*HP ENVY 17 & 17 3D (1XXX series) Owners Lounge*

@p4zio

I had the same exact issue you described on my 3rd envy 17. It is a defect. Exchange it.

 

Thanks metril, I knew I read it somewhere, it's weird that two units I received had that issue. It doesn't seem to be that common.

yeah, believe me with HPUK support it's not that easy.

Few hints for UK guys.

1. One of the reps told me that you have 5days to report any issues to be eligible for a replacement/cancellation, I was quite sure I read something else somewhere
2. the first person you speak to should give you a reference number BEFORE they redirect you anywhere. If you don't get it, it's a deadloop of transfers
3. you might have to speak to the Premium Technical Support, they are actually nice people and they will help you (unlike the first line). It's best if you have a unit with you. They authorise the replacement
4. reserve at least 1h for all of this, even more if they ask you to run some diagnostics.
5. for a new unit, a repair is NOT an option, stick to that

now waiting for the 3rd one. I must say, played some Kane&Lynch last night, all settings maxed out, really smooth. So get the unit if you feel lucky

cheers!

 

So I spent the whole morning yesterday on HP tech support because my Envy 17 would not recognize my 6 cell battery. She basically told me that I needed to upgrade my bios to the one that you can't download (and still can't). I was fine with that because I still have my 9 cell battery and can also just plug it in.

I took it home last night, plugged it in and turned it on. I could hear the fan spin up quickly and the keyboard lights would come on then it would shut off. It just kept cycling like that. Eventually I could get a post screen but it would freeze up on me. Kept trying for about a half hour and it eventually booted into windows. It ran great after that last night. I even created my restore disks and used them to restore the laptop. Updated all of the OS patches played a little WoW and everything was fine. (except the battery still)

This morning I bring it in to work. Plug it in, boot it up, and fail. Getting the cycling again. Looks like another morning on the phone with tech support.

I really want this machine. It's a great machine when it works.

 

how come my envy 17 downloads so slowly? it's even slower than my old hp hdx! both laptops are on a fresh windows 7 install. same distance from my router. my envy downloads at 1 mb/sec while my hdx downloads at 10 mb/sec

 

Try plugging in directly to your router. See if there is any difference. You might have a bad wifi card. Make sure you have the latest drivers for your wifi card.

 

Hey Yall!

haven’t posted in a while! Just wanted to check in and say my Envy is still perfect have still not had any issues. Everything is running great (a litle warm but thats normal).

I also wanted to say that whoever is having issues with the machine don’t settle! call HP and get a perfect unit it’s worth the hassle and wait for a great unit that will last. And you all deserve it!


Enjoy my fellow Envy recipients (literally you will be envied when people see this thing)

If any one has questions or anything, let me know.

Later! Ill be enjoying whats left of summer!

 

I have the same issue, 2mb/s on mine. I'm going to race it against my netbook to see what's up. Got quite a bit of testing to do.

 

Whats powerplay? I get around 10.7k with my envy 17 and want to increase it. I just got this a week ago so how do i turn on power play. Any help would be appreciated.

 

powerplay is ATI's power management engine

 

so you don't have this electrical/circuit noise that some others noticed ? put your ear near the enter key (above shift) and listen for a morse-code like intermittent high pitch sound.

 

Powerplay is on by default. With a score of 10.7k it seems like he already has it on, at least most likely.

 

hey all,

i have the 1011 amazon version and i custom installed windows 7 ultimate. however now the on screen display for volume control does not work. the volume will change, but the volume bar does not display on the screen anymore. also the beats lights in the upper left corner no longer comes on when i use it either, though beats is still working.

i am pretty sure i installed everything from hp that i was supposed to but perhaps i missed something?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

oh and another question what software ar you guys using to run the temps and other diagnostics on your envys? i saw that there was some intel software that came with this laptop but i cant find that now either.

 

You need to install the HP Media Center to get it to work.

 

as someone else mentioned, the problem is you don't have the hp media center installed. And the software that alot of people use on this thread for the envy 17 is the CPUID Hardware moniter. just google cpuid and you'll find it.

 

Had I got a fresh copy of windows 7 and did a clean install, how much would my 3mark06 scores improve by? I get 10,800 on average just getting the computer and turning it on so how much would i have gotten had I done a clean install. just wondering. thanks

 

hi guys,

Because i am a huge fan for a built-in speaker.. i have to make up my mind on this matter

Actually, I was blind when i had purchased Asus bamboo U43JC-X1.. I must say that this machine was the worst shot i have ever made in my entire life. I was forced returning it to Amazon right away at the same day. It comes with an inferior screen. Due to the fact that Windows has given me: 3.1 out of 10 base score for "Desktop Performance for Windows Aero" which is ridiculously not cool at all, and be warned that the speaker is so lousy either as a major point for me!. never buy asus again!

