*HP ENVY 14 & ENVY 14 Beats (1XXX series) Owners Lounge, Part III*

First let me answer the question, the HP Slim 90w has two cables; one from the wall to the charger and the other from the charger to the computer. The 65w Slim HP adapter plugs directly into the wall and has a single cable to the computer.

I personally use a Thermaltake Toughpower Slim Adapter 95W ADP95W0003 with my Envy 17, but it doesn't put out enough power to allow the laptop to operate at full speed (limits cpu to 1.8Ghz). Then again, the HP did the same thing when I previously owned one.

I've been looking for a good slim 120W power supply for awhile, doesn't seem to be any credible ones around.

 

Hey I was wondering if anybody successfully dual-booted Windows 8 (developer's preview) & 7?

I just partitioned ~30gb and restarted laptop to set up OS install via DVD ISO image but couldn't find that option, so it boots normally to my log on. Anybody know how to fix this? Thanks

 

This adapter is rated 65W, yet it lists the Envy -14 as a compatible laptop. The OEM ac adapter is 90W. What would be the downside of using this 65W adapter?

 

It would operate at a slower speed since the supply can't provide enough current to operate all of the internal components at full speed. Even though it says it's compatible, it does NOT mean it allows the laptop to work at 100%. I learned this the hard way.

At first I bought the Slim HP 90w adapter for my Envy 17. It slowed it down so I sent it back.

Then I bought the Thermaltake which boasted 95w with a 120w peak draw. My envy still slowed down. When I spoke with TT, they couldn't help me and said all low power adapters would result in the downclock. I was going to send it back but fell outside the window of opportunity and figured I could always give it to somebody I knew with a smaller laptop once I had no need for it.

So my search continued for a small, slim 120w power supply that won't slow my system down.

 

Probably need to go into BIOS and set DVD drive as first boot option unless you have already done that. Will allow the machine to boot from whatever is on the DVD drive. You can change boot order back after you install. If it works curious to know how Windows 8 works on the Envy. Am doing an install of it to VirtualBox on my desktop.

 

I just did a clean install of win8. Seems to work so far. I really like the instant boot (which works only if you shutdown your session, not a reboot). Installing win7 drivers to see which ones work. Intel's work. IDT's do not. Have not tried ATI's. There are default drivers installed but I want the EQ

 

So after changing the Bios boot order to CD/DVD first, I finally installed Windows 8. After ~45 mins, I was testing it out and decided to do the recommended system updates. They had one for ATI 5XXX that crashed my system =[

my screen turned completely black (with the backlight still on) and couldn't do anything. I had to manually restart and couldn't safe boot. I was scared that I bricked my Envy. After about 10 manual restarts, I was frustrated and started hitting every key on my keyboard and then my regular Windows 7 booted up. I have no idea what happened, but I'm pretty scared to restart my laptop now. Anybody have suggestions on what happened?

I found somebody else who had a similar issue on the W8 Dev forums screen turns totally black while updating driver for grapic card ati radeon 3400series

 

Start > run > msconfig > boot.
Change the default login to windows 7. Also you might want to change the timeout time as well. I changed mine to 8 seconds instead of the default 30. (this means if no key is pressed, the laptop will automatically boot the default OS.

About the screen going blank, you need to follow this quide:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...-drivers-switchable-graphics-11-4-11-5-a.html

P.S. I don't know if it works for windows 8, but updating the GPU from windows 7 updates has its flaws.

 

Here's a question that may have been asked before:

I have a first gen Envy 14, with a Radiance screen. Best screen I've ever had, and my next laptop better at least be on par with it; however, I'd definitely like to improve upon the CPU, GPU, trackpad, and transfer all my files over on to one of those fantastic hybrid SSD-HDDs. Is there any possible way that I can sort of re-use the screen with a second gen 14? Like, detach it, remove the solder, disconnect it entirely, then reconnect it to the motherboard and body of one of the 14s with the improved internals?


Yeah, this idea seems a bit daft. I don't know if the dimensions changed at all from generation one to two, or if there's some obvious reason why this wouldn't work that I'm missing at 2:35 in the morning.... but anyway, that's my question.

 

nah. the envy 14 gen 2 motherboard uses a completely different connector.

and uh. blindly soldering stuff would probably just ruin things

 

Well, the radiance display may work as a direct drop-in replacement as long as you have the cable and the mobo supports the radiance.

You would have an incredibly hard time soldering the cable. It's a ton worse than SMD components for sure

 

Hi everyone, Originally posted this in the 'removing bloatware guide' but I don't know if people are still checking that thread, but some help would be much appreciated!

First off great guide- I did a clean install, following all the steps (and using some outside information). I've never done anything like this before and it went very smoothly.

