NEW ENVY Owner - Guide to Initial Setup

I am submitting this thread so that ALL of the NEW Envy owners out there, will have some assistance in setting up their new Envy's... This has helped many in the past, but it always ends up getting buried into the hundreds of subsequent pages and the NEW owners rarely find it.. I would like to Thank the Great Forum Moderators (Especially 2.0™ & JustinKW1) for adding this Guide to the Envy Sticky Threads! I would also like to send out a special Thank You to "Bobmitch" for his support and friendship!

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First, Congrats on getting your Envy! It is the most AWESOME Laptop on the market! If you haven't yet, you soon will fall in love with your Envy, it is just that fabulous! As per the many owner requests, here is the Setup Guide to assist you in getting the most of of your new Envy. Good Luck and Enjoy:

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1. Start the Envy and create your Restore / Backup Disc's (Requires Numerous Blank DVD's).
2. Copy the following folders to backup media (DVD, CD, USB Thumb Drive, etc.. etc..):
2A~~ SWSETUP folder (C:\SWSETUP).
2B~~ (This step is for Envy 3D Owners ONLY) TriDef folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\TriDef). The TriDef folder contains your license for the program that allows your Envy to go into 3D mode. Also, I would suggest you go to TriDef (http://tridef.com/download/latest.html) and get the latest version of the software. However, DO NOT uninstall the current version on your machine, just install the update over your current version, this will enable your license to stay current and activated.
3. Install your software (MS Office, Games, etc.. etc..).
4. Download HP Updates, via the HP Support Assistant, a must.
5. Download the windows updates, EXCLUDING the AMD GPU update. Make sure you do NOT download that. Find it, uncheck it and hide it. You will need to check for Windows updates about 10 times, depending on what MS software you have installed (Failure to follow this step may put your screen in a "Blank" none responsive mode, that will require extra steps and effort to rectify).
5A~~ While doing steps 4 or 5, I setup my start menu area the way I like it and setup my desktop using Fences and Object Dock (free download from Stardock: Stardock.com - Your Edge In Software ).
6. Add any external devices (keyboard, mouse, UPS, printers, speaker system, etc...).
7. Run the Heaven 2.5 DX11 GPU Benchmark ( http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads...hmark_2.5.html ) to test your screen and GPU on your Envy.
8. Run the 3DMARK 11 Benchmark Program ( http://www.3dmark.com/3dmark11/download/ ) to test your CPU and GPU on your Envy.
9. Run Disk Cleanup (START, All Programs, Accessories Folder, System Tools Folder, Disk Cleanup).
10. Run Disk Defragmenter (START, All Programs, Accessories Folder, System Tools Folder, Disk Defragmenter) on your HDD's (NOTE: If you have an SSD, you can bypass this step).
11. I highly "Recommend", that you Download and install the CoreTemp Desktop Gadget, so you can monitor your Envy's Temps' on the fly. It is a Free Download and you can find the CoreTemp Desktop Gadget here: http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/addons.html .
** If you have a program like "Tuneup Utilities", run it last to tie off all your loose ends. Tuneup Utilities has a Free Trial Period and can be found here: http://www.tune-up.com/

By doing it in this order, your not stepping on the toes of things not done yet or interfering with other jobs your running.

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Good luck and please keep us posted!

NOTE: Hey guys if you find my Guide Helpful, please help me out by adding to my Reputation! Every little bit helps!

 

Superb Job Gunny!

 

Per my last message in the Envy 2 thread, don't run defrag on an SSD.

 

This is excellent work.

I can't make it a sticky as we have a limit on the number of sticky threads. But what I will do is link it on the first page of the Envy owner's lounges.

Edit: you'll see the link on page 1 of the Envy 15 and 17 owner's lounges. You'll see it under "related threads."

 

Thanks CAM, since I don't have an SSD, info not known.. I have however, updated the Guide!

 

THANK YOU! Just trying to contribute my part....

 

Thanks for the post Gunny... a lot of work in that post, great for us newbies!

 

Hey...thanks for the great post! I got my envy 3d today, and loving its 3D feature.

But there was one hiccup. I backed up my TriDef folder, and installed TriDef 5.0 from the website. But why is it asking me for an activation code? Shouldn't my license from the folder activate it?

I'm currently on the 14-day trial. How can I fix this issue?

