*HP HDX DRAGON Owners Lounge, Part 1*

HDX Display Unit at Fry's Electronic, USA.

Go take a look. 1050 resolution.

I saw it the first time, I must say WOW. I want it.

First impression,

1. Beautiful Machine,
2. Text not as clear as I would like. I usually blow up the dpi so It should be fine for me.
3. Blu-Ray Demo on the display look better than 22" sony all in one model. Very good picture.
4. Heavy even without battery and adapter. For traveling could be tough.
5. I felt screen is too close to my face, I guess I have short arms, even though I am 6' tall. I was kind of dizzy after 30 minutes playing with it.
6. The quick play software tend to crash.
7. Don't like the operation of double hinch when open/close, but the tilt angle is great.
8. Great sound, you got to hear it.

I have the bag, but don't have the big mama laptop yet.

 

Well I just pulled the trigger and placed my order on newegg for my Hdx9494nr!! It's processing and I cannot wait to get it hopefully sometime this next week!! I also got an hdmi cable with it so I can hook it up to my 1080p lcd. Soooo excited!! Glad I have this forum to keep me up to date on the best drivers, fixes for problems and just about everything else.

 

I was thinking about 8800GTX card. Yes, that BIOS thing Can anyone point me to the good document describing BIOS architecture for laptops? How can I modify the BIOS and/or replace video card bios, etc.?

 

It is not a Santa Rosa itself but rather SATA controler as for example Gateway Santa Rosa notebooks have RAID.

 

I got the audio working in Supreme Commander with the Sigma Tel audio driver, but now my quick touch keys dont work. Volume control works but there is no black box that comes up. I'll just live with it for now.

 

looking into the laptop, as 2.0 stated it has an ICH8M ultra controller. It looks like that this chip is capable of RAID (it's the controller on a couple other laptops with RAID) but I haven't figured out if this is a different chip in the series or if the functionality is just turned off and unable to modify it in BIOS. I would believe it's more likely the second because A) the demo that was reviewed had RAID and B) there are some who would buy the next model for even more than this for the RAID ability enabled and it would save them money not to redesign the board and just enable the functionality.

As of yet, I haven't found anything pointing on how to crack the BIOS on this or any other HP, if someone knows someone who works tech in HP maybe they could find out for us, but alas I don't have friends at HP so I'm no help there.



*EDIT* I went to Intel's web page and looked up the ICH8M controller. the ICH8 is the series, the M is for the mobile run and it DOES NOT support RAID, the ICH8M-E does support RAID, I don't think that's what is on the board.

 

HP's BIOS is propriety. Plus unless the 8800MGTX MXM card you have in mind conforms to the HDX's propriety MXM, it's a no go no matter what. The odds are very high that say, Clevo's 8800M GTX MXM type III card is NOT compatible with the HDX's MXM.

To sum it up; the HDX's graphics is not upgradeable with third party MXM cards.

 

Hello again all,

Still haven't pulled trigger, but I did just notice something. The 9494 only has one 320GB 5400 speed HDD installed. Since most lappies need a proprietary bracket, how hard is it to add a 7200 speed 16MB cache new HDD into the empty slot??

Brad

 

It's easy. You just have to buy the bracket from HP. IIRC, it's $40 or so. After that, it's just 8 screws to get to the drive bay which is located on the under side towards the front.

 

Parts store doesn't carry it anymore unfortunately.

 

thanx 2.0 your answers were most helpful.
just one more question. can you take an HDX as a carry on onto the airplane I realize that it is not meant for that kind of use nor do i intend to use on a plane but i do travel with my laptop and I do not want to check such an item. I ask because I saw first hand a guy with that 20in dell and he had to check it but that thing has that giant handle sticking off of it.

 

Thank you very much for the answer.

 

Has anyone tried the latest Quickplay update? (3.7 v.5425)

I am trying to find a way to clear my playlists "recently added" music and videos but apparently there is no way - I found on the net someone mentioning they refer to the WMP lists but so far no luck fixing that.

Maybe the new quickplay has more options to manage the lists...

 

@2.0

I tried once once more to uninstall Quick Touch, Quick Play and the Quick Launch Buttons.

After that I rebooted and then installed Black Knight's Quick Launch Buttons, Quick Touch and then Quick Play in that order. Still no luck on the two buttons (Eject and TV).

I am going to pop another drive in this next week and try a full restore from my restore disks, which I suspect will work and then install Black Knight's fix from there without letting that security patch for Quick Launch sneak in even once.

