NOW AVAILABLE: HP Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook 15t-4000 (12/4)

I'm looking to replace the 500GB HDD with an SSD, but when i try to install a clean copy of Window 8 Pro the SSD is not detected by the machine, is there some configuration or BIOS change that I need to do? Any help is really appreciated.

 

Where you able to replace the harddrive with the SSD, Can you let me know the steps? Im trying to replace it but it is not detecting the SSD.

 

The driver for the SATA controller is not included on the install disc. You'll have to download the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver and load it during the install.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD

 

Thanks for the reply, but I'm not sure if I understood it correctly. Do I need to download the drivers available at http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=21730 and use them during OS install, or you meant some other drivers. Really appreciate your help.

 

Yes, that is what I had to do. Just download the floppy drivers and extract the zip onto a flash drive and load it at the disk selection screen during the install.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD

 

Has anyone expanded this beyond 8gb of ram? Just wondering if it will take an 8gb sodimm to total 12gb and if it impacts performance either way (more ram vs loss of dual channel). Mine is supposed to ship tomorrow according to order status. Already have my 512gb Samsung 840 Pro SSD to put in it.

 

I received my Touchsmart 15t-4010nr a couple of days ago. The upgrade options that I added was, Windows 8 Pro, and the recovery disc, 8 gb memory and the 7200rpm hard drive. I like it but I am having an issue with connecting any USB 3.0 external drive. USB 2 drives, no problems. The problem is when I connect an external USB 3 hard drive it takes FOREVER/SLOW (10-15 minutes) before the laptop to recognize that a USB 3 drive is connected. And when it finally recognizes that a USB 3 Drive is attached, it takes forever to navigate to the folders, but the folder are not accessible and the computer generally end up freezing up, but returns to normal state only after I disconnect the USB drive. And Yes, I reinstalled the USB drivers, but to no avail. The device manager shows all hardware are installed correctly.

I have not installed any new software or hardware, and last night was my first time getting to spend some time with it. I know both of my USB 3 Drives works because I can connect them to my two home computers and work computers (all Windows 7 OS) and the drives are assessable within seconds.

I haven’t called HP yet because their support is not the best, long hold times, etc. So I wanted to reach out to this forum first to see if anyone else have or are experiencing this issue. I have seen a couple of threads back when people were having USB issues during the recovery phase and changing the date back to 2012 resolved the issue, but my issue is simply my USB 3.0 external drives are not assessable while within Windows.

Can anyone offer some recommendations or insight before I call HP and return the unit. I am certain it is a USB 3 Driver issue of some sort.

Thank you in advance.

 

Finally, a professional review by Notebookcheck. They reviewed an SSD-equipped model.



Review HP Spectre XT TouchSmart 15-4000eg Ultrabook - NotebookCheck.net Reviews

 

Question:

In the 500GB HDD + 32GB SSD cache model, I'd like to replace the HDD with an SSD after cloning the HDD to the SSD. Will this work without having to download extra drivers or change BIOS settings? Do I have to remove the 32GB cache drive after I install the SSD in the main slot?

 

Finally a review from a reputable US source too...

HP Spectre XT TouchSmart 15t Review

On a side note, I finally received mine that was ordered Feb 2nd, I absolutely love this thing. It is a huge improvement over the Dell XPS15 I came from.

By the way, anyone interested in buying a Dell XPS15 (L521X)?

 

Why can't these guys publish their reviews earlier? It's been 3 months since this laptop was released. Btw, I have ordered mine too.

 

Review by PC Mag

HP Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook 15-4010nr Review & Rating | PCMag.com

 

I'm thinking of upgrading my HP Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook to Windows 8 Pro Pack BUT the Microsoft website says "If you purchase a new PC with Windows 8 pre-installed and you later upgrade that PC with Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8 Media Center Pack, a volume license edition, or a retail edition, you will no longer be able to install apps that are provided exclusively from your PC manufacturer through the Windows Store." My question is: What exclusive HP apps will I lose if I upgrade to Windows 8 Pro Pack?

