Win7 OEM install Issues on HP Envy laptop

[dizizcamron]

Over christmas I bought and installed an OEM copy of win7 Pro for my HP laptop. According to HP's auto detect software my exact model is HP Envy 14t-1100 CTO. The pre-installed version of windows that with the laptop was win7 Home Premium. The install went fine. Win7 found a driver for all of my hardware. However, performance after install is sluggish, and I am not sure I am getting full functionality out of my hardware. The most obvious example is that I have not been able to turn on the wireless and bluetooth cards in the laptop. The wired LAN connection works fine. there is no physical switch to turn the wireless card on and off (that I'm aware of).

when I try to install software like the HP wireless assistant (which is what I used to turn the wireless card on and off when I was running the pre-installed HP version of windows) the software installs but does not function at ALL...doