*HP ENVY 14 & ENVY 14 Beats (2XXX series) Owners Lounge*

what?? I'm trying it. I get that the page cannot be found. What....

 

wow. The link doesn't work with chrome but works with firefox....

EDIT: I've never manually updated the BIOS before. I've always let HP Support Assistant do it for me. Do I just run the .exe program and let it do it's own thing? The F.06 BIOS isn't on HP Support Assistant yet so I can't let it auto-update. If I'm a noob should I just wait for the auto update?

 

Definitely weird... I use Chrome and it worked for me. Glad you could get it though!

 

Just a quick note: this thread is now an official owners lounge for the ENVY 14-2XXX series. As such, the thread's title has been edited to reflect this.

 

if it's like the envy 14 1xxxx series you will need to have the hp tools partition (with the bios update system tools in there somewhere)


then you just run the exe you downloaded and let it update the bios while you don't touch the computer til it prompts you (or until it finishes)

 

Ok, I have the "HP tools" partition. I ran the .exe program. All is going well. What is the BIOS "ID" and "version"? I know that I have version F.05 and I want to update to F.06. But what is the ID?

 

anyone can help me please ?

 

PROBLEM:

So I was normally using my Envy today and just updating my BIOS and decided to play around and double tap to disable my trackpad and now its stuck in the off position. I tried restarting my laptop and it doesn't have the orange light that indicates it is turned off but I still can't use it. I'm using Reil's program for scrolling but it didn't mess with this disabling of the trackpad until today. Help??

 

Can anyone answer these questions:
1. with Reil's envy touchpad software, are we supposed to use the same exact values as the screenshot on his guide for the new envy to make the touchpad really, in lack of a better word, good???

2. do we lose any functionality with his software (ex. the special 3 finger gestures, etc.)??

thanks

 

Yeah I've found that those settings work just fine. You can adjust them to your own liking but, for the most part, those settings are good for everyday use.

All the normal features are retained including all the multitouch gestures.

 

Does anyone know how to get the fn+B command to work for this version of the Envy 14?

I know that for the 1st gen Envy you had to have Tone Control, Quick Launch, and the original IDT driver, but I'm not too sure what to do for this one. I've tried Quick Launch and the IDT driver provided in the SWSETUP folder, but that doesn't get it to work. I haven't tried installing Tone Control because that isn't provided in the SWSETUP folder, so I'm not sure if that's needed.

Sorry if this has been asked before. Thanks

 

Updated my BIOS and now running fixed switchable graphics. This doesn't matter much but my gaming WEI went up from 5.3 to 6.7.

 

I just updated it. Just double click the exe file and let it go. You don't need to input anything for it to install, though I'm still poking around for specifics on if my switchable graphics are completely functional now.

 

OK thanks. I updated my BIOS but I think my Catalyst Control Center is outdated. It still shows the Dynamic version instead of the Fixed version which I've seen in the HP Pavilion thread.

So now I need to uninstall my old CCC driver and install the new ones. Right?
I ran my CCC installer and it gives me 2 things to uninstall. Do I still have to uninstall the Display adapter?

 

You still need to go into the BIOS and switch it from Dynamic Mode to Fixed Mode first.

 

The dynamic switching seems to be broken after updating... Always stuck on AMD 6630M regardless of whatever is running.

 

Oh, can someone tell me how to do that? I'm a beginner at that stuff. What button(s) do I press? If there is a guide out there can you please send me a link? Thanks

 

Hey, how is the graphics issue now? Is it a full manual switch now, or just better dynamic switching? And how exactly would one go about this? Run the .exe, and then apparently go into BIOS to switch something? And then do we still mess with CCC or is it something else now? Thanks!

 

hey guys, i have a problem with youtube only on chrome, when i click on the flash player, like pause, volume or resolution, after that i want to scroll with two finger and it doesn't scroll, i have to click next to the flash player and then it scrolls, do you guys have the same problem?
Othe problem i noticed is when you start scrolling and then you remove one finger it still scrolls (everywhere, word, chorme, ie).

 

Reboot your computer and spam Esc between the time the screen goes black and before Windows starts up. If you get to the Windows boot screen you missed your chance and you'll have to reboot again.

Once you get into the BIOS, move to the section (I forget which one) that has the graphics setting in it and switch it by scrolling down to it, selecting it, then selecting Fixed Mode. Exit Saving Changes and voila, you should be good to go. Now the CCC will have a different GUI under Switchable Graphics.

