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

Give it a few days and the remnants will go away. Make sure that you uninstalled the programs and just didn't delete the icons. I ran MSI Afterburner on my second desktop. The icons were in the notification area for days after I uninstalled the program...but now it is totally gone...went away by iteslf. I have never found anything that would remove notification area icons. I imagine that they will go away...but as I said...go into Programs and features and make sure that the programs are totally uninstalled. Also look for remnants of folders in your Program Files and Program Files (x86) folders. After you uninstall...totally delete the directories for the programs as well. Sooner or later...the icons will go away...

 

Always make sure to exit programs before you uninstall them.

If you want the icons gone right away, follow this guide....

Clear Past Notification Icons In Windows 7

 

Thanks...I willl make note of it...

 

The temperature monitor in HWINFO appears to show the information you want to look for. Your CPU's should be displayed there. You may have to right click and add a sensor from a menu but I'm not familiar with HWINFO. You want to look at the temps and core clock speeds of your cpu's. Keep this window open when using your computer. Run a program like Prime95 or CoreDamage to push your CPUs to max limits... watch the temps and core clock speeds in the monitor. Your CPU's should top out around 90C and your core clock should be about or above 2200Mhz (an occasional drop to 798MHZ is how the system cools the CPUs and is normal).

Ah yeah.. I forgot about the change to the sleep mode when Intel Virtualization is enabled in the bios. So F15 is basically the minimum to resolve the throttle bug that we all dealt with many moons ago. Since I upgraded to F16, I forgot about the sleep issue even though I use Intel Virt all the time. Good catch.

 

Thanks Guys for ALL of the great information! This board is a Gold Mine! I'm very fortunate to have come across it during my pre-purchase search for a Laptop! Just think, I almost bought a Dell 17 XPS, grrrrrr... The horror of the thought, LOL...

 

Woah was it just me or was NBR down for a good 12 hours....?

 

Well I downloaded and ran the Prime 95 "Blend" Torture Test for 30 minutes, since I have no idea how long I'm suppose to run it. Anyway, it came up with no problems and the temp on the CPU cores hit a max of 92, the GPU hit a max of 78. So, how does that compare and did I run the right test? Is 30 minutes long enough or does it auto terminate when it is done running?

Thanks for all of the help...

 

If your cpu did not throttle below 1Ghz for any length of appreciable time during the test, then your laptop is not being throttled prematurely. Otherwise it sounds good. Was there a problem you wanted help with though?

 

I think longer than that! I wasn't able to access the site from late last night to an hour or so ago...

 

Truthfully, I wasn't watching the throttling aspects, but more concerned with the temp part of the test. Like I've said, this is my first high end laptop and I'm just not use to being able to feel heat on a laptop. So when this one starts to get warm, I just naturally get concerned, not that it's doing something wrong, just that I'm not use to it.

 

Ahhh, well then under normal use there should be little to no heat coming from the laptop... if you configure Coolsense for "Coolest" mode then that will help even further (at the expense of laptop performance/throttling).

Under heavy load (gaming, rendering, etc), then the laptop will get "warm" especially if Coolsense is "Off" or in "Performance mode". This is normal. As long as temps stay below 100C, your CPU is safe.

The laptop should shut itself down under unsafe high heat conditions. Make sure not to block any of the vents during use. Every couple of months it wouldn't hurt to use some canned air to blow dust out of the vents. Otherwise, enjoy!

 

Thanks cam121.... I had it on performance mode yesterday and was playing Dragon Age Origins at the Max graphics settings for about 6 hours and the highest it got to was 91, but that was only for less than a minute or so. Most of the time it was in the 70-80 degree range (During normal use (not playing games) the temp stays in the mid 50's to low 60's). Although I have already played the game numerous times, it is an entirely different game when you switch the graphics from low to max graphics. Not to mention the 1080P screen just adds icing onto the cake. Just a whole new world has opened up before me and I'm loving it!



I do of course have another question (yeah I know, what else is new, dam newbees, LOL)... So here it is... I have 2 batteries that came with my Envy, a 6 cell and a 9 cell (which has the built in battery meter like the Apples do). On a daily basis, which one would you keep attached to the Laptop, and why???

As always, Thanks guys!

 

I keep my 9 cell attached at all times. I kind of like the angle it gives and I think it might actually be better for ventilation. The added extra heft doesn't effect me much since I"m not transporting it around.

