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

Ok, so im getting really annoyed with my cd drive making that horrible noise every time I take my computer out of sleep. Where do I find the option to change if from checking every time I open the lid?

 

See this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...ry-life-difference-between-ati-intel-gpu.html

You are not alone.

 

What's more frustrating is I paid for on-site service but they convinced me to send it in. After three weeks they finally were able to tell me the SSDs are on backorder until December. What's even worse is they are saying they might have them in stock for new orders just not for repairs so they might need to build me a new system. Given that there is no more radiance display option (at least online) I doubt I will take them up on this offer unless they tell me otherwise.

 

I haven't done a formal test, but that sounds like you may have a driver issue. There is absolutely a difference in battery life between using the integrated graphics and the ATI graphic on my ENVY. On the surface I'd think that you're probably using the same driver when you think you've switched and your actually using a different energy profile instead of really switching between the ATI and Intel cards. I'd try to reinstall the Catalyst driver and performing some online graphic card testing. You should see a noticeable performance difference between the Intel and ATI cards when you do some performance testing.

 

I accidentally hit the 'hide icon' button for the bluetooth tray app, and I can't figure out how to make it come back. The "Customize" button in the notification area doesn't let me re enable it.

 

Control Panel>Network and Sharing Center>Change adapter settings>Right-click on Bluetooth Network Connection>Properties>Bluetooth>Bluetooth Settings>check Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area>OK

 

Coke exploded on me and now it's under my arrow keys....
it's mad sticky and annoying
how do I clean it?

 

They might changed your motherboard or CPU because of the whine you reported, a dust inside the screen on the other hand, might not be replaced since you are not in front of them to point where is the dust. They will look at the screen and said, no dust found...hey its a dust, so its really tiny...easy for someone to miss it. Do not send your laptop if its not a major issue, may give you more headache instead.

 

I know this has probably been asked before but how many recovery discs are required for these machines?

 

four on dvd.

16 gb jump drive on usb

 

Thanks!

10char

 

Or you don't know how to use a volt meter...

 

is the adapter model same as "VF685AA#ABA"

 

disable the ati service in msconfig (Switchable graphics depends on it) , now if you change the gpu nothing will happen . when you want to switch graphics ,start the service from services.msc (or command promot )and switch graphics again

 

Install SP2 from the Corel website: Patches and Updates - Patches and Updates

 

eh.

too much of a hassle when 30 secondsish isn't a big deal.

still nice to know there's a solution.

 

Has anyone found a place to buy spares of the standard battery? I have no trouble finding the battery slice but that's not what I want. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

well you can order it through the parts store if nothing else probably.

just need to figure out the part number

 

Hey all,

Quick Q. How do I set my touchpad so I can tap the upper left portion to disable touchpad? Is there an HP software that I need to look into? Synaptics didn't have it...switched between the 2nd and 3rd included software versions as prescribed in the guide.

 

Control Panel>Mouse>Device Settings>Settings...>TouchPad Disable Zone>check Double Tap To Enable or Disable TouchPad>OK

This works with version 15.1.6.64, which you can get either through Windows Update or the HP Drivers and Software Forum

I believe it worked on all the earlier versions, too.

 

Dang it. The tab for "TouchPad Disable Zone" doesn't show up on the older version I've been stick with.

I'm going to have to update it manually. Thanks for the tipoff. I've been avoiding Windows Update's touchpad version for some time. Don't break what you can't fix, ya know?

Weird part is I'm using the same touchpad version someone recommended a while back and never had this problem until now.

 

Looks like they added some features, but I'm still using touchpad locker and reil's enhancements.

 

Dammit. Same problem as before. The first listed version among 3 when I update has that function, but no deadzones. The second version has deadzones, but eliminates the top left button.

Weird....

 

Isn't it that there should be a new generation of Envy14 out already? The return of the Radiance screen and a better touchpad?

 

If I have been mostly plugging in my laptop, and I have had it since August, is it weird that the battery wear is at 1% already?

 

freindlyflier's software has gotten pretty good.

it's got something like the touchpad locker built in but it doesn't affect the mouse or the touchpad (moving the cursor half) or the touchpad physical buttons.

all it affects is the tapping, two finger scroll, the 1+1 dragging, etc.