Back to our subject, HP Envy 17 is the best solid based system i have ever seen with a full HD(1980x1080).. thanks for HP.. Can someone who has experienced assures me regarding the built-in speaker for the HP Envy 17.. how loud the speaker goes if it is comparing to the new Lenovo IdeaPads Y560 JBL speaker. what is the best laptop from both i've posted regarding of bulit-in speaker; Lenovo JBL speaker OR HP Envy 17 with Beats Audio?

To be plain with you guys im still leery!! kindly, which one is good if it comes to loud bass? if you were me.. what's your first choice?

thank you in advance

 

What is a good speaker for one might be bad for another. I recommend you swing by your local computer store (Best Buy, Micro Center and etc) and test it out yourself.

 

You might wish to post your Envy 17 specs, so someone who has a similar laptop can help you.

 

thanks everyone. i think my screen is ok so is not a defect. i had searched for defected screens and im aware of it. the gameplay other then gta4 runs great and projects like video editing, photoshop, etc it renders fast. i have no problems inside of this machine. so im not going to replace it.

even tho it has some minor flaws like the wobble and the heat i can manage it. the screen does not flicker that much anymore. i have solved my heat issue as someone said about elevating it and it works like a charm. when i go on the usual stuff the temp is around like 125 F or 131 F tops. when i play high end games the temp was 145 F around there... not bad for my first envy...

in my eyes my envy is perfect. thank you guys i was worried but i feel better...

i know i may have some conflicts with other users so i apologize for that. its just i was frustrated and stressed out... but no one is perfect

 

oh, right: HP ENVY 17-1011NR NoteBook Intel Core i7 720QM(1.60GHz) 17.3" 8GB Memory 640GB HDD 7200rpm BD Combo ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850

 

Anyone ever have the issue where you can't dim the screen? The function key doesn't work and the option to adjust the brightness is grayed out. But all the other function keys work.

Edit: Never mind. Uninstalling the display device driver and re-installing it seemed to fix the issue.

 

The latest HP BIOS Update Link Appears to be Fixed: HP Notebook System BIOS Update (Intel Processors) 2010-08-31 , Version:F.13 A

Software & Driver Downloads HP Envy 17t-1000 CTO Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

Haven't tried it yet . . .

 

Thanks for the heads up. Got it downloaded and installed.

Dave

 

Yes, change your power setting in windows todo no action on closing the laptop.

Just use the power button when you need to sleep / shutdown and the dim screen problem goes away.

 

Thanks for the help. My volume bar now works. Does the Beats light come on when you guys use it? I seem to remember that it used to but still doesnt for me now.

Also is everyone getting lots of hiss from their headphones port? Is there a fix?

Thanks again for any help.

 

OK, I tried the new F.13A bios and found I could no longer monitor the GPU temp using HWMonitor. Went back to .08 to get that function back.

I don't think .13 is ready for prime time yet.

Dave

 

I have a question, the webcams max resolution is like 1280x800 or something like that, but so far I can only use 640x480 or 320x240. Those are literally the only options I have to use in my Amazon Envy. is there something I'm missing?

 

hy guys.
i'm watching this thread since i bought my envy 17 (1020el)[core i7 720qm,ati 5850m,6gb ram ddr3 1333,2x500gb hd,dysplay1920x1080 full hd]. i saw all the problems you have came in contact with, and the heating is the one i'm interesed the most, cause i still have it.. so... does the bios 0.08a solve the problem??(i'm stuck with bios 0.04a cause the 0.08 downclock a part of the gpu like shaders,but if 0.08 realy helps...i'll update) there are any other solutions? because i'm using 2 coling system to do not burn my right harm...
I,however,must add that temperature (misured with speedfan 4)never goes over 80 c° at full charge(playining videogame at detail high in full hd) an normaly 50-60c°,but the temperature of the right surfice goes up over 40c°.
(also i'm looking for the result of the tests on bios 0.13)
thanks for your time and have a nice day : ) .

 

Huh?! Changing the power settings did nothing for me. Some how, the display device driver got messed up and uninstalling and then re-installing fixed it. It had nothing to do with the power settings, at least for me.

And as someone else pointed out, if you update to the new BIOS, HWMonitor doesn't show the temp for the GPU. Doesn't really bother me that much. Overall, I can say that the laptop doesn't get or feel hot anymore after use/idle for a few hours and this is with using the 6 cell battery. I also have the Western Digital hard drives.