I would use the 6 cell as a backup probably or if you leave it plugged in all the time then I'd probably use the 6 cell so you don't kill the life of the 9 cell.

 

Thanks "wmurch3", I thought I had my answer, but your second paragraph, put me back on confused. I leave my Envy Plugged in like 98% of the time. The few times it is unplugged is when I go out and I know I will be sitting in an office waiting awhile for my appointment. Or on the special occasion (once or twice a month) when I head over to StarBucks and have a nice Coffee Blend and get to use my Laptop (along with the Masses. Thanks to my Envy, I'm able to partake for the first time ever) and relax. I also tend to agree with the possible extra ventilation received by using the 9 cell. By the way, I use a USB Razer Lycosa Keyboard and USB Razer Mamba Mouse. The Envy sits proudly upon an Allsop, Metal Art Jr., Pewter, Laptop Stand ( http://www.allsop.com/laptop-stands/metal-art-jr-pewter ).............

So with the extra info provided, which battery would you leave connected while the Envy is plugged in?? THANKS!

 

Is it still recommended that we do NOT install this driver version:

Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6200: 13.0.0.107

Just double checking...

 

For those of you with the wireless issues on the Intel 6200, push HP to give you the 6300. I'm sure they have the Intel 6300. Let them know that the Envy 17 (not all of them) has issues with the 6200 and that you've tried different drivers, restoring to factory, and even replacing with another Intel 6200 card.

I had issues with the Intel 6200, but I decided to just switch to the Intel 6300 since I'm in grad school now and don't have time to chase down HP again.

 

For anyone looking for a case for their Envy 17's, just thought I'd add this here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JEONBE/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details

http://charliedigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC01473.jpg

The Mobile Edge MEVUC2 Ultra TechStyle 2.0 one of the smaller carrying cases that I was able to find for that fits the Envy 17. eBags actually doesn't list this as fitting the Envy 17, but the specs on the ME site does. Took a chance and wanted to let other owners know that it's a nice bag for a great price.

Re-post my review (more pictures of the bag and fit are there in the Amazon page):
--------------
I've been looking long and hard for a case that will fit my HP Envy 17 that I now lug around for work and looked through various options - and even purchased and cancelled one case - before settling on this one.

What's it got going for it? For starters, it's reasonably priced and ships fast from Amazon. I like that it's semi-rigid on all sides and even "ribbed" on the back side. I also like that it's relatively slim in profile which is great for travel. If you're even thinking about flying and lugging around a 17" slab, my philosophy is to go smaller on the carrying case. It will definitely fit under a seat and easily in an overhead compartment and I won't feel uneasy about it being damaged because of the semi-rigid design. As a nice touch, the hardware is metal so I don't have to worry about it snapping on me if I'm running to catch my connecting flight.

For those with large laptops, this is a good choice if you want to "travel light" (LOL). My HP Envy 17 just _barely_ fits into it (I have to take out the Velcro'd sack inside of the laptop compartment (see my pictures)). The Envy measures exactly 16 3/8" wide by 10 3/4" deep. I mean, if it fits the Envy, it'll pretty much fit anything I'm guessing. It would probably be perfect for 15.4" laptops, though. There's enough space in the front and back pockets that I could probably fit a book in there along with the power brick for the Envy but not much room left after that - maybe a pack of gum and some snack bars, I guess.

What could be improved? I'd pay a little more for a better outer surface material with a finer "grain" or a neoprene type outer shell. The shoulder strap could be a little wider with more padding. The front inner pocket could use a key loop and it would be nice to have a smaller outer pocket on top of the front pocket for things like boarding passes and passports. And while we're at it, it would be nice to have a water bottle holder on the side. But these are minor nitpicks and nice-to-haves; this is a solid case and an excellent buy for anyone with a large laptop looking for a sleek, low-profile carrying case.

 

Here is another case that works extremely well with the Envy 17. It is the Golden Pacific "CEO Brief" and goes for about $28.00. Here is the Link:

Welcome to Golden-Pacific CEO Brief

Here is the Amazon Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Pacifi...tronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1318619638&sr=1-1-catcorr

Just a nice case that I found available locally and snagged it. Cannot beat the price and the protection is provides to my Envy. Won't leave home without it, LOL!