 

For some reason, on the newer touchpad driver, I can't map the zoom in zoom out to the tap zones, reverting to the 15.0.24 version fixed it though. Where can you get friendlyflier's touchpad enhancements?

 

never messed with the zoom in and zoom out stuff.

and there isn't really a zoom thing for freindlyfliers so...*shrugs*

clickpade14.zip is friendlyfire's software.

it does what I want (that auto-disable of tapping when you type. lasts for x ms (default is 1000)

 

thanks for that comment but i do know how to use a voltmeter... it turned out that voltmeter was faulty it was giving wonky readings anyways. i checked it with a different voltmeter and i got more accurate readings. not exactly sure what was wrong with the other one but for some reason it blew... it doesnt make sense cuz even when i put the scale to 1000v it maxed out (however at first it was giving decent numbers). pretty much impossible.

 

anyone have any suggestions?

 

Do the touchzones actually work? Because suddenly the touchpad disable feature came back, but now my deadzones don't work any longer!!!

 

touchzones?

I never really used touchzones. so I dunno.

friendlyfires kinda hijacks stuff and uses its own tapping (turns tapping for the synaptics control stuff off)

it has two touchzone options. turn the touchpad off and on like normal and uh the back button (top right)

 

Will check out later tonight. Swamped with stuff to do.

 

go do stuff.

computer isn't that important

 

Well folks, it looks like I'm joining the ENVY 14 owners club... here's the specifications for my new computer:

• 2.53GHz Intel Core i5-460M processor with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.80GHz
• 6GB system memory; Expandable to 8GB
• 640GB hard drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
• Slot-Loading SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
• 14.5" diagonal High Definition HP BrightView Infinity LED Display
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 switchable graphics with 1GB DDR3 with up to 3738MB total graphics memory
• Beats Audio
• HP TrueVision HD Webcam with integrated microphone
• Connectivity options include Gigabit Ethernet LAN, Wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n & Bluetooth
• 2-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards & MultiMedia cards
• Full-size backlit island-style keyboard
• 8-Cell 59WHr Lithium-Ion Battery
• Laser-etched aluminum finish in carbon relic
• Dimensions: 1.16"/1.18"(H) x 14.01"(W) x 9.33"(D)
• Weight: 5.20 lb.

Absolutely amazed by the quality, no physical imperfections whatsoever, the hardware has checked out in perfect condition, the screen is quite a bit brighter than on my Pavilion DV6TSE and the overall unit just feels so much more solid in comparison.

 

OOoOOOOhhhh!! Care to give it a video game test? I'm planning to buy soon, and I'm stuck between the E14 and the G53. (Yes, there's a big performance+price gap between the two, but I want to know if I can get away with the E14). Please let me know if the 1366x768 will perform capably on SC2 on high/ultra Thx!!

 

I haven't installed StarCraft II on it yet, however the machine is more or less quite similar to my DV6TSE which ran it on high with no problems whatsoever so I dont think itll be a problem on the Envy. If I get around to it I'll let you know how it works.

 

'Ppreciate it! Thank you! Also, could you comment on its build quality (being that it might not be the same as the CTO machines)? Where did you purchase it?

Thanks again!

 

Build quality is excellent, absolutely no flex in the casing, no dust under the screen or dead pixels in the LCD panel itself, no marring/scratches on any part of the aluminum body, keyboard doesn't have any flex or bends to it and it's uniformly lit, speakers work well, all in all the unit is very solid.

I'm guessing that it was tested before it was shipped from the factory as the Warranty Start Date in the BIOS shows 09/20/2010 (Sept 20) which also matches the time stamps I found when digging through the Recovery partition. A unit that I had set up a few days ago showed the Warranty Start Date as the same day it was initially turned on, so I'm a bit confused as far as that goes; perhaps someone can clarify?

The specific model number is 14-1150CA, SKU # 909176 from Staples in Canada.

 

Has anyone else encountered some sort of error with 3RVX during the uninstallation of old and installation of new IDT High Definition Audio Codec drivers resulting in the speakers not working?

When I first uninstalled the old version of my IDT High Definition Audio Codec drivers and tried to install the latest version it seemed from the listings displayed in Device Manager and Programs and Features that installation had completed successfully. However, although I had followed all of the recommended instructions, restarting after uninstall, restarting after the new install etc., I encountered some kind of error linked to 3RVX upon the final restart of the process and seemingly as a result my Envy functioned as though it had no speakers.

