First Steps to a Successful Laptop

This is meant to be a general guide for any new laptop, but I can add specifics if you post them. I'll try to add more for dv6/7 as I come across information. I thought it would be a good idea to have an inclusive post on this sort of thing so no one has to wade through hundreds of pages to find a certain answer.

When you first get the laptop:

• Inspect the box for damage, take everything out and make sure nothing is missing.
  
• Put the battery in the laptop, plug the brick into the wall, then into the laptop. Make sure it turns on and no grinding noises are heard from fans.
  
• Test basic hardware and necessities: keyboard flex, monitor hinges, trackpad, disk drive, camera, wireless/bluetooth, ethernet, USB, HDMI, etc.
  
• Check for dead pixels - Stuck on/off Pixel Test
  
• Create Recovery discs and system repair disc and copy the contents of the 'SWSetup' folder
  
• At this point I suggest simply using the laptop for an hour or so, get familiar with it and try the programs that are already installed. After doing this you should have a better idea of what you want to keep.
  
• Download Windows 7. http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html

Clean up Bloatware:
There are a couple of options here. The more advanced users can opt for a wipe/partition/install or you can use Minimal System Image Recovery.

• Using System Recovery, Factory Reset and Minimized Image Recovery
• Reinstall specific drivers or applications

After the Minimal System Image is completed, the recovery partition (D:\) is there and the HP tools and SwSetup folders are still available on C:\. Permalink

To get an idea of what will be on your HP dv6/dv7 hard drive when you get it and after recovery here's a great post.

• Update Windows

Install extra software and enjoy!

Nonobligatory Programs/utilities:

Everything - Quick file indexing and searching
Norton - It's included and I've read that this version isn't a hog.
Skype - Videochatting and testing the webcam
Reils touchpad app - (Posted by teotuf permalink) With Reil's touchpad app, it is supposed to match Macbook Pro's touchpad (Single tap, double tap and hold to drag, two finger tap to right click, inertial two finger scroll, etc Download info.
RandyRants: SharpKeys 3.0 Can be used to remap unwanted keys, including preset f keys, and some of the more useful action keys (volume, etc).
AutoHotkey for Disk Ejector - (Posted by dgobe permalink) Here's an AutoHotKey script that will eject the CD if you hold down F12 longer than 1 second like a Mac. F12 will be passed through to the OS if you just tap it as usual.

Code:

F12::

timeout := 1000    ;In milliseconds
t1 := A_TickCount

while getkeystate("F12", "P") {
        sleep 1
	if(A_TickCount - t1 > timeout) {
		Drive, Eject
		return
	}
}
Send {F12}
return

Note: Disable Action keys in BIOS, but can still be used by pressing fn first. (ex: fn+f12 = wireless toggle)
Just run the AutoHotkey program and you'll see a green/white H in your system tray(might be hidden, click up arrow to far left of tray). Right-click the icon and select "Edit This Script" Paste the code in there and remove the example code for Ctrl-Alt-N etc. (Thank you dgobe)

• You may want to change how your screen looks, Windows has a calibration tool. Start Menu > Write "Calibrate" > select Calibrate screen > Follow on-screen instructions

Post-laptop setup tips:

• For surface cleaning of the screen use a Microfiber Cloth and a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water, Sprayway Glass Cleaner for everywhere else. This is subjective so use what works for you! Using Alcohol to clean an LCD may cause it to yellow over time, so find a brand you can trust that makes something for LCDs.Permalink
  
• For the advanced pragmatists out there looking for anything at all to gain performance, you can open up that new laptop and re-apply thermal compound (any brand you like) on the CPU and GPU to make sure it meets you specs.
  
• For adding another drive (SSD or HDD) the dv7 has two drive bays and includes a drive caddy in the second bay. To add another drive you still need the cable to connect drive to motherboard. The SATA cable for a second drive is starting to be manufactured by 3rd parties, so hopefully it will be available soon. One vendor has it showing as available by June 7, 2nd HDD Cable kit, but pricing is still pretty high ($30). Permalink These laptops support up to SATA III.
  
• Updates to the BIOS are constantly coming out. The current version is F.14 (5-17-2011) and is available on HP's website. It gives you the option to enable Virtualization Technology.

Additional notes:

• Beats Audio only applies to the headphone jacks. Permalink
• The current two options for the 6770M graphics card are 1 and 2 GBs of video ram. The 2GB option has absolutely no discernible advantage. In other words, its a marketing gimmick (unfortunately they got me before I found this out...) so save the $50 and buy the 1GB 6770M.
• Differences between 5400 and 7200 rpm hard drives -
  5400 pros(+)/cons(-): +uses less power, +quieter, -slower boot/loading
  7200 pros(+)/cons(-): +faster boot and loading time, -uses more power, -louder, -runs hotter, -speed gains versus 5400 are almost never achieved because most occasions can't use the drive at its potential
• Some bumps may be felt on the trackpad, it could be from the finishing process and they may also wear away.
• RAM/Memory can be run in dual channel even with different capacity sticks, it will just run in dual up to the lowest stick. [ex: 6GB - a 4gb and 2gb stick will be run at dual channel for 4gb total (2gb from each stick)] Permalink
  The 2630 supports up to DDR-1333. The 2720 and up support DDR-1600. HP puts 1333 in these laptops. If you decide to upgrade this, find memory with better timings but the same frequency to save money.
  USB 3.0 ports are on the left and using usb 1 or 2.0 in them will not increase their maximum transfer speed.
• You can change the icon size: Right click the desktop, go to view and change the icon size to however you like it.

New FHD Screen Info:
DV6t: AUO B156HW01 V3, Hardware ID for the screen is AUO13ED, 60% color gamut Permalink

DV7t: Hardware Id LGD0283, 72% color gamut Permalink

Known Issues:
"Screen split" - picture of issue The user Epistaxis reported that by updating to the 11.5b drivers fixed all clipping issues in games and video files/bluray.