 

I have a RAM question for you Guru's... Since my Envy comes with a 4GB chip and a 2GB chip, when I upgrade to 8GB, can I simply just replace the 2GB chip with a 4GB chip (makes sense), or do I need to buy 2 4GB chips, thus removing all of the installed RAM? I'm thinking I'm gonna have to do the latter, but I'm hoping I don't need to waste both chips..

Thanks Guru's!

 

You don't have to remove the existing 4GB stick, but to avoid compatibility issues, might as well go with 2 new 4GB sticks considering how cheap it is nowadays. Buy the new RAM as an 8 GB package (2x4GB).

 

You can mix and match...most DDR3 So-Dimms are CAS9. But I agree with metril. Most 2 x 4GB kits are tested together...so when you upgrade to two in the same package from the same brand...they are going to be compatible. Minimize issues...get a new package...the cost is minimal at this point

 

Hi

i have an envy 17 211TX connected to cintique 21 inch tablet and two Viewsonic VP2365wb monitors

I am running CAD software and photoshop etc for Design

the setup works great except after i viw a video, either on line or one i have captured myself

after viewing a video the viewsonic conceted to the digital video output flicks of to a black screen randomly then comes back on

anyone know what causes this and how to fix it

 

I cannot find any reference on this thread to the HP ENVY 17-2280NR that has been on Amazon since early this month?

Anyone got one.. opinions? What's the benefit of it vs 2070NR? I had a 1011NR which burnt out, was looking to get a 2070NR this week...I need a big laptop...

 

Well except for one difference (CPU 2.20 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 3.10 GHz), where mine is a 2.0 with Turbo Boost to 2.9. Other than that, it is identical to my HP 17 Envy 2070NR. One other item I noticed is that mine came with 2 batteries; a 6 cell and a 9 cell. You may want to check with Amazon if you decide to order it, since their site doesn't make mention of the batteries. However, normally, you only get the extra batteries when you place an order direct through HP, or so I've been told.

If you decide to buy this, you will simply Love it! Mine is gorgeous both inside and out! Has been running flawlessly for a week and a half now (knock on wood) and I have been running it through the gambit trying to push it to see if there are any weak links before my try before you buy time clock runs out (think it is 21 days, maybe 30). Any way, I say go for it, especially if your a gamer or into heavy video editing, the Envy's strong points!

So keep us posted and Good Luck!

 

If you customize one to the same specs as the 2280NR on HP's site and use a 25% off coupon, you can save about $100.

Downside is you have to wait a little longer for it to ship, but you would get 2x640GB drives instead of 2x500GB.

Same thing with the 2070NR, except the savings is around $160.

 

Oakley KITCHEN SINK BACKPACK | Oakley Store

I have this case and use it when I'm on the road for work... It fits my iPad and Envy 17 just fine and is comfortable to wear.

 

Hi
I am a student studying on Game graphic engineering at Uni. I had the MSI GX740 and never had an issue when i was using it at high performance mode.such as; playing all those new generation games with ultra high settings.I sold it and now i want to buy an another performance laptop. So i picked two entire models one of them is MSI GT780dxr and the other one is HP envy 17 3d with i7 2nd gen.
I had a search on google that many people are complaining about hitting problems with the old version. Is it true? Abviously you guys are already have this laptop. I really liked the apperiance of Hp envy and want to have it but when i searched it. I have a doubt and confused with those overhitting and some other drivers problems post. I hope you guys can help me out. Thank you!

 

Thanks for reply and to Gunny. I'll buy one off Amazon, HP web site too difficult as I am not in USA. I already have a bricked ENVY 17 1011NR with an SSD drive. I am not a gamer, but the thing overheated and the graphics chip failed after 14 months. This will be my last HP if same happens again, but willing to give them a try as nothing else on market I see looks half as good from the outside at least.

If I swap the SSD boot drive out of 1011NR into 2280NR will the 2280NR boot straight up you think anyone? That would save a bit of time.

 

Yeah, the first generation Envy 17 had a lot of heating issues. The second generation (with the sandy bridge processors) fixed all of those problems and is an amazing laptop. I think I speak for 99% of people on here when I say that I LOVE my laptop.

Overheating isn't a concern with this laptop. Drivers - a very small number of people have had serious problems with their wireless and drivers (which is partially attributable to the router they are trying to connect to). Other have had slight issues with the wireless driver, which just requires a quick install of a different driver version (something we're more than happy to help you with)

All in all - get the Envy.

