*HP Envy 15 Owners Lounge! PART 2*

quickweb is some linux miniOS it seems. I bet HP didnt want to pay royalities to the instantOn people so they made their own.

a side note: Almost done installing all my software. Its only been 4 hours...sheesh... Huge different in speed between the 32 bit installations and the 64 bit installations. I've used up 140gb just in installed programs so far. I totally shouldve gotten the 500gb hd..,

If I keep this laptop (which I might if the 8540w CTOs don't show up in 21 days) I might shoot for some low latency ram and just buy a 500gb to stick in it. I already bought 2x2gb kingston hyperx 1333mhz CL7 ram since I seem to be pegging out my current ram's capacity.

 

Just curious, is HP (or any laptop manufacturer for that matter) known for providing updated batteries after a product is at market. Basically, in a year or so, if battery technology improves, would there be any chance that they'd make one for our laptop that could be purchased off the website or whatever? Does anyone have an older HP laptop and bought a replacement batter years after that turned out to be much better?

 

Hey, to the person that is selling their ram on ebay. PM me your listing!

I'm interested in purchasing them. =D

 

JW, what is everyone using to overclock the 5830?

Especially you, JJB since you've been getting some good results

 

AMD GPU Clock Tool, specifically the version for the 5870.

I can't get the GPU above 520mhz, unfortunately. Luckily, I can get memory to 1100+.

I hope RBE will support the 5830 soon. I'd like to up the voltage a bit on the core to get 5850/5870 speeds.

 

Just found this while messing around to get a real nice and smooth scroll:

Synaptics Pointing Device Properties>Device settings tab>settings>tapping>tap zones>

I made my bottom right zone size a little bigger, and set bottom right action to secondary click (context menu, special drag). BAM! right click, highly necessary.

Also, double tap while holding down the second tap is the default drag&drop gesture.


Unrelated:

100% Brightness, Wifi/BT On, Web Browsing on Chrome [Gmail/Reader/Forums], 45 Min. of [TF2] gaming @1080p, 60 min of Windows Media Center live HDTV [AVerTV Hybrid Volar Max USB ATSC QAM Tuner] =

3hrs 50min Battery life w/6cell+9cell Slice

100% Brightness, Wifi/BT On, Web Browsing on Chrome [Gmail/Reader/Forums] while streaming 15 Min. of low quality sports via IE7 =

1hr 55min Battery life w/6cell

 

Which power plan?

 

High Performance customized.

Just finished another drain:

50% Brightness, Wifi/BT On, Web Browsing on Chrome [Gmail/Reader/Forums] while streaming 15 Min. of low quality youtube

1hr 45min Battery life w 6cell

Hmm that doesnt make much sense..

 

Screen brightness makes little difference with LED backlit, the difference between brightest and darkest is 3-4 W.

How much memory do you have? Edit: Oh, ok 4 GB.
Does anyone have a good estimate on power consumption for 2 GB or 4 GB sticks?

 

Mine was doing the same thing, when I had my Logitech Nano plugged into the combo USB/esata port. I moved the nano usb adapter to a different usb and the noise is gone.

 

I am having problems with the ATI HDMI audio output with the 5830 and factory drivers. The ATI HDMI sound device shows up in the playback devices list on a fresh boot but if I connect my TV to the HDMI port the ATI HDMI sound device disappears and will not return unless I reboot. The only way I can get the audio working is if I boot up with the HDMI plugged in but it still goes away if I unplug/replug. Does anyone else have this problem?

 

for those of you that just got the ssd's

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3116/tweaktown_s_solid_state_drive_optimization_guide/index.html

 

I had that sound while I was rebuilding my machine with a clean-install.. oddly enough though, right after I installed my BT drivers it went away.. Haven't heard it since.

it could also be that my hearing is bust anyway because NYC isn't a quiet place.

 

That seemed to have done the trick.

 

Sounds like the USB/eSATA port may share a ground plane with the sound card, or possibly have a funky capacitor configuration due to it's power requirements separate from the other ports. Good to know that.