Also I noticed you mentioned the bracket for the spare drive. Do you by chance have the model number for that? I also could not find it on the HP store, thoughI noticed several brackets for HP laptops on E-Bay. Also looking at the hard drive bay it strikes me that because of its enclosed design it is probably quite easy to fix a second drive in place quite securely without the bracket without killing the airflow. With my Dell this is not possible, you must have the bracket. Any thoughts?

Aspen

 

Man i am from aus and had just got my hdx 9494nr by asking a friend to buy for me in US.

One problem.... it is really slow... i mean it is really really really slow.

Just switching between word and msn windows has a 3 sec lag. And it is completely new!!!

Anyone know y?

 

Not normal. Uninstall alle the bloatware, read a few Vista tips and tricks posts and it should be fine. I have the 2.5GHz version with 500GB HDD and 8800m GTS and it runs smoothly even on the highest Vista visual settings.

 

On 2nd HD bracket:

The dv 9xxx and dv6xxx SATA hard drive bracket appears to be the same one that the HDX uses according to the pictures in the respective service manuals of each of these computers.

Some adventurous soul might want to buy one off eBay and report back to the community.

 

refer to my previous posts, ibought a bracket of ebay, its in the previous ones, because i could not find the real one for the hdx, nor did hp sell one, nor does one exsist on ebay. It worked (it had an ide adapter, i took that off and cut the tiny clips off with a scissor and it worked like a charm) spent 14$ total with shipping.

 

These look like they would fit, the only thing I notice is that they don't have the spot for the holddown screw.

How did you hold the caddy in place?

 

the front screw with the spring is exactly the same, so that holds the front part, the hard drive has four screws around the side that hold the hard drive to the caddy, and the sata connection to the laptop to the hard drive holds it to the back. works like a charm.

 

Does anyone know where to obtain an OEM firmware update for the Sony/Optiarc BD-ROM that's installed on the HDX 9300? Has to be for the HP installed drive, not the Sony original that's available already.

 

@wolfskinbjc

Thank you! Just ordered one of the same brackets off E-Bay. That should do nicely.

 

@@aspenwiedii

no problem. glad i could help.

 

Well I went ahead and got a DV9000 bracket off ebay, so we'll see how she works for me.

 

howcome the hdx is so cheap now? i just saw one with great specs on newegg for 1550$ only...(thinking of getting it )

 

Hi everybody,

This is my first post in this forum. I was just looking for a help for the HDX laptop so I found this fantastic forum. Also I'm very proud to be one the HDX laptop owner , which is a master piece of laptop. Anyway, I just want to share this info about the new HDX desktop. My brother saw it on China last week on his vacation and on his return he brought a brochure about it, here are some of the details written on the brochure for one of the HDX desktop models:

- Intel Q9000 2.6GB
- 9800 GTX 1GB + 1300GB shared = 2300GB
- 320 GB HD

Cost = 15000 CNY (2,187.77 USD)

As I have told you, it's available in China right now, so I think it will be available to worldwide very soon. As you can see, the price is very good for a Quad core desktop with a 1GB 9800 GTX graphic card = GOOD DEAL.

Sorry that I did not wrote all the information but I can scan (I don't have scanner ) the brochure so everyone can see the full details, of course in Chinese and sorry for my English.

 

It's cheap because it's nearing it's end-of-life. So get it while it lasts if you really want one. There may be no update to the HDX. And if there is, it'll cost significantly more.

HP's selling more HDX's now than they ever did.

 

Wow!

That’s pretty darn cheap! Will it still have the 20” display at that price?

 

I think if I read it right, he is talking about the new HDX DESKTOP. Didn't someone a few weeks ago say HP was coming out with the new HDX desktop line? $2200 seems kinda high unless it comes with a decent monitor, even with a 9800 GTX. Of course, I don't know much about the Q9000 either. Could be the exchange rate too though. Can't wait to see what it looks like though.

*edit* found 2.0's link to similar version on page 94 of this thread.

 

He did say "Pretty good for a quad core desktop".

Nevermind then.