Now I have my squeaky clean Envy 14 with absolutely nothing on it- I also have the recovery disks and backed-up swsetup. This is where my problems started...

I didn't know which drivers to install from the swsetup! I realise that this guide was generic and applies to multiple hp laptops, but there are certain things which I want back (eg beats audio software etc) that I don't know how to obtain. The swsetup isnt very clear and it's hard to know which folders correspond to which components.

So far, I spent about two hours getting the wireless up and running. Then had to sift around a bit more to find the ati drivers. Now there are a few things that I know are still missing, such as audio drivers/software and perhaps things that I need that I am not even aware of...

Is there a guide for reinstalling all necessary drivers? I feel like I got to a certain part in your guide and then simply got lost... Do I simply reinstall every driver in the swsetup/drivers folder? I dont know what half of them do, even after reading the readmes...

This applies to drivers for the such folders as "Rchipset, RCard, RMEI, RRST, WLAN_I,BCBT7" etc.

Are all of these necessary/desirable. Should I leave any out? Perhaps they have been updated?

Also what about the other folders in SWsetup? I know that they are obviously not all needed since they contain the bloatware which I was initially trying to get rid of! But are any of them required?

Just to reiterate, the guide was excellent and I hope this doesnt come across as if I am complaining, I just feel slightly lost!

 

Don't use the drivers on the disk, they are old ones.

Download and install all of the drivers here (you don't need mediasmart):

HP ENVY 14-1000 Notebook PC series- Download drivers and software - HP Business Support Center

Oh, and the Realtek LAN driver requires a live network cable to be plugged in first (to force the network card out of deep sleep, you can also do this in other ways but a network cable is easier)

 

ok.

so. uh. for drivers you install all of them BUUUT the gpu drivers.

you install the 10.6 (8.771 or so) hp drivers that you download from the drivers thread or from HP's website instead. then you put 11.2 ontop of them, then 11.8/whatever (or just do 11.8 if you have a 1200 series envy 14 or so. it's only the 1000 series, the ones that came with radiance screens that have to use 11.2 drivers before putting 11.8 on)

there hsould be a thread with the gpu drivers on THESE boards as well. it's like "installing hp drivers 11.4/11.5" it has more than that. it's been updated a lot.

to get the beats audio fn+b to work again you install HPToneControl and HPQL. That should make it work again.

to install the audio drivers those are in the drivers folder for swsetup under..well..audio.

You may have more in your swsetup folder than mine. Basically you install most/all of it since your swsetup folder is tailored to your specific laptop (generally the same for all of them...except for extra stuff installed to some of 'em).


after drivers are installed you may wanna also install the updated wifi drivers 'cause the initial ones for the 1000 series were also buggy as hell

 

or just do what eafd tells you since he had links. Though I tend to just use swsetup (and then update as needed later)

 

Thanks to you both for your replies. eafd, did I miss a thread where this was explained (going to that page and downloading all the drivers) or perhaps I should have know to do this in the first place. It would have saved me a lot of time.

Just to be a bit more specific- perhaps this would change your advice?

I had already got the wireless up and running by plugging in the network cable. So no problems there.

My Ati graphics drivers I downloaded the latest ones direct from ATI (I think ) Since I have the i7 (it is the 1200 series), ie non-switchable graphics, I thought that I could use a standard driver rather than the modified HP ones. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway it's up and running and seems to be working fine.

Finally I did install the audio drivers, but the Fn + B thing isn't working atm. I would like to install HPQL and Tone control, but where are they??? Please forgive my ignorance.

Thanks for your help so far! Much appreciated.

 

Also I forgot, I have a radiance screen (which is class btw!) if this changes anything to do with the gpu drivers...

Magus I have to admit I didn't entirely understand what you wrote regarding the gpu drivers...

 

Standard drivers will work fine for i7's, radiance doesn't matter.

Fn + B and Fn + Esc are controlled by various HP mediasmart applications, which would introduce bloatware (which you want to avoid), anyhow, all Fn + B does is increase treble and bass values in the system sound settings to the max. Introduces some distortion, I prefer to keep it off.

I forgot what HPQL did. Also, there is a thread (link below) with the most up to date drivers for the HP Pavilion and Envy series, but most of them are no more up to date than HP's site.

Take a look here for more drivers: http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...xxx-dv5-2xxx-g32-cq32-envy-14-1xxx-intel.html

 

Benito all I did was go a bit too far into detail with respect to the gpu stuff.

the short version was that the original run of the switchable graphics envy 14s are buggy and the initial drivers can get you stuck on a black screen.


that's not a problem with the i7 version. So, just ignore it.

