	|YES		|YES	|YES		|Note A      |
|System Diag UEFI	|YES		|YES	|YES		|Note A	     |
|Bluetooth		|NO		|NO	|N/A		|Note A/B/C/D|
|HP Sytem Information	|NO		|NO	|N/A		|Note D	     |
|Win 7 Defaults		|NO		|NO	|NO		|Note D	     |
|Adobe Flash		|-		|NO	|YES - Adobe	|Note D      |
|HP Connection Mgr	|YES		|YES	|YES - Fixes	|Note A/B    |
|HP CarePack		|YES		|YES	|N/A		|-	     |
|ProtectTools		|YES		|YES	|YES!		|Note E	     |
|Nvidia Driver		|YES		|YES	|YES		|Note A/B/F  |
|IDT Audio		|YES		|YES	|YES		|Note G      |
|IME			|YES		|YES	|YES		|-	     |
|Intel Ethernet		|YES		|NO	|YES		|Note H	     |
|Intel Inf		|YES		|YES	|YES		|Note I	     |
|Intel Wireless		|YES		|YES	|YES		|Note J	     |
|Intel Pro Extension	|YES		|YES	|YES		|Note J      |
|Intel RST		|YES		|YES	|YES		|Note K	     |
|Theft Recovery 	|YES		|YES	|YES		|-           |
|Modem			|YES		|YES	|YES		|-	     |
|NEC USB Driver		|YES		|YES	|YES		|-	     |
|ProtectTools Suite	|YES		|YES	|YES		|Note A/E/J/L|	 
|HP Power Data		|Buggy		|NO	|NO		|Note M      |
|HP Power Manager	|YES		|NO	|NO		|Note M      |
|PDF 			|YES		|YES	|-		|-	     |
|QLB Software		|YES		|YES	|YES		|-	     |
|Roxio Software		|NO		|NO	|NO		|Note N	     |
|QuickWeb Software	|NO		|NO	|NO		|Note N	     |
|Qualcomm WWAN		|YES		|NO	|YES		|Note O	     |
|Windows 7 Fixes	|NO		|NO	|NO		|Note D      |
|Video Software		|NO		|NO	|NO		|Note D	     |
|MDA			|YES		|NO	|YES		|Note A/B/F/H|
|HP Support Assistant	|YES		|YES	|YES!		|Note A/B/F  |
|Softpaq Downloader	|YES		|-	|YES		|Note P	     |
|Windows Aero		|YES		|-	|YES		|Note A/F/Q  |
==============================================================================

Note A: Install Service Pack 1 first.

Note B: Needs .Net 3.5 Role installed

Note C: Follow Bluetooth Guide.

Note D: DO NOT INSTALL. IT WILL BREAK YOU SYSTEM!!

Note E: Needs Windows Biometrics Role installed.

Note F: Needs Desktop Experience Role installed.

Note G: Audio needs updating to fix screeching sound on idle and needs Windows Audio Role Installed

Note H: Needs updated file. DVD will not work.

Note I: Needs a special method of extraction/install. See Chipset Guide.

Note J: Needs Wireless Role installed.

Note K: Needs updating after SP1 is installed.

Note L: Don't register data before you've installed everything and updated everything.

Note M: Doesn't work, because some of the things needed in the os are not present. It causes random lockups. so best not to install.

Note N: Doesn't Install. Errors out due to OS restrictions, or just doesn't do anything.

Note O: Needs to be installed a special way, see driver table.

Note P: Use carefully, it will return some really... interesting, results.

Note Q: Needs to be installed from Aero Guide.


--------------------------------------------------

Part 1c - Software.

Software information follows. I'm testing as much 'common' software as i can to ensure we have a good variety of things here. This is via a dual boot setup i have on my elitebook at the moment.