Though I've never used a 1st gen ENVY 14, it looks like the CCC GUI is exactly the same as screenshots I've seen of it. Seems to me everything functions the way the 1st gen did, even down to the screen flickering when you switch it. Not sure if this cured the fullscreen stretching problem or not since when I loaded the other drivers on top of the stock ones that fixed the problem anyway. In retrospect, I feel like the Dynamic switching actually worked pretty well (for me, anyway, it always put on the Radeon at the right times and never ran anything on the SB that I didn't want it to), but I'll leave it on Fixed for now.

 

Oh, I never had the first-gen Envy either lol so that doesn't mean anything to me. So to switch between graphics cards, it's still the same process--go to CCC, go to graphics tab or whatever, then choose "Power Saving" or "High Performance" for each program?

 

Oh cool thanks. Really straightforward.

 

After I installed the 11.7 mobility drivers over the hp drivers, the dynamic switching is broken and the AMD card runs everything. Anybody able to verify otherwise? Installation method?

 

It works for me... I just downloaded them from http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-envy-hdx/582545-working-ati-5650-drivers-switchable-graphics-11-4-11-5-a.html#post7550496 and installed right over stock.

 

It's working as intended for fixed switchable graphics, but not for dynamic SG. So which are you using?

 

Oh, sorry, I didn't read your post completely. I moved over to fixed.

 

Does all the 14" envys have the compability to msata ssd hard drives?

 

What's your motherboard number?

Eg
HP 1436
HP 1437
HP 3385

 

Recently dropped the hammer on an Envy 14, but I fear I may have dropped it a bit too early. I went with an i5-2410m + Slice battery and another AC adapter, and plan on upgrading it with another 2GB of DDR3 1333 and an SSD.

I went with HP Academy and received 10% off, as well as the free Xbox 360. The order came out to be about $1136 and change after tax and shipping. I saw, however, that LogicBuy apparently has a 15% off coupon, which would allow me to grab the i7-2630QM, plus the other options for only $1148 and change, just barely under my $1150 limit.

However, this doesn't give me an Xbox (which I don't really want, except to resell). I can't guarantee that I'll be able to resell the Xbox for a fair amount of cash, and I think I want the i7.

However, is the i7 overkill? I do want to use Vegas and AfterEffects and similar programs on the laptop on occasion, but I do this already with my primary machine, running an old Q9550, which I think this laptop will be faster than in most applications. Battery life is also kind of a big deal to me, so, if the i7 really won't provide much more of an advantage to me without reducing battery life a substantial amount and costing more, perhaps I should just stick with my current purchase.

Thoughts on which route to take?

 

If you only have an occasional use of vegas and CPU intensive programs, the i5 should be fine. Plus, you got the xbox you can resell ...

 

How to Get the Worst OS X Lion Feature in Windows (Reverse Scrolling) - How-To Geek

Does anyone want reverse scrolling (or the iOS, lion) on the envy? can anyone confirm this will work, or does the symnaptics setting have a setting for "reverse scrolling"?

 

Yup, I'm aware. The i5 is plenty powerful and will save me some battery, but doesn't have VT-d, nor is it as powerful as the i7. I don't want to be stuck with a laptop that can't keep up with multitasking.

Looking at benchmarks, the i7-2630QM (not the 2410M) seems to outpace my Q9550, which might just justify the extra cash towards it. If the Envy lags while trying to manage a ton of Chrome tabs and Netbeans, that's going to be really annoying.

 

I got an i5-580 old gen and this thing multitasks well I can have tons of programs and windows open it'll keep going well (i have 8 gb tho)

But if you need virtualization (few people do) , there's no question you need the i7.

Also note the i7 has a slightly shorter batterylife as it's a 45W. The i5 has 35W.

 

I'm probably worrying about nothing, then. Virtualization without VT-d is possible, as Virtualbox can do software IOMMU, I just don't know how quick or convenient it is. I definitely will want to use virtual machines, but I think RAM is more of an issue than CPU is at this point.

 

Dunno... is that on a label on the mobo or can I look it up somewhere? I'm out-of-town so I can't really take it apart right now but if I can find it somewhere else let me know and I'll tell you.

 

Hi all,

Thanks a lot for all the information here, it really helps before making the decision.
I'm thinking about pulling the trigger myself, and I have a few questions first:

1 - Does the W7 install on the SSD really takes that much space (I've seen reports of only 35 GB left!). I want to install ubuntu as well and could use more space, although it will probably fit on 35 GB. Are the recovery partition and other crap on the SSD too?