Intel WiDi issues should be fixed by upgrading "[Intel HD] graphic beyond 15.22 and update WiDi to 2.1 (Falco152 Permalink)

Thank you to all the fantastic knowledgeable people using NotebookReview! If you have anything you would like added, post in this thread so I can add it up here. Please let me know if any information is wrong or needs more detail!

Edit 1, 5-31-2011: Fixed erroneous information about Minimal System Image
Edit 2, 6-6-2011: Added sections (additional notes, new fhd screen info, known issues) and updated/added information

 

Looks good, but I thought that the minimalized system recovery does in fact preserve the recovery partition...

 

BeaverRat, you may be right about that. I haven't tried it yet myself but another user has done so and posted information that I paraphrased. Is there perhaps an option to keep or delete it?

EDIT: Thank you BeaverRat and hesstruck, I updated the first post with that information.

 

I found a post saying the contrary

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-pavilion-notebooks/578817-removing-bloatware-reinstall-win7-2.html#post7504005

 

Bump it up!

 

thanks for the heads up on the fn function in bios, life saver

 

Maybe add RandyRants: SharpKeys 3.0 to utilities? Can be used to remap unwanted keys, such as if you only want some f keys, and some of the more useful action keys (volume, etc).

 

I suggest NOT using alcohol for cleaning the screen. Alcohol and ammonia can yellow the screen after much use. It's safer to use something such as Klear Screen, which is a polymer.

 

@BioLib. Can you make this thread a bit more niche, as there is already a thread elsewhere on the forums detailing general guidelines for HP laptops. Maybe a dv6t/dv7t thread?

Also, for anyone, I'm going to be installing the MSI tonight (minimal system image) and I'd like to know what drivers to update (and what to) as well as the best way to update them. For example, some drivers work best when you first delete the old driver and re-install, and others work fine if you just install the newest version over the old version.

I've downloaded everything on the HP site for the dv6tqe-6100 CTO series (#LM720AV) in preparation (in addition to the 11.5b hotfix, CCC, and their codec thingy).

 

Do I need to do anything special with the battery, such as letting it drain fully?

 

While I had my crappy HD+ DV7tqe I did the MSI and the recovery partition was not removed. I don't see why it would be different for anyone else but you never know. The only thing I did before hand was make system restore disks, then I did the MSI. It took it down from 96 processes to 78, got rid of a lot of crap. Some of the HP programs I'm not too fond of stayed though, HP wireless assistant for example.

 

This is why I want to do a clean format. 78 processes still sounds high for some reason although that could be a normal amount.

 

Type 'disk' into the start menu and click "Create and format hard disk partitions" Then right click on C drive and click "extend". The recovery partition should be gone.

(That's what I recall from saving space on my SSD, not exactly sure as I can't do it anymore)

 

I'm just bumping this because it was very helpful to me when I first got my dv6qe

 

Wow thanks. This should be linked in the Owners Lounge.

 

Great thread!!! I didn't know about Reils touchpad app, scrolling is sooo much easier now, or the AutoHotKey app.. I was really starting to hate the eject button on the dvd drive!

 

I'm a bit confused. If I do minimal image restore, will I lose Norton? If so, can I reinstall that and any other programs?

 

Ya you lose Norton, you keep most HP apps like connection manager, cool sense, support assistant. Norton has a trial at their website.

 

You can find Norton in SWSETUP under C:\ , but I'm not sure if the trial still applies...

 

Just checked, you still receive the 60 day trial

 

I don't see the option for a Minimized Image Recovery in the recovery manager...

 

Should be on the left side middle.

 

Is there a way to hotkey screen on/screen off?

 

Part number for the 2nd HDD/SSD kit is 641306-001 in case anyone was wondering.

 

I don't see it...

 

It's system recovery. Don't know why they got rid of "Minimized".

 

The minimized system recovery will show when booting from recovery media such as DVD-R, flash or the recovery partition not from windows...

 

Could we get this thread sticky?

 

just FYI you can put 1600MHz RAM in there with a processor that supports it, but that doesn't mean DV7's own "front side bus" will run at that speed. get an Envy if you want that.

 

some notes about the miminal install, which I have used and find to be quite good.

1. the OP rightly suggests to save your swsetup folder BEFORE you do this. you might want some of the things there, at at later time. for example, the HP documentation part of HPSA is missing after the minimal recovery, but you can put it back if you saved swsetup.

2. in my tests, the minimal recovery option results in 82 process running at idle, versus 91. Moreover, as a bonus, the idle-state processor core temp is 1 degree cooler

3 in my testing, the minimal recovery option results in 29 installed apps instead of 54. However, you will have to download and install several apps, like Adobe reader and Java anyway, so 29 isn't really a fair number to comppare with. You will be compelled to download the latest bits for Java and Adobe reader, for example, on the fly -- without them being pre-installed by HP or by using the swsetup folder you preserved.

4. as soon as the laptop connects to the network, activate your anti-virus software. if you have none, and choose not to use the Norton trial, you can download MS security essentials, which is free and quite effective.

5. using start, all programs, windows update -- hit the "change settings" on the left nav. select "check for updates but let me choose...:" note that if you accept everything you may end up with things that you don't want. In particular, you DO NOT WANT windows update to install hardware drivers. right now this happens to be a big deal because there are two drivers (one for the 6770 and the other for HP Mobile data protection) that you SHOULD NOT ACCEPT. I never accept mfgs drivers from Windows update. the ones supplied by and tested by HP are usually the best choice.

 

BUMP!!

Some of this might be out dated. I didn't check out all the links and info, but this helped me a LOT when I first got my DV6qe