 

Black Knight

can you help me figure out why the bass and treble controls will not work unless the osd is enabled?
right click speaker (lower right hand corner)
playback devices--speakers and redirected headphones
now from here:
properties--general
levels
balance
>nothing indicating bass or treble<
enhancements
disable all (right ?)
advanced
default format (24 bit 192000 Hz right ?)
configure--stereo (right ?)
ok how do I adjust the bass and treble wothout osd?

thanks in advance for replies

 

need help with bass and treble controls
they dont seem to work without the osd active
please assist me,,,,

thanks in advance for any replies

 

I got my HDX last month, with the current max configuration - w/ 4yr support it comes in just under 5K. It's actually better to get Computrace (if you get it) from Best Buy for $99 as it's cheap. Using HP's Employee discount, it came in just over 4k. This is the configuration purchased right from the store HDX config prior to the cart:

Upgrade to Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme Processor X9000 (2.80GHz)
Display 20.1" diagonal WUXGA High-Definition HP Ultra Brightview Widescreen (1920x1200)-"True HD" 1080p
4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
HP Imprint Finish (Dragon) + Microphone + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam
Networking Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
Hard Drive 640GB 5400RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (320GB x 2)
Primary CD/DVD Drive Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
TV & Entertainment Experience Integrated HP HDTV Hybrid TV Tuner and 4 Altec Lansing speakers +the HP Triple Bass Reflex subwoofer
Extra 9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
HDX Premium Software Bundle Power Pack software
OS System Recovery Media
Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit)
Corel(R) WordPerfect(R) Office X3

Extras:
Belkin Vista Migration Cable
HP Mobile Remote Control Express Card
HP Bluetooth Laser Mouse
HP 180W Smart-pin AC Adapter
HP Notebook QuickDock
4-year HP Extended Service Plan

Without the accesories and extra adapter/battery it would've been under 4k with the discount. The main surprises are how cool it runs and how good the battery life is with the X9000 2.8 CPU. I accidentally knocked the power cable loose the other day and didn't realize it until the battery warning started flashing.
The only change I would make to this now that I have it (I may still do it) is to get a LightScribe DVD instead of the Blu-Ray. Even though HP is pushing BD technology and HD screens, they've failed to provide any firmware update support for the BD-ROM. Consequently, it will only access the Play button on a new disk menu, but not any other menu functions. If any of you know about BD players, you know that the 2.0 update means player firmware needs to be updated to play newer disks properly. Sony has the release on their site, but HP is lagging far behind. So far it's the only issue that's really pissed me off. In addition to the BD-ROM problem, the player software (QuickPlay) needs to be updated to the current rev and the desktop color settings need to be reduced to 16 instead of 32. This and I'm running with 4g RAM. This problem should've been taken care of before it shipped.

The other thing you always want to do is to buy from their business division, not the home division since you get better support. If you don't have a business, make one up. Also, Vista Home/Home Premium are the primary Vista OS's with the most problems, so upgrade to Biz or Ultimate - Ultimate is pretty stable by most accounts, and I've had no problems at all with it.

If anyone wants to know about any part of the configuration let me know. In addition to what I purchased, I've added a Linksys adapter (I have a Dual-Band N Router), an X-Fi Card from Creative (goes in the XC-54 slot) and I run Adobe Master Collection (all of Adobe's main software programs). Except for the Blu-Ray issue, everything runs great.

 

That's quite right. So what you have to do is right click the speaker icon in tray, select playback devices, speakers + redirected headphones, properties, tone controls tab.

If you don't see the tone controls tab it means you downloaded the Microsoft driver from windows update. Set your windows update to notify me of updates but let me choose when to download and install them to avoid this in the future. You probably have other Microsoft drivers running such as NIC driver and perhaps wifi.

Just reinstall the audio driver and you should be all sorted out.

Can't see setting these levels so often that one would need to access the touch panel for them though.

 

no good,
i have the latest driver installed, i think,
I have vista 64 ultimate
it does appear that the driver is the latest sigmatel hd audio codec
date 5/6/2007 driver 6.10.5511.0
any more suggestions ?
thanks

 

right click speaker (lower right hand corner)
playback devices--speakers and redirected headphones
now from here:
properties--general
levels
balance
>nothing indicating bass or treble<
and no tones and such
enhancements
disable all (right ?)
advanced
default format (24 bit 192000 Hz right ?)
configure--stereo (right ?)
ok how do I adjust the bass and treble wothout osd?

 

maybe you can direct me the driver you are mentioning

 

let me introduce myself as a novice
HDX 9494NR
T7500 2.2 4 Mb cache
ATI dedicate 128MB
4GB DDR2
replaced original hd with 160GB 7200 RPM
still use secondary 120GB 5400 as storage
i use Acronis TIH ver.11
I use Folderlock for privacy
I also use Kaspersky IS
I have Nero 7 Ultra, Power DVD Ultra, I ise CCleaner with no apparent issues
i also use AWC personal (free version)
Gaming:
Supp Comm, Froged Alliance, WIC, COH, Command & Conguer KW,
cannot get Tiber Wars to work with sound so don't play it.
Office XP Pro updated and working, LogOn Studio Vista, and much more
I bought this beast for gaming and surfing primarily, i love the entertainment
abilities and the wonderful immense size of the clear crisp screen, have not had much luck with the tv tuner though, it seems to be a weaker tuner than the one in my DV9000.