 

So the extended life battery they sent me lasts an even shorter period and the one I originally had is now reaching 2 hours on average....

This is just weird.....I dunno if there's some period where you have to keep it plugged in until the battery knows its true capacity?

Also wasn't someone mentioning turning on the laptop to the BIOS and just letting the battery die down until its fully depleted as a way to truly get an accurate measurement of battery life?

 

Just an FYI, none of any of that fixed the wireless issues with mine, or others I've talked to on here. Plus, I have 5 different routers here which all can repeat the wireless disconnect issues with my Envy. I've also extensively tested the wireless display capabilities which also cause freezing.

 

You need to reply back when you get your NEW Envy! I'm sure your going to love it as I sure do love mine. I played Dragon Age Origins today for about 7-8 hours and the max temp I got to was 82c. That is with the graphics settings at MAX. Ran without a hiccup. Regarding the wireless, I have not had any issues with mine and I used it exclusively when I first setup my Envy since I would be doing a lot of updating of windows and HP programs. All worked without a hitch. I now use the Ethernet connection just because it is faster, but I still have the Wi-Fi running, the system just picks the Ethernet over the Wi-Fi if both are connected. Regarding the Wi-Display, I don't currently use this option.

So looking forward to hearing back from you with your new Envy! Good Luck!

 

For those interested in getting the biggest bang for your buck out of your batteries, here is the suggestion from one of the board Guru's...

Good Luck!

 

I use an STM convertible laptop bag for my day to day use, designed for a mac but fits the pavilion 17 series and the envy 17, I also use the STM 17 inch glove fits perfectly. They are well built and outlast the computers I have had 3 pavilions and am on my second Envy. But for hard core travel, China, remote locations, factories and even Sailing I have custom fitted a pelican 1510, this accommodates any one of the pavilions or 17'' Envy with power supply, a high res projector, mouse , 3D navigator, WD hard disk and SLR camera (15 kg in all , but if you pretend it is not heavy 99% of the time you can get away without argument as carry on luggage)

This combination of bags has taken a bit of research and the death of a pavilion but now I travel with confidence…… my computer will survive the worst treatment……

 

does anyone have an idea of how to stop the issue of additional screen flicking to black after playing videos, I have three screens connected they all work well but one likes to flash to black after I play video

 

Probably not or if it does, it won't work all that well since there are significant changes in the hardware between the first and second generations of the Envy's. If you want to move your SSD over, you should create your factory restore DVDs and then use them to restore onto the SSD after you install it in your new SB Envy.

 

Hey Guys,

A friend of mine wants to swap laptops. He wants to swap his:

ASUS G74SX-A1, eight-cell battery, and AC adapter
2.0GHz Intel Core i7-2630QM quad-core processor
Intel HM65 Express chipset
17.3" diagonal LED-backlit display with Full HD 1920x1080 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio
12GB DDR3 SDRAM
1.5TB 7200 RPM SATA hard drive
Blu-ray/DVD combo drive
802.11b/g/n wireless LAN
Bluetooth 3.0 wireless technology
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics with 3GB GDDR5 VRAM
EAX Advanced HD 5.0 audio
THX TruStudio
Built-in speakers
Built-in HD webcam, microphone
10/100/1000 Base-T ethernet
3-in-1 memory card reader: SD, MMC, MS
Three USB 2.0 ports
HDMI, USB 3.0, RJ-45, VGA ports
Microphone/headphone jacks

For my Envy. Once he saw my Envy, he fell in love with it. He bought his ASUS about a week before I bought my Envy and he has not had any problems with his laptop. I'm leaning heavy towards keeping my Envy as the build quality and internals are just top notch and my Envy is running at 100%, with no hiccups at all since arrival. The reason why I'm asking you guys is to ensure I'm not doing something stupid, since I don't know anything about the ASUS. But on paper it looks pretty good, but when I put them side by side, the Envy clearly stands apart and is a crowd pleaser. A lot of people think I have an Apple MacBook Pro, when I visiting my local StarBucks.

So, what do you guys think. Keep the Envy or get the ASUS?

 

gunny...

