[Drivers] HP dv6-2XXX / dv7-3XXX / dv8 / HDX16 / HDX18 (INTEL)

New NVIDIA graphics driver update is up on the first post. Be sure to read the Important Information section for additional tips and guidelines.

10/19/2010

• Updated NVIDIA graphics driver to version 8.17.12.6089 (260.89), HDMI Audio driver to version 1.1.9.0, and PhysX System Software to version 9.10.0514.

I played around with the desktop color settings on this new driver, and I didn't have any problems with my picture

At the moment, I won't be making an AMD-equivalent driver thread. However, if you feel that you can make one and keep it updated, it would be certainly welcomed. You can use the existing table style that I use.

 

Ok, what have you set as Brightness, Contrast and Gamma?

Brightness: 50%
Contrast: 50%
Gamma: 0.85
all is OK:


Brightness: 50%
Contrast: 100%
Gamma: 0.85
nothing is OK:


Can anyone confirm this and post a screen?

The pictures are from my Desktop Computer (GTX285) in my HDX16 is a M 9600GT with the same driver "feature"

 

This one wouldn't install over existing... it failed on every count... I had to uninstall the old, then reinstall this.

I also turned of my Antivirus too temporarily... don't know if that was the trick but doing both worked just fine.

I didn't get any higher total performance scores... in fact it dropped .1... but my 3D scores went up 21 points.

Has really smooth colors... deep and rich.

 

Good for you! Dodged another bullet! in a cursory look, that driver update didn't look like it was for DV8's nVidia 230M but obviously it was. Sorry it didn't increase the overall performance numbers ...

Regards,
- - Phil

 

Although it wouldn't install over existing, it was the best put together install of any nvidia pkg I've done in a long time.... it gave me nice options of what to install and whether to auto change back to default settings.

Numbers aren't everything when dealing with graphics drivers.. it would be very easy to simply tweak things to crank the numbers up... but then other things would suffer.

I like the smoothness, and color rendition of this driver.....
I appreciate a realistic view and the human eye only appreciates frame rates so high..everything after that if fluff... and usually takes from other things that the human eye "can" detect.

I appreciate a driver that takes all that into account and tries to give us default settings that render the most realistic view regardless of what the numbers do.

 

Gathered that you were quite happy with it, Alan. Great!

I still quite happy with my current one so I won't be installing the new driver but it's good that it worked for you.

Regards,
- - Phil

 

I'm going to give the the latest nVidia driver a try. Sounds good to me. Easy to roll back if it doesn't work out

 

I agree...not like its dangerous or anything.......

"sinister evoking a response from Phil!"

 

Install of the new nvidia driver over my previous driver went fine as far as I can tell after one reboot. Seems to be working well and upclocking and downclocking correctly so far. Not buggy at all as far as I can tell so far.

 

Just curious Peter, did you do custom and tell it to keep your current configuration or simply do the express install?

I did custom and had it change to default settings and mine wouldn't install without a fresh uninstall of the prior first.

 

IIRC, I did express and told it to keep my current config, but actually it didn't preserve my desktop color settings. I always have to reset those. I have my settings written down in an Outlook contact note so I can quickly re-enter the settings (which are reproduced below in case anyone is interested fwimbw:

Use nvidia settings (yes)
Brightness 42%
Contrast 45%
Gamma 1%
Digital Vibrance 70%
Hue 0%
RGB color format)

 

Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller 7.027 for Windows 7 out.

Realtek

 

Glad it installed okay for you. If it didn't work out, you run a risk backing out of it tho'. More people report that as the sequence that got them into operational problems here than any other ....

Regards,
- - Phil

 

Guess that you didn't have to uninstall the previous one first....

"Working well" ... Hope that means you won't have to try to back it down and uninstall it, then.

Regards,
- - Phil

 

I guess you already know what I think of the risks, Alan ... not really worth it IMO. Good luck! - since I know you'll try it anyway (with a Ghost clone backup, I presume).

Already posted a cautionary note to Peter ...

Hope you two get away with it ...