 

You should reinstall the driver. That number doesn't seem right. neither does the date.

You'll find the driver in SWsetup folder. If not there then on HP's website.

Their site seems to be down right now though.

 

If any of you fellow HDX owners still need windows XP drivers look here>>>http://www.hpdrivers.mercs.us/<<<

I hope this helps you as it did me!

 

ok
can anyone else offer any simple solution?
I have the osd disabled through msconfig trying to see if i can do without it

now i want to maintain the desired settings in the treble and bass
outputs from my speakers.
some programs like itunes & wmp try to manipulate these settings
in the background, this i found out after the fact.

i want to know if i can find and adjust as needed, the bass and treble
ratios/levels anywhere other than in the osd,
the osd is disabled currently, assuming i really don't need it

hey has anyone found the ability to adjust these levels without the osd?

i am using a SigmaTel soundcard that uses
the sigmatel hd audio codec(64bit) for its driver.
the date is 5/2007 ver. 6.10.5511.0

thanks for your input

 

hey,
what benefit do i get when i go to xp pro with my hdx?

i have my hdx pretty much tweaked out and it seems to run quite well

please respond at your convenience

 

what benefits come with taking my hdx to xp pro ?

 

The simplest and perhaps only viable solution is to reinstall the driver because it appears that you have the driver from Microsoft which automatically downloaded and installed through Microsoft update. Once you reinstall the driver (best to uninstall the current one first/reboot, then install the correct one), there is a tab in which let's you adjust the bass and treble. That tab is labeled "Tone controls." The microsoft driver doesn't have that tab. That is how you adjust your bass and treble without the OSD.

Also be certain to set Microsoft update to the setting I recommended in an earlier post.

As for installing XP pro, there are no advantages. In fact, it's a disadvantage since there are things that do not work because there are no Xp specific drivers for certain aspects of the machine. You'll also need to slipstream a SATA driver into the XP install or you won't be able to install the OS. You install XP if there are some legacy programs which do not work in Vista - or you can run a virtual environment with XP within Vista using a virtual machine. The latter is how I roll.

 

Hey guys, I bought the backpack on the UK webpage of eBags and got it a few days ago. Impressions?

The backpcack is just perfect!!! You can pack some of your clothes and other stuff and add your HDX to it and it fits in great!!!

I also have a Targus XXL bag but it will be hardly ever used now, I will be using the Weekender Convertible.

As to the weight. If someone says HDX is heavy to be carried around in the backpack, let them carry it in a bag on one shoulder; they will change their mind immediately

 

Somewhere in these many posts, I seem to remember someone talking about “hiding” (?) the HP drivers so that Windows Update does not overwrite them. Or was it just wishful thinking?
JoeNeil

 

Yeah, I believe I said that. But it's the other way around. You can hide the Microsoft drivers on windows update so that it doesn't show up in the download list and won't override the HP ones (which are best for the HDX). But you have to set windows update to "notify me but let me choose when to download and install drivers."

You can do that by going into control panel and select windows update. Then click change settings on the left panel. Select check for updates. A list will come up with optional updates. right click the driver types and select hide.

 

What virtualization software are you using? I am a fan of VMWare Server (free) and use it extensively on my home infrastructure but the unsigned drivers don't play nice with Vista 64.

 

VMware Workstation 6 on Vista 64. Runs flawlessly.

 

Hey guys. I have had an HDX since about easter and one day I looked at the screen and there was a huge crack above the webcam - in the plastic. There was also one along the bottom near the speakers. I have debated with the crappy HP customer service, and they said it wasn't covered under warranty cause it was 'accidental damage' apparently - anyone in the right mind would look after this beauty! Besides if it was accidental I wouldn't make a case about it.

Anyway, anyway, Im just wondering if anyone could help me out. I would like to find out if its possible to buy a replacement chassis/screen emplacement or whatever its called - the case that goes around the screen, and also where from or price. I have searched everywhere, even the HP site and cannot buy it. HP were wanting me to spend over $500/£270 to get it fixed, which I think is a bit steep.

Also, is it possible to switch the HDDVD drive to a blu-ray. I also discussed this with the HP fella, saying that, 'now HDDVD is no longer marketed, the drive is no longer of use etc etc. could I get it changed?' and he said that I had done 'no market research' etc?

Is it me, or does anyone else think HP customer service is completely crap?

Thanks