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

I did a clean install but left the HP_TOOLS partition and I had no luck updating the BIOS in the standard way. Maybe using the USB stick method will work but if you do a clean install the HP_TOOLS partition seems useless.

 

Thanks for the info.

Could someone test out the usb stick BIOS update on clean install?

 

Isn't the new BIOS buggy? Why is everyone trying to update?

 

ummm...I think it just depends on your luck and/or your computer sometimes.


it's confirmed that it screws up your recovery discs or what the discs use to see what your computer's ID is.

however it does let you turn off the deep sleep mode on the realtek card

 

I'd just like to know I can update without hacking on clean install. That way when a better BIOS is released that isn't buggy, I can update to it. All the talk about not being able to update BIOS on clean install scared me. I don't like HP install, only clean.

 

I can confirm I updated mine to F.12, about 1 week now and so far no problems to report.

 

If you run the powercfg -energy command from an administrator command prompt, there is an error that says something about the ACPI_PPC object. I don't know what the $%^& this means, but it informs you to upgrade to the latest system firmware to correct the problem. It does this on BIOS f.05-f.12. Does anybody know what this means? And I am still wondering about the processor idle states and being plugged vs. being unplugged. Is this standard behavior, or should the processor always have 3 idle states when you turn the computer on? It only has 2 idle states if you turn it on when plugged in vs. unplugged gives you 3 idle states. When it has 3 idle states the computer runs much cooler. Is this a BIOS problem, or is it just standard for a laptop?

 

I think that happen on most computers, probably happen with F06 as well. Not quite sure what that really means, however doesnt give me any real life issue yet. I think my sony f series also report the same errors.

 

would the new BIOS update help me? I keep getting random Freezes now when ever my Envy is Idle...w t f ..

 

I just think it's kinda silly when the Windows tells you to upgrade to the latest firmware when you are already on the latest firmware. This is my problem with the 2 vs. 3 idle states plugged vs. unplugged. If you start your computer plugged in, and then unplug it, it stays on 2 idle states. If it needs to be on 3 idle states when on battery, then it should switch to 3 idle states when you unplug it. Unfortunately this does not happen and as a result you are stuck on 2 idle states until you reboot the computer. I wonder if this has any effect on the battery life? I already know it has an effect on the temperatures, like a 10 degree C difference. I paid for 3 idle states, I want 3 idle states.

 

zman please dont let my post be buried...this always happens when somthing like this arises aka big topic vs little topic..

thanks man i really wanna know whats going on..

 

Have you run the hardware tests to make sure you don't have a bad HDD or bad memory? Or checked event viewer to see if anything is logged when the freezes occur? My post about this has been buried several times and someone has finally responded so I know how you feel...

 

Hey guys,
What's the best to clean my Envy 14's screen? I applied some water to it and wiped it with my glasses cleaner and now there's a huge smudge that won't go away .

 

Vinegar mixed with water?

 

you're not supposed to use any cleaners because they may contain harsh chemicals that will scratch or wear away at any coverings that were applied to the screen. try to get a microfiber cloth and rub gently to see if the smudge is due to residue from the cleaner and not something bad

 

Not true! Any eyeglass type cleaner that is safe for plastic lenses is fine to use on any LCD display. There are also dozens of specialty cleaners designed specifically for LCD screens on notebooks and other portable devices. The important thing is to make sure to dust off any particles that could scratch the surface and make sure to use microfiber or other soft cloth that will not scratch the display.

HERE are 82,000 options....

Best Buy, Radio Shack, Fryes etc. all have a full selection of LCD cleaners / Kits availble...

 

you are right. i assumed he was referring to some glass surface cleaner (NH3-based) like Windex. But I was wrong!

 

Because HP had my laptop for 1 week of my 3 week trial period, they extended the trial period for another week and that extra time ends on Monday.

My original problem is still here (clickety clackety noise when tapping the track pad) and I would prefer to just get a replacement, but my parents are encouraging me to just stick to this one because it is "good enough." However, I already lost 2 weeks of my warranty because it was getting fixed by HP.

