*HP ENVY 17 & 17 3D (2XXX series) Owners Lounge*

Thanks Sounds like the Envy 17 is the choice for me then

 

this thread really is slowing down.... whats going on guys.? i remember checking daily and would have to read 3-4 pages.... now its 3-4 posts...lol.... keep this community alive.... great bunch of people here...

 

I think that basically everyone is pretty happy, once the new bios was released. f.15 made a big difference in the performance of the machine...and I think everyone is busy "playing" with their Envy's...so the posts have slowed down. I totally agree about the people here...some of the greatest bunch I have encountered in a very long time.

 

I don't think you will be sorry about that decision. Check the return policy, from whereever you make your purchase. I know that HP direct offers 21 days full return, minus shipping. If you purchase from brick and mortar store...usually 14 days with restocking fee if nothing is wrong with the machine. Costco offers returns for up to 90 days...

I think that once you wrap your hands around an Envy...you won't be satisfied with anything else.

 

Go to the HP website and download the drivers from the site. 8.800.8.2000
They are more updated than the ones you ship with and might help

 

QUESTION 1: Anyone with a 2000 series envy 17 3d with cool sense 1 have success in putting cool sense 2 on their units. If so, how? Tried downloading from hp site (seems only to be a download option for 2100 series). Install from web and from hd after saving executable. Neither seem to "take".

QUESTION2: Anyone else notice a clicking from left side by ports when playing DVD, videos, etc.??..........Have 2100 series and 2000 series in the family. Seems the 2100 series discrete Radeon graphics card clicks / ticks even under low/ moderate load. Switch to onboard gpu graphics and sound goes away. It's not a fan noise. 2000 series has almost inaudible noise when discrete graphics in use, no big deal. Can hear 2100 series from a distance though.

QUESTION 3: Anyone know how to change settings so onboard intel graphics is default instead of discrete graphics at startup? This came up ages ago and don't recall anyone knowing any other method than manually changing settings after startup.

Thanks

 

Oh, I'm still here. Enjoying the Envy 100% +. I've been downloading, and still am, different items...so I still have not defraged D or consolidated my SSD/C drive. Should get to it tomorrow though, I hope.

KJ

 

The thing with Costco, you CANNOT negotiate the price. Whatever you specify for the hardware, that is what you will end up paying, no wiggle room. Great 90 days to return, but with HP sales rep on the phone you can negotiate possiblly hundreds of dollars off, so its really worth to get it the HP route. Just saying from experience. I think Bobmitch, and othes can attest to that.

KJ

 

Yes indeed. Go the hp direct route. You will save. And 3 weeks is enough time to make a decision I think. You can save hundreds, possibly even a $1000 like me (cough cough). My replacement is sitting in jersey, I'm thinking it will be delivered tomorrow, instead of Wednesday. Can't wait to fire it up. My last one I only had In my possession for 1 day.

 

CoughMETOOcough, lol.

KJ

 

LMAO KJ.......

 

Talking about downloads...

What the best bitorrent client?
What would be a secure and private way to use this client?

Right now, I'm needing Adobe: Dreamweaver CS5, Fireworks CS5, Acrobat X.... who can help me?

About the Envy17 3D: I love it and I think everybody is loving it, and that's the reason why this thread is getting slower...

 

i believe that most people use Utorrent as their primary torrent client. People download from all sorts of different trackers, private & Public.

If one would need to download in a secure and private way, they would most likely use VPN.
I like https://www.beevpn.com/ but im sure there are plenty of other providers out there...

 

Spoke too soon. After being rock solid for a few weeks I have gotten a few BSOD. It looks like atikmdag.sys is the culprit. Anyone else running into this??

 

Did you download the ATI driver from Windows update? That is never a good idea. Go to the HP website and download 8.800.8.2000 and see if that helps. Another thing for you to try. Get Driver Sweeper

http://www.phyxion.net/item/driver-sweeper.html

Run it...reboot and then reinstall your drivers. It will clean up left over files and most registry entries...so you can do a clean install

 

I was getting that on my previous Envy. It appeared to happen around the time that the screensaver kicked in and/or the display was being blanked (since I was never using the laptop at the time). Most of the time I would just get a message from windows stating that an unexpected reboot had ocurred. Looking at the dump files with Windows Debugger always showed atikmdag.sys as the root cause.

