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

Hmm, I don't use their video chat, and nothing short of a restart has helped thus far. I'd be willing to guess that it could be a software issue that's changing the settings, but it usually happens either when I wake up the computer or come back from an extended period away from my computer, so I can't be sure what would cause it, and it only fixes itself with a restart. I also don't use FF, incidentally, gave up on it about a year and a half ago when Chrome started overtaking it.

Yeah, it sounds like your E14 has an issue - there should be a trigger for the screen to turn off when it's closed. I don't have a Beats Edition, but I don't imagine that it would be different from basic to Beats.

 

No you do not.

 

I need your help fast. I ordered an envy 14 on ebay and I noticed it says "French localization" ...What does this mean?It's a HP ENVY 14-1150ca and this is the product number WQ785UA. Thanks

 

It has a french keyboard.

 

Any cheap HDMI to HDMI cables to recommend? I recently bought a 22" TV and would like to try connecting it. Thanks!

 

HDMI Cable

pick whatever is long enough for you (probably like 6 to 12 to 15 feet)

 

Thanks Magnus! Would every one of those be compatible with the envy 14?

 

what is a french keyboard? Is it usable for english? is there any issue with being an english speaking only person? (BC)

 

well hdmi cables in general are all the same (for the most part) so long as you don't get one of those mini hdmi cables...I think something like that exists.

 

Here's a picture of the French Keyboard. No issues for an english only person. Although you may find typing a little more difficult since some keys like Shift are smaller.

 

A few of the keys are mapped differently, but it's mostly the same as an English keyboard. You can always use Windows settings to make the computer recognize keypresses as if it were an English keyboard, but the keys will still be marked like a French keyboard.

In all likelihood, it won't make a difference to you after a couple days one way or the other.

 

Thanks I am picking it up for 799.00 new. Is it easy to swap out a backlit us keyboard? Are they cheap?

 

You don't think the OS will be french do you? It is Windows 7 Home Premium so there are no English language packs. I don't want to deal with that.

 

well if this computer is from canada, nah it should be english/french (both options for typing, english OS)

as for backlit keyboards. They cost like $200ish due to HP parts store markup.

And uh, it is extremely easy to accidentally tear the touchpad power cable, power button power cable, or the keyboard light power cable when you open up the top cover.

 

In other words, easy to do, easy to botch. You can find the keyboards cheaper on eBay, or at least some people have.

 

OK I have concerns about this french keyboard shown by ArchEnemy the "W","Z" and other buttons are in different places is this the french canadian keyboard or a real french keyboard for france? Bottom line are the letters in differnt places on a french Canadian Envy 14-1150ca and this is the product number WQ785UA . I have to pay in the morning and if it's the keyboard ArchEnemy posted it will be a nightmare to type on. Please who knows the real deal with this model. Is it still qwerty or is it a azerty keyboard

 

Thanks for the warning.You know they are cheap on ebay like 35 buck for genuine HP US keyboard HP ENVY 14 Keyboard

 

Hey Titus my apologies I used that picture because I merely wanted to show you that the shift keys are slightly smaller on the French Keyboard. I didn't notice that the keys were "out of place" lol. YES you will still get a qwerty keyboard. But some of the keys are shaped differently. Like the "Enter" is L-shaped rather than a rectangle. This would be a better example. Sorry for the scare.

 

whew! Thanks I think we can live with this.

 

Gen2 Envy14 announced:
HP reveals a handful of new laptops | Crave - CNET

Key highlights: sandy bridge, better(?) touchpad, and USB3.0. Starts $999

 

french keyboards are AZERTY and are significantly differenty than regular US QWERTY
- all characters are not in the same place
- A and Q are swapped
- W and Z are swapped
- M is where ; is on US keyboards

Unless your french or getting a significant discount, dont go for it.

being french I can use both well, but it takes me a while to go from one to another in the same day.

 

I can't wait to see how the tear down on the refresh goes. IF it turns out the USB 3.0 hub can be ported to my older Envy..... I may just do it.

 

honestly, the 3.0 hub will probably be soldered onto the motherboard so..*shrugs*


anyway my computer came back. Took a week. Touchpad is fixed.

They swapped out the wireless adapter too for some reason.


edit: Hello customary HP repair center hairline scratches on the metal.

...also man I need to get something to wipe off the screen. So much dust/cardboard flakes/whatever on here.

(though the dust happens anytime you put a laptop in anything be it backpack, notebook sleeve, or uh..wherever)

 

I've just gone about updating my Envy 14's graphics drivers, I followed HTWingNut's post ( Here) and I downloaded the Catalyst Control Center 11.5 from AMD. It all goes great, black screen, shutdown, restart, reinstall HP AMD&Intel drivers and then finally installing the new 11.5 drivers. But when I go into the Catalyst Control Center and look up the Driver Packaging Version it shows:

8.713.100309a

Which is 10.03 isn't it? Hell, before I tried updating the drivers I was using 10.09 so I have no clue where it got 10.03 from!

Can anyone shed some light on what exactly has gone wrong? Or maybe provide me with a download link to the newest ATI drivers, just to make sure I got the right thing!

 

ok

plan B for you: http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/11-5_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc_ocl.exe

if you didn't get it from a link like that (from say instead AMD's website) you got the downloader or just the CCC.

it won't download you the actual drivers since you're on an intel switchable graphics solution (it's like if your computer was made by sony or toshiba or something).

you have to manually get the driver install file (through the offline installation .exe)

 

Cheers for that mate, I must of only got the updated CCC rather than the actual driver. Bit silly that they don't list the driver separately. The one you linked to is slightly larger than the file I downloaded (75mb compared to 85) so Im fairly sure they aren't the same file. I'll give it a whirl and see how it goes.

