*HP Envy 15 Owners Lounge! PART 2*

Well I'm really unhappy at the moment because I just got told - after a month of waiting - that my beats isnt gonna get shipped afterall for some bull reason by the reseller I was dealing with. The worst part is If I order one up direct from HP, the earliest build date falls on march 4h (uuugh). Unless someone knows a place where they have custom envys in stock and ready to ship to canada, I think I'll be ordering some ugly toy with an alien on the lid...

This also means I won't be able to verify if the kensington 120 w slim adapter (wich I DID receive) works with the envy... sorry guys.

 

f.18? I wonder what fixes that has over f.17.

 

Ok after a fresh install. I have the Turbo Boost code 10 and another device that isn't recongnized. Any suggestions? Also my BT isn't connecting with my Mouse.

 

F.17??? F.18??? Are those for the Envy??? The current BIOS version installed on my Envy is F.07 and that is the latest.

 

does anyone know how to get dolby digital working? I plugged the laptop into my reciver and it only plays pro logic.

From my understanding is that this should support DD or did i mis read that somewhere?

 

How did you install the MSmenu. I have tried running the application in the SW folder, and all I get is a quick Command prompt and then it vanishes. Anything special I should know?

 

What would you guys recommend as a heavy-duty (gaming use) laptop cooler for the Envy?

Right now, I guess the two prospectives I'm looking at are:

- NZXT ACC-NT-CRYO LX Aluminum Notebook Cooler 120MM Adjustable Fans
- Antec Notebook Cooler 200

and I was just wondering if anyone here is using one of the two and if so, what their experience with it with the Envy 15 has been.

Thanks in advance!

 

The Envy doesn't need a cooler. The built in fans are really good. The video card doesn't even come close to overheating even when overclocked and fully stressed.

 

Ok giving up on this stupid BT. Half tempted to return this envy also. I can't for the life of me get the BT to update.

***EDIT***
Under device manager>Bluetooth Radios> HP interegrated Module blah blahblah>Driver>And I get Driver date 6/15/2009 Driver version 6.2.0.9000 and no matter what I have tried that driver will not update.(Trying to install 6.2.1.500 dated Jan 2010. And the current BT stack will not connetc my mouse or head phones. With my previous install it wasn't an issue at all.

Everything worked. If any one has any suggestion please pass it along.

 

Guys, out of interest, how much is the top spec i7 model you guys are picking up going for in the US? 820, 8 gig ram, 640 gig HDD's, ATI5830, hi res screen.

Just interested to see the difference in price. Out here we got 2 coming into a local store in one week, store said $2800AU.

 

Just checked for you at HP.com US.

$2450 USD at your listed specs

Option pricing;

i7-720QM - $400
Win7 pro + $75
DVD + $50
Bluray rom/dvd + $200
9 cell slice + $125

Estimated build date March 8.

 

I was having some problems getting a color profile to work and contacted JJb to ask what I was doing wrong. He replied and provided me 2 links that really helped so in case it will help anyone else:

This app will let you reset everything color wise back to default
xrite calibration tool

Then you can use this app and apply the profile you want easily
xrite DisplayProfile

Many thx to JJb as this worked a champ and now my screen is much purtier

 

Anyone called in to order recently. Wondering if there are floating coupon or promo they are doing that is not online. EPP only gives 7% discount

 

Right now I haven't seen any but usually, if you order by phone they can come up with at least something. You can try mentioning that someone else got a decent amount off and they have been known to try and match it. Sometimes tho it has to be done from the back-end which means you pay the price and then, when it ships, they will credit you back whatever discount they will do. Then, if you order with expedited 2 day shipping and they send it out but it won't arrive within 2 days call em back and usually they will credit you back some more.

There are other things more shady things you can try as well like after placing the order then calling them back and himm and haww about cancelling or changing the order at which point they have been known to offer another credit if you won't. Its kind of unethical but have seen it done.

 

OK I am trying to do a factory restore. And now HP recovery manager won't recongnize my partition. I have done teh recovery disk creator to a USb and it won't recognize that also. Any ideas?

EDIT: Found a way to boot the reccovery partition if you have removed the Recovery manager.