Initially to resolve the problem I System Restored back to the old drivers and simply installed the new drivers on top without uninstalling the old. But as it is recommended that the old drivers be uninstalled first and because I was curious I decided to keep exploring.

I then System Restored again back to the old drivers, uninstalled 3RVX, uninstalled the old drivers, then installed the new drivers, and reinstalled 3RVX.

Everything now functions properly.

I was just curious if anyone else had experienced this problem and figured I'd post about it in case someone else has a comparable issue and needs a reference. I could not find any similar posts in my searching.

 

Do you guys use the HD gpu or ATI when you're not gaming?

 

With my DV6 I would leave it on Intel and switch when I wanted to play a game that required the power of the discrete GPU, and I probably won't be changing that strategy when it comes to the Envy - it helps keep the unit cooler which could prolong the life of it.

 

anyone noticed on system information - network, there is WAN mini port?does this referred to the SIM card slot?

 

Hey.

Any news on BIOS fix for CPU Whine and Fan Noise?

This noises are very annoying and HP cannot fix them in repair for some reason.

So the only way might be BIOS fix.

 

Powerplay? Has anyone found a fix.

Zeth: I am really not sure, but ive narrowed down when it is happening....

This is unbelievable and is making me HATE booting up my envy 14. Im really beating myself up for not having returned the envy for something that "works" out of the box. Then again there isnt anything that looks, and is built like this.
It has been reoccuring so often and is really annoying.

Here's what i do....

1) At night, before sleep i lock my account, and i close the lid. (it's connected to the power)

2) I think it goes into hibernate (i press any of the buttons to wake up, but only pressing the power button wakes it up, i think this is normal behavior though?)

3)Starts up, gives me the choice of loading ubuntu or windows 7 through GNU.

4)Click on Windows 7, get a "resuming windows" screen, then i am greeted with a black screen.

5) have to manually reboot, if i manage to get past this screen and log in to my account, i usually end up getting stuck at ANOTHER black screen with a frozen mouse cursor.

I really REALLY hope that there is a fix for this (hopefully just driver's issues) This is driving me insane so far for 4 consecutive days this has happened. Every morning it takes me like 3 reboots just to get to my desktop!

Last night I as also getting some weird issues with right clicking. I would right click, highlight something in the context menu, and once I would get my mouse pointer outside the context menu it would be invisible until I left click.

Hopefully in the next 4 years, someone releases something of similar built quality to a macbook, that doesn't give off the plasticly feel of most laptops, with an awesome screen.

I dont think ill be buying an HP Notebook ever again. Know so many people with horrible experiences. Should have just gone with a Thinkpad *sigh*

 

which version of the hp video card drivers are you on?

8.741 or 8.713? the newer ones haven't given me a black screen ever.

the older ones would give me a black screen if I tried updating my drivers with the ati ones (10.8 catalyst, etc)

 

I updated to the 8.741 driver also. I've only had one black screen on booting since the update; I had many more black screens on the 8.713 version.

I'm running a dual-boot Windows 7 Home Premium and Linux/openSUSE configuration.

The only black screen I got recently was after shutting down on battery, then plugging in the a/c and booting up.

Usually I do a full shutdown or sleep (close lid). For some reason, hibernation does not work on my system. I'm not sure if it has something to do with having deleted the Recovery and HP_TOOLS partitions, or because I'm running a dual-boot config.

 

I think that black screen could of been a "aww crap gamma got screwed up because it swapped while booting up"

that's happened to me before and you could still see stuff, barely. (a reboot fixed it fine)

hibernate not working...I dunno what would cause that.

 

Try setting your power options to Sleep instead of Hibernate when you close the lid, and put it bed by just closing the lid (no need to hit the power button), then it should resume normally when you just open the lid in the morning. If you get another black screen, just shut the lid again for a few seconds until the hp logo light goes out then open the lid again. That seemed to be the best option for me.

Another thing that seemed to help sometimes was turning off the automatic graphics switching, just running either Intel or ATI, and switching manually if I decided to use the other GPU. I think the drivers get confused when, for example, the system is shut down on battery power, then started on ac power; it tries to set its last known state, but needs to do a GPU switch somewhere in there and something gets messed up.

 

Not really. It's a hardware/design issue.