 

Is there any way to get the adobe software if I replaced my drive with an ssd and did a clean install of Win8?

 

If you plan on wiping and reinstalling Windows, make sure to backup the swsetup folder on the C drive first. This contains all of the pre-installed HP software, including the Adobe and Norton stuff.

 

CNET's Review

HP Spectre XT TouchSmart 15-4010nr Ultrabook Review - Watch CNET's Video & Read Our Review

 

Hi guys, I've had this pc for a month now and already took it on a trip abroad and such a relief to have 2 pounds less in weight. The last few days watching youtube of playing mp3s i've noticed that sound strated to "Cracked, skipped" or however you call it. Ocassionally when scrolling I do see some thin white lines that appear as I scroll and then dissappear. I'm more concern about the sound because I usually like to run pc throught my sound system for parties and don't want the sound to have any hiccups.

Thanks

 

I have the same sound problem.I replaced this laptop because this but the new one have the same issue. Also saw ppl mentioning about the same issue over hp site in the review section.

 

Hi all,

I am planning to replace the 32GB cache with a 256GB SSD to use as the OS drive. Could someone provide instructions on how to get Windows 8 installed on that new drive as the machine comes without a Win8 disc? What would I have to look out for?

Many thanks in advance!

 

hey, try re installing the graphics driver.

 

I'm also having sound problems. I have had the laptop replaced and the new one has problems too.

 

Is it possible to keep the 500GB HDD and add a 256GB SSD drive in this laptop? Are there two drive bays? I have ordered this laptop also and expect delivery in a few days! If this is possible I would also like to do it - for both the faster SSD drive speed and the extra storage with the HDD.

 

You can install a 256gb msata ssd and keep the 500gb hard drive. I actually installed a 256gb msata ssd plus a 512gb Samsung 840 pro ssd, 768gb of ssd goodness!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Great, thanks poonjahb! Any preferences for 256GB mSATA SSD's (Is Crucial good?) and if you point to any procedures to reset up the computer once the SSD is installed, that would be very helpful. Thanks again, Mike

 

Crucial is what I put in mine, no problems with it yet. I wiped mine and did a fresh Win8 install, so I can't help too much on procedures for setup. The only thing I can suggest is, if you are going to wipe it make sure you backup the swsetup folder from the c drive first as it contains the install files and keys for preinstalled software.

 

Strange issue with mine today. Pulled the screen forward a bit to reach a piece of paper that was behind my laptop and it instantly powered off completely and I got a whiff of burned electronics from the left rear around the Ethernet port. Powered it back on after freaking out for a minute and everything appears to be working fine, even moved the screen back and forth several times to make sure. Anyone experienced anything like that?

 

Thanks for the info on putting a SSD in.

I was wondering if anyone can provide advice on how to adjust the Beats settings in order to make the sound clearer/less tinny when using the notebook speakers?

 

nothing seems to resolving the sound issue except you remove the power adapter. I have replaced my laptop twice and still having same issue. on headphone the sound issue is even more apparent.

 

I've ordered the Crucial 256GB mSATA SSD (arriving in a few days) and plan to do the same thing. I'm hoping that the following Windows 7 procedure (including imaging the hard drive onto an external hard drive and recopying it to the new SSD) will work for this Windows 8 computer?

Triple Your Speed: How to Install an mSATA SSD Boot Drive in Your Laptop

Or does anybody have a better procedure to follow?

Thanks,Mike

 

I am also on my second machine and still have those sound issues - will get it returned and look for another ultrabook with FHD and good audio.

 

What are you thinking of getting instead? Are you having a hard time getting a refund? I've had talked to about 10 different people. It's really frustrating.