Regards,
- - Phil

 

I just make a precautionary fresh ghost backup every two weeks or so.... between the driver rollback, rollback to an earlier time and/or basic troubleshooting skills, I rarely have an issue.
Actually I rarely have to use driver rollback or rollback to an earlier time either.... but they are nice tools too for simple stuff.

Except for my dad's system I can't remember the last time I needed my ghost backup.... but it is totally sweet if things get so fouled up you want to throw up your hands... the Ghost backup is quick and simple... then all you have to do is catch up any updates you've done since the Ghost backup date and your back and running!

 

Rarely? If it's not "NEVER", my cautions apply! I guess I rest my case!

While I meant "uninstall and reinstall old driver" instead of "driver rollback", I guess the net result is nearly the same even if successful ...

I certainly agree that timely creation of Ghost clones are the best way to recover- as you suggest, "if things get so fouled up you want to throw up your hands". Hope you have a way to know when those occasions will occur. I surely don't so I do the Ghost clone creation immediately before anything that is risky (like installing driver updates and software ) ... See? Keep feeling lucky, pal?

Regards,
- - Phil

 

My OS drive (which includes my installed programs) is backed up automatically everyday by Acronis TIH 2011 and I keep approximately 20 days of these backups on an external 2TB drive connected via eSATA. Restoring one of these back ups by booting into the Acronis recovery environment* and restoring to a screwed up or even a blank new hard drive takes less than 30 minutes. I've done such restores several times already when I had to replace my OS hard drive or when my system has gotten screwed up to the point that it was just easier to restore from my latest backup (usually from the same day or the day before unless I need to go back further in time to fix something) rather than try to figure out what exactly was wrong and trying to repair it. I find this much easier and much more convenient than the hassle of making clones and restoring from a clone that is ~1 or 2 weeks or more old. I still make a clone, these days approximately every month or so, just to have one around as a secondary backup type.

But the latest version of Acronis has been super smooth and reliable. Perhaps that's because I'm now using one of its new preconfigured back up algorithms. It makes 2 full backups initially and then 6 differential (not incremental) backups on whatever schedule I set (in my case daily for the OS drive and weekly for the data drive), before it makes another full backup. The only thing I have to do manually is approximately every 20 days or so, I go in and delete the oldest backups (still leaving about 20 days worth on the drive) to make more room on the 2TB drive. This only takes a few seconds.

I much prefer using differential backups rather than the incremental backups I used to use. Differentials are more reliable, imo. The difference is incremental backups only record the changes since the last incremental or full backup. So if you have 5 incremental backups and one full backup, then all 6 of them are needed to restore which can get a little complicated and has more potential to cause some errors in the restore process.

Differential backups record all the changes since the last full backup was made. So at most only two backup files are needed to do a restore, which usually would be the last full backup and the last differential backup, unless one wanted to go back further in time for some reason. Another convenience is that it only takes about 5 minutes for Acronis to make my daily differential backup (and 25-35 minutes or so for it to make a new full backup every 7 days) and I still can use my computer for other tasks while the backups are being made. (And the process does not depend on me to remember to make the backups which adds a lot of reliability to the process.)

*The Acronis bootable recovery environment can be installed on a CD or flash drive (or card) for use (i.e.,to boot into) when a new or different hard drive is the restore target and it also can be installed into a hidden partition on the C drive and easily accessed by simply pressing the F11 key a few seconds before the computer boots into windows. This causes the computer to boot into the Acronis recovery environment instead of booting into windows. This latter method of accessing the recovery environment is super convenient when one is restoring to a drive that is already in the system, (i.e., not replacing the primary drive with a new drive).

 

HP is about to release new Atheros WLAN driver shortly. Version for this driver is 9.1.0.328. Driver supports 32 bit and64 bit Windows 7, Vista and XP.
I also tested 9.1.0.314 and 8.0.0.366 from other OEMs but HP laptops (AR5009) are poorly supported.

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp50001-50500/sp50498.html
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp50001-50500/sp50498.cva
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp50001-50500/sp50498.exe

 

If someone is a "safe" driver... he's never so safe that he can drive without insurance.... even so with a reliable backup.

