Envy 173D. Way to unlock OEM BIOS? It's preventing upgrades.

Greetings all. I recently customized a new Envy 17 3D with every detail maxed out, except one. The dual SSD/HD option. On the phone ordering this machine, I wasn't given much information regarding the SSD for the machine, and couldn't see spending 500 dollars for that upgrade, so I opted for the standard 500 gig HD.

Afterwards, I tried calling and upgrading before the computer was built, but was basically told "sorry" but you can send the laptop back after you receive it in the mail if you're not pleased with it. Such a pathetic response and excuse, and one to which I just laughed. Long story short, I bought a 128 meg Crucial C300 6GB/s from Newegg, and have installed it in my Envy. Now here is where the problems start. To effectively run this SSD, the BIOS needs to be set to AHCI, along with a few other things in BIOS.

As you probably know, Win 7 when set properly automatically sets things to optimize and better suit SSDs, like automatically turning on TRIM, disabling defragmenting, and so on. But because it was not installed from the factory the option they set on this computer is set for a HD, not set for an SS drive, and therefore my new installed SSD is running sub-par. This particular drive, and fellow users of the drive, boasts speeds upwards of 350+ read 140-150+ write on 6Gb/s. I'm getting... not even half that. And from what everyone tells me, it's because I'm not set to AHCI. Which of course... my BIOS is locked and I can't change the setting.

I know HP locks their BIOS settings to keep idiots from ruining their systems for whatever reasons they have. However, I paid an extra 300 dollars for an extended warranty that covers ALL damage. Even if I was to throw it out a 3 story window because I had a bout of nerd rage, the laptop replacement is covered. That being said, I want full access to my BIOS settings.

I am so far extremely disappointed in HP. From mediocre support and tech help to laptops that are very expensive yet locked and bared, which essentially is taking something we pay full price for and limiting what we get. And besides, warranties run out, and these settings they force onto us stay the same. For the money I paid for this Envy 17 3D, I could of easily had my own laptop built completely custom with full access granted to me, and with a few extra goodies that this laptop doesn't have. But hindsight is always 20/20.

Basically, I want to know if there is any way I can gain full access to my BIOS to be able to change my settings to AHCI, and eventually in the future when this laptop starts to slip and become outdated and underpowered, the option to overclock so it will stay current as long as I can make it.

I've searched Google and read countless pages with people asking the same question, with no real fix ever to be shown. It is to my understanding that updating or flashing the BIOS won't help, as it doesn't fix the problem. So is there some sort of firmware/software that we can use, or is there something on the board like a DIMM pin that needs moved? Or is there ANY suggestion at all?

I mean this is like buying a exotic sports car for hundreds of thousands of dollars, only to find out that big 12 cylinder engine has 8 of its cylinders "locked" to prevent you from voiding the car's 3 year warranty. Give me a break.

Again, with the extended warranty I paid out the rear for, even if I completely screw up my system and it's my fault, I'm covered.

So.... how do I gain full access to my system?

 

My understanding is that the Envy 17 series' hard disk controller is set to AHCI by default (in fact it is the only setting). I don't think the Envy 17 3D is any different. You can check in Device Manager.

However, the Envy 17 does not have SATA-III (6 Gb/s). It has SATA-II (3 Gb/s).

Kind regards

 

So the Envy 17 3D doesn't support SATA-III? I was under the understanding that the MoBo's in the 3D were actually different from that of the regular 17's. Someone did a review and the guts of the 3D actually had a different cooling system (less fans and less heat tubes oddly), and was also said that upon trying to update the 3D's BIOS with a 17's BIOS update that they were not compatible.

I'm just going to be very dissappointed if if the 3D is still running the slower SATA-II when it's supposed to be a high-performance system.

And I can't say much on being automatically set to AHCI... all I know is my BIOS is completely locked and 'dumbed down' and I would like to find some way to unlock it.

I'm not able to find any sort of detailed specs on the 3D to confirm anything. =\

 

I don't think any of the current Intel mobile chipsets support SATA-III. It would be interesting to see if the next gen, for Sandy Bridge, have native SATA-III support.

Kind regards

 

The Envy 17 and Envy 17 3D do share the same BIOS; at least in the sense that both use the same Softpaqs from HP. Take a look on the HP support website.

Where did you get the information that different BIOS images were used?

 

I was reading a blog/post somewhere where the poster commented on how most people say the 3D is a normal envy 17 with a 3D screen screwed on it.

But he believed this wasn't true after the BIOS update from the regular 17 came up as incompatible to his 3D

 

It can be a mix of both. Anyway, I posted a while ago if people notice on the bottom of the Envy 17 3D base...it clearly says in white print/paint that it is a Envy 17... never says Envy 17 3D! lol, you'd think HP would at least paint the Envy 17 3D on the bottom, but nol Its the same base/keyboard as the 17.....

KJ

 

If you go to device manager and look at IDE controller, it clearly says it using the AHCI driver. So, no need to change in BIOS as mcdill said since it is the only mode available.

BTW, are you using HDTune for your testing?

 

I've used a few different 3rd party benchmarks... The highest of which only put me up around 250+ Read and about 80-100 write.

And yea I've found that it is auto set to AHCI... however to update the firmware on this SSD you have to set it to IDE for some unknown reason. Then set it back to AHCI.

I mean it all goes back to the fact that we should of control over our computers. They lock the BIOS to save themselves so they don't have to honor the warranties, but when that warranty runs out our BIOS is still locked. =\

 

Go over to my digital life forums and see if anyone has tackled that BIOS for the Envy. Likely not. HP locks their BIOS down and there is no simple way to get at certain settings.

As for IDE mode, you can pretty much forget it for the purpose you are thinking of using it for. Shame that some SSD drive manufactures designed their firmware upgrades to require IDE mode. Especially considering that SSDs are in the notebook form factor.

I have SSDs like that. OCZ Vertex. To upgrade them, I went next door to my neighbors who have a desktop PC.

 

.... and over a year later I'm still searching. Haha

 

For?

BTW, the second gen Envy 17 DOES have SATA3 (6GB/s) support. The first gen DOES NOT.

Unfortunately, the only way to flash the SSD if it requires IDE mode is to flash it in another machine.

 

likewise... infact the whole warranty debacle that you presented, i couldnt agree more. So in a sort of Middle finger to HP for locking my BIOS, i actually am compelled to throw out my envy 17 3d (2nd) gen out of a 3rd story building, and demanding as for a fit replacement the 3rd genereation Envy 17 3D.

its only fitting no?

however i still am perplexed why at the very least enable SOME bio settings to be changed. i mean it cant hurt to just turn off HT if you really wanted to. and the whole AHCI and IDE mode is a real head scratcher. Did they forget SSD'd need firmware updates?