INTERNET SOFTWARE:
----------------------

Code:

=========================================================================================
|Software Name		|Working?	|Win 7	|Win 2008 R2	|Difference	|Notes	|
=========================================================================================
|Internet Apps		|		|	|		|		|	|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Firefox		|Y		|1.24s	|1.01s		|-0.23s		|A (B)	|
|Google Chrome		|Y		|0.93s	|0.94s		|+0.01s		|A	|
|Safari			|Y		|1.19s	|1.12s		|-0.07s		|A	|
|Internet Explorer 8	|Built In	|1.39s	|1.43s		|+0.04s		|A (B)	|
|Internet Explorer 9beta|Y		|0.98s	|0.97s		|-0.01s		|A (C)	|
|Outlook Express 2003	|Y		|2.11s	|2.32s		|+0.22s		|D	|
|Outlook Express 2007	|Y		|1.88s	|1.65s		|-0.17s		|D	|
|Outlook Express 2010	|Y		|1.02s	|1.32s		|+0.30s		|D	|
|Thunderbird		|Y		|0.88s	|0.63s		|-0.35s		|D	|
|Pegasus Mail		|Y		|4.22s	|6.52s		|+2.30s		|D	|
|MSN Messenger 2010	|N		|4.31s	|3.92s		|-0.39s		|E (F)	|
|MSN Messenger 2011	|Y		|5.93s	|6.27s		|+0.34s		|E (G)	|
|Skype 4.2.0.187	|Y		|1.82s	|2.38s		|+0.56s		|E	|
|Skype 5.1		|Y~		|1.01s	|2.09s		|+1.08s		|E (H)	|
|Yahoo Messenger 10	|Y		|-	|-		|-		|1	|
========================================================================================= 

Note 1: Software thread changed during the bench to something not trackable for timing, so no time is recorded.

Note A: Bench was opening notebookreview forum.

Note B: Flash needs to be manually installed, but it works fine.

Note C: IE9 is in beta modus, needs to manually be installed, but it *IS* faster as claimed.

Note D: Outlook benches were to open from double click to 'ready' (before it checks for send/recieve).

Note E: Time messenger software took to start, log in and display window.

Note F: Live messenger 2010 and below no longer works on server. i used a really old installer to test the speed,
modded via linux.

Note G: Live messenger 2011 works natively in 2008 R2 now, but needs to be installed from the live essentials site,
it doesn't show in windows update.

Note H: Skype 5.x.x.xxx is somewhat unstable. it frequently would lock up the system, and play sounds on speakers it
shouldn't. However, if the 'CLASSIC WINDOWS' is checked over the 'Skype windows' in settings, it stops the lockups.

 

Reserved for part 2

 

Reserved for benchmarks, etc.

 

Thanx for the Info. My take on NT 2K3 Server was it was the best Windows OS there was if you needed to run Windows, and if I could use it that's what I would do (using the install image from SQL Server Developer's Ed.).

I just did my 2nd Win7 Pro OS re-install on my 8740w and am not keen on re-doing it ... and I'm not keen on buying a copy of NT 2K8... but good to hear these positive results if I decide to bite the bullet!

 

yea, i will be linking to that guide in a bit. the stuff on here will be relevant to the 8740/8540 machines, as we run notebooks, that guide is really for desktops.

I will be updating the guide when i get time to type it all out properly. ATM it's all notes lol. there are a few things we needs to do differently on our machines.

 

Siorah, I couldn't find any reference to the the Bluetooth Guide mentioned in Note C i.e. 'Note C: Follow Bluetooth Guide.'.

Any chance you could please provide a link to the Guide etc?

 

well i haven't written it yet lol, but it's a run off the one of the 2008r2 workstation site, except you need to run the hp broadcom exe.

i stopped updating this because i thought no-one would be interested in it

 

For an 8540w owner this info is priceless - thanks very much for your efforts.

Regarding the driver, I'm guessing you mean AsciiWolf's patched Broadcom driver (I tried the Broadcom 2070 Bluetooth 3.0 Driver from HP but Windows could not successfully install it). Unfortunately the links from the 2008r2 workstation site to AsciiWolf's patched Broadcom drivers no longer work.

Don't suppose you know where I can pick one up?

 

ah you need to go into the .inf file and change where it says any instance of ,,,1 to ,,,3

only downside of this is it will be unsigned, and will also mean you need to forcibly disable 'enable driver signature enforcement'

you also need to go into the SWsetup folder and run it from there.

bluetooth 'works' but you don't have PAN available, as the 'hacked' bluetooth stack doesn't support it.

i have got obex/printing/audio/hands free audio/file push/ftp/nmea (GPS) working, but WAN/PAN support/Modem doesn't work
it'll install the driver mind you, but do nothing

Sio

 

Awesome Sio, many thanks - my teeth are now nice and blue.