Using easyBCD make the recovery partition your boot disk. Also make the drive active. Right click Computer> Manage> Storage > Disk Management.

Now right click the recovery partition and select mark partition as active. You will get some warning, but when you reboot you will get the recovery walk through.

Worked like a charm for me. My first attempt at a fresh install was nasty.

 

ATI 10.2 Driver is out.

instruction to install:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5904279&postcount=371

 

Does this apply to the 4830?

 

4800 series code is not working. please do not use, until further update.

 

Yeah about that... since I was the one posting those links in the first place, I feel responsible for a little misunderstanding here...

The CalibrationTester tool (the first link) can reset the linearization curves loaded into the GPU. It does however NOT reset the color profile assignment, so any color-aware app will still do a matrix conversion assuming the display has been linearized. This might lead to incorrect colors, possibly even less accurate than an unprofiled display.

So it's only a partial reset. To fully reset to sRGB you also have to use the DisplayProfile tool to select the sRGB profile. Only then will you be back to a completely unprofiled state.

 

How many times are you goint to post asking for a coupon? I glance through these threads every other day and can call to mind 4 or 5 times where you asked for a coupon or complained about your 7%.

It's obvious by now that there are no coupons being offered and you should just use your EPP discount. Combine it with cash back, earn CC rewards, pay w/AMEX & double your warranty.... just do something and buy the damn thing already so you can join in on the fun! You won't regret it.

 

No such luck, once installed it hangs my Gen1. Same thing after reboot, after a logging in the computer freezes.

 

Yep I haven't seen any coupons either, been hunting the regular deal-sites pretty much daily. Starting to think after the initial Gen2 coupons (which if I recall correctly, were not even technically supposed to apply to Envy's) HP are content with letting the order-speed naturally balance itself by not offering coupons again. The 7% EPP may be the best deal out there right now.

BTW: Bing cash-back doesn't work when you order using EPP. Just wanted to throw that out there before anybody tries it and fails. It's in the fine-print.

 

Quick question:
I've tried looking through the threads, but I can't quite tell what the current driver situation is, for doing a clean install. Are there any drivers that are still unavailable if we wipe the HDD and do a clean windows install from an independent disc (or well, USB drive with image)?
I'll need to return my Envy and order a new one, it keeps freezing and/or getting the black screen issue. But when I get the new one I'm thinking I might like to do a clean install. It'll be an i7, so USB3 drivers are relevant.
Oh, and a bonus question. Everyone that got an Envy with one or more SSDs recently got Intel G1s, correct? If so I think I'll wait for the Q4 SSD update instead of getting one now.

 

Well HP's driver page isn't updated yet, last I looked. What most do, and is a good idea anyway, is to make your restore disks. Then also, either to a cd/dvd or usb thumb drive, create a backup of the entire SwSetup folder and subfolders. That contains all the drivers and apps. That way on a complete wipe & install you have a copy of all the files and drivers you might need. Also, just an FYI, only the combo USB/eSATA port is USB 2.0 the other 2 would need you to install the USB 3.0 driver to use.

As for the G1 G2 SSD's it seems to be kind of hit or miss as to which you get. Someone else can probably give you a better answer.

 

Nevermind. I was incorrect about the 10.2 driver mod for the 4830.

 

Fatwallet wi. F

Bing won't work, but Fatwallet will... not sure if that's against forum rules.

 

Hey guys, finally got my machine back from HP. Due to my horrible experience, I'm considering returning the machine and waiting for the MBP refresh. For now, I'm trying to get as much experience with the machine as possible.

How do you guys drag and drop with the touchpad? It feels nice, scrolling works well, but dragging and dropping is an issue. Any tips? Any modified drivers that make this trackpad really shine? Thanks in advance.

 

I agree, it can be frustrating at times. I click with my right index finger and use the next finger to drag, and then my index finger rolls off the lower left corner which makes the pointer jump. I have to say that I'd prefer dedicated mouse buttons any day.

 

There's an option to drag lock. You just do a double tap.

 

yep, this is what i do. works pretty nice

 

What kind of GPU temps are you guys getting while gaming?

I've topped out at 54C using the AMD GPU clock tool. It's almost a good 30 less than what I was averaging with my XPS15, and almost 45 less than the UL80VT I had for a week.

