On screen volume meter for HP/Compaq laptops

Thanks for the help, I dont have an account with any of those sites though, and I really dont want to spend money on them, is there anyway I can get the file not through that site but for free? Thanks

 

You don't need to create an account or to pay them anything , it's free. Just click this link
http://rapidshare.de/files/20349725/ehtray.rar.html
go all the way down and click Free. Wait 20 seconds and look at the middle of the page. Type the word in colors in the box next to it then hit " download from mirror xxx".

 

hey all!!

first off, thank you zolo for providing the MCE files. they work flawlessly

well, I can definitely confirm that they work for any XP SP2 systems (i just haven't had the chance to check pre-sp2 machines ) laptop or desktop alike. I'm running it on 3 systems I built and a friend's dell laptop (i don't have my own laptop just yet). the main reason i'm using the MCE files is because I've got 3 different keyboards for my desktops with volume control knobs/buttons on them and wanted an app that's not bloated like intellipoint or itouch. and i also couldn't find the one that comes with dell systems to use with my dell enhanced multimedia keyboard (if anyone knows where to get it from their ftp site, please post up a link )

A few things to note about the installation (Zolo, u might wanna revise your installation instructions if u wish ) ...

- both files can be installed in ANY directory so long as both files are located within the same directory - without ehres.dll in the same directory, text will not be displayed when ehtray.exe is running. zolo's 'ehome' directory just seemed to be the most likely default installation path on MCE systems and you don't necessarily have to use it. also, ehtray.exe can be renamed to anything - i use 'vol_osd.exe' for easy reference in the task manager, but you can be creative and use somethig like 'show me the volume.exe'. try to avoid spaces and long names as it slightly complicates things when you're referencing paths and such.

- the easiest directory to dump the files to is either in 'c:\windows' or 'c:\windows\system32' because these are the most common system paths used in windows. which means ...

- ... creating startup shortcuts will be easier . instead of typing out the full path 'c:\windows\ehome\ehtray.exe' or 'c:\windows\system32\vol_osd.exe', just create a shortcut to just 'ehtray.exe' (or in my case i just use 'vol_osd.exe') and copy the shortcut to your startup folder.

- the following step in zolo's installation is completely UNnecessary:

there's no need to have copies of the file since shortcuts already reference the one you originally extracted (sorry zolo, just had to point that out ). all you need to do is just copy the shortcut you made in the above step to that directory if you ONLY want a specific user(s) to use the osd or copy it to: 'C:\Documents and Settings\ All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup' instead so all users can use the osd.

- if you know your way around the system registry, you can create your own startup entries there instead of copying shortcuts to the startup folder. navigate to either hkey_current_user (to start the osd only with a specific user) or hkey_local_machine (to start the osd with all users) and head to 'software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run' and add a new string value. name it something easy to remember like 'Volume OSD'. double click on the new string value and enter 'ehtray.exe' for the value data. close the registry and you're set.

after a reboot, it should start automagically.

again, thanks to zolo for the files. if there's a demand for it, i might create a registry or shortcut installer and post it for those less technically inclined.

-railgrinder

edit: wow it's my first post on this forum and i just noticed that this guest account has been used quite a bit

 

That has already been described in the post right after Zolo's post.

 

Update on tested machine:

Working on:
V2000, DV2000T, DV4000, DV5000, V4000T, V3002, ZV6000, NX8220, NC 8430, ZT3000

Problem in DV1000T

 

I tested it on HP Pavilion dv1000, and it works. yes, .dll and .exe files could be stored in any folder and u can simply test it by clicking on .exe file. it doesn't pop up anything, but then just change ur vol controls and it disaplys the vol meter on the screen.
just out of curiosity, the vol meter diaplays in green color, is there a way to change the color?

 

Does not work with windows 2000.

 

Here is a stripped version of MS' binaries :

http://kamburov.net/index.php?/content/view/19/26/

 

ehome? My windows directory does not contain a subdirectory called "ehome". Please advise as i'd like to get this volume meter showing. thanks!

 

It is not necessary to put the file in that specific folder. Just keep it anywhere you want and create a shortcut to ehtray in the startup folder.

 

Thanks miner! My bad for not reading up through the thread. I did it and worked perfect.