Other than the clickety clackety track pad, there's the whine that almost everyone is suffering. So my question is, should I get a replacement from HP or should I just stick with this current one? Other than the problems I mentioned, it seems problem free. (The restore disks I made from the first envy wouldn't take on this one, which is kinda pushing me to replacement). The current one is the third one from HP, and I am getting sick and tired of waiting....

By the way, I ordered at the first BCB 30% (late July and if I ask for a replacement, I won't get it till early October... I think I can ask for upgraded shipping and some money back for all my troubles).

 

I have the clicky trackpad noise too. I thought it was normal with most..?

 

I would recommend just use water to clean up your screen using microfiber cloth. Generally LCD screen wont be getting oil unless you really like to touch your screen, so no need for glass cleaner. Dust wiped out pretty well with damp microfiber cloth without any side effect..PLUS, they are free..well almost

 

Keep it, safe some trouble.

 

I wouldn't keep it. When I get mine next week and there are things not right with it, I will RMA, get it fixed, etc. No reason to pay so much for things that will bug the hell out of you later.

 

Woot, I couldn't get my bluetooth drivers to install on my clean install but then I happened upon a post where MagusDraco mentioned installing HPWA, so I tried that, turned it on in HPWA and then I installed the drivers and it worked! Maybe that should be noted somewhere on the first page for people who clean installed.

 

ah so HPWA does let you enable it?

good to know. I got them back on by pure luck (and restarting windows a few times)

 

1) I use Windex to clean my screen. Not often, but I'm pretty sure it's not harming the screen. I spray on the cloth and then wipe the screen with the cloth.

2) The color profile that was posted a while ago, never seems to stay, after awhile I have to Reload the Calibration, is there any fix for this?

 

Yup. That's what I did and it worked. I turned off/disabled mine before clean installing and it seems that stuck over. It didn't even know there was bluetooth on the computer until I installed HPWA and enabled it.

 

I have a noisy trackpad as well, but only when I click hard and only on the left side.

I don't see how that would annoy someone, because when you tap-click, it should not make any sound with the amount of pressure you put on the pad. You should just be lightly touching the trackpad, not slamming your finger down on it.

The whine annoys me more than anything else.

 

OK, so far so good on the awful audio noise. I have my mic muted, one time in the sound panel, I noticed my mic wasn't off. The green level thingy next to it was going up and down I guess picking up the sound. Hopefully the audio noise was maybe it picking up sound and I was getting a kind of feedback effect, I will keep playing music really loud when I get the chance to make sure. It was always so sporadic that I won't know til about a month or so of use.

Edit: Has anybody whose fn keys stopped working tried pressing fn+f whatever. I just resumed from hibernation and my fn keys appeared to not be working, but it's just been set to fn+f whatever instead of the auto fn.

Edit: Ok, now it's back to being auto fn, no reboot or anything. What is going on?

 

I got mine from Costco about 2 1/2 months ago. I LOVE this computer. However, I did have the separation towards the bottom (just slight) and the and the fan whine. The whine doesn't bother me unless I am in a really super quiet place. Then it's a bit annoying.

If I take the trouble to return to costco, then reorder from HP (costco no longer offers the radiance), it will cost me about 300 more, shorten my warranty and I will have to wait for it to be built shipped. I am worried about doing all of that and then having the same problem or perhaps worse...... HP should be able to fix this through an update.

The screen is great and there are no other defects problesms...what do you think.....I know you should get exactly what you pay for, but if you search other non $3,000 laptop forums, it seems like there are always issues and people are returning units only to get one that's worse......

 

Hi everyone;

I just placed an order for an Envy 14 three days ago in the UK and was wondering how long does it take to receive the order confirmation email???

I received an order acknowledgement, the money was debited from my account but I never received the confirmation.

thanks in advance

 

acknowledgment might of been the confirmation (HP is weird)

edit: I Mean they'll e-mail you again when they ship it.

 

How much does hp take off for the student discount?

You think there's any way I can get the E14 with the 1600x900 res for $1000 or $1100?

 

10% off and I don't think so.

 

Seems to be no one have successful stories in terms of returning it to get the whine fixed. Some people get it back with scratches.

If you not satisfied and cant live with the "Common" issue of E14 (Whine,track pad not flush evenly, smudges), better return it within 21 days. Dont RMA it if nothing big failing (DVD stop working,etc). The more people touching your E14, the more likely it become even more screwed.