 

I'm hoping you did NOT delete your TriDef folder.. I see you said you backed it up and that is fine, but you are NOT suppose to delete it (See Guide reference #2B), did you by chance delete it?

 

Thanks for ALL of the positive comments folks.. I'm just glad I am able to contribute something positive for all of the new Envy owners!!!

 

Nope...I simply copied the files over to an external hdd. Also, when I installed tridef 5, it gave me the option to replace the old license. I said no to that, and that license files should be intact. What else could've gone wrong?

 

Off the top of my head, I think the only possible issue would be the relocation of the folder, since it may be set to look at a particular location.. Either way, just contact Tri-Def Support ( TriDef Support) and they will resolve your issue promptly.. Believe me, this happens to a lot of people!

 

why do i have to ensure i dont install the AMD GPU update

 

Because the "WINDOWS" Updated GPU driver is NOT supported by our HP Envy line.. If you install it, you will get a BLACK screen on your Envy! Than you will need to boot up into SAFE mode and download the HP GPU Driver and reinstall it to get your screen working properly again...

>>>>>> <<<<<< I hope this reply was helpful.. >>>>>> <<<<<<

 

it was

u are an angel.

 

installed the windows AMD GPU I think...but no black screen (thankfully) was able to use it for Skyrim (in manual switching)

 

Your best bet is to stick with the HP GPU driver ALWAYS and than if you want to upgrade go here ( http://www.guru3d.com/), but do a CUSTOM install and install it over the HP GPU. Also during the CUSTOM install do NOT install the Catalyst Program or you will also get a BLACK screen...

 

I tried the benchmark test and it told me that "Graphics driver is not approved" in the end and I have already updated everything form windows update and Hp update before I saw this post about not downloading AMD GPU update. what should I do?

 

If you installed the GPU upgrade from AMD's website, than you need to go to the HP Support page for your Envy and download the GPU software that came with your Envy.. Than re-install that software so that your GPU will work properly and than you can run the benchmarks.. Of course I am writing this under the assumption that you are dealing with a 2nd Generation Envy and not the new 3rd generations.. If you need specific help, please PM me for assistance..

 

In light of my recent actions two important facts became quite clear.

1- ENVY is a very powerful desktop computer which the egg-heads at HP managed to squeeze in to a laptop frame with some clever engineering and tailor-made management software.

2- Any attempt to mess with that fragile equilibrium will have the severest of consequences to Envy's performance and useability which could make you regret the day you were born.

3- I am not NOT as clever as I thought I was.

4- MY Envy17 is now totally FUBAR


How I came to realize those above:

When I first saw all the " bloatware" my brand new Envy was loading at start-up, I immediately decided to format the whole system and do a clean install (like I was doing with my desktop) with my own ( slipstreamed ) copy of Win7. ....as it turns out, it was a BAD IDEA, and since "I knew what I was doing", I did not bother to create a Restore / Backup Disc either ... BAD IDEA No. 2 ... Furthermore, I also Fdisk the *BEEP* out of the HDD partition which HP Restore was wasting! space with that "bloated" copy of W7 ... Thus, BAD IDEA No. 3

Now, I wish to restore the original system, but since with my infinite wisdom I made sure that I never could, I had to call HP to ask for a recovery disk. This was their response: No you can not download it online, mail order only, and since it was a user error it is not covered by the warranty either so if you want the disk it will cost you 83TL (Turkish Lira - about $50 US)

Frak that! I figured it would cost me less to upgrade to win 8, then they will have to send me the disk or let me download the dam thing online. No Dice ... at their site it says; Envy is not tested with Win8 and HP would not guarantee proper functionality, upgrade at your own peril.

I am trapped .... there is no way I will pay $50 for a disk while my Envy still under warranty and despite of all my google-fu I could not find a recovery disk that I can download.

But ... I found this place

For the love of FSM ... help me!

Is there a guide for a situation like this?
Is there a way to have HP send me the disk for free?
Do you know a site where I can download the recovery disk?
If you have the same model, revision, etc .. would you send me a copy of your recovery disk?


HP Envy 17 3D (BeatsAudio)
17-2110en
Rev: 159B - 210

Full HWiNFO Report -- I registered to a free hosting site to post the report -- it's clean.

If you need more information I can setup a remote desktop with the app of your choice.

So say we all.