 

I would recommend the new samsung series 7 laptop. Not yet released in US (expected in april) but already out in Europe this machine is cutting edge: thin, light, i7 processor, amd 8870m graphics and for less money! Albeit the design may not be as pretty but far greater performance. Due to some technicalities in a few categories it does not officially qualify as an ultrabook but in terms of weight and thickness it actually is within the range of what is called an ultrabook.

Here's a guy who got one already doing a writeup:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/713079-new-samsung-series-7-8870m-review-test.html

 

i am looking for windows 7 drivers for the hp spectre. Its not available on HP site

 

Hi

Can I just ask whether you were able to install windows in the normal SATA port where the HDD was?

Also, did you have any problems reinstalling Win8? Any special settings I need to look out for?

 

To reply to my own question:

BE WARNED!!!

1. The HP Spectre XT TouchSmart is SATA II on the HDD and SATA III on the mSata.

2. It ony has 1 free dimm. The included RAM is soldered on the motherboard.

 

I can confirm that you are incorrect on point 1.

After fiddling with my "new" computer for about 6 hours yesterday (used off ebay but mint condition, perfect screen), with all the issues with the HP recovery partition and the media created from it, i installed a 180gb intel 520 ssd in the second bay and removed the 500gb spinner and 32gb ssd drives and attempted to do an install from the recovery media. No matter what I did, I kept getting the dreaded error that the recovery did not complete. This issue is known on the HP site and has to do with the BIOS date needing to be set back to 2012. Anywa, I tried to do a factory reset to reload everythign and I think i was having issue with the factory reset trying to do a RAID configuration because I had the two drives, so it ended up bombing out as well. I finally decided to try the "minimal recovery" to the SSD that just loads the OS, drivers, an some HP support software. Anyway, after trying that (and hitting 1 am) it FINALLY came to the "recovery complete" screen. I then rebooted the computer and got the "Windows 8 Buold 9200" on the lower right of the desktop. I shut down again and went in and set the BIOD date to the actual date again, rebooted, then did a time sync with NIST. After that, the Windows 8 Build 9200 statement went away. I do still have the one issue of the Intel Widi driver not loading properly, so I may have to reset the date to 2012 again, load the driver, then set back to todays date.

Anyway, I can confirm that the second bay IS SATA 3. Intel rapid storage console reports the drive as SATA 6gb/s and the crystal disk mark test gives a read score of approx 440mb/s (if it were sata 3 the max read would be about 250). I am finally happy with the setup and will be playing with it more tonight.

 

So, HP installed a SATA II drive in a SATA III slot?

My post was due to HWiNFO64 reporting it as a SATA II drive (maybe it was refering to the HHD not the port).

In any case the official HP forum has yet to reply to the same question.

 

You are correct, hwinfo64 was reporting the status of the drive and not the controller. The HM77 chipset will flat out do SATA 3 on every port. HP installs a SATA 2 spinner drive for the 500gb drive in the 32/500 combo. If you put a SATA 3 SSD in that slot, it will run at SATA 3 speeds.

 

Hah. Too late for that. HP has yet to reply to this question so I returned it. :thumbsup:

 

I installed the Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 replacing the 6235. It works fine. Bluetooth mouse seems to be working okay. Had to re-sync it.

Along with ASUS RT-AC66U, I am connecting at 702Mbps and I get close to 40MB/s transferring from LAN at close range.

There are only 2 antennas in the chassis, unless you add another antenna you cannot make use of a 3x3 card.

 

I was wondering if you could give a little more info about the install of the ac wireless card and where did you purchase it. I just installed the new samsung 840 evo msata, removed the standard drive and did a clean windows install and my battery life is around 6 hrs now. I am really blown away by the increase in battery life as well as performance.

 

hello, can someone can tell me how to enable usb boot in this computer?
Im trying to install windows 8.1 but i can't make it boot from usb

thanks

 

I have also another question, where can I buy the optional hdd cable?
because I have the european model with only the 256gb ssd, and i would like to add a hard drive for storage

thank you all
Borjazd