Just for future reference, how do you manage to find the actual driver? Or do you separate it yourself?

 

you just have to hope someone posts the direct link or in this case modify the direct link from 11.4 (change the 4 to a 5) and be glad amd doesn't change that stuff between versions

 

Is there any noticeable difference from driver to driver? Bug fixes? Or is it just for sake of being up to date?

I noticed FF4 doesn't like when I switch between the ATI and Intel gfx.. I have to restart FF4 afterwards. Chrome doesn't seem to have an issue though. Nor did FF3.

 

FF4 use gpu acceleration. you have to turn it off in a couple of spots (options somewhere (acceleration, doesn't specify it's gpu) and/or in some spots on the about:config stuff.


*looks at his returned computer* well, I'm on bios F.23 now. The "max battery whr" is lower on this one. So...whelp.

Also temps are the same.

 

*quickly discovers that one of his fans aren't working*

...

aww hell

edit: or not *just opened it up and saw both working*

must just be windows 7 indexing at the start or whatever.

 

Oh hey yeah.

Discovered first hand how much ATI 10 series drivers hate ATI 11 series.


I had to go ATI 10.6 to ATI 11.2 to ATI 11.5. I couldn't just go straight 11.5

 

I should actually check and see which bios I'm running. I haven't updated it to my knowledge. I'm probably on 23 or older. I haven't updated drivers either.

 

well 23 is the newest.

02 was the oldest (or 03)

06 was the last one that worked with home made recovery discs if you made them before 13

then it goes 13 and 23 and something probably between 13 and 23.

then there's 24 for a few random envy 14s that come back from repair (mine only was updated to 23 from the repair center)

 

I just checked and it's F.13 that I have. I knew there was a 3 in there!

 

not much of a difference between 13 and 23

so *shrugs*

 

So what do you guys think? Is it worth sandybridge and USB 3.0 to upgrade to the newer Envy?

 

Plus new touchpad and gestures...


IMO, considering how I paid only $580 for the Envy after cashbacks, no.

 

If you dont have any specific use for USB 3.0, there is no value in upgrading to the refresh. I like my current E14, no major issue and the radiance screen definitely a keeper.

 

I'm with vaio right now.

plus I didn't spend $580, I spent more of a $1200ish so..yeah.

not replacing this guy for a couple more years

 

Oh yeah, is the newer Envy gonna start out with the radiance? If not, this is definitely a keeper.

Great, I thought I was the only person who had ordered semi early without a coupon. Nice to know someone else paid around the same amount. So many had coupons lol. Makes me feel like a bad shopper.

 

all I had was 10% off for a university e-mail account (the academic discount thing)


I ordered pretty much on the first day.

 

I posted a few pages back about concerns with my batteries charge. . .

I took my Envy out of the box last week and plugged it in to fully charge per the quick start guide. . .it said to charge until the battery light was solid white, from the moment I plugged it in the battery blinked white. I left it like this for 20+ hours until finally turning in on. It wouldn't turn on for the first time until I plugged the adapter in. After that, it showed the battery at 55% (after 20+ hours mind you), but after browsing around the computer for an hour or so it charged to 100%.

I found that the battery meter wasn't accurate. . .the percentage seemed correct but the 'time remaining' wasn't.

As suggested from documentation from hp, I let the battery die, in attempt to calibrate the battery, but it still seems off.

Any other time I only let it discharge to 15% before recharging.

My question is this, How long should my week-old battery last (for argument's sake, say after browsing the Web and very light software)

I want to know if I should order a new battery or if it's okay like it is.

Thank you for your time, I'm a bit wordy I know.

 

well.

depending on your luck, you may have one of those envy 14s whose "time remaining" thing is permanently incorrect.

you could download/buy Osiris BatteryBar and use that instead (it will take a a week or two to get accurate enough...will really require a couple of months maybe to get fully accurate)


I'm not sure if this problem is caused by battery or motherboard (or bios on the motherboard). Check the Envy 14 batterylog thread.

 

. . .how long should a full charge last on a new battery? At least 4-5 hours right? I'm not sure I'm getting that, maybe 3 at most. And All I do is browse the Web.

I'll test again after my battery is charged and see how long it lasts just sitting idle with the screensaver (no hibernation etc. etc.)

 

a full charge should last, at most 4 hours if you don't try to do some special things like lower cpu usage, lower screen brightness, lower wifi transmit power/turn off wifi, etc.


the envy 14's not the most efficient computer, power wise. I get roughly 4 hours (usually a little bit less)

 

Okay. . .I found the battery thread you suggested, answers plenty of my questions -- thank you.

 

Any tips? how do i clean the screen without leaving streaks ?

 

I usually just use some TV LCD cleaning stuff from Walmart, and wipe somewhat firmly (but not too firm) with a microfiber cloth. It usually takes a few times to get it completely clean depending on how dirty it is. Doesn't hurt to go in one direction either. Seems like I just smear it if I go in different directions.

 

So in response to the hibernation, screen close, brightness buttons not working question I proposed on the old forum a few months ago here has there been a real permanent fix or still just the work-around procedures (ie change close lid setting, close, change back).

 

You don't ahve to change the setting. I usually like to keep the lid settings so the screen doesn't turn off, but if you don't like that setting, putting your compy to sleep then waking it up works, too. There's not permanent fix for the screen, it's hardware related