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

Can I create the system image on an external drive, and then use that drive to reinstall the image on the ssd I get?

 

Yes, I still have switchable graphics the only thing that doesn't work is brightness hotkeys which I now have a workaround for.

This is the procedure I followed. This seems to be a mess for everyone, so YMMV.

-Clean
-Install Intel HD GPU drivers downloaded directly from Intel
-Install Catalyst Provided from HP
-Reboot
-Install Catalyst Mobility 11.4

Installing the catalyst from HP might not even be required, I dunno. I landed on needing to do it in this order after quite a bit of trial and error last week but who really knows. I have done this from a clean Win7 install and by doing a full uninstall of all GPU drivers/driver sweep/ccleaner.

 

It has two SATA III Ports, I am running a vertex 3 in there with SATA III speeds.

 

Hello everyone! I just arrived here and thought I'd join your wonderful group. I have been reading this for weeks, and am almost to the end! Almost every post has been very helpful and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed!

Good thing I ordered when I did, I got a free SSD+7200! I think I am the luckiest person (or unluckiest person depending how you look at it) alive, since I basically am getting a new Envy 17 for free also!!!!

On another note, I noticed there wasn't much information about the non-HD version, specifically refresh rates for the 1920 x 1080 LCD. I asked HP chat and they told me it supports 90Hz. But time will tell since mine arrives (hopefully) in less than a week!

 

The HP download is probably required. The CCC from 11.4 doesn't include the applet for Switchable Graphics. I am gonna experiment with 11.4 again right now. God...if there was a potential dealbreaker for me and the Envy...it was the ATI GPU. However, there isn't another laptop in the Envy's class...I know that some people feel strongly about the Dell XPS...I have had Dell's...they are OK at best.

Just installed 11.4 on top of HP install. CCC no longer works, but the drivers do. Switchable graphics is gone! Ugh!

 

Main thing I don't like about the envy, The AMD/ATI garbage.... I used them a few times in the past and have had very unplesant experiences with them. Hopefully they clean up their act, or maybe HP can fix it?

 

Wishful thinking! ATI has had questionable drivers for years. Even AMD taking them over hasn't done much. HP is going to do only what they have to. I checked the download sections for two and three year old Pavillions, etc. HP has done the initial release of graphics drivers and never again. Dell and others are the same way. They all expect that you will use the same graphics drivers for years. Sad considering how good the Envy is and how good it could be.

Experimenting right now. Disabled the Intel GPU...trying to reinstall 11.4 Catalyst. We will see

Well...that didn't work. CCC won't install

OK...here is the deal. You install the HP grapics drivers which gives you 8.800... AND Intel grapics drivers. Then...install 11.4, but do a custom install. DO NOT install the new CCC. Leave the old one in play. You get less control over the drivers, BUT Catalyst 11.4 seems to work with the HP CCC version. Switchable graphics works, but with some caviats...Brightness control buttons no longer work, AND when you switch graphics, you must remember to set the monitor refresh rate back to 120 HZ when going back to AMD 6850...OR...you will refresh at 60 HZ. This is a major pain!!! BUT...you can update your drivers

 

What Catalyst Control Center do you have installed? Does it say CCC or CCC Control Static?

 

Here is an oddity. Went to the Dell download site...checked how they do it with Alienware that have switchable graphics and AMD. They release separate packages for AMD and Intel graphics. You can mix and match. However, with that said...their drivers are older than HP's...

If I had one wish for HP...put Nvidia GPU's back in your choices when building ANY machine

 

Check this out. Ran 3D Mark 11 on the 11.4 Catalyst's. With HP drivers, my score topped at 1862. Here is the score using 11.4...Up quite a bit I might say. Granted synthetic benchmarks...but nice increase!!!

 

Thats what I loved about my DV8, Nvidia inside meant never having video issues. Granted I'm sure there were problems for others, especially since HP mentioned something about it. But I have 2 laptops, both with Nvidia. And have been using them for years without any video issues.

Hoping HP Nate or somebody will do something about it. the drivers should be updated by HP at least yearly..... Especially since the AMD ones are so buggy with the Envy. +1 rep for beta testing!