While I actually enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to fix the boo boo and use my Ghost only as a last resort... If I sense the integrity of the system may be compromised after the fix is implemented "like when dealing with viruses" then I would prefer to use my backup.

However, I haven't had an issue with a virus in years, nor have I needed to use my ghost.

My first line of defense is to simply uninstall, fix, or reconfigure the problem and fix it.
Second would be to do a driver rollback if its that simple and tied to just one driver,
Third to do a "rollback to an earlier time".
If the computer is having trouble related to booting up, choosing to boot to last know good configuration works.
Then lastly to import my Ghost backup.

If you do regular backups, to simply import the Ghost is by far the easiest and safest.... however you learn little as to how to fix it and therefore are more likely do recreate the same problem again.

I it is funny how we all have our own comfort zones of how to operate.

I"m someone that never uses his insurance or goes to the emergency room barring a major catastrophe... yet others go every time they have a headache... go figure.

 

I'm glad you are happy using TIH to do it and hope that keeps you safe even when applying a large number of updates, etc.

I guess after your lengthy review of that non-free product, I'll review some of its limitations, shortcomings, drawbacks, and some no cost alternatives that may (I'm being conservative and gracious) be significantly better in their long term outcomes even though they may not be as 'automatic" as your TIH 2010.

I'm sorry that the method you use requires "restoring compressed backups" and, having run a company with over 70 desktops backed up using "cloned hard drives", I never found your method to be nearly as practical or efficient (ore on that below) - nor nearly as easy or quick as just popping in the cloned drive to correct any number of problems from different causes (including drive failure).

How often do you test and verify that your "automatic backups" are viable (and not just a waste of disk space) and really would work if you needed them? It seems like it would greatly reduce the value of automatic backups if everyone knew that you have to test them manually to be sure they aren't going to be worthless when you go to use them! And even worse if you DON'T ever test them. It is also worth noting that my rotating clone method guarantees that every one is used and tested every few weeks and the testing takes only a few minutes each time it's done! When you say you backup to a single HDD, you run the REAL RISK that your backups are no more reliable than the hard drive you hope to backup with it!

i used to work for a company that used your method (though the software and hard drives may be more reliable now). That company abandoned the method you use after they had occasion to restore half a dozen backups when a virus outbreak was trashing data on those machines. We found many backups had been overwritten so many times that they weren't even usable. That's why I directed changing the "system" used for protecting our machines functions and data. For twenty years after that, not a single bit of data was lost after switching to a system of rotating hard drives with overnight cloning and putting quick swap hard drives in every PC and server machine. Nor was there any measurable lost time because of issues with PCs or servers.

For me as an individual now, it certainly has been nice to do all my clones easily and failure-free for FREE with Ghost 11.5 on the free Hiren's BootCD!

Of course, as I always point out for others who may want the type of backup method you use, they should get a Seagate or Maxtor drive and use the Acronis' developed product called Seagate Disc Wizard. It is free and does the same types of backups you seem to advocate (you even pointed it out to me because it was free).

Regards,
- - Phil

 

Not really a valid comparison to using your PC, Alan, since the safe driver still can have accidents beyond his control. To a much more nearly perfect extent, a computer user can protect themselves by following the principles of "safe computing".

All reasonable things to do. The flaw which I pointed out in my previous posted responding to you, and which you didn't respond to in your responses, is that you do all sorts of risky things like update drivers, install new softwares, upgrade firmware (I won't even comment on THAT further), each week. Doing a Ghost clone (assuming that's what you do with Ghost?) of your drives every week or two is simply not frequent enough to protect against the potential damage you risk with every one of these activities.

It would be SAFE if slightly modified your approach. To wit: ifyou downloaded a set of updates, etc., then created a Ghost clone, and finally. went ahead and installed/tested each one. If you were doing this, then your processes for recovery would be "backstopped" by the cloned drives in case you have a problem with one of these risky installs/updates and they fail to respond to your efforts to reverse them.

Not true, Alan! I can't imagine anyone, much less anyone as observant as you, performing any of the risky things that you do between Ghost backups, recovering with Ghost and not knowing what you did to cause the problems the recovery corrected.

