8710w on the way, a few questions.

Hello All,

I ordered a 8710w from tigerdirect, it was the only place I could find that came with XP with a "cheap" price.
Here is the link to it:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=H24-RM300 SB

I have a few things in hand from another laptop that I will want to change out immediately. They are:
Remove the T7300 and install my T7700
Remove the HD and install my WB 320 Scorpio
Remove the RAM and install my 4GB Corsair

I really wanted bluetooth built in, but it was not a deal breaker, but is there anyway I can add INTERNAL bluetooth myself?

I think everything else will be ok? Not sure what else I can improve on.

Do the HP notebooks come with XP already loaded on them? or do I actually load it myself with their CD? Im just trying to figure out the best way to get the 320GB HDD in there without turning into a licensing nightmare.

I was thinking of giving the drive a partition for Vista so I could just play around with it, I have not used it for 2 years or so now (was running it back in the beta days of longhorn and blackcomb). I NEED XP for software I need for work purposes, but eventually those softwares will be available for Vista, so I figured it would be good to go ahead and get accustom to Vista's environment.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

Maybe you are searching for this - the service manual for the hp 8710w.

http://bizsupport.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01117557/c01117557.pdf

in there is the procedure how to exchange the bluetooth module.

 

WOW! Thank you VERY much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Would it work if before I even booted the laptop for the first time, to remove the factory HDD and copy it over to my 320gb HDD, then install the 320gb and boot.

 

Anyone?

Its going to be here tomorrow!!! I feel like a kid waiting for Santa!

 

im pretty sure your hp wont come with a cd with xp inless you ordered one, so what you will have to do is fire it up first and there is a program on there for you to run that will let you make your own xp cd. after making your cd put in the new 320gb hdd and fire up the xp cd. (im pretty sure thats how you do it, at lest on my vista hp thats how its done)(if your hp comes with a xp cd or you already have a xp cd then you dont have to make one.)
(lol i was pretty pumped up for my laptop to come in too)

 

It's a 17" notebook. Don't those have 2 hard drive bays? Meaning you could keep the 80GB and add your 320GB one as well. Then Split the 80 in half or whatever and install Vista and XP. Use the 320gb for data and other stuff. Check the manual if it's true. Goodluck on your swapping plans, let us know how it turns out, pictures would be great!

* I doubt the XP disc will come with it. But if you boot up your notebook when you first get it, you could burn your own "restore disc". Then install your new hard drive and use that restore disc to re-install the system.

However, if you have your own XP disc, I suggest you do a clean install after you make your restore disc for safety reasons. Just use the key @ the bottom of the notebook. You might have to call Microsoft to activate it, but it's won't take that long! It's worth it.

 

Thank you both!

I am waiting for the door bell to ring!!!
I will post up some pictures and thoughts this weekend hopefully.

 

I ordered mine from portableone and had it shipped overnight You will be very happy with it. With Vista, they shipped out all the recovery DVD's and apps/driver disks so I can't see why they wouldnt do the same for XP.

 

ITS HERE!!! making backups now... 3 DVD's worth... ugh... TOO slow... I want to play! (would take 18 CD's if I choose that method...:|)
I have my own winXp cd, but figured I would go ahead and do this anyways.

 

Good thing, making the backup is always the first thing anyone should do. After that, copy the swsetup folder to a DVD or external HD. So is there really 2 HD bays on the notebook? Could it handle two HDs? Pictures!

 

Only 1 HDD bay.

It came with a WinXp SP2 cd, and another CD with all the drivers, etc...
So the backup was pointless this time, o'well.

I have installed the new CPU, HDD, WLAN, and of course used AC5 when putting it back together. XP is loaded, now updating all the drivers, etc...
Then its time to start installing all my softwares, etc...

I can say one thing already, this thing is built VERY well, and pretty well thought out for the most part also. The only thing I did not like was that you have to remove the main heatsink/fan to be able to remove the CPU cooler so that you can change out the CPU. Granted I wanted to do it anyways because of the AC5 install, but it would still be nice if you did not have to.

Well, back to watching the progress bar............. Going to be an all nighter for sure!

 

Why did you have to install all those devices? Did you have another machine that you were reusing parts from?

It was nice to have a machine that came with all the recovery and app/driver DVD's.

 

I had them in another machine that I am trying to sell, I figured I would put what came in the HP into the other machine and maybe be able to sell it faster as I can lower the price. Its an MSI MS-1719.

 

Does anyone know of, or use, a 3rd party software for the fingerprint reader?

 

i used verisoft, there will already be a program on ur pc for it, i dont like it.

 

Yeah, I'm using it now, I don't like it either.
Got a link to the one your using?

 

I'm using the software that came with mine(Authentech) + credential manager and I like it. It was easy to set up and login is fast. The only time it takes it a little longer is when I bring it out of sleep.

 

Yeah, I stopped being lazy and learned how to use the software that came with it, it works just fine, just did not take the time to understand before.

On a side note, I got my HP Advanced Docking Station EN489AA in today, works GREAT! Bought it brand new, never opened, on ebay for 75$ !!! Awesome deal.

 

LOL, thats what I did. Spent 30 minutes to an hour reading couple of manuals.
Oh man that is a good deal! Who was the seller and did he have more?

 

The seller was "i3-partsales" but that was the only one I saw he had.

I tell ya, I am LOVING this laptop!