2 - Back to Ubuntu, has anyone installed it as a dual boot (11.04). Any issues? I'm thinking especially about the switchable graphics and trackpad. How do those work and how is the battery life?

3 - For the US versions, is the optical drive stuck on zone 1, and would it be possible to dezone it? I have a bunch of zone 2 dvds that I would like to be able to watch on it.

Thanks a lot for your help,
Thomas

 

1 - Yeah, when I got mine, it had about 35GB free, so it does take up about 35GB. There is no recovery partition at all, but if you call them, they'll send you recovery disks for free (that's what happened to me). Swsetup was on the SSD but it was a cinch to move it to the HDD.

2. Haven't played with Ubuntu on my ENVY 14 yet.

3. You can change the region on your DVD drive 5 times. Go to its properties in Device Manager and there's a tab for DVD Region. If I'm not mistaken, that's the same for pretty much any DVD drive out there.

 

Thanks a lot. I think I can make W7 and Ubuntu coexist on the SSD, It shouldn't be too much of a problem.

On the other hand, about 3, I know you can change the region 5 times. However, some dvd drives can be "dezoned" somewhat easily on the software side, while others (which is the case in my current laptop) are locked on the hardware side and a big pain to unlock, sometimes by reflashing the firmware.
Would you mind telling me the manufacturer/model of your optical drive?

 

Oh gotcha, there is a difference between changing the region and dezoning. I don't know if this one can be dezoned or not then... the most I can tell about manufacturer/model is hp DVDRAM GS30N... checking in the Device Manager stuff about it doesn't say anything more than that. Good luck!

 

Would you mind running this tool and posting the result for the make and model. It's probably gonna say it's locked but at least I can try to see if it is doable to unlock it.
DISCInfo -> DVD-IDE-SCSI-CD Information Program

Thanks a lot!

 

Didn't work... said my ASPI driver is not supported or installed incorrectly.

Edit: I know that they're generally useless when it comes to these things, but you could try calling and just asking, could only take five minutes.

 

I've got a new Envy 14, and I've seen other threads discussing fan/system noise, but wasn't sure if anyone had a solution for this one:

When my system is plugged in to AC power I get a high pitched whine. Sometimes it comes in and out at a regular tempo, sometimes it is continuous. Definitely noticeable and definitely annoying. When I unplug the adapter the whine goes away.

Occasionally it will go away on its own. But when it's there it stays whether or not I have bluetooth disabled or a USB device plugged in.

Is this a known issue? Does anyone know of a solution?

 

Can anyone give me detailed info as to how to change when the fans kick in when I'm in the advanced BIOS? Even when my CPU usage is 10-15% with temperatures on the cores ranging from 30-45 Celsius, the fans seem to cycle, or just stay on medium

I figured this was unusual since temperatures within that range are relatively cool in the laptop world. My processor is the core i5480m.

 

How much space a Windows install takes is a variable number, dependent on many factors. Windows' core can be anywhere from 15 to 35GB, and is usually around 23GB after some time, as updates are applied and DLLs are registered and whatnot. The other, miscellaneous (and largely removable) components don't take much more than 8GB, really. My own Windows folder is only about 18.6GB, so, there's not really one typical use scenario. As long as you don't install a ton of random crap, you'll be fine with even an 80GB SSD.

Ubuntu only needs maybe 6GB all set up and updated. Probably less than that, really. If you feel that space is tight, then consider Virtualization or a LiveUSB install. If you feel that dual-booting is the appropriate option for you, it's pretty much dead easy to set it up. The Ubuntu devs have made it so you don't need to screw around with GRUB and stuff to get it working. 11.04 has been the most streamlined version so far.

Laptop whine is an issue that seems to plague a whole smattering of laptops, though the source of it is highly inconsistent. Many attribute it to the CPU heatsink fan, or sometimes even the CPU itself. If you're sure that it's connected to AC power, then the first idea that comes to mind is just a speaker ground issue, but this only happens when you're outputting to speakers powered by an amp on the same circuit that the AC adapter is plugged into. Can you try to pinpoint where the sound is coming from?