It's very satisfying to know that the GPU won't melt.

 

Do you have the gen2 version of Envy? If so, did you get the USB recovery creation tool from HP's website? I can only find the tool for the older version and I am not sure it will work with my newer gen2.

 

Okay, I have a problem...

Sometimes my screen will go blank. No matter what I'm doing, whether it is CPU/GPU intensive or not, whether the system is hot or not, the screen will go blank, but the system is still on. Sometimes the sound will still play, other times the sound will also shut off, leaving me with a blank screen and no way to get it back but to turn off the system and turn it back on.

I've had this problem since I got the laptop but never tended to the problem. It happens at least once a day randomly and it is getting annoying.

Anyone ever had this problem? Do you know why I may have this issue? How do I resolve it?

 

I don't know specifically what the issue is, but HP sent me a replacement this Monday. The black screen is no more.

 

Sure. Still, a physical button would have been better. All my other laptops support tap to drag as well, but the physical button is preferable.

 

Update the display drivers. Search this thread for 8.681 driver set.

I have been using these for a week, and so far I have not experienced a black screen - so far.

 

I have been frequently getting this problem with 8.681, though. It appears getting worse and worse indeed. I am so screwed as I am for most time studying overseas, dang. can't get replacement.

 

Where did you dowbload the 8.681?

I downloaded from AMD the 10.2 CCC and supposedly updated that...bbuy mine is the 8.632 driver packaging version and 8.14.10.0678 Direct3D version

 

You need the latest WHQL certified drivers that support the Mobility Radeon HD 4830, which the 10.2's do not. The 10.3's will when they are released in March, but until then I am running these 10.1's:

http://www.station-drivers.com/page/ati catalyst.htm

The "10.x - 8.700" drivers on this page are officially released WHQL certified drivers with official support for the Mobility Radeon HD 4830.

The problem seems to be that the mobility radeon's seem to have need of special tuning that is not available in a set of drivers with modded infs...

 

Hi guys finally I got my Envy 15, and I love it, its everything wath I was espected for.
But I have a little problem with it, I was using the webcam and at the beginning it worked fine, but later out of nowhere it stop working!!, it turned all black the screen (of the webcam I was using the HP Mediasmart Webcam), and all wath it shows its a black screen!!
I downloaded the HP webcam driver from the HP website, but still shows black screen the webcam!
Does somebody else got this problem too??? please help
I cant call it to hp since im not from usa, so if anybody could please help with this issue
I dont mind at all since I rarely use the webcam, but since its a brand new laptop It should work right?, at the beginning everything looks perfect, the IR worked nice, effects too, but then suddenly stopped working
Any clue??
Thx

 

Wait, then it is the 8.700 WHQL? THe lowest one?

 

Guys,

I'm at a loss for getting a custom envy g2 sent here to canada. At this point i've tried pretty much every options but they just won't let me order it... I'm now considering getting a g1. So my question is this: What am I missing with the g1?

• 4830 instead of 5830 obviously
• usb 3.0 ports actually on the g1 version? (would be getting i7 cpu)

please feel free to add any missing features the g1 is missing compared to the g2

Thanks

 

That pretty much covers it.

The design and internals are otherwise the same.

 

Sorry to repost, but, any help here?

 

The OSD I believe works off SilverLight and MSmenus. I would uninstall SilverLight as it would be the easiest to reinstall from my experiences. That will stop the OSD from showing, bummer I know but to be honest I uninstalled Silver light and don't miss the pop up at all.

And best of all when gaming or watchinga movie in full screen I can use the volume button with out returning to my desktop.

 

what a world of a difference. holy.

also, how would you be able to find out what the threshold for the speeds are?

 

trial and error. slowly increase clock speeds, run benchmarking tool to see if stable (3dmark a coupe of times, look for tearing, artifacting...)

tip: memory will give you bigger speed increases, and should be able to increase to a much higher level than the core clock. for example, I can safely increase my memory to 1100 or so, but my clock doesn't go much higher after 520.

 

strags.com

 

Does that include the Envy Gen 1 also.

Another quick question: What are average OC for the 4830. So far I have been stable at 500 / 800.