Don't get me wrong! Before I purchased my Envy 17 3D, I tried the Asus G73 model with the 460 Video card vs the 560. They are nice machines, but built like airplanes. You are talking a much heavier / somewhat larger form factor. The motherboard in my Envy is dead and currently under repair...I will still take my Envy over the Asus. Not that Asus makes a bad product. I have dealt with their support staff...they are sometimes "OK" My dealings with the HP tech support for Envy out of Little Rock AK is stellar. There are a few techs there that are really sharp. As far as repair depot...once I get my machine back...I will grade HP's repair facility. I know that Asus on norm gets a C+ for various issues. Up til the Envy, I have mainly owned Dell and Toshiba and only the Toshiba required repair...their depot was B+. My Dells never required repair this extensive. Time will tell..

Mind you I say this and I Love Nvidia graphics cards...built like tanks and perform like nobody's business. The 6850M in the Envy is the equivalent of the 460M video card. The screen on the Envy blows away the Asus. I like the glass look vs the glossy lcd. The quality of the LCD is Envy (LG in most cases) vs not sure on the Asus. The chipset in the Envy is the advanced HM67 while Asus has HM65. Only the Envy gets the 67. Pavillions all have 65. Few more differences...Asus backlit keyboard is software only. Do anything in your bios or if you use alternative OS...no backlight...Envy is hardware driven...lights up all the time, unless you turn it off. You have three speaker system with Beats...subwoofer under the machine. Sound system in the Asus is NOT as good...I have heard them...it's an OK system. Beats lives up to the hype

It's your call...but for Overall...Envy all the way...especially if you use in any business meetings, etc....Envy has a much more professional look.

In defense of your friend...Asus makes a very nice machine...nothing shabby about it...If he really doesn't like it...try selling on ebay and then getting an Envy...but I would keep the Envy if I were you...

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey Bob,

Thanks for the prompt reply. I'm glad you had some Asus experience to compare with. As I mentioned in my post, I was leaning heavily towards keeping my Envy and after some serious soul searching, I've decided to stay with my Envy! Cosmetically, it is flawless and the system has been just a real joy to use. Every day I use it, I just enjoy it more and more! Heck I actually look forward to carrying her out to StarBucks on occasion, love talking about it with fellow laptop owners, since it is such an eye magnet, LOL... I think if I ever did the trade, I would have serious withdrawals, since it has been such a joy! So yeah, I'm definitely staying with my Envy...............

On a side note, is it true that the Envy line has a special CS line, aside from all of the other HP products (thought I read that in my pre-purchase research, and was a big factor in purchasing the Envy)? How long have you had your Envy before the MB went out? Do you know what the turn around time will be for you? And lastly, would you recommend getting the 3 year extra protection package with accidental coverage? I am currently planning on getting it about the 6 month marker, since I wanted to make sure I was definitely keeping the Envy prior to acquiring the extra coverage...

Thanks Bob!

 

The motherboard went out at the five month marker. According to Phil, the tech I dealt with...it may have likely had a bad pathway that degraded over time....just a manufacture defect. Doesn't seem to be common, so I don't think that there are worries. My main concern is how the machine will travel back and forth to Nashville, where Envy's are repaired. I swear if there is one scratch on it, I will demand a new one. Mine, too was flawless. They are a truly amazing looking machine.

As far as warranty...I purchased mine with the four year. I don't travel as much as I do, but airports can also be rough on machines. I do think the warranty is worth it. The at Home will cover most things like the keyboard replacement, and the like. User repairs are HDD, memory and the like. Motherboards and screens are, unfortunately, to be done at the repair facility. The Envy service is all overnight...my delivery date back to me is one week from their receiving it. I could get it sooner...depends on the repair tech and if the parts are in stock. I have not heard of a lot of Envy motherboards crashing, so I might have to wait for a new replacement from their vendor...

We'll see. Glad to see you keep your Envy...

 

Ok thanks. When my 2280NR arrives next week I'll probably just clone the boot drive that comes with it onto the SSD I have already. That worked for me last time with an old ENVY17 1011NR.

 

Hey Guys,

I was attempting to remove the back panel that cover the hard drives and the RAM, since I will be buying the RAM upgrade next month, I just wanted to see how easy it was to open up. Well it seems there is some sorta catch in the middle of the hard drive bay door. I removed the screws and tried to open it, but there is definitely something catching the door in the middle, right where the middle rubber foot is located. Rather than take a chance, I just replaced the screws and came here for advise on how to proceed.

So, whats up???