 

Potential solution for the CPU whine

Need a few Guinea Pigs to give THIS tweak a try.

It is a tweak we came up with to improve SSD 4K R/W speeds by activating and adjusting some 'hidden' power plan processor settings. Basically it gets the CPU to stay in a lower (less deep) idle state with little to no impact on heat or battery life. My thinking is this may be enough to keep the CPU from whining when there is no load. It requires some regedit adjsutments but is fairly easy and fully reversable if it doesn't work. No one who has done this tweak for SSD speed improvement has had any issues or problems....

Full instructions in the link above. Please report back with your results....

HERE is the link to the original thread for anyone interested in how this all came about.

And HERE is a link to the alternative solution (for SSD speeds) that came about with a simpler regedit tweak but seems to have slightly higher temps and heat. It may work on the 'whine' issue also.

 

After tax you're looking at ~$1250.00 depending on where you live.

 

I picked up a new envy 14 today. I haven't done a whole lot with it yet but so far it seems to be a good fit for me. My only gripes are the trackpad being raised a bit above the rest of the palmrest in the bottom left corner and this god awful bilingual keyboard.

Out of curiosity is the extended slice battery sold anywhere in Canada? Try as I might I can't find it anywhere and I'd really like to get it so I can have some more mobility.

 

those are my only complaints as well. this is a great little rig for me so far. I'm really, really pleased, but I would also love to get a slice battery. its on the us site, but not the canadian one. whats up with that? id also love a suggestion for a SSD to replace the lame 5400 rpm harddrive with, and also a decent e-sata external harddrive. any suggestions?

 

Hey just got my Envy 14 and I have the latest ATI drivers from the forum post in the Envy 14 Owners post, just wondering if I could get some instructions on how to install the latest drivers correctly.

Thanks!

Check my sig for great info!!!!!

 

just install over older drivers.

 

I've tried to download from the website says I don't have a compatible ATI card?

 

You'll have to find a link to the direct driver package, rather than the ATI installer, which will tell you your PC isn't supported. MagusDraco posted one a couple-few weeks ago in the gaming lounge, so you could look there. If you search yourself, make sure you get the mobility package, not the regular driver package. It'll say Mobility, so that's how you'll know.

 

Figure It was the regular ATI installer that was causing the problems thanks for the info.

 

Anyone have a link to 10.8 or 10.9 that works with the E14? Thanks

 

Didn't work for me fully. It's still there just much quieter. So I'd say tweak the numbers a bit and then I'll come back and help you. I do have the whine, but it's gotta be really damn quiet in my room and it has to be on a stand which seems to amplify sounds.

 

Try adjusting the two 95% settings up to 99% which should not impact heat to much, you can also try 100% but that will raise temps a bit higher and won't be battery 'firendly' if you set the 'unplugged' power plan at 100%.

Other than that adjustment I have know way to tell if other settings would help, I don't have any whine on the E 15. These tweaks improve SSD speeds and as a byproduct I thought it may help with the CPU whine. The 2 95% settings should bring the CPU to a lower idle state as they increase toward 100%.

 

Can someone tell me if their cd drive makes any "clicking" and "grinding" noises when it's running?

When I'm creating my recovery discs, there's this "clicking" and "grinding" noise. And no, it's not the cd spinning because when the recovery manager checks the disc, it sounds different.

 

I think slot-loading drives do this. I know they do it when you put the CD in, but I'm not sure if they do it while it's running.

 

It's not that grinding noise, it's more a "whirr whirr whirr" sound.

 

Yeah, my drive made all these weird noises and I thought it was defective but I heard someone's MBP with a slot-loading drive and it makes the exact same noises as mine. But the thing is, mine seems to dislike burning disks because I was never able to burn the recovery disks and I had trouble clean installing from a DVD so I ended up doing a clean install with a USB drive, so it might be defective after all. I actually bought an external optical drive from Amazon but I'm thinking of returning it since I'm not 100% sure it's defective (well, it's still unable to burn the recovery disks and I sometimes have trouble with booting random linux distros, but it's weird how it usually works most of the time).