 

At this time there are some issues with drivers. Assuming you are running an Intel chipset since that is what all of the cool kids are doing these days, you do not want to install the Intel SATA drivers or Matrix Storage Manager. Microsoft has the only driver that can pass TRIM commands through the SATA ports to the drive.

The Microsoft driver does not work with all SATA controllers, but the Intel ICH SATA driver from Microsoft does. This driver is built into Windows 7 so you are already running the right driver. In time Intel will update their drivers, but we really have no idea when.

At this point you are clear to install the rest of your drivers. Don’t forget the Intel Chipset driver; it doesn’t overwrite the SATA drivers.
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3116/tweaktown_s_solid_state_drive_optimization_guide/index4.html

doh!

 

Do you guys know if we can upgrade the firmware on the hp branded ssd drives? I heard there was a problem doing that to the g1's

 

Slow update on my system. I'm working and trying to get this thing up and running. Here are my impressions but I'm by not means a pro at these things so it's pretty much a layman's impression.

@sleey0 - I like my glossy screen. It does seem to pop. I can see reflections but when I'm focused on the Windows interface, I don't notice them. I kept thinking that I was supposed to give you an impression and then I could "look at the reflection" but I don't notice it when looking at what's on the screen. Probably doesn't make much sense but that's the best way I can describe it. I happen to like the screen but then again I'm coming from a 5 year old Dell D-610.

I've created my recovery disks and also copied the SwSetup and Win7Activation files off my system.

It seems like most folks are doing a fresh install. Since I've done the recovery disks and copied the SwSetup folder, can I nuke the "Recover" and "HP Tools" partitions? Do I need anything from them or can I make one honkin' big drive. I know it's not much space, but when you keep these things for a while it all adds up.

Anything else I should be doing?

How do folks test for the BSODs or Black Screen's? I'd like to do some checks on that prior to a fresh install just in case I've got a problem with mine.

I let mine on all night and it is still silent. I wasn't taxing it, just had to head home in the middle of creating recovery disks.

 

Thanks for the update!

I am not worried about reflections - just brightness and color.

 

No you cant, regardless of hard drive configuration the Intel SSD Firmware Update CD will not recognize the drive with an HP on the end of its model number. Now if you can edit the drives model ID, then you are good to go. No, I have not successfully done that.

 

Maybe instead of editing the firmware ID, there's an inf or something for the Intel updater that has the model numbers that you could edit? I'm just guessing here.

 

Are you guys with raid 0 SSD's worried about passing through Trim or garbage collection? I cant find much info. Anyone think that diskeeper 2010 with hyperfast really does what its supposed to do? (reduce wear on the ssd's)

 

I have been a fan/user of Diskeeper for years. Can't attest as to how well it will work with SSD's but as a company they have always stood behind their products

 

sorry if i am not suppose to post this here but i remember someone asking for the link for the memory i pulled from my envy 15 i got yesterday. i figured it would be helping someone else out to as they would get matching memory.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130364085705&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

 

i am curios.. for those people that did a clean install, what apps out of the swsetup folder did you re-install? I wiped mine and i am wondering if there is any usefull software in that folder

not including drivers of course.

thanks!

 

The corel software that comes with the envy is actually good if you use it, they are the pro version of corel photostudio and videostudio with a retail of $100 each. I like it, its a shame that most of the people on here decided to wipe it from thier computers.

 

So i'm still waiting on the phone trying to get a replacement.

1 and 1/2 hour and counting. YAY for bill me later.

 

and seriously, the Engrish is that bad.

 

Which files in the SW folder are the ones for the corel stuff?

 

I m at work right now, so I cant check but I ll have to look it up when I get home. If you used photoshop, that corel software has tools similiar and some even better implemented. Corel's x3 software is also out at this time, so the x2 is a bit outdated but still very good for photo and video.

 

Hey everyone!

I opened up my machine to see what is making the noise, and now know that it is the 2nd fan (the one closest to the touchpad/user) on the left. I stop the fan with my thumb and the noise stops.

I don't know what is causing this though. Has anyone fixed this issue? What do I need to do? Thanks.

 

Headsup sleey0. 820QM did not work on 520m mb.

 

so I just off the phone after 2 hours of convo.