I see our difference on this is that I advocate "completely safe computing" and you practice only "low-to-moderate-risk computing" while doing a variety of risky things "without a safety net". You obviously are comfortable with a higher level of totally avoidable risk than I am!

To paraphrase Sarah Palin, "How's that hopey-risky thing workin' for ya'?"

Regards,
- - Phil

 

Wow, I'd never thought this would ever get into one of these threads...

The discussion is quite vibrant around here on the topic of whether and how often one should backup. Chiming in, I must say that I can be a risk-taker at times but not all the time -- I don't backup every time I apply a new update, but I prefer to arrange backups every 1-2 weeks or so (they are stored on the home server). It depends on how much I'm installing. However, I believe that completely safe computing is good in certain scenarios especially if important data is part of the equation.

 

Thought it would inject some humor into a rather serious subject.

Your expression of your approach makes a lot of sense and seems to be based on a realistic assessment of the risks you are facing. While Alan (WindSprings) wrote a lot, his description lacked the risk-based rationale you have described. I may be misreading some of how he described it but his approach seems to be described in less technical terms and have less of a technical basis, seeming to be more luck-based - I think that is much riskier and may lead to a serious problem eventually.

I can more readily agree with your approach as you have (like me IMO) more technical experience with drivers and how they may pose risks (and trigger a good backup by you beforehand where needed) to the entire system.

Regards,
- - Phil

 

A lot of updates and drivers are constantly being introduced.

This thread really helps in the sense you don't have to continually go fishing in the sea of the internet to find them but they are brought to you..... thanks!

On the other hand, I don't believe anyone... out here knows and understands the code of each and every driver and its interaction with their system before they install it.

To say I'm keeping my system upgraded based out of luck may be true, but its rather nieve to not admit we are all in the same boat.

There is an extremely wide knowledge base to computers and drivers and no one knows it all.

I really see the concern for installing drivers a moot point if you have a trusty reliable backup anyway.... whats to fear?

We all need insurance regardless of how safe or reckless we are as operators. The same insurance "or backup" bails us all out if needed.

These threads are mean't to be a help to those who often get frustrated with the challenge of keeping a smooth running system going without a glitch.

The ones who know the most should be the ones who help the most..... My thanks for everyones contribution.

 

Since you didn't quote anything I wrote or answer any of my questions directed to you, I can't tell what your general comments are addressing.

I CAN amicably disagree with your philosophy however. I have valuable information that is generated on my computer in the course of my work. Backing up every week or two is fine until you start putting 2 or more updates (some over 150mb) on your system between backups. Once you are doing that (and advocating it as reasonable here), you are running risks that your UNTESTED backup MAY not protect you against! So, I feel others who may read your viewpoint should know the risks you accept as though there is nothing to lose and your luck will protect you. Those of us with more to lose (than you apparently) cannot afford to not know the risks you are accepting.

You have only to fear that your backup is untested or not new enough to recover all that you value that may have been added to your machine since your last backup (maybe two weeks ago). When did you last test one of your backups, Alan? Are you doing clones or backups (they don't offer the same level of backup protection)??

Maybe you don't care but others should know that you SHOULD care.

Regards,
- - Phil

 

I 'm doing clones... and I don't test each backup because I store about 4 versions.. if one didn't work, I would go to the one before.
But based on my usage with Ghost... they always work as long as I do a Chkdsk /f first before creating the image.
At least I've never had one not work and I haven't tested this last 11.5 version.
But I routinely have to import the image on other systems I watch over ... like my dads, stepmoms and friends....
When they trash their system.. If I can't fix it within an hour of so.. I don't bother.

Its much harder to troubleshoot a system when you don't know what they did or didn't do rather than your own.

I can appreciate your application whereas you have sensitive information streaming in hourly and daily and can't afford to lose it.

Most of us just browse and create an occasional document thats easily replaceable in the course of two weeks.

You have to take extra measures and precautions if your using for a daily business system.

While I use mine for business too.... its nothing as intense as what your describing.


I mainly use ghost so I don't ever have 3 weeks worth if configuration to redo should I have to start from scratch.

I have nothing on my computer I wouldn't afraid for someone to see or get their hands on... all thats encrypted.

