Envy 14: New owners in Paradise Lost Thread: (Got Problems/Questions/Issues?)

Try going into the power management under proccessor cooling policy select passive, not sure if this will help but it's worth a try.

 

Uhmm...okay, here's a stupid question: Is the Envy 14 only available online?

 

Do you mean will it be available in brick and mortar stores like Best Buy or other computer stores? Since HP is actually advertising this thing on Comedy Central I think that stores would be stupid to not pick it up. That being said I could swear I saw somewhere that a Best Buy employee had told someone they probably wouldn't be ordering any because of the issues with the last 13 and 15 inch envy's, but this is all heresay. Right now I have only saw it available in online stores, but I live in Hicktown, USA.

 

I'm about to receive my RMA Envy 14 ...

One question, I made Recovery Disks on my previous Envy 14 ... do I need to make another set for this new envy or can I just use my old discs?

 

Hmmm...okay. Yeah, I mean stores like Best Buy and such.

 

Seems like I have a problem with the Function(fn) button. I've noticed that it's always active when the fn button isnt pressed down for example. i can change the brightness, volume, wifi, etc without pressing the fn button.

This problem conflicts with my alt button. I cannot use Alt F4 to close programs faster or shutdown my laptop faster. It also causes a problem with my Ctrl, copy, paste, etc.

does anyone have a solution to my problem ? i've tried pressing the fn button many times thinking it has some kind of "sticky key" (like the shift) but no success. restarted the laptop too, nothing.

 

See my response in the other thread... but I'll repeat just because I'm nice.

It's an option in the BIOS, System Configuration, Active Keys Mode - Disable.

 

yep, read it and thanked you for it. i'll thank you again

 

all of the 3rd party stuff (norton. . .etc). I don't have a comprehensive list. . .but i know that when I looked at the programs preinstalled (in control panel) before and after MIR, it dropped to almost half. . .so you basically get rid of 3rd party stuff, and keep all of the HP stuff (which you can manually uninstall if you like) but i've kept all the HP stuff and it hasn't slowed by system a bit.

 

Should RMA my laptop ? I got this vibration on my lower right side of the laptop, where the palm rests while typing. It bothers me. Probably from the HD.

What should I do to resolve this ? I don't want to buy a SSD.

 

that's the hard-drive spinning.


yeah you'd need a SSD to stop that probably.

 

Hey so my Envy 14 is arriving on Thursday and I want to start by doing a clean install. I already have the upgrade media for Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. Is there anything I should backup or save before running the clean install? And can I download all the necessary drivers from HP support?

Thanks a lot.

 

When I turn on my computer or wake it up from sleep/hibernation the wifi is always off and I have to hit the key. Is there a way to make it start on / blue?

 

Make your HP System Restore DVD's and backup the C:\swsetup folder.

Usually if there are issues with the quick launch buttons try this:

shut down your computer, remove the AC plug, remove the battery, hold down the power button for 30 seconds. Plug everything back in, power up and see if its fixed.

 

Yep, that's the hard drive. It's right under that right palmrest.

That's the primary reason I chose an SSD. My hands end up going to sleep half the time, depending on the laptop. The Alienware M11x was horrible. I returned it for other reasons, but if I kept it I would have bought an SSD.

 

Hi ever1,
My Envy 14 just arrived today! I'm so exciting! But I have a question about how to keep my battery life longer.
I Just switched from Vaio F, and Vaio has a program so-called Battery something that allow the whole machine stop charging when battery is fully charged!
Does HP has that thing? I mean, My Envy14 would stop charging if my battery fully charged ?

 

How old is your Vaio F? Because that's pretty standard fare with laptops over the last many years that I recall. Just leave it plugged in and the charging logic optimizes the charging.

 

and 1 more thing, Do I have to charge my battery for about 12h like we all used do advised to do so on cellfone

 

Could it also be the case that the screws may not be tightened all the way and just need a little tightening? I would lightly try tightening the screws to see if there are any loose ones. From what I know they won't even know you were in there and I don't think that can void the warranty.