I'll be getting a $50 credit and the replacement on Feb 12th, Lincoln's birthday, who happens to share his death on my birthday. If I get the issue again i'm going for the refund.

 

How did you convince them to give you a replacement over taking it in for repairs? The guy I spoke with said that since my computer is a custom machine they can't replace it.

Which is why I'd rather fix it myself, by figuring out what exactly is making my fan make a horrendous buzzing noise.

 

Not sure why you are addressing me.

But thanks for the info.

 

I reiterated the proposed fix by the specialty tech support (support # in the box) did not work, and that I wanted a refund or a replacement.

 

I think they lied to you, there are plenty of users in the previous posts who were able to get thier customized Envy replaced.

 

You got an i7 CPU. It may be dual core but it is still i7 and it may use a different MOBO.

 

"5830 for i5 and i7-620 systems"

Seems I have the right mobo

 

Afternoon fellow Envy 15 owners! Is there a definitive guide to the programs (and folders in which the programs can be found) in the SWSetup folder that we should reinstall after performing a clean install of windows 7?

Thanks in advance!

 

Well, the order I placed on Jan 8th was delayed from Jan 19th to Jan 30th and now to Feb 10. They claim parts shortages, but it's very peculiar because others have already received their systems.

I called yesterday to check up on the Jan 30th date and the RRG (Random Response Generator) told me that it was built and awaiting FedEx pickup. When I called today, they confirmed it was never built and was delayed until Feb 10th due to parts shortages. They offered me another $50 because of this second delay and because the first RRG lied to me...

If I ever get this thing, it might be a good deal, but how long is it really going to take? At the point I'd pay them $200 to ship it today...

 

Did you get an i7 quad system?

According to HP's website, that is the delay (my guess is the USB 3.0 controller being new and short on supply).

 

I just ordered the i5 520, matte screen, dual SSD, and HDMI to VGA cable. Nothing else unusual.

New development in this saga. I just got an email from HP confirming the 2nd delay and now they want to refund 10% of the purchase price... Good lord I don't want to call them again!!!

The only bright side to all this is that I'll be getting the thing for about $1565 instead of $2250 if I ordered it on the site right now...

 

update guys:

Like I said, i'm still getting a replacement, but I think i've isolated the issue i was having.

The issues I'm getting are usually happening in any 3d intensive game like Mass Effect 2, CS, COD.

I was trying it out on my couch without the power cable in, and everything works great. Despite everything being a bit slower, I have yet to receive a black screen or a notification of the driver failing whatsoever. As soon as I plug the cable back in, I get the error messages and the hangups.

I checked out the advanced power settings, and there didn't seem to be anything that activates specifically when power is on...that could lead to a crash, but i've been wrong so far.

Any ideas guys?

 

thats an awesome price SSDs are nice, I wish I got them for my system too, I m pretty happy though with the core i7 820qm that I recieved, not bad for paying just 1599+ tax (delays sure help the pricing)

 

Have you gone into CCC and turned off powerplay?

 

It actually seems to hangup more....lol.

Minus the installation of Steam + games, everything is from a fresh restore. All settings were at default.

At least I'll get to play Mass Effect in 45minute increments.

 

How does Corel Paintshop pro x3 compare to CorelDraw Graphic Suite x4's photopaint? Also, I actually bought Corel Videostudio Pro X2 a ways back. Is it actually better than the VideoStudio X2 bundled with our Envys?

I too would appreciate it if someone could work up a doc/txt file with this info before I do a wipe and install Ultimate

 

Hey guys,

Just ordered my new HP Envy 15 from Best Buy's website here. I was originally planning on ordering a Sony Vaio F but wanted something a little more portable and flashier so I jumped on the Envy once it went on sale. I'm upgrading from a 2007 MacBook Pro, so hopefully I'll be able to get all my data transferred and all without any difficulties. But I've really enjoyed reading this thread and would just like to say thanks to everyone who contributes, as it really helps those of us who are looking for some objective evaluation.

 

I've been trying to decide on a new laptop. I've been looking at the Envy 15 i7 and the Dell XPS 16. I like the greater portability of the Envy, but why oh why did they not put a backlit keyboard on the Envy? I don't know if I can live without it after having one for so long.