EDIT: perhaps the 'Advanced Menu' in certain Envy BIOSes will yield some solution for you: http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-envy-hdx/563970-access-hp-envy-14-f-23-bios-advanced-options.html

If I recall correctly, the i5-480M was offered in the Envy 1XXX series, and this is the 2XXX lounge. You might be better off asking there. My suggestion would be to perhaps change Windows' cooling policy from Active to Passive to try to get the fan to spin up when it gets warmer than it does now.

EDIT: perhaps the 'Advanced Menu' in certain Envy BIOSes will yield some solution for you: http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-envy-hdx/563970-access-hp-envy-14-f-23-bios-advanced-options.html

 

Hey guys, I just got my SB Envy 14, and so far, it's great (but making these annoying recovery discs is holding me back from playing )!

Anyways, I used this guide to make sure I didn't get a faulty notebook:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-pavilion-notebooks/582474-first-steps-successful-laptop.html

In the dead pixel section, when I fullscreen the black, red, green, and blue screens, at the very bottom of the screen, I get a white line of pixels. In regular use, I don't see it, so I don't think it's an issue, but I just wanted to see if anyone else could confirm that they're getting a white line too.

Thanks!

 

Can we get a consensus on average temps for the SB Envy 14's? Strangely, my temps seem higher than others' with the first gen i5's. I thought Sandy Bridge ran cooler? At idle/basic web, temps hover around 45C, and the highest I've seen is 89C with Prime95. Also, the Envy 14 has one of the highest noise levels at idle, so I've been trying everything to decrease noise. Does anyone know of a way to decrease fan noise on the SB Envy 14 (besides "Fan Always On" or Active>Passive cooling policy)?

undervolting

Also, dcheng, I ran the same tests and my display looks fine. It could be a graphics issue (there have been a few lately), or (hopefully not) you got unlucky with your screen. Maybe try some new drivers/get the new bios. It fixes issues with graphics switching.

 

I actually believe it's related to another issue I just discovered: even when I'm not plugged in to the AC adapter, the Windows battery icon says "plugged in, not charging" and the white charge light is always on, even when the system is turned off.

Does this sound like something that can be resolved with BIOS or other tweaks, or is this likely a hardware issue? It just bothers me that I may have to deal with HP support for a "premium" laptop that I've only had for 4 days.

 

Sorry, I've been too busy playing with my laptop to respond , but yeah, everything's fine now. I guess it was just a driver issue.

On another note, I must say, I love this laptop. Sure, the specs aren't as mighty as they could have been (compared to last year's model or the SB dv6tqe), but the package comes together for me. I don't think the screen deserves the drama it gets. Honestly, the resolution is fine for me. I had a dv6t with the 1920x1080 FHD screen, and as much as I love small text, it was really hard to read, and when I zoomed in, the text would get all bolded and ugly. The screen resolution could be better--I haven't seen a 1600x900, but that sounds like it could be a perfect middle-of-the-road resolution--but I'm satisfied. Keep in mind that I'm coming from a 14" notebook, so the extra screen real estate is nice. The glare is annoying, and the brightness isn't all that great, but there are ways around those things. Plus, buy yourself a nice external monitor/TV and most of your problems are solved (when you're doing dorm/office work at least).

The weight is another issue that I was worried about. It may be the larger size, and thus more spread out weight, but it actually felt lighter and better in my hands than my brother's MBP 13 (which is something like a pound lighter). I have a sleeve and a backpack, and I put it all together to see how it felt on my back, and it was a little stiff. My thoughts are that, for one, I'm not used to carrying a laptop in my backpack, and two, the backpack is brand new, so it hasn't been broken in yet. Altogether, I wouldn't say weight should be an issue.

My last big issue was battery life. I have an i5, and I'm getting around 4 hours on browsing, low-mid brightness, and no music/videos. While that's not really BAD, for such light use, I'd really like to get that up to around 6 hours. Any tweaks you guys can think of?

Anyways, there's my short little mini-review on things I found as issues, and if there's anything you guys wanna know, send me a PM. I'd love to answer some questions/concerns!

 

Service manual for ENVY14 SB

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02878045.pdf

It states that DDR3-900 chips are used, coherent to my findings that 900MHz Hynix H5TQ1G63DFR-11C chips are used.

EDIT: Screen is a "14.5-in, (HD), LED, SVA, AntiGlare (1366×768) display; typical brightness: 220 nits" which doesn't seem to be a normal TN panel?

Mentions support for Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 WLAN module

 

I encountered this too. If I recall correctly, I found a fix online: turn off the computer and pop the battery out. Put it back in, restart. Fixed.