 

Dear htwingnut,
My VaioFW is about one and a half years old, And I have to update from Vaio Esupport site in order to have that battery function. However, I think your infomation is not true. My dad has a HP which is only 3 yrs old and he believed that HP will not charge his battery whenever it's full. haha. And now, he can't move his laptop anywhere but around the electricity outlet

 

Tovani -

The Sony BatteryCare function was just something that extended the battery life by not charging it fully every time. Charging to say 80% instead of 100% makes the battery last a bit longer but it's not a huge deal.

The charging in the Envy is still controlled by the computer so your battery won't get damaged by overcharging or anything like that.

By the way, my previous laptop before the Envy 14 was a Sony FW and I think the Envy is a huge improvement.

 

That's because HP probably is/was using crap batteries.

It all depends on the battery technology and the logic controlling the charging. It's basically a marketing thing by Sony. Batteries begin losing significant charge after two years or so and isn't uncommon to only get about 50% life compared to new, on a battery after three years. I had a Sony for seven years or so. Battery was completely dead after 3.5 years.

 

Ok, I am starting to become concerned. I have my lid close action to be hibernate. I was using the computer earlier today, closed the lid, computer went off. Tonight when I came back to it, I hit the power button and... nothing. I know I had about 9 percent battery left when I turned it off, and the emergency shutdown percentage is 3, it's supposed to hibernate when it does this. Now I had it go down to 3 percent once and it hibernated, but when I turned it on after that, it started up with a Windows message about not starting up completely unless I told it too and suggested me plug into an outlet. While I am charging my battery right now it seems to be charging up REALLY fast. Battery test says my battery is good. Does anyone have any ideas about what could be going on? When I plugged it in it started right up, but the no power up and fast charging is giving me cause for concern. I hit the power button quite a few times just to be sure, maybe a bad battery? Not really sure....

 

Where can I make recovery discs of Windows? I have already backup the Swsetup folder, but I need to make a disc with Win7 so I have the oppurtunity to reinstall Windows. What to do?

 

From 2.0's HP Envy 14 Topic:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html

 

Thank you!

Is any of these program any important?
power2go
Cyberlink DVD suite
alcor micro usb card reader
Look at the attachment for the other programs Im wondering about..

I understand that I should keep the IDT audio, HP 3D driveguard and probably the HP wireless assistant. But all the others i need help to! Someone should make a list who tells what each and each program does? I would do it, but really dont have a clue of what they're doing so it would'nt be great.

 

Do you mean recovery DVD's?

Start Menu / All Programs / HP / Recovery Manger / Recovey Media Creation

Make sure you make these disks even if you plan on doing a clean install. It will revert your machine back to factory state.

Also I would recommend instead of a clean install, using these disks to do a minimal install which is an option when you put these discs in. It's a pretty clean install except has the HP media software which is easily removed if you want, rest of bloatware is gone.

 

Whats the difference between the discs I make under Recovery media creation and with the link jaypeeboy gave me

Link: http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html

 

Ah, ok.

Refer to this thread for all your questions:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-envy-hdx/502434-official-hp-envy-14-owners-lounge-part-deux.html

There's a section called "GUIDES, DRIVERS, SOFTWARE:" that will help you every step of the way.

 

That link is to get an actual Windows 7 DVD like you'd buy in the store, but you still need a valid license key, which comes with your laptop.

The Recovery Media has all the HP drivers and software and everything pre-loaded, and will configure your hard drive partitions and everything you'll need. Many people were having some issue doing a clean install (i.e. off the link you have there) and installing drivers themselves.

The Minimal install option with the recovery media has everything set up for you, drivers, all bloatware gone, except HP MediaSmart software.

I'm a hands on type of guy an prefer to know every piece of software on my machine, so usually do a clean install. But I've found the minimal install is a great option with a lot less headache than doing a clean install.

 

My Envy 14 is on order, when it arrives I'll want to do either a clean install or a minimal recovery from emergency discs.

I think I'll be happy with the minimal recovery option, HOWEVER, after creating my recovery discs I'll be removing my HP supplied HDD and installing my own (new) Intel X25 160gb SSD. Will the recovery discs I've created using my OEM install from the HP HDD work fine when I try to use them to do a minimal recovery on a newly installed SSD?

I was a bit concerned because I understand Win 7 needs to recognise that it is being installed onto an SSD instead of a traditional HDD, and configure itself (and the disc) to work optimally on the SSD. Will it do this if I'm using recovery discs created on an HDD to re-install onto an SSD?