The only reason I fingerprint my logon is to keep people from screwing things up without my knowledge... otherwise my computer is an open book.

I'm sure yours is quite different.

 

Glad to get an answer to that question from many posts back ... a good one at that! Excellent.

But I never commented (not sure I know what you do for theirs) on how you deal with other people's.

Good...

I guess that I find that statement "without foundation" and just accept it only as what you do with yours. i understand it tho'.

I use the fingerprint for convenience since I access so many secure online locations. With no children living at home anymore, I haven't any security issues within the house but might be concerned if my DV8 were stolen.

Enjoy your DV8 since HP isn't selling them anymore ....

Regards,
- - Phil

 

They say they are working on it.. so thats good.. but they don't move too fast either!.. LOL!

I was speaking about the normal Joe user as far as the need for intense protection.
Normal Joe meaning me!...meaning, your not normal!

 

Don't know who "they" are or what they are working on ... ????

As I said, I believe most people would benefit from the clone procedure before doing most of what you seem to do with driver updates, etc., to yours each week. To me there's nothing normal about you in that regard.

I think most "Normal Joe" people get their PC set up at the outset and, if everything is working, just use it for a year or so before they go "chasing" driver updates, etc. Of course, they have AV software and Windows Update to automatically deal with essential security stuff.

Most of us on this forum regularly are part of an enthusiastic minority (i.e., not very normal).

Regards,
- - Phil

 

I went to Persona's site and when to support, they have a link specifically asking about Chrome.

 

Wow! I had no idea that that was what you were talking about... perhaps you could quote my passage before that one so I could have a clue...

Maybe DP's site is way out of date then. It works fine on my DV8 with Chrome! Only browser that it doesn't work with is Minefield (aka 64-bit FF4 beta 8)...

Downloaded Chrome and installed it yet to try it as I suggested earlier today? Then you could've tried it for yourself by now....

Regards,
- - Phil

 

Very cool!.... I will have to check it out again.
I got called out to work yesterday and got back in about 2:00AM.... out today till quite late, but that will be my next fun project.

 

Sorry... I gather you are going to do something but I'm not clear what. Does "Check it out again" mean revisiting the website for DP??? Why do that?

Is "that will be my next fun project" refer to my taking my suggestion on downloading and installing Chrome???? Good, if that's what you meant.

Regards,
- - Phil

 

Okay, I need help!!

I just got Cable installed and I am using the TV Tuner Card. It works great in Windows Media Center, but won't pick up the one channel I want most (FSN DETROIT HD)!!!

I want to use the HP MediaSmart Live TV because it does pick up that channel when scanning, but then after the scanning of channels when I go to watch it it always give me the same message:

CANNOT ACCESS TV TUNER BECAUSE IT IS BEING USED BY ANOTHER PROGRAM.

I've done all the uninstalling, ccleaner, all that to try to get it to work but no results!!

Can anybody help me I wanna watch the Red Wings game in HD tonight!!

 

I have not had that problem but it smacks of two memory-resident programs loaded at bootup trying to use the same DLL. So, maybe MediaSmart TV conflicts with something used by Windows Media Center? Run "msconfig" and check for stuff loaded in the startup folder.

Also, if I couldn't resolve it there by unchecking something somehow, I'd then try uninstalling the MediaSmart TV software and try tuner scanning without it. You can always re-install the MediaSmart TV s/w later after the specific conflict is resolved.

Regards,
- - Phil

 

Yeah, I've been through all the Startup programs and nothing looks out of order.

Not sure what you mean by tuner scanning w/o MediaSmart TV. Not sure how I could do that without the actual program.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the MediaSmart TV app many times to no avail.

 

I just want to let you know that the links to download the IDT audio driver are not working.

 

That was the low-hanging fruit... too bad nothing there would help.

Can't you scan channels under Windows Media Edition? I thought you said you had done so in your OP on this.

I didn't figure you'd get rid of the conflicting calls if you reinstalled the HP program.

I'll look into it further and try some things on mine (after making a quick Ghost clone first) and get back to you after I try to replicate your problem.

