Envy 17 3D Clean Install

Does anyone have information regarding the minimum software installation to get 3d working on a Envy 17 3D?

I am trying to avoid installing all the hp software. Hoping to load just the bare minimum to allow the 3d demos to work. My Envy 3d is up and running except for the 3d stuff. I haven't installed any of the hp mediasmart software.

Which of these are necessary?
HP Mediasmart Cinema Now 2.0
HP Mediasmart DVD
HP Mediasmart movies and tv
HP Mediasmart music
HP Mediasmart photo
HP Mediasmart smartmenu
HP Mediasmart video
HP Mediasmart webcam
HP Mediasmart/touchsmart netflix
HP software framework
hp setup
Movie themepack for HP Mediasmart video
power2go

 

TechStock by the way, nice computer rig, way to make us all jealous! lol I should get my 3D around 12/7. I have been hearing alot about people doing clean installs..... I understand people do it to get rid of some of the HP bloatware, but is it really a must to do a clean reinstall? Can't you just delete the individual programs from control panel/add-remove feature and other methods? That would be a whole lot simple and less headache I would think.

Other than getting rid of bloatware, is there really any reason to do a clean install on a brand new system that has no issues? When I get mine, I really don't plan on doing all that...it brings back horrible memories of the old days when I bought a Compaq computer...and to really date this...it was literally 31 days or so before MMX technology came out!!! LMFAO hahah, as if MMX did anything, but at that time Compaq treated me like garbage. I asked to upgrade to MMX and I would pay the difference. They said its past 30 days and they won't take it back, no exchange, even if iI wanted to upgrade it I can't because the motherboard I have, just a month before MMX came out does not support MMX. What a bummer. Sorry to go off on a tangent, but had to get it out of my syste. Only sad thing is, HP is now in bed with Compaq, ughhh... I just have to look the other way because I love some of HP's stuff and will adore the Envy 17 3D! Thanks.

P.S. Good luck with your clean install.
P.P.S. Ha, sorry, almost forgot. The Pre MMX Compaq I had, well, required several clean installs due also to poor quality customer service from Comaq. Basically, I wanted a clean look for my folders. So on the C drive, I asked Compaq if it would be ok to delete this file...they said yes, Guess what? Yeah, the computer went to heck. Could not start it up again! It was a file that was vital for startup and Compaq said I can delete it. Wow.... worst Tech support ever don't you think?

KJ

 

I do clean installs on all new machines. got my Envy 3d yesterday and have it up and running today. Unfortunately over time windows registries get bogged down. installing and uninstalling software makes this work. I have seen machines become noticably faster without all the extra stuff. For example, everyone wants their software to be updated automatically, so you end up with a whole bunch of different little programs running to check to see if an update exists. I also probably won't use the adobe photoshop software. I am a bit of a purist. Coming from my corporate IT background, I like keeping computers clean as best as possible. My old dv9500 will be getting a clean install for the wife now that my envy is pretty much done. It is probably not necessary for most.

 

unpilot did this, I'm sure he'll chime in shortly.

 

Unpilot did this because he wanted to install to a new drive - Momentus XT. However, you can actually install a new drive by restoring from the 7 backup DVDs onto any drive. I did this to a 100GB SSD and it is working great. Unlike my Lenovo X61t which needed a clean install in order to function well, I didn't see a need to do a clean install with my Envy 17 3D. I'd love to hear what apps people with clean installs are NOT putting back on their computers.

 

BTW, I use process explorer from Windows Sysinternals: Documentation, downloads and additional resources to determine if there are processes that use up too much CPU. These are the bloatware hogs that you want to get rid of. I didn't see anything on the Envy 17 3D that made me want to remove other than to save disk space.

You can use this tool also and then make your own decision if a clean install is needed.

Process Explorer

Note: Add "CPU Time" under Process Performance as a new "Select Column". Then sort by highest first to see if there are any processes that are using up CPU.

 

I plan on doing a clean install too for a few reasons:
- I want to selectively install the HP software I actually want
- I have an SSD that I want to use as system drive (and move stock drive to secondary slot)
- I have a copy of windows 7 ultimate to install over the default copy

A tool like acronis will make the backup process much easier and I find it much more convenient to create a physical disk image on a larger external drive than to have a bunch of DVD's to swap around. On my current system, acronis images are what keep me from having to deal with windows restore and/or clean installs if I were to have an issue.

Judging from unpilot's experience, I don't think this will be too hard so long as you make sure to install the hp drivers for stuff. I figure it will take the better part of an afternoon to get it all set up.

 

Plan on making recovery discs first, then doing a clean install, then cloning drive for quick recovery.

 

Guys, not sure if you are all aware, but HP has an option where you can now create the recovery disc-free using their USB option!!!! Amazing for those who want to really do the install, save your DVDs. Hope I helped a little since I'm new to this forum, but everyone seems really cool.

Here is the link guys! I accept checks, cash, and paypal, LOL, just kidding.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&softwareitem=ob-77449-1


P.S. They recommend you have a 16Gig USB drive to give the files enough room, I guess to breath! lol, but all in all its about 8Gig of info I think.

KJ

 

What I did was make the recovery disks (7) Copy the Swsetup folder. Then do the clean install. As for what is needed to make 3d work I assume your talking about Movies and video. Games will need the Tridef software or something similar.

I know you need the mediasmart suite. Also you need the ATI driver that came with the system. It is ok to install the new ATI driver AFTER you install the one that came with the system. I could not get the clips that came with the system to work until I did that. It is found in C:\SwSetup\Drivers\VID2\Setup

The other piece is to reinstall the Hp DVD player that is found in C:\SwSetup\MSDCD3D\Install

After that it should work!

 

I did the ATI video drivers. I don't want to install all the mediasmart software if I don't need to. There are 8 or 9 apps listed. Are they all necessary? What tells the IR sensors for the glasses that something is playing that requires 3d? I am not interested in games at this point.

 

At a minimum I am not sure. Mine would not work till I ran this installer

C:\SwSetup\MSDCD3D\Install