 

anyone have more feedback on F.13 A ? wondering if it addresses any thing else aside from battery detect

 

whenever i have to uninstall the ati drivers, the brightness keys stop working. it has something to do with the drivers. i say do a complete uninstall of all ati software, restart, then install the latest from the hp downloads page

 

Zero-

No high pitched noises at all even when I’m keeping it on extended periods running different apps. I did update the bios I don’t know if that will have any relevance. I can say that my old DV (or something like that) HP used to make the noise occasionally but never effected anything and was really intermittent and I had beats bumping most of the time so It didn’t bother me (it’s still running nice today).

I haven’t been following the posts regarding this issue so my question is have you Identified the origin of the noise? Interesting.

I don’t understand the obsession with the heat.... it’s a top of the line laptop with a powerful processor it has to get hot any laptop with these components gets hot (even laptops with lesser components). the design for the vents is not the best but a fan is a simple resolution if it’s too hot for you.

-Enjoy the Envy! It’s Amazing!!!!

 

does anyone get Squealing sounds from any headphones or speakers when they plug it in the headphone jacks ?

 

I suggest that everyone update their BIOS to F.13A.

You will lose the ability to see the GPU temperature in HWMonitor, but GPU-Z can still see the sensor.

On the plus side, the new BIOS activates the Watchdog Timer. It is an independent device whose purpose is to monitor the system. Basically, when the system hangs, the Timer counts down and once it reaches 0 it initiates a low level system reset that clears certain memory registers and system buses in an attempt to recover the system from the hang.

The trigger for the Timer is quite simple. As long as your computer is on, the Timer will keep counting down from a predefined value. At the same time, as long as your OS is working properly, your OS will keep reseting the countdown on the Timer. Thus, as long as the OS works properly, the Timer will never reach 0 and a low level reset will not take place.

 

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum. I have a quick question... do you think is worth to wait near the Black Friday date and see if the price get a little bit cheaper (and any other bugs fixed)? ...I have been waiting like 1.5 years for the perfect desktop replacement and I think this is it.

 

@Polanco

If you've waited 1.5 years, then I say wait for it. In fact, if I didn't need a new computer for school, I would have waited till mid next year.

If it's not urgent, then hold out until next year. There's will be a big jump in battery life and processing power (GPU and CPU). AMD will be releasing something similar to NVidia Optimus. Furthermore, 6-cores will go mainstream. Quadcores will get integrated GPUs.

 

@metril

...like u said, we might see SSD standard, Wimax/LTE, glassless 3D, 16gb ram, 3D Bluray recorder (or just none), AMOLED screens, Kinect-like webcams, etc.....

Mmmm.. but then the question will be: How much more will those improvements be noticeable in real life tasks (battery life, software and OS performance, etc.) (i don't know if i wrote the question correctly since my 1st language is spanish).

 

i know the general area it is coming from, but for sure i haven't identified exactly which component it is, because i would have to run the laptop disassembled to determine.

someone else in some other thread thinks they found it, i cannot say for sure what area of the laptop that is in the picture (looks like an edge) ...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...roblem-high-pitch-sound-source-confirmed.html

for me, the sound is intermittent on the latest envy i have (the core i7). most times it is subtle, but sometimes, it jumps out and gets a bit louder, enough to notice even when there is background noise (like a tv, music, etc.)

 

For those that are interested, I wanted to provide a report card for my service experience with my Envy.

Problem recap: The fan on my brand new Envy always ran at full speed. Running HWMonitor showed that the motherboard temperature sensor always registered 90C. I suspected a bad temperature sensor.

Phone support: I noticed that my Envy included a pamphlet describing a dedicated line for Envy support, so I called that number on Monday morning. Oddly, the phone tree at that number only provided options for TouchSmart machines. Nonetheless, it must be a priority support line for their high end hardware. My hold time was only approx. 10 min. The tech was easy to understand, polite, and quick to conclude I had a hardware problem. Most of the time with the tech was spent setting up a service order. I wasn't offered an exchange and I didn't ask about one. This process took about 20 minutes. During the call, I was told that the Envy was eligible for priority service which shortened the expected turn-around time from 7-9 business days to 4-6 business days.Total call time was just under 30 minutes.

Grade: A-

Exchange Process: The shipping box was sent to me via FedEx priority overnight. It included packing materials, a return shipping label, and a form for describing the problem. The service order was placed on Monday morning and I received the shipping box Tuesday morning. I dropped off my Envy at a FedEx Office later that morning. The Envy was received at their service depot on Wednesday, and the laptop was shipped back to me on Thursday, a pretty incredible one day turn-around. I received my Envy back today.

Grade: A+

Diagnosis/Repair: My Envy came back with a form indicating that the System Board had been replaced. Booting the machine verified that the problem was solved. I spent some time testing the machine and so far everything seems to be in working order. I'll provide an update if I discover anything else.