 

Anyone using Windows Live Mail and having trouble? Lately Iv started using it and strange thing is it works perfectly when on the AMD GPU but will always freeze on the Intel power saving GPU. For the life of me I can't figure out what would make that happen. I load windows live mail and within seconds on the intel GPU I get the "not responding" on the top and only way to fix it is to manually close the program in the task manager. I find that I actually like WLM and would like to use it on the go (while on intel gpu) so this is a bummer.

Any thoughts?

 

Hmm I use windows live mail on both amd and intel fine. Are you switching while WLM is running? Did you try reinstalling wlm?

 

Hi Guys, I need your opinion about something:
I'm going to send my Envy 14 for repair (something got loose inside, sounds like a cable out of its guide, but to be sure...). Anyway my real concern is about this: I also have whine on the machine and I intend to get it fixed too, so far I've found this:

* The sound is louder while using the battery.
* While plugged in, is less noisy but still noticeable on a normal use.
* If I remove the battery, the sound is almost unnoticeable.
* The sound seems to originate from the Seagate Momentus HD, but It is impossible to be 100% sure.
* I also can feel a strong vibration coming from this same area, again, seems to be the HD.

To summarize, I don't trust this Seagate HD and my plan is to push a replacement. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

Thanks for the response. I have tried re-installing it and sadly it still has the same problem. And no not normally. I have switched to intel with it open, closed and even booted up on the intel chip (turned envy on while unplugged). Iv messed around with the settings a bit and just can't figure out why it won't work properly. Is there a driver update for the intel gpu?

 

Not sure if this is the right spot to put this but My envy 14 shocked my a few days ago.

I had it plugged in and I went to move it, my pinky and my ring finger were touching the sides with the ports, and I got a light shock. I pulled away right away and felt this tingling feeling on my fingers and down my hand. I can still feel the weird light tingling till this day.

I'm not sure if I did something wrong? My laptop set up wrong? I had it for 1 year and it never experienced this. Am I the only one?

 

Windows should have updated the intel drivers anyways and intel's drivers are like twice a year or something. That is a very weird problem though, I think a gpu problem would be more than just wlm failing.

 

So, I charged the battery to 100% and removed it from the laptop for about ~5 days.

Today I plugged it back in and what do you know, 100% !

This is pretty bizarre, I'm wondering if it's a hardware issue or software issue. I don't have anything plugged into the USB ports, and I am shutting down Windows via the Start Menu > Shut Down.

Is anyone else experiencing battery drain when their Envys are shut down?

 

It is a weird problem. To my knowledge only wlm seems to have a problem when on intel gpu. I have never really had a problem with any other program. So it can't be the intel gpu...and I re-installed wlm...I'm at a loss . For now I guess I will just check my mail when I am on the amd gpu...

 

Check if you are using a grounded socket. The wires could be broken too.

Try to use the unit in another location with other wall sockets.

 

I believe that's normal. I'm not an electrical engineer or anything, but I know that when you leave things plugged in, it slowly drains the battery. Similar to the idea of buying and opening a new electronic to see the battery is not connected to the device

 

I've noticed that the rubberised finish on the HP Envy 14 Beats edition is starting to accumulate oils and become discoloured. I make a concerted effort to keep my hands clean but the problem seem to persist.

Is there any solution for keeping the rubberised finish clean?

 

Hi guys. Can anyone help me find the Beats Audio Software (that is originally preinstalled on envy 14) ? I have reinstalled the OS, and now miss that programm. Please help me

 

Take a look at your other thread, in this case you'll want the 1XXX series driver which is the second one.

FN+B functionality can be regained by installing all of HP's mediasmart suite thingy, but all FN+B does is boost treble and bass to their max levels in the sound control panel, which you can do yourself if you don't want a background program eating up resources.

 

dunno why but my touchpad lock doesnt seem to function anymore, I have updated the synaptics software a while back and choosed a preset with momentum option preconfigured... any related issues on that matter ?

 

well. there's an option in the synaptics settings for turning that on and off (somewhere)

if nothing else you can always just uninstall all the drivers, install the initial ones and turn that function on...and then install your other stuff on top of those initial drivers

 

I just finally figured out how to install Reil's program for the touchpad. Wow, it is a night and day difference with 2 finger scrolling. It made me like this laptop quite a bit more. The only real complaint I could say is that the hinges could be a bit stiffer other than wishing we had a better a screen. But that was out of HP's hand with the company supplying them going under.

 

WHen I switch to integrated GPU on my envy the colors get really weird... Like washed out sorta and really bright. Then it goes back to normal if I switch to high performance GPU. Anyone know how to fix this?

 

Hi dkimxd. Switch to the integrated GPU and you will notice a blue icon on the taskbar (or find it on the control panel). Click there and you will launch Intel's control center. On "display" you'll see the color settings. Try to reset them to default.