I swapped the laptop (2000 series) out for a new one (2100 series) within the 21 day return period, and the new machine has been rock solid.

 

That is the driver I am running. I did NOT dl the one from windows update.

Sounds like the exact same thing that is going on with mine. It tends to occur when it is sitting idle. Man, I really did not want to send this in.

 

There is a good chance you won't have to send it in. If you tried Bobmitch's suggestion above and you still get the same error message with the BSOD, then I'd call Envy tech support. They will most likely diagnose and run the fix with you. Let us know the results.

KJ

 

so my envy is in.. this post is coming from it... no dents, dings, dead pixels, or flippers or floppers... lol.... ok besides f15 update, any others i should be looking to install right away...

 

right now I'm not seeing any SSD offered on the Envy 17, and the only one I see offered for the dv7t-quad is the 160. I suspect there are availability issues with the 160 -- which itself is on the low end of the Intel 320 series. I expect 300s to appear in the Envy 17 soon, maybe even next weekend when the Envy 14 SB launches, and a transition away from the 160

 

Try Driver Sweeper...there may be a rogue ATI file or leftover mismatch. Clean out the system...try a re-install of the driver. If you still have issues after that...then I would address HP Tech support. This may save you a phone call...

 

Hi,
i am French but living in Spain and i would like to work on my roof-top but with the sunlight my screen become a mirror!
(even when late in the day when there is no direct sun...)


I found this product :
http://www.pchood.com/english/products/2-laptophood.htm

Do you think is feet with envy 17 and working well?
Or maybe a filter?

Thank for you help!

 

I have experienced this kind of beautiful BSOD once, while I was kinda "messing" with the video drivers. I tried installing the latest graphic driver package from HP (the one including the 8.800.8.2000 driver version) but once installed only windows driver was working, and I lost the Catalyst Control Center.

The graphic card properties was telling a weird message about how the numeric signature of the driver could not be verified... cannot remember exactly. But in the end the latest driver 8.800.8.2000 (even though provided by HP) never managed to work on my ENVY... So I stick with the 8.800.8.1000. I installed the latest Catalyst Control Center from AMD website though, and it's working.

If anyone has a workaround for this issue...

 

Checkout my thread ENVY 17 SB Random reboots

 

Hey, thanks for the hint! I see you mention a driver hotfix from AMD. Could you tell me what version of the video card driver it includes as well as the CCC version exactly? I will probably stick with the 8.800.8.1000 for now (see if there are definitely no BSOD with this one) and wait for HP to release a new driver package see if this one will work...

 

actually just checked my envy software and f.15 comes pre-installed from factory.. any other important things i should update? bobmitch?

 

Newest versions of drivers from HP:

IDT HD Audio 6.10.6328
AMD Video 8.800.8.2000 (Switchable graphics with Intel)
Synaptics Touchpad drivers 15.2.20 from Synaptics
Includes Scrybe which really enhances your touchpad functions
If your Wireless internet is good...don't touch
HP On Screen Display 1.10
HP Support Assistant 5.2.9.2

Those would be the updates I would do, if you don't already have.

Some additional very useful programs

Ccleaner (make sure to download the free one...no money needed)
Piriform - Download CCleaner, Defraggler, Recuva, Speccy - Millions of users worldwide! (this helps keep your internet cache, history, etc...clean as well as .tmp files, etc.

Heaven 2.5 Benchmark tool Runs benchmarks for your AMD card in DX11
Unigine - advanced real-time 3D engine (for games and virtual reality systems)

The most up to date TriDef 3D software (if Envy 17 3D) 4.5.1
TriDef - Downloads

If you do download this one...simply run the installer and it will automatically upgrade the version that came with the machine and will NOT touch your activation...so it will all work. No need to ever uninstall TriDef to upgrade to the newest...