Maybe you can help me with this too....for some reason I get system beeps sometimes even though my sound scheme is set to 'no sounds' and it's a little annoying (quite loud).

Also, when booting up (i have my stereo hooked into the headphone jack) I get rather loud "pop" sound which my Toshiba didn't do...pretty loud too but not damaging to the speakers I don't think...not a big deal, different hardware I guess.

 

I dont think yo can get rid of this noise. Its use is to provide beep codes in the event of any hardware malfuntion. SO, it is probably something you will have to live with.

I have noticed in some laptops. I think it is more to do with the software, since my laptop does this every time I boot/shutdown into Windows Vista but is totally silent when I bootshutdown into Windows XP. So, it might be more of a driver peculiarity than anything else. I dont think it will hurt the hardware.

 

any idea if the slight "blistering" on the outside of the lid is normal from lcd heat? There are a couple of small spots about an inch on the inside of each hinge (figure normal because they are symmetrical), and then a larger blister on the right side. Not a big deal because doesn't affect screen quality and can barely be felt, but I can see it at a certain angle and in certain light so just wanna know if it's a normal thing with laptops since my Toshiba had it too.

 

There really shouldnt be any blisters on the lid but it might be a defect/issue commonly seen in the plastics.

 

it's really not that bad...not even really a blister...i can't even really "feel" it by running my hand over it....but I can see it from a distance at a certain angle in certain light, so i'm probably just demonstrating my obsessive compulsive disorder!

 

I have MCE 2005 on both my laptop, and desktop, and they have the volume control. But, I went ahead and installed the iType, and it works good! I couldn't get my "quick-launch" keys to work, but now they do great!

 

Hmm.. doesn't seem to work on my v3000... had a ehome directory, extracted both files to it, and made a shortcut to it in the startup folder.

I'm running a fresh installed WinXP pro

 

files need to be in your windows directory

 

As in C:/windows?

I put them in C:/windows/ehome

 

yeah c:windows

ehome doesn't need its own dir

just put the files in c:windows and put a shortcut in your startup

enjoy!

 

still not workin'... ah well~

 

sorry man, that's all I did for mine and it works.

 

Hey people,
I wonder why no one has payed attention to my post. Maybe it was too short but that doesn't mean it's not handy.

If you want to try the Microsoft binaries from Window Media Center scroll back to post #58 ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=53727&page=6)

A stripped version of the ehome files can be found here:

http://kamburov.net/index.php?/content/view/19/26/


No messy folder explanations, no confusing 100 posts forum. Just get the files, put them on your disk and make them run at start up. Just ~60KB

Note: As some of the guys have said, this OSD app might not work with all laptops/keyboards. Anyway, in my experience I had no problems using it.

Have fun

 

Thanks wise_guy but no luck for me there either... currently im using a little program i found at deviantart called MAC gadger which emulates the mac bezel seen on OSX when the volume is increased or decreased. not bad, but it uses about 8000kb when i check the task manager.

 

Great little program, but how did you get it to stay on top of every window? I don't see that in the preferences.
dickbal

 

whats the memory usage on Yahoo widgets?

 

It's using 7998K

 

Are you sure you got the right files. I use ehtray on V3000z without any issues?? Are you logged in as Admin or as a limited user?

 

yep, got the rar file that was linked at the beginning of this thread. i'm also logged in as admin

 

Working great
simple
Thanks wise guy

 

That is strange. I followed the same steps and it seems to be working just fine. No idea why it isnt working on yours though

 

ye hi
i have a dv6105, and the other day i was fidgeting with optimization through the msconfig startup & services.msc . After that the volume bar on the screen disappeared. any solution to bring it back naturally? I thought it might have been ehtray, as i disabled it then re-enabled it, but bar no come back.
any solutions? thx

 

Try deleting the entry completely from the system and then reinstalling the package from scratch.

 

im sorry but this did not work

i have searched throughly through google and no one seems to have any answers i dont think.

maybe it had something to do with CCleaner?

 

Yes it works on my HP DV2000T. So cool, was hoping for one of these.

 

Hi there!

I've been searching for this for a VERY long time!
It's great to finally see some light on this...