 

Hey all. Just a quick little off-topic discussion. I've been researching the Windows 8 tablet the past couple days, especially the one from Samsung:

Windows 8 Tablet Hands-on - SlashGear

And i was wondering what you all thought. When ever its released next year, Would it be a prudent move to sell my Envy ($600 $700?) and get this tablet with peripherals? This tablet looks legit...my only hold backs are if there are externals DVD drives that can be used via USB, and if it will have a dedicated graphics card, since i like to game. But i guess gaming on a tablet is kinda...not the way to go right?
http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Windows-8-hw-68-SlashGear.jpg
(Not 'ed since its kinda big and obnoxious)

Even with those specs, which are similar, if not the same to my envy?

 

Need some input from you guys on what I should do next. So my envy has been flawless since I got it, except the other day it just randomly shuts off while I'm using it. Tried turning it on, nothing. Plugged it in & the charging light turns on but when I attempt to power it on the light just turns off. Both batteries (I have the slice) had charge when this happened.

Any ideas on what I should do next? Send to HP for repair?

 

Yeah. Call HP.

Probably the power supply (in the laptop) died, or (less likely) the AC adapter isn't working right anymore (can give some power, but when you turn it on/power draw increases it kills it).

 

Does anyone know if the slice battery for the envy would read on a clean windows 7 ultimate? Contemplating to buy it because i remember there was a second battery reader when i first got my laptop. don't know if a clean install would effect the slice not reading it.

 

Go BatteryBar. its much more accurate and useful. totally worth the money.

 

Yeah that's what I figured as well. Thanks for the help. Going to give them a call tomorrow

 

Do you notice any problems with F.23 BIOS? Since upgrading, BB has not been working great.

 

f.23 doesn't report battery wear properly (current wear and total wear end up being the same #) which could be breaking battery bar a bit.

 

I have a small ... rather annoying problem with my envy lately. I have no wifi reception.

I have this baby since it was introduced. I ordered the i520 with radiance display.

One day I had all sorts of weird problems with it. HP costumer support website suggested I reset the bios settings by pulling out the cmos battery.
Ok sure thing. Since I'm an IT guy, I know my way around a laptop's guts ..
I don't have any more warranty so why not. I let the laptop discharge of all current, discharged myself as well and I went to work.

I noticed that I cannot easily pull the cable to the cmos batter unless I remove the black strip that was covering it. The easiest way was to remove the wifi-module and lift the cable with it up.
This worked no problem but I accidental remove the wifi antenna cables as well. Which I only noticed when I turned the laptop back on.

So .. back again under it.
I re attached both cables again but for that I removed the whole module again. Don't ask me why I did that....still don't know because the easiest way would have been to just remove the black cable and attach the cables. Anywho, I put everything back as it was and I still don't have a wifi signal.

Remember that on the envy 14 if you turn on the wifi your bluetooth turns on as well? Well windows actually sees the difference between turned on and off wifi module. Bluetooth is being turned on and off as well. So no problem there.
But I still cannot see any wifi networks.
I deinstalled the driver, reinstalled it, disabled, enabled it even through the hardware manager of windows 7. The module (as far as windows is concerned) is working perfectly. But this doesn't necessarily mean anything.

Windows is telling me that the switch on the laptop is turned off. I need to flip the switch to get reception. But the switch is on ... weird.

So what could I do to check if everything works fine?
My idea's are:
- order new 6200 wifi card.
- check the cables to see if they are working good. - but how? Hook them up to a wifi card of another laptop and see if it gets reception? Is there some kind of testing equipment? Because my googleing skills could not find anything.

Any input .. especially on the wifi cable testing equipment would be greatly appreciated.

 

No more warranty I take it?

 

Nope ... I'm afraid not.
if I had it .. I would send it up for repairs. Now I can still do that, but then I would lose it for a few weeks. And thats not an option for me atm

 

4 all of you gamers, Rage seems to run flawlessly on this machine

 

I've been getting a weird issue with my envy recently. My computer would hang for a few seconds every so often. Everything would just freeze and then be fine again. I'm not able to play music since it freezes a lot. The problem is most apparent when I try to game though. Deus Ex HR lags a lot, the lag actually gets progressively worse the longer the game is going. The audio gets out of sync with the video.

I returned my comp to factory settings but the problem is still there. Any ideas on how to fix this?

EDIT: The strange thing with Deus Ex I noticed that it lags awfully the first time I play through, but after rebooting the program, it plays smoothly up to the point where I closed the program last time. Then it starts hanging every few seconds again.
Portal 1 also hangs sometimes. All problems always cause the sound to loop.

Exact same issue in TF2 as well. According to netgraph, I have 80-90 fps when I'm not frozen.

When using firefox and loading a page, my browser will hang every few seconds. It stops when the page finishes loading.