*HP dv8 Owners Lounge*

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Got the caddy from newmodeus. Thanks for the heads up on the fragile connector.

 

I purchased a dv8t in early November but beyond using it for a couple of hours I didn't start to heavily use it until this week. Immediately I encountered complete lockups that I needed to hold the power button to restart. Afterward I would attempt to boot it up but the screen would not power up, as if it did not complete the boot stage. Since I never saw a windows error I was pretty certain it was hardware issue and flashed the f.12 bios. After the flash the cooling fan was constantly running at the highest level until I reset the bios to the system defaults. I still had crashes throughout the day, even after only 15 minutes of use, so opened up an HP support ticket. Despite the fact that I had some lockups on the bios screen HP support still keep sending me form responses about hard drive issues. I am pretty confident it is heat issue so I installed speedfan and it is reporting everything is running about 60C idle which to me seems pretty hot. Has anyone else had lockups like this or have any suggestions? I am pretty disgusted that I spent so much money on this notebook foolishly believing that the more I paid the better quality notebook I would get. I definitely like the specs but if it is not stable it is not of much use.

 

http://www.google.com/products/cata...ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBQQ8wIwAA#ps-sellers

you could try something like this

 

Just to let you know, i was able to overclock the GT230M to 700/948/1540 safely @5c increase in temperature during the furmark stability test on the DV6t, this is faster than GT330 565/1066/1265.

 

2 new options on the dv8
448GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (SSD 128GB + 320GB 7200RPM)
+$200.00
756GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (SSD 256GB + 500GB 7200RPM)
+$250.00

 

really now, lots of laptops got gcard refreshes y didnt the dv8...

 

Wow what a bummer. You are within your return period then return it. You have a defective laptop.

The bios 12 fan problem is normal, i.e. it happened to most of us (specifically to me). Your temp at 60 is NOT normal. Even with the fan OFF, my temp is only about 45-50. I suspect that the cooling pad/fan is not making contact with the cpu and/or gpu.

Let us know how you make out.

 

That's where I got my my HD kit. Let me know how you make out with your SSD. Just check the prices. Still too pricey.

 

I just installed ubuntu 9.10 64 bit , I'm not facing any problems of keyboard not working like Win 7 Pro 64 bit .
need to work on the speakers it is not working ,only the sub and audio jacks working .

 

Yep, mine did that the other day on a clean install of windows 7. I have since done a factory restore and haven't experienced this again. Are you using a clean install of Windows 7?

 

Those upgrade prices are NOT above the standard 320GB pricing. It's +$200 and +$250 over the 1TB pricing tier. I was going to jump on a 256GB SSD for $250!!!!

 

Ok I'm at a loss here
so any help would be greatly appreciated

bought the dv8-1080ea UK edition about 2 weeks ago
and I must admit that this thread and this forum helped a lot in making this decision

But I'm experiencing some problems and I would really need your help
I did a clean install of windows server 2008 r2 enterprise
(the laptop serves as my main workstation so server r2 is needed, my previous workstation was a dv9700 again with server r2, so I have some experience)
The laptop is dead stable (I had one lockup in 2 weeks at logon screen where I had to hard reset with the power button, but must have been the 195.81 nvidia driver with the modified inf)
The problems I have are not critical but mostly annoying

1. I like to keep the OS as clean as possible (running vmware and virtual OSes for experimenting stuff),
so I tried to make a 60 GB partition to keep the server 2008 r2 and keep all my stuff in the other partition/drives.
But the factory settings have 2 partitions (1 for recovery and 1 for HP tools)
Anyone knows what these HP tools are? Is it just the info/diagnostic tools at startup?
Anyway, after the first install of server 2008 r2 I had 5 partitions on the first drive:
1: recovery 2: HP tools 3: 100 MB reserved for server 4: server 2008 r2 5: data
but to be able to create the 2 (or 3 if you count the 100 MB reserved) partitions the disk had to be converted to dynamic (>4 partitions) which doesn't play well with Active Directory
Kept that configuration for a day or two while I tested the drivers (what I needed and or didn't need and what worked or didn't work)
But there was no way to convert the dynamic disk to basic so I had to delete all partitions with diskpart and start all over with the installation
So now I have no recovery or HP tools partitions, and while at startup there are the key config for recovery or HP tool the keys do nothing
no big deal, just annoying

2. The remote just doesn't seem to work
I have tried anything but nothing
a. With NO driver installed, device manager shows it as unknown device
But the remote partially works, the volume buttons and everything work
except the play/pause button
b. With the driver from the drivers page ENE CIR Receiver Windows 7 x86/x64 2.7.4.0
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=404164
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp44501-45000/sp44983.exe
the device manager shows the ENE CIR Receiver driver installed OK
but the resources tab shows that resources are shared with motherboard
and the remote doesn't work, no buttons work at all
c. With the driver from the HP drivers page ENE CIR Receiver Windows 7 x86/x64 2.7.4.0
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=4063&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=4034201
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp45001-45500/sp45009.exe
the device manager shows the ENE CIR Receiver driver installed OK
but the resources tab shows that resources are shared with motherboard
and the remote doesn't work, no buttons work at all
d. I have even tried older drivers like 1.3.066 or 2.5
and even this driver
http://www.win2008r2workstation.com/win2008r2/ehome-ir-transceiver
but while the device is installed the remote doesn't work