I have great faith in HP after finally receiving the compensation I deserve. My old DV8 has had problems since day 1. After a little over a year of sending it back and forth to HP. They are finally replacing it with a Envy, which is about double the price I paid for my DV8! I was very lucky they didn't have a 7200RPM main HDD. They upgraded me to only other option, SSD! But they wouldn't go for a 3D upgrade...

Envy 17" Ordered 4/18 Est 5/10
2630QM
6GB
160GB+640GB
1920 x 1080 LCD

DV8 CTO
Intel I7 Q720
4GB RAM
Nvidia GT230M
Intel 6200 wireless
500GB 7200RPM HDD
1920 x 1080 LCD

 

If HP would update the Video drivers for AMD once a year...that would be incredible! But the track record with HP, Dell...pick one...is not that good. Seems that they release these machines...and forget about them...unless something major comes up. BTW...I also checked the firmware on the Intel SSD...tried to update it and can't. For some reason, the way HP has the machine set up...the SSD is not recognized by the firmware flasher. In order to update to the latest firmware...you have to take the drive out. Put it in an external eSATA enclosure. Then boot into the CD and because the drive is outside the machine...it will be detected...then you can flash. Then you put the drive back into the machine. Why do all Laptop makers make it so hard to keep up to date?????

 

I agree completley! There should always be a choice... But I suppose the costs would go up.

Anyone possibly want to purchase my Envy? Thinking about downgrading laptop to save money and get rid of AMD. Such a shame since the Envy is so nice. Although it's missing a remote control and receiver. Why isn't it built into the Envy????????

 

I got P1000 after running 3D Mark 11 Basic ( Result). Something is definitely wrong with my drivers...

Did you get this error: "Your result has the following problem(s) and will not be shown for example on leaderboards:: Graphics card is not recognized, Graphics driver is not approved."?

 

I can't get that one to run at all. In order to install 11.4, I had to install everything BUT CCC. The CCC is from HP drivers. So far, it all works. Two things

1. Switchable graphics does work, except when switching back to ATI card...you have to manually set refresh back to 120 HZ...or it stays at 60

2. Brightness hot button doesn't work

With that said...almost a 100 point gain with 114 in 3D Mark 11...

Guess just have to decide if the trade off is worth it...If the Envy has one weakness...its the AMD GPU

 

Are you running in extreme mode? Under Basic tab...choose performance and not extreme. Most benchmarks are determined by performance mode. 720p...

The graphics card recognized is the Intel, for some odd reason. If you do switchable graphics...enable the Intel and 3D Mark 11 won't even run. Then I get the error. Make sure your 6850 is enabled...

 

I was in Performance mode, hence P1000. Going to reinstall (for like the 6th time) using your method and then run the benchmark again.

 

Did you install the Intel drivers directly from Intel's site?

 

The problems could vary, I experiencing black screen, BSOD, etc. Since I dont do game much on my E14, I stick with the HP driver and never have issue ever since. Clean install is a MUST I might say, it will make your envy run faster, as long as you know which driver to install, and in what order.

The issue with switchable graphics is its AMD and INTEL, or I must say AMD vs INTEL...would you help your biggest competitor succeed? NO...would you sabotage it anyway you can? YESS!!, then manufacture strarting to go back to nVidia again. Its politic guys!

They are BIG, HUGE company, these simple stuff as driver can be corrected if they wanted to. They have qualified engineer!

Good to know they have SATA III!

I havent tried your way on updating the firmware, maybe one day. Would it destroy your data? What is the benefit of the new firmware for intel SSD. If they came out with newer firmware, do you need to do the same? I would assume no, since it see's it as retail version now.

 

When I try to install Intel drivers from Intel...I get an error message that there is no GPU present OR...I have the latest updated driver...go figure

 

I havent tried your way on updating the firmware, maybe one day. Would it destroy your data? What is the benefit of the new firmware for intel SSD. If they came out with newer firmware, do you need to do the same? I would assume no, since it see's it as retail version now.[/QUOTE]

Don't misunderstand, nor did I. That is quite an elaborate way to flash the SSD firmware, and I am not willing to take that kind of chance. Upside is that the firmware on the drive is the one that enabled TRIM, so you can delete files from the drive...AND...Intel SSD toolbox will work with the drive. So no real need

 

I am beginning to debate sending this Envy back and getting another laptop with Nvidia inside! AMD vs Intel...stinks! HP doesn't support the hardware on this machine, much past what you get when you purchase. I received my machine on 4/14...gives me about 8 days to decide!

