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

Hey guys,

I've searched the best I can and can't find an answer to this: I just did a clean install on my 14 and have installed the drivers. For whatever reason, the "configure switchable graphics" is not showing up when I right-click. What is the procedure for getting this to work? I've read that it's because I installed the ATi drivers before the Intel. If so, how do I go backwards step-by-step? Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you.

 

Hey guys, how do you turn off the light on the trackpad? The trackpad is on, but for some reason the light is also on.

Double tapping the light doesn't do anything at all

 

Got a question for some Envy 14 owners out there ...

I noticed that my RAM usage is kind of high even when my CPU is running Idle. Task Manager shows that I'm using over 1 GB of RAM right after startup.

Is that normal?

 

that's windows 7. it's normal. windows 7 utilizes 20-30ish % of your ram to just hold some programs in it so they load up quickly if you use 'em. It instantly frees that ram up if you're using some program that needs that extra 1 gig of ram.

 

anyone having issues with the wireless card just randomly stop working? I don't know what the issue is, but as soon as I restart the comp, everything's ok...I did uninstall the hp wireless driver though, but that was after the drop...hmmm

 

update the drivers.

go search for intel 6200 in google.

 

Hey guys, I know the computers fast because it installs and zips through all the apps.

however , when I just use simple tasks like creating a new folder or copy files (explorer, my computer stuff), it constantly freezes.
This is a brand new envy with almost nothing uninstalled. *besides obvious bloatware.

PS. How can you get rid of the envy theme looking folders? They are silverish, not the normal windows 7 icons

 

Also, for those who have done a clean install .... how would I be able to disable bluetooth if I do not have the HP Wireless assistant program?

 

I noticed yesterday that my Envy14 was displaying a shimmer for a certain color of grey. This problem only occurs when using the ATi 5650 discrete graphics card and only for certain colors. I am wondering if anyone else has this problem. I have attached a color chart with the colors that I see have the fuzzy/shimmering problem outlined in black. As a note I am using Catalyst 10.3 and am on Windows 7 x64. If there is a name for this phenomenon please let me know so I can refer to it correctly. Does anyone else see a shimmer on their envy14? it is much easier to see if you get close to the screen.

Edit: I may upload a video later on to show what I mean.

 

Hey guys, just a quick question:

I RMA'ed my first Envy and now I got the replacement unit. Do I have to burn the recovery disks again or can I use the old ones?

 

I was just wondering if there was any way to manually control the fans on the envy 14?

My temps are good most of the time (Idle 80~90F) but sometimes it goes up to ~100 when I'm doing intensive stuff and I can't hear the fans go on.

So is there any way to manually control the fans? A la smcfan control ?

 

Regarding the cooling vents, which are intake and which are exhaust?

Thanks

 

The side/back airvents are the exhaust and the slits at the bottom of the laptop are the intake.

 

No you don't.

 

No there isn't.

 

How much is the discount? --just curious

 

Thanks.

Just tested my replacement unit and the mic issue is still there. How come no one else besides vinneh and me has issues with the mic port using a standard pc headset?

 

I think a lot of people, like myself, use USB microphones.

 

Nope, but to be honest, I'd make them anyhow since they only let you make one copy per machine. That way you'd have two in case one gets lost, damaged, or just decides to take a permanent vacation. But that's just me. I'm weird that way (and lots of other ways too).

 

I just got my E14 and was trying out the headset with ventrilo and had the same issues. While searching for the answer, I read in the user manual that it NOTES that you need to use a 4 conductor jack on that port. So, I tried using my iPhone headset and the mic worked. Unfortunately, it was late and there was no one on the other end of ventrilo to ask if the sound quality was ok. However, when I tried to "listen" to that input it seemed to have a lot of static. Will try to test the quality later tonight and update.

 

Is anyone else still unable to get the mute light working?

I installed the MediaSmart SmartMenu, but it didn't ever seem to be running, and the mute light has never worked...

So far it's one of my few little gripes with the Envy 14, but I'd like to get it fixed.

 

I know wingnut got it to work by puling out the battery, holding the power button down for like a minute and then putting the battery back in.

 

I feel like this is a stupid question, but does Catalyst CC 10.6 work on the Envy?

 

Yea I'm running it right now. Just make sure that your switchable graphics is operational first, switch to dedicated, and install.

 

Hey,

I talked to a Customer Support at HP about Envy 14, his name was David.

I asked him about i7 and i5.. he said that the i7 has better battery life.
Told him I will use it for school using wifi, facebook and word.
he easily with i5 I will get around 6-7 battery life and with the i7 i will get 30min to 1 hour MORE (without battery slice, both cases).

I told him looking online people are getting around 4-5 hours i5 and 2-3 hours i7.. he said thats nonsense and they're probably gaming or using lots of programs and etc.

I'm >.<

-----

 

Alright, cool. Installed and restarted. How do I check the version number. The info thing says "Catalyst™ Control Center Version 2010.0309.2240.40630"

 

Does this little story really require a separate thread? (Not flaming or anything)

 

Don't listen to the regular CSR's about that stuff. Talk to the HP Technical Support CSR's. They are a little more in tune to reality, albeit a skewed sense of it. Several that I have talked to had no idea what TRIM meant with an SSD. At least the last one I talked to would say he wasn't sure but he'd confirm it instead of feeding misinformation. I like that. I don't care if you don't know, but find out, instead of misleading customers.