 

I have a graphics card question. For everyday general use, is it better to use the High Performance ATI chip or the Intel Chip? Than as the need arises change over to the ATI chip? I have been running the ATI chip 24/7, but just thought of this today, since the Intel chip can handle the everyday stuff, web experiences and etc.. Am I correct in that assumption?

Also, is it possible to have the ATI auto switch when a game is launched or do I need to manually switch chips every time? How many of you just use the ATI chip 24/7 and use the Intel chip with auto switching just when battery mode kicks in. That is what I have been doing..

Just trying to think of different aspects, since the Envy has so many options... Thanks guys!

 

It is pretty simple, once you get the hang of it. Loosen the two screws. Then with a very thin box cutter or something small and thin...slip in the opening carefully...in the middle, pry gently upward and the catch in the middle will release. Takes some guts to follow it through....I did the same as you and most advised it...works...

 

The kind of switching you are talking about is "Dynamic" switching. It did not work very well in the new Pavillion line, so they wrote a bios to set it up just like the Envy. Dynamic switching seems to have it's issues with both ATI and Nvidia cards alike. I leave the ATI card on at all times, when plugged in. Better drivers and I believe better visual quality. The Intel GPU in my machine is always on when on battery.

With that said...if you want the machine cool all the time...initiate the Intel card. Then in your switchable graphics menu...uncheck the option to switch cards when on power or battery. I am not sure, but others have said that they chose the Intel card only to find the ATI running on reboot. If anyone has tried that...please add to this...

 

DO NOT USE ANY SORT OF BOX CUTTER, KNIFE, SCISSOR, SHARP METALLIC OBJECT TO OPEN UP THE BOTTOM COVERS!

You will scratch the covers and give HP a stupid reason to deny future warranty claims. Instead, you can use an old credit card or an index card to work the plastic covers up once you've loosened the screws.

As for the AMD GPU coming back on after reboot, I believe this happens if you've set it to automatically switch on plugged/battery. Also, the switching has to do with the BIOS. Hence, if you pull out the battery after shutdown and then power up after putting the battery back in, you'll notice that the keyboard backlight turns on. You should also see the system running on the AMD GPU.

 

Above is true for me - no matter which driver I use, still my envy with 6200 hangs once a day. So I bought 6300 card, but it is unsupported and blocked by BIOS. (also tried 6205 borrowed from Probook 6560b - blocked too).

Could anybody tell me what is the PCI vendor ID for 6300 card send by HP ?

My card has that doesnt work is : PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_422B&SUBSYS_11218086&REV_35.

I found that there are possible 3 different vendor IDs for Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 card:
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_422B&SUBSYS_11018086
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_4238&SUBSYS_11118086
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_422B&SUBSYS_11218086

Anybody know how is it distinguishable on labels ?

Thx
H/
P.S. Alternatively: did someone already modded F.15 or F.16 BIOS to remove WLAN whitelist completely?

 

Thanks for the sound advice. I will try the credit card method. So there is a latch in the middle, which makes sense. I imagine, it will just pop off and when putting it back, pop in as well.

Regarding the GPU. Mine has been setup from the start to run the ATI 24/7, and to automatically switch to the Intel card when I go to battery. If I do a shut down and than unplug the Envy and reboot, it will reboot into the ATI GPU, but almost immediately I will get a message confirming that I want to switch to the Intel GPU since it is on battery.

In regards to the "Dynamic" switching, I guess the system just works better the way I have been using it, which in fact turns out to be the way the majority of the users here on the board are also using it.

As always, Thank You!

 

The only problem with that is a HDD installation of windows is not optimized for an SSD. There are various services and regkey changes that are normally made by the windows installation when an SSD is the target during an install. There are some SSD guides on the internet. I suggest finding a reputable source and following its recommendations after you perform the clone.

P.S. On an SSD, I disable prefetch, drive indexing and windows search; I enable AHCI. I configure my pagefile to a static amount (like 1-2GB, depending on system ram). I personally disable system restore (but I don't recommend this for average users).

 

That's weird, there are reports of dozens upon dozens of people who upgraded to the 6300 without any problems of bios blocking. Some people say the new envy's are shipping with a 6300 now (unconfirmed though). I know HP uses white-listing on some of their products but I didn't think the Envy 17 was one of them. Weird. I hope you find an answer b/c a lot of us have been telling people to upgrade to a 6300 as a solution to compatibility issues with the 6200 and certain routers.