 

Reinstalled 11.4 using CCC version from HP drivers. 3D Mark 11 score is P1029...

 

Speaking as a left hander the mouse goes in on the left side
But I agree with you - I'm so used to having the power on the left side that I think it should have been on the left side. Having said that I'm ok with the power lead and mouse being on the same side lol.

 

Or get a trackball and be done with this whole argument!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

Okay apparently my last Envy 17 SB came from a very specific HP department.
Right now my contact is saying the throttling issue has occurred on "few units" and they are researching. It seems not to be a very alarming issue, so I am guessing the numbers are quite small. That is all I can say.

Furthermore I did get some info on the Envy 14 SB, it is real and it is being tested by my contact's department. See my thread I posted just now.

 

So what's your verdict...are you shipping them back or waiting it out to see if they resolve it for you?

 

At this point I am waiting for them to test out a few Envy 17 units (my contact is doing it personally), and getting back to me within a couple days or so with a replacement. So at this point I am going to wait for them to resolve the issue, once they do I will see from there. Maybe I will keep it, maybe I will not. Probably will though as many places I been looking at for alternatives are on backorder.

 

Perhaps you have some driver corruption. Also make sure that you leave advanced settings on 3D Mark 11 at default 640 x 480. Go here:

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

Use Driver Sweeper 3.0. Install it...then choose only ATI / AMD Graphics drivers (you can run in windows fine). It will uninstall any traces on your hdd.

Then go to HP and get the stock drivers

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...en&cc=us&dlc=en&sw_lang=&product=5069367#N266

Install them clean. Make sure that CCC works and that you have an option for Switchable graphics

Then go here and get mobility catalyst 11.4

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=343436

You want 64 Bit

When you install 11.4 over the HP drivers...do a CUSTOM and make sure that everything is checked EXCEPT Catalyst Control Center. This allows the switchable graphics applet to remain and will only upgrade the AMD drivers. Intel drivers left intact. You can now check Device Manager and the driver version will be 8.841.0.0. In CCC you will see that your CCC version is older, but the drivers will say Catalyst 11.4

Give this a try let me know what's up.

Then, when you run 3D Mark 11...here is your setup screen

Please understand. Once you do this...you lose the keyboard control for brightness. I very rarely use it so not a big loss. Also...switchable graphics works fine...BUT...when going from the Intel card back to AMD...your refresh rate will still be 60HZ. You need to manually adjust it back to 120HZ

 

Thank you, so then SSD oléé

 

Battery usage is cut in half on the 6850. I have tweaked my settings and I am getting over 4 hours on my 6 cell on the intel CPU. Couldn't be happier with it. One time I accidentally didn't change off the 6850 and in just over 2 hours I was really low. This is one of the major reasons I waited for a SB envy and I love it. Now if I could just get my ssd install working..... still having problems there.

 

I posted a dirty workaround to get some kind of keyboard hotkeys back on page 330.

When I have time I'll look into something more elegant, I think AHK might be able to intercept ACPI keycodes and then run an increment/decrement script but I won't have time to mess with it for quite awhile.

Anyway what I have now works good enough to get by for now.

 

Oh well. Uninstalled and cleaned up. Trying to reinstall the HP drivers and now they don't even install properly. Typical ATI / AMD! Really getting to a pont that living with this for the next four years seems annoying! No CCC, no switchable graphics...

Had to force the machine into safe mode and then run driver sweeper...

 

This thread is starting to give me a headache....

 

Tell me about it!!! Just for grins, I went to HP support and checked to see if ANY Envy model has ever received updated AMD drivers...Nope! So we either continue to hack them up to our best use or live with old drivers.

 

So, I usually either see the camp of people who muck around with everything on their computers, or the camp where people leave everything as vanilla as possible. Don't get me wrong, I love the first camp because you guys figure out everything that is wrong with what is installed and try to fix it - but I'm wondering if mucking around with everything creates some of the headaches you are having? Is the reason why you do this for gaming purposes primarily?? School me....