 

open up the CCC go to that info page thing and check the driver version

driver packaging should be above 8.713 if it updated to 10.6

catalyst version should be 10.6

edit: 8.713 means you still have the hp drivers on but may have just updated your CCC instead

 

Looks like this:

 

I did i clean install on my envy 14. I kinda liked the default hp envy theme. How do I get that back?

 

Bump

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...problems-issues-questions-26.html#post6555181

 

First page of Owner's thread. You'll see a link to wallpaper.

 

hey guys i am about to do a clean install on my new envy 14. i made the 4 hp recovery disks, backed up the swsetup and made a repair disk for windows 7. am i good to go now or do i need something else for windows 7?

also, how exactly do i do the clean install?

 

I don't know for you guys, but I really favor the "Minimal Recovery" option instead of a clean install.

You only have to uninstall the MediaSmart stuff if you so desire and then you have a clean slate with all drivers installed and configured. Far less hassle than starting from nothing.

 

How much more battery life do I get with the extra slice battery?

 

yea i got the wallpapers. but i'm looking for the theme which also changes the color of the taskbar

 

you're still on 10.3

 

Having big time issues with my machine. Since receiving the envy 14, I have loved everything about it except these darn bluescreens. I have tried everything I can think of, like new drivers, reinstalling HP drivers, doing a fresh install with windows, and lastly I did a factory restore and nothing has fixed it at all. I got CCC 10.7 installed today, and same stuff. Anytime I am gaming, I can expect 1 to 4 bluescreens per every 2 hours or so. I checked the error report and this is what pops up:


Copy and paste from the error report:

Description
A problem with your video hardware caused Windows to stop working correctly.

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: LiveKernelEvent
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem
WD-20100804-2035.dmp
sysdata.xml
WERInternalMetadata.xml

View a temporary copy of these files
Warning: If a virus or other security threat caused the problem, opening a copy of the files could harm your computer.

Extra information about the problem
BCCode: 117
BCP1: FFFFFA80045AB2E0
BCP2: FFFFF88002F90C80
BCP3: 0000000000000000
BCP4: 0000000000000000
OS Version: 6_1_7600
Service Pack: 0_0
Product: 768_1





Could this be a hardware issue and not a driver issue?

 

yeah this sounds more like a bad video card on the computer.


does it get BSODs while using the intel gpu?

 

hmmm, great question. Never game on intel gpu, so I don't really know. I can test it tonight though. Nothing else to lose.

 

intel GPU can do SOME things at least. if it BSODs on that one too then it's more of a motherboard issue perhaps.

if not...well it's still a motherboard issue since the 5650 is part of the motherboard. either way you'll probably wanna RMA it.

 

Is the Envy 14 supposed to be able to play bass well? I'm playing some bass heavy music on youtube and the difference between my headset and the Envy 14 speakers is pretty big. It feels like there is no bass playing from the laptop. I have bass and treble at both 4 in tone control also.

 

Yeah, I realized that. But it sucks to be honest. Now I have to buy an adapter to use my headset which works on every other machine.

Also the replacement unit they send me is faulty. It locks up every time I try to save the changes made to the bios, it doesn't shutdown properly (fans still running + leds lighted up) and it doesn't wake up from standby. Gonna get my new unit in the next few days. The salesperson I spoke to didn't even wanna know what kind of issues I have with my unit. Go figure.

I was really looking to forward to get the Envy but now it's turning into a nightmare. It's my first laptop and I never had such problems with desktop PC's in 13 years of usage.

On a side note: HP Technical Support in Germany is a complete joke. The guy I was talking to about the mic issue didn't have a clue. I had to point out to him what maybe the problem. Then he said that he doesn't understand what my problem is since THERE IS A HEADSET INCLUDED IN THE BOX albeit the fact that he didn't even have the Envy 14 or it's box in front of him to check. And I was like "Are you kidding me? That's simply not true.". This went on for a couple of minutes when he told me that there were no adapters available for my headset, which is also false.
It was ridiculous. He obviously didn't know a thing but he kept making up things which are simply not true.

If there were any viable alternatives to the Envy 14 out there I'd just return it and get my money back. But since there isn't I just have to suck it up.

Before I got the Envy I didn't understand why HP had such a bad reputation. Now I do.

The only good thing I have to say about HP so far is that they are very fast with replacements. But that's about it.

Sorry for the rant.

 

anyone notice when you wake up your envy14, the colors seem more washed out at first and then it all comes back slowly in about a few seconds? This is really odd, idk if there is something wrong with the lcd screen.

Thanks!

 

Is there any way to set a shortcut key to switching graphics card? Since I never use F1(the question mark), i'd rather change that to a hotkey to switch graphics cards.

 

I have that problem on my toshiba, well its not really a problem.

I think if u change the settings for the screen ( up the contrast etc) it takes a few seconds to kick in.

I have not seen this on the envy because i have not played with the settings, but this is why it happened on my older toshiba.

 

So can anyone tell me what happens when you actually run the "MediaSmart SmartMenu" software?

Even running the executable directly doesn't cause anything to launch for me. I've reinstalled it a couple times now trying to figure it out.

It's causing my volume mute button to work, and now I'm just curious to see if I can fix it.

 

@Pimsley

I'm HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I've tried everything and nothing seems to work. Ugh.

 

New envy 14 battery wont charge it came with f.05 bios called HP they said it is a known issue wont be fixed till f.06 any one else have this problem?

Also tried f.04 and no luck