Pretty much it...anyone want to add to this?

 

all drivers up to date from hp... sweet... thanks bobmitch....no need to update any of them...

 

Cool...

check out the synaptics ones...they really enhance the touchpad. Scrybe is a great tool that gives scrolling an entirely new look...

 

Thanks Bobmitch

 

Thanks for help Bobmitch,

 

Hi everyone,

Just wondering why no one's posted their gaming experience on this sweet machine. I've just clocked COD MW2 and it ran smoothly all the way through (although I didn't check the frame rate). But it got really hot, I mean REALLY HOT!

 

Glad to help!

 

Hi Everyone !

I finally jumped in, and purchased the ENVY 17 3D at Costco.com today. They upgraded the configuration today by changing the Hard Drive, to 1.28 TB 7200 RPM (I'm pretty sure its 2x 640 GB) from the previous configuration of a 1 TB 5400 RPM Drive. I was concerned about the slower hard drive, but this change sealed the deal. I know I could have waited for better pricing through HP, but I wanted the piece of mind knowing it would have a generous return policy. Hopefully, I wont need it !

I will be happy to post my thoughts when I receive my ENVY. Sounds like a 2-3 week delivery time, and I can't wait. Thanks again for everyone's help !

 

Oh, that's great! The trackpad is much more responsive with the new driver. Especially the tap-click and multitouch gestures. Thank you!

 

Welcome to the club! Hope you stick around the forum

 

Jesus I just want to fast forward to a few months from now....hopefully there will be a new clickpad (perhaps bigger SSD options) and a coupon available and I'll finally be able to purchase one. Now that I'm so close its getting even worse.

 

Bobmitch,

i see amd has a update for amd catalyst display driver.. revision number 11.5... have you updated to this yet.. is it needed... release date was 5/9/11

 

I didn't think it was possible to experience worse customer support than HP, but Dell beats them by a longshot. It's by far the worst I've ever been treated by any company buying any product at all. Too bad their laptops are so good :/

Just had to mention it.

 

Hold on on the graphic drivers a bit.

AMD just finilized v11.6. It should be available in their website very soon.

 

Do you guys find that the price on the HP site for the Envy 17 3D Quickship is a bit excessive, considering the fact that you have to pay shipping (w/o shipping deals), plus tax?
Which makes the $1699 become $1800 (I live in D.C.)
Compare that to Buydig.com, which has it for about $1500.
Also, the HP salespeople never give me any deals or discounts.
Is this the right number
1 866 433 2028 ?
This was the one on th e website...

 

Yea, I bought mine from BuyDig, they had the best price, $1,535 with free shipping. It was delivered less than 24 hours after I placed the order. I'm very happy.

 

Was it flawless?

 

I have not updated to 11.5 11.6 is about to be released...will read some reviews on performance, etc....and "maybe" give those a shot...will have to see

 

Dont update...a person on the envy 17 owners page on facebook did and got the blue screen of death

 

Will have to wait and see on this one...

 

I downloaded the 11.6 mobility mod and installed it fine without errors. I believe it's the same thing just not licensed.

AMD Catalyst 11.6 WHQL (8.861 May 24) - Download & Discussion - Guru3D.com Forums

 

They finally posted the Mobility 11.6. Seems OK...

 

The alienware is treating you well then? Thats nice to now. I've always heard bad things about Dell's build quality and while I'm not saying HP is perfect in that regard either I do think that HP's issues tend to be less bad.

I'd be curious to find out which one has better build quality and less returns between the two these days.

And if Dell actually built a nice looking laptop I'd be interested in buying from them. Too often though they put out these big blocky designs that looks horrible to me.

EDIT: HP Is now offering 12 AND 16GB Memory options! Interesting but I would never go past 8. I just don't see how that would be useful to me at all since I'm an ultra power user like others may be....

But still that's pretty sweet.

 

The catalyst package installs ok over the existing Envy drivers? Or it is giving problems again?