I've tried many different apps like HP's QuickTouch, Widgets, etc. but these didn't do the trick for me... some only show a meter and not the actual volume number, others take to much RAM out of my laptop!

So, do these solutions (zolo's and kamburov's) show the volume number?
Would someone please post image examples for these ones?

Thanks for your help!
Cumps!

 

What OS do you have? XP or Vista. if it is XP, then zolo's suggestion works better and it uses very little resources. If you are using Vista then use the Microsoft/Logitech keyboard software which includes the OSD. Ofcourse this uses a bit more memory but stil its not too much.

They wont show a number but rather will provide a graphical representation of the volume. I'm using Vista and the MS keyboard software and it will show up like this...

 

Thanks for your reply miner!
From what you said, none of these "solutions" show the number of the volume level, right?
I was hoping that atleast one of those would! Too bad...
I'll keep on searching for the best solution that meets what I'm looking for!

Once again, thanks for your help!

 

All of this has to do with retrieving or getting new volume meters. On my HP Pavilion dv9000 with Vista, when I use the touch sensetive volume control buttons, there's a grey-ish black volume control that pops up and it's HORRIBLE! I have no idea how to make it go away. If I try to adjust my volume while playing a game, using an IM or watching a DVD it causes everything to freeze up temporarily. It's a pain. Help?

 

Read my post in this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3357423#post3357423

Volume control buttons work as normal but there will be NO on screen display.

 

Thank you. Works like a charm now.

 

Your Welcome. Glad it worked for you.

 

Hi, can someone please reupload this file on kamburov?

I check the site and it's down.


Thank you so much in advance



sting

 

Hmm...what did he post? Its been 2yrs since that post and I dont remember what he posted? If you are looking for the ehtray applet which was posted by zolo and the link is provided in the first post of the thread. The rapidshare link doesn't work but the megaupload does.

 

Hi, on his web, there is a file that is almost similar like the ehtray but it's "customize" into a smaller size. I tried it but when I reinstall my windows, it's gone.

that's why I need the file again.

if anybody has it please reupload it for me.

thanks

 

nevermind, I got it already. a friend of mine still has it and he sent it already to me.

 

could you post it on rapidshare ? i've beek looking for it for days. thanks

 

This is ridiculous!
HP should have this built in to their laptops!!
A volume control with NO DISPLAY of its level? Brilliant!
I DID have that at one time before I updated to later versions of Quicktouch. What were they thinking (obviously, they didn't bother)?
This thread has made for a half-hour's worth of fascinating reading, but the links to the required files no longer work.

(20 min. later...)
Okay, one of the links (megathrowuploads) actually DOES work once you wade through their obnoxious flash display and jump through their confusing hoops (enter the three letters in the box above, wait 45 seconds, then click the "download" button near the bottom), so THANKS for this thread, and, as for HP and their brilliant engineering concerning this issue, I'm still...
!

 

Hello everyone,

I have had the same problem as the rest of y'all, but I found a much simpler solution, one that requires no hacking, or tricks of any kind. It's a program called pitaschio (not spelled like the nut, pistachio). It's one of those all-purpose kind of programs, with a little bit of everything in it (window manager, keyboard shortcuts, etc.). The reason I got it was:

1. It will automatically deselect the file extension when I rename a file (in XP; this is a built in vista feature).
2. It adds a volume on screen display!

The OSD works just fine on my Compaq Presario 900, and I think it will work on any computer, because it displays the meter anytime the volume is changed for any reason, not just when I press the buttons.

Best of all, it's free!! You can find it here:

pitaschio.ara3.net (Sorry, I can't make links yet.)

Hope this helps.

Presarioman

 

ok i have a problem with my HDX 16t on-screen volume display

this thing came with Bass/Treble control on the quicklaunch pad and the only way to get them working is to use the HP Quicktouch 1.00C which then causes an annoying glitch in x64 versions of Vista. The new and updated Quicktouch 1.00D disables the OSD for all x64 windows so I can not control my Bass/Treble with that version.

the thing is that my HDX16 from the factory came with some OSD that had green bars for the volume/bass/treble and looked very much like the intellitype OSD. i am not sure if HP would have used that software, but i can not seem to get any HDX16 owners to verify this...