Oh, while I'm doing that, have you run Chkdsk/f and sfc/scannow since this problem started and before your last uninstall/install cycle with MediaSmart TV?

Regards,
- - Phil

 

GOT IT!!!

Okay, well I didn't figure out the HP TV, but I was able to add the channels manually in Windows Media Center. It was under Tasks, TV, GUIDE.

Got the two channels it wouldn't find while scanning. Really glad now!

Thanks for all you suggestions and help Phil!!!

 

HP has taken down the current IDT HD Audio drivers for reasons unknown. There was nothing wrong with them (I have them installed), so I'm not sure what's going on right now. I removed the now dead links on the first post.

10/24/2010

• Removed driver links to IDT High Definition Audio Codec version 6.10.6300.0.
• Updated Realtek PCIe Gigabit Ethernet Family Controller driver to version 7.027 for Windows 7.

 

IDT 6.10.6300.0 seems to be working fine for me so far as far as I can tell. Unless I find out some specific problem with it either through use or some other source, I'll continue to use this version until the next update.

 

Cheers! Glad you found a way to meet your needs.

On my end, I couldn't reproduce the conflict on my DV8 .... so keep my suggestions handy in case your ever feel the urge to revisit the issue.

I am always blown away by how good the images and HDTV reception are on the laptop. Enjoy!

Regards,
- - Phil

 

I certainly see no reason to remove them if you have them installed and they are working well as far as you can tell.

Regards,
- - Phil

 

Nvidia Verde notebook drivers 260.99 released.

Release notes & download [Windows Vista 64-bit, Windows 7 64-bit]
Release notes & download [Windows Vista 32-bit, Windows 7 32-bit]

 

Now this is somewhat of a surprise to me! It's only been a week since the last official driver release!

I'll give them a try.

 

Here's what nVidia says about this new driver release -

This driver supports the following NVIDIA notebook GPUs (please refer to the Products Supported tab for exceptions):

ION notebook GPUs.
GeForce 8M, 9M, 100M, 200M, 300M-series, and 400M notebook GPUs.
Quadro 5000M
Quadro NVS-series notebook GPUs (only those that support DirectX 10 or higher).
Quadro FX-series notebook GPUs (only those that support DirectX 10 or higher).
New in Release 260.99

Increases performance vs. v260.89 drivers in the following PC games: Civilization V (SLI), Fallout 3, Final Fantasy XIV, and Formula 1 Racing (DX11).
Adds SLI profiles for the following PC games:
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Fallout: New Vegas
Improves compatibility for Fallout 3: New Vegas with antialiasing enabled.
Improves Alt-Tab compatibility for several PC games.

Additional Information:
Installs HD Audio driver to version 1.1.9.0.
Includes PhysX System Software to version 9.10.0514.
Supports the new GPU-accelerated features in Adobe CS5.
Supports GPU-acceleration for smoother online HD videos with Adobe Flash 10.1. Learn more here.
Supports the new version of MotionDSP's video enhancement software, vReveal, which adds support for HD output. NVIDIA customers can download a free version of vReveal that supports up to SD output here.
Supports DirectCompute with Windows 7 and GeForce 8-series and later GPUs.
Supports OpenCL 1.0 (Open Computing Language) for all GeForce 8-series and later GPUs.
Supports OpenGL 3.3 for GeForce 8-series and later GPUs.
Supports OpenGL 4.1 for GeForce 400 series GPUs.
Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, DirectX 11, and OpenGL, including 3-way SLI, Quad SLI, and SLI support on SLI-certified Intel X58-based motherboards.
Supports GPU overclocking and temperature monitoring by installing NVIDIA System Tools software.
Users without US English operating systems can select their language and download the International driver here.

Regards,
- - Phil

 

Just glad I didn't install them last week ... might just give them a try myself to upgrade from the 197.16 version if you find they are okay. (No fainting folks! Mine are a year old now so I figured that they might justify upgrading)

Regards,
- - Phil

 

Do you use an over the air antenna or a cable connection . . . or something else?

 

I use the over-the-air antenna which is included with the DV8 HDTV Tuner option. I haven't tried connecting it to my D*TV.

Regards,
- - Phil