Is there any solution to the remote driver problem?
It is just a PITA, what is the purpose of the remote if the play/pause button (the most important button) doesn't work

3. Is there a way to play blue ray discs without PowerDVD or WinDVD?
I'm using K-Lite Mega Codec Pack for virtually anything
and don't want to install PowerDVD or WinDVD, cause they are awfully bloated
and don't want to mess up the stability
after all I'm using the laptop as a nearly 24/7 workstation and don't want to install anything unnecessary

4. The digital persona software is compatible with other browsers (except IE) or applications like KeePass?
I would like to use it with chrome or opera browsers, and of course KeePass
but it seems to support only IE and logon screen, am I missing something?

Well, I guess that's it for now, if anything comes up I'l let you know
So in short:
1. Anyone knows what these HP tools are? Is it just the info/diagnostic tools at startup?
2. Is there any solution to the remote driver problem?
3. Is there a way to play blue ray discs without PowerDVD or WinDVD using K-Lite Mega Codec Pack ?
4. The digital persona software is compatible with other browsers (except IE) or applications like KeePass?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

look at previous post about 1 page back, If you did a clean install (which looks like you did) these machines are having a horrid time performing up to par. This again is under the belief you did a clean install though

 

What is this?



It pops up at start-up before I even open IE. It also pops up again at random intervals while using my computer. I have no idea why and it's a total nuisance. As far as I can tell it is not affecting performace and Norton 360 has nothing to say about it when I run a full system scan. I wan't ..nay NEED to know why this happens and how to get rid of it. I've uninstalled yahoo toolbar and went to the mysystemexpert website but got no useful information on why this is happening. Any help would be tremendously appreciated. Thanks.

Also there is a second one that also pops up randomly but for a different website. And if it helps I don't use either website so again, why is this happening?

 

Ok there is definitely an issue with this computer resuming from sleep. I had it in sleep mode for 8 hours today and resumed and it was fine then left it alone and it completely locked up. This has to be an issue with the Core i7 because Windows 7 can resume from sleep without any problem on my other computer.

 

yes I second that , and some times no keyboard or reader from cold start up .
I guess Win 7 SP1 will fix that .

 

I don't know about that being a Windows 7 issue. Windows 7 works flawlessly on my pavilion m9000t. Maybe a combination of the new core i7 and windows 7? I'm sure it will get addressed in either the next bios or service pack or hp updates.

 

I Removed my Post. Sorry.

 

cool but the deal breaker still is the lack of an LED display....the LED displays are sooooo much nicer and more crisp than the regular ones... on a unit this expensive, i'd expect an LED WXGA display at the least.

 

I must be the only one who hasn't had a single problem with my DV8. My computer was ordered on cyber Monday. Got it on 12/17/2009. I have been running it about 12 hours a day and never experience any problems described on this thread. Never had the Bass/Treble popups or video problems. I must be lucky.

 

I guess I'm second because the only problem that I have faced would be the sleep issue. Do you put the computer in sleep mode for long periods of time?

 

Yea, I had one single problem on my dv8... THE KEYBOARD didn't WORK!!!!!
Hopefully my replacement won't have any problems =D

 

Oh sorry, i copied the prices with the 1tb option selected, was tired

 

Just remember all the computers that came out this past October with Windows 7 have at least one issue. I know Dell's Studio 15 and XPS 16 with core i7 are experiencing some lockups. Browse some of the other core i7 threads its not just the dv8t. I'm still very very satisfied with my dv8t

 

Just a reminder to anyone who bought from HP between 11/1- 12/24 you have until 1/15 to return or exchange. I exchanged mine and it was pretty painless. So if you are having major problems I would highly recomend taking up HP on this offer.

 

I'm not sure if you're aware that backlighting really has nothing to do with how crisp a display is. Things like brightness, uniformity, and color can be affected by the backlighting.

I was a worried that the display on the dv8t would suck because I was coming from an IPS screen, but I do have to say it is better than I expected. I checked out the 18" Acer which has LED backlighting and it was so dim. The dv8t has a significantly better screen than the Acer. Not as good as the IPS but close enough. I haven't seen a good 18" LED yet; maybe they haven't figured out how to design an 18" with LED yet.

 

Wasn't the HDX 18t an LED 18.4" panel?

 

no, same display as the dv8 has

 

NO both the HDX 16t and 18t used an LED screen.

http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/us/en/pclc/articles/series-hdx-notebook-pc.html

Anyway today I think I solved something. Today the computer powered on and locked up when it said it configuring updates do not power off your computer. So I restarted 3 times and each time it did this. Then I realized I have my USB mouse plugged in and Creative X-Fi Express card (which is awesome by the way) so then I removed both and it was fine. Could these maybe cause lockups during boot or cause issues when resuming from sleep? From now on I'm gonna remove them and see what happens. Well at least the Sound Card

 

Once in a while. The longest was about 8 hours and it came out of it fine everytime.