For anyone interested, here were my exact steps to get bluetooth working on 8540w - thanks to Sio, AsciiWolf et al:

1. Download and install AsciiWolf's bluetooth stack e.g. win2008workstation.com • View topic - Bluetooth (see '4shared' link in second sticky i.e. 2nd post down at top of page 1 of topic).

2. Download the latest HP Broadcom drivers e.g. HP EliteBook 8540w Mobile Workstation- Broadcom 2070 Bluetooth 3.0 Software and Driver - HP Business Support Center

3. Extract the HP Broadcom drivers, find and replace any reference of "...1" with "...3" in any *.inf file in the extracted folder.

4. Execute the installer from .\HP Broadcom Bluetooth\sp50181\Win64\Inst.exe (the installer .\HP Broadcom Bluetooth\sp50181\Setup.exe will not work).

5. Restart

If all is well you will see a nice shiny bluetooth icon in your system tray.


Many thanks to all involved. Next step is to get speech recognition working...

 

hiya, speech recognition is a git.

you will need files from windows 7 to get it to work.

if you need help i'll be back from this conference on friday, i'll assist you then.

Sio

 

Far OUT! Yes, need help - when you have time. Awesomeness!

 

lol no worries. i hate conferences >.>

 

Tremendous Job, Siorah!
Who would have thought but my next assignment is exactly this - installing the Server 2008 R2 on my 8740w (need to play with AD for a few days). Your work saved me many hours of wall bashing! Thank You Sir!
+1 Rep

 

ugh well i'll actually post up an install guide when i come back on friday.

if you can wait till the weekend aikimox, a more complete PART 2 will appear.

i really thought people didn't care about this, hence why all my stuff is not posted.

 

I'm playing with it in VMWare right now, so there's no rush. What you already posted saved me a few solid hours of digging

 

Hi Sio, any chance you could provide some instruction for gettnig Speech recognition to work e.g. which files are required from Windows 7 etc.?

 

hi all
i'm installing now on 2540p core i5 intel HD

2008r2 installed most devices by himself - sound, video etc.

I've installed drivers downloaded from HP website for Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise (64-bit):

1. IDT High-Definition (HD) Audio Driver
2. Intel Management Engine Components Driver and Interface
3. Intel Chipset Installation Utility
4. Intel High-Definition (HD) Graphics Driver with Turbo Boost Technology
5. Synaptics TouchPad Driver
6. HP Quick Launch Buttons
7. HP Universal Camera Driver
8. Intel PRO/Wireless Drivers for Microsoft Windows 7
9. Intel 82577LM and 82577LC Gigabit Ethernet Driver
10. Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver
11. HP Webcam Software
12. HP 3D DriveGuard

--------------------------------------------------------------
1. after installing audio from website it makes *whack* on shutdown 2008r2
2. video showed error at the end of installation
3. webcam software shows error and not starting
4. Desktop experience slows the bootup - is it really necessary to have it for Hyper-V?

*audio-video-webcam were already installed by 2008r2 and fully functional*

Now i'm downloading SP1

Device Manager shows me:


And also i want to add memory, but one memory slot is inside - is it possible to do it by myself (will i break the warranty?), or i must take laptop in service center so they will replace internal module?

-------------------------Update----------------------------------------------

After installing SP1 2008r2 - video drivers installed correctly, HP Webcam software starts to work too. It will be better to install OS with SP before drivers etc. But sound is still make *whack* on shutdown. When it was with drvs installed by OS it doesn't.

 

Hi Sio, just bumping this thread to see if you can provide instructions for getting Voice Recognition to work under 2008 R2 - I can't turn anything positive up in Google etc...

 

ok, i'll look into and try to remember how i got it working this weekend mate, been really busy these past weeks

Sio

 

Excellent write-up. I plan on installing Server as well on which-ever laptop that I decide to purchase.

 

More updates to come, just need to finish writing it all up lol, been mega busy at work.

 

Hi Sio, any word on instructions/tips to get Voice Recognition working mate? If you're too busy I totally understand!

 

I completely forgot about my server 2008 reports. I will need to find them again and sort them out, as i can't for the life of me remember how i did it now >.<

 

Anyone ever get the HP Connection Manager functioning correctly? I have everything working it seems aside from this on an 8540W.

Thanks!

 

NEvermind, looked at it again today, tried the previous version of the connection manager, worked like a charm.