 

Didn't you order a Dell XPS17 as well? What happened with that?

 

That was not me, I did not order a Dell XPS 17

 

Probably! If I didn't tinker...I wouldn't be able to help so much. Oftentimes, I read of an issue someone is having here and try to make it happen to my machine. Then, when it does...I find a way to fix it and share the info here. I am just frustrated about the GPU in the Envy. For such a "beautiful" machine...we get AMD GPU. HP uses the safest settings, granted, but they won't be putting any updates out there any time soon. When graphics drivers are released...oftentimes, it is due to a new game that came out and had issues, or past issues are finally fixed. This machine deserves some timely updating...when that doesn't happen...I feel that they let the hardware slide. The Envy doesn't deserve that. I dare Dell or any company to build a machine like this...they don't. Then, they charge more. Bang for your buck...Envy 17 3D...even over the Envy 17 non 3D. With that said...switchable graphics as helpful as it may be, is a big pain!

Just wanted to vent. So I will tinker...get angry...fix it and find more solutions. It has become a hobby for me. My desktop is much more equipped for power. I am not a major gamer or the like...but I like to keep things tweaked and as up to date as possible. I may, for recreation, put a game or two on the Envy from time to time...but not for heavy...no. The multimedia is more interesting to me. 3D movies, etc. The whole 3D aspect

 

My mistake. Was someone else, who just received an Envy. They waited so long and had so many delays that they got frustrated. Wonder if they cancelled the order or not

 

I believe you are thinking of me . I did order an Envy back in the days to make sure I would get some laptop on time for a project (this was when there was that first batch of big delays...seems to be ages ago ).
But, after I got a delay notice from Dell and the shipping notice from HP pretty much at the same time, I just canceled the Dell. Since there was a dealy, they let me cancel it without any hassle. Dells return policy sucks, so I figured, since the Envy is on the way I might just cancel the Dell when I had the chance.
Well....some of you folks that have been around for a while know what happened then. Starting with 3d glasses that did not properly work (fixed the hardware myself) to the same throtteling issue crimsoned had. So far no news on that front. Resolutions is useless for me. I haven't had any time to tinker with my Envy the last couple days, but since my 21 days comes to an end on Tuesday, it is very likely that this one will be going back to HP next Tuesday.
By now I would have wished I did not cancel the Dell (especially since I bought it wtih $500 off).
Oh well. Just another sad, sad story.
I'll be lookign into my bank account and probably just have to dish out more money for a businessline notebook.

 

Don't worry, be happy! It could be much worse. Was looking at Aliens and they are way overpriced. And I read a post in this forum where Dell was trying to charge a customer for a in warranty repair, because they had the same repair done already! And Nvidia is in the middle of a class action lawsuit for laptops if I am not mistaken. At least the 6850 is a good performer! I am almost positive AMD will shape up since there was a time when only Nvidia supported OEM GPU's. And now AMD has followed suit.

Remember when we had no chice but to use OEM drivers? Or use hacked GPU drivers?

 

HOLY $***!!!! FedEx just arrived with my new Envy!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll update soon!

 

I have already hacked the drivers. There is a way to get Catalyst 11.4 to run, and they really are about a 5% improvement over the stock HP drivers. I maintained switchable graphics, but at a price. One...brightness control, which Fiver5 hacked...and when you switch back and forth between AMD and Intel graphics...you have to reset the AMD refresh to 120HZ...doesn't do it automatically at that point. Other than that...the machine is fully functional...more up to date...and still the best value for high end laptop you can find.

 

Yeah! Alright...enjoy!!!

 

Well I must say I am impressed! It seems to have only minor/slight gaps around the edges and the mouse pad only slightly sticks up. other than that. it looks perfect! Hopefully I have a good one.

On another note. I thought they fixed the mouse for the most part. Mine does not respond nearly as well as my old touchpads....

Is that the way everyone elses is? Or is that what all the fixes are about?

Thanks!

 

install the new touch pad drivers they dont completely fix the problem but they sure do help

 

Where do you get the new drivers?

 

Thanks! guess I'll have to get used to it or something...

Shipped from home office store without tracking info?!?! Thankfully I was home!