 

ok, thanks. Will not take either a clean or minimal now, but just want to be ready when my computer slows down and need it.

Could you please take a look at my post about which programs I can uninstall?
what is bloatware/ what is important?

 

That's a good question. All I can say is to try it and check alignment. If its aligned then it'll be fine. If not, well a clean install is probably the best way to go.

 

IMHO it's all bloatware except what you get with a clean install or minimal recovery.

 

So i can delete all the HP media smart?
But should i really delete HP software framework, HP setup, Hp tone control, Hp update?
Sorry for asking many questions but a little bit scarred of deleting something important and have to do a clean install. Really dont got time to do that now since school and work is really pushing me these days

 

is there a way to get the recovery partition again if you deleted it?

 

Is there any way to keep two different mouse speed settings (one for touchpad and one for external mouse)?

I like to keep my touchpad setting to be the absolute fastest ... but when I plug in my mouse, I find that the same speed setting is too fast.

 

I just got this, I think. No keys worked am I right?
Freaking me out. hopefully someone finds a fix

 

That's a good question - I actually use three - an external at work, a different external at home, and a touchpad on the go, so it would be good to know if/how they can be configured to their own settings.

 

go to the bios and run the hdd self test.

mine gets an error at 16% of the second test (the long test that should take 70ish minutes)


I would get a replacement hdd from the warranty....but at the moment it sounds like HP wants me to send my whole computer in which I'm reluctant to do on account of well...yeah. I might get a different one back for some stupid screwup of a reason. and they're almost out of radiance displays.

 

Ran test, came up with no errors. /shrug

 

weird. Grab memtest86+ and let it run overnight or something to see if the ram is bad instead.

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

you boot it from either a cd or a flash drive

Mine ended up being the hdd (memtest checked out fine for me). still need to replace it but I dun wanna send the entire computer in to HP.

I may just take my chances for awhile and buy a ssd like I had originally planned to do once the intel refresh happens.

 

I don't know if this is actually worth mentioning, but Firefox on my Toshiba had acted up REALLY bad just about a week or 2 ago. Computer would stop responding and it would take me FOREVER to get it to shutdown, all kinds of waiting for programs to close, keys seemed unresponsive, and I updated it and all seemed well. Granted this was on Win XP, but maybe it could carry over to Win 7. Also another user in the battery life log had posted that Firefox was causing their discharge rate to be really high, which I can verify b/c unistalling it did the same for me, dropped from 14,000 to like between 8,000 to 10,000. I have been using IE (I know, IE sucks yada yada yada) but a benchmark website had it rated as the most power efficient browser, so I'm gonna continue using it as it appears to be true.

 

Now THAT is interesting....

 

Yes, very interesting. But one would hope it were the case considering it IS Microsoft OS and browser. But we all know how that can end up.

 

I downloaded the new bios from HP site and flashed my bios. I checked which version it is and it's still .06 and not .12 ? why ? i've tried it twice now and it's still the same.

 

hey check page 314 of the official owner's lounge part deux, I detailed how you can get your BIOS to update... Make Sure You follow HP's instructions on getting the partition to be recognize, format FAT32, name it HP_TOOLS. http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...l-hp-envy-14-owners-lounge-part-deux-314.html

 

Maybe its just me, but I just updated the BIOS to F.12 and the boot time seems a lot quicker as does system response time. I dunno, maybe me just thinking things that actually aren't there.

 

i love this thing

i picked up a 1050ca

i5 430
6gb ram
640gb hdd
radiance display
and all the rest of the goodies.


im so happy i bought this instead of a macbook pro (which i was dangerously close to buying since i found out that it was infact, cheaper than the envy)

but im so much happier with the 14...

my two issues:

touchpad - its wonky, even after ive upgraded drivers and done the setup by jb
battery life - yea i know it all depends and stuff, i just wished that it would last as long as a macbook pro...but then again, it isnt a macbook hehe... so im not too bummed

 

Head over to the trackpad discussion and check out reils program. But you have to get used to tapping to click and 2/3 finger tapping for the touchpad to be good. Its stil not perfect, but until synaptics fixes their drivers its pretty good.