One thing I would like to mention is I never format the drive. Everything is factory install. I uninstall MS works and replace with Office 2007 Enterprise but that's about the extent of my tweaking.

 

Not true. Those specs in the link are incorrect. Not to mention, the HDX line is now discontinued. But, I had both the HDX16 and the HDX18 and both were definitely the traditional CCFL backlighting. NOT LED.

In any case, that HDX18 display was the finest 18" (or any size, really) display I've ever owned (and I've owned 'em all!). I'm really sad the dv8t has the same display because I blew it and resold the awesome dv8t I bought during BF, and the dv7t is good, but I sure would like that display!

 

Hmmmm I always thought the HDX series used LED. Guess not. I do wish they would bring them back. I was just browsing eBay and you really can't find a high spec HDX laptop anymore. None have the backlit keyboard. Don't get me wrong I love my DV8 but I thought the HDX 16 and 18 looked way cooler

 

I think the color scheme was better on the hdx's as well (excluding the keyboard color)

What i really want hp to do is change their keyboards to be more like sony and asus's keyboards. (backlit of course)

 

I agree, I just don't understand why they had the HDX series with a backlit keyboard. The new quad edition pavilions are just as good and obviously better but why no backlit keyboard? Talk about a foolish decision from HP. I use mine a lot in low light and a backlit keyboard would be so nice. Maybe they didn't do it because the pavilion series isn't the top of the line or 'premium' series like the HDX line and now Envy line???

 

I take what I said back , I think a bios fix is required . I got the same keyboard
issue with Ubuntu .

 

Well they just released the current BIOS sometime this past December. How often are BIOS updates released? I am sure there will be another just hopefully sooner than later.

 

448GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (SSD 128GB + 320GB 7200RPM)
+$390.00
756GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (SSD 256GB + 500GB 7200RPM)
+$440.00

from the base hdd selected

 

My Dv8t has an issue: 1) Downloaded the new driver 2) Changed the BIOS to "fan always on: Disabled 3) Fan isn't always on now, but sporadically turns on when it didn't before. It will fire up when under minimal load for a few seconds and then turn down. When I first got this laptop the fan was much quieter and less frequent by far. Now it'll go on when I am just browsing /reading a page that is already loaded. Anyone else noticing this?

 

Certainly normal behavior. Just because you aren't loading your CPU doesn't mean it doesn't get hot. the i7's run very hot, and with the fan off, it's just a short time before temps get pretty hot on the inside and the fans have to turn on to cool down.

When you have it set to have the Fan Always On, then you get much less of the annoying on-off-on-off of the fan, which to me, is way more annoying than just a constant slow, barely audible always on fan. Of course, under load, the fan will spin faster to cool then becomes more audible, but we're talking normal conditions here, right?

 

Installed my Intel SSD 160gb G2 yesterday. I used the factory install discs that I ordered with the dv8t. I haven't had any issues with the factory install using the hard drive it came with so I decided to stick with it and just clean off the junk software the best I can.

No problems with the new factory install on the SSD. It even looks like Windows recognized it as a SSD. Benchmarks look consistent with published ones so I am happy.

 

So what's it like? Much much faster, or only in one aspect e.g. transfer speed of large files. Are boot times much faster? Opening Word?

HDX18T & DV8 - I've owned both and can confirm that they use the same screen, etc.

 

I bought the dv8 on cyber monday and for the most part it's worked like a beaut. However I have some issues:

Does anyone know how to turn on bluetooth, the icon refuses to open in my notification tray. I contacted hp support who told me to d/l Intel PRO/Wireless Drivers for Microsoft Windows 7 http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-76462-1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&os=4063&product=4011375 then d/l Software Support for HP Integrated Module with Bluetooth Wireless Technology for Microsoft Windows 7 http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-76420-1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&os=4063&product=4011375.

However when I try to install the Intel drivers the setup extracts the files then stops and refuses to install. Likewise when I try to install the HP integrated files it tells me "no bluetooth device was detected".

Can someone tell me what's up. Cause this is driving me crazy.

 

did you order bluetooth?

 

Everything loads much much faster. I kept hearing that an SSD is they best upgrade you can make, and I definitely agree. The loading speeds for applications are at least twice as fast. For example, it took a long time to load HF2, and now it is almost instant. Very happy.

 

Yea I ordered bluetooth with it though I suppose its possible they screwed up and never installed it? How would I tell if its installed?

 

so whats up with HP not offering discounts on the dv8 for like over a month, is it really selling that well???

 

how did you use the factory install disk? mine gave me you HD is smaller then the factory hard drive error thingy

 

I'm guessing you updated your BIOS. Go back into your BIOS and set to restore factory defaults and save and restart. This fixed my fan issues after a BIOS update.

 

I'm guessing not, since the BIOS update issue involved the fan staying on all the time. That is not the case here, as he states it comes on every now and then (which it is supposed to do). His complaint is that he thinks just browsing or other low CPU activity won't cause the laptop to heat up. Not true at all. My dv7t with updated BIOS got very hot in the area around the exhaust vents with just general usage (no gaming as I don't do games).

 

Check the device manager