Grade: A

Quality Control: Here's where the disappointment lies. The shipping box came with a plastic bag to place the notebook in. It was returned without a plastic bag covering it, leaving it covered in cardboard dust. Flipping my machine over revealed paint chips near each of the rubber feet and at one corner of the hard drive bay. I suspect this is from using a screwdriver or other hard tool to remove the feet and drive bay cover. The hard drive bay cover was bowed in the middle. Pressing down on it seated it back into place. Some scuffs are visible on the underside also indicating that my machine wasn't handled as gently as it could have been. Thankfully this is all on the underside of the unit which I won't normally see. The paint chips are small, but still disappointing.

Grade: C-

Summary: HP was so close to a slam dunk service experience. It's too bad my machine wasn't handled with more care. I would have gladly waited an extra day or two if it meant my brand new notebook was handled more gently.

Overall grade: B

 

lucky you that your issue was identified and resolved. in my case, i got the treatment you described under quality control and nothing was repaired. at first, i really fumed that these morons have the nerve to do that to my brand new computer which was flawless. i've sent it back a second time for the same issue AND for them to fix their scratches by replacing the parts they scratched. they didn't do that and played the blind eye on me, saying they didn't see any blemishes.

i promptly sent an email to HP's ceo and cc'd the accounts manager i am dealing with.

 

where did u find out about all this regarding the bios update ?
i will not update to this since, unless it is a verified fix for my problem (noise).

if someone else who's been having the problem could verify this i would appreciate it ...

 

@ zero7404

Glad you asked.

After I updated the BIOS, my system restarted and upon restart, Windows started installing a new device and asked me to restart again. So, I did just that. Once booted and logged in, I went to device manager and found a newly listed system device.

To make sure it was a new device, I checked my virtual machine clone. I do quite a bit of testing so I made a replica of my setup using Acronis and then restored that backup into a virtual machine in vmware player. My virtual machine did not contain Microsoft Watchdog Timer, the newly detected system device.

To make sure that it wasn't some random device that Windows just happened to finally notice, I restored back to the previous F.08A BIOS. I used the "set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1" switch and flipped on "show hidden devices" in device manager. When I did, device manager showed the Microsoft Watchdog Timer as a disconnected device. When I went to the F.13A BIOS, the Microsoft Watchdog Timer was shown in device manager as connected and properly working.

I did not know what Microsoft Watchdog Timer was, so I did a google search and came across documentation for the Microsoft Watchdog Timer. The documentation is mainly intended for OEMs, but it is accessible to anyone. You need to read through the Driver Developement Kit.


Well, that's how I know what it does. That's how I know what this BIOS update does and did for me.

 

interesting stuff ... i asked for verification because some ppl just go on forums and talk crap out their a$$es without any related knowledge. when talking computers & software, i take that somewhat seriously because i don't want to bring havoc onto a machine functioning properly.

i've spent years of windows use and updating to the latest and greatest drivers/firmware when available. but i learned from experience that some updates can break things. so i now take the back seat and wait a while. although an update can give me more functionality, i figure 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' works for me. just as a precaution for my system, i frequently back up my entire disc using clonezilla, just to be able to revert in case anything goes haywire.

as for the bios, i'll try it out and see.

 

Is anyone having an issue with the cursor jumping and inadvertently clicking where I leave the cursor on the screen? It happens a good deal when my arms aren't resting on the laptop but when they are it's like every couple of letters. Pretty unbearable.

Any tips?

 

ATi driver re-install did nothing for me. All I did to fix my issue was go into device manager and uninstall the display driver (not the ATi driver) and then re-installed the driver. All done without a reboot and the brightness short cut keys work just fine. Now the thing I don't remember is if there was a pop up that shows you the level of brightness of the screen or not.

 

Anyone successfully manage to upgrade the DVD Slot Drive to Blu-Ray burner on the Envy 17?

 

i don't see any hindrances in doing it, except for the cost of the drive:

Panasonic Slim Blu-Ray Burner Slimline SATA (Slot Load) Drive

last i looked under the hood, a drive swap seemed fairly painless, standard SATA connection, slimline profile, etc. one thing i miss with tray loaders on dells, without disassembling anything, removing one screw allowed the drive to come free. with slot load, i have to open the laptop to get to it.

 

When you are ready to buy ... get the best you can at the time. If you want to wait till Christmas then go for it. There are always sales that time of year. I would even wager that the sales could be even better to get us to spend more of our hard earned money.

There is always something better "around the corner"... so if you are waiting for the "perfect" system you will be waiting until the day you die. I would not advise that.

 

anyone found that when you change the volume when playing a game it exits out of the game and goes to your desktop (the game is minimized). It get really annoying especially if you are watch a video in fullscreen. Any ways to fix this????? (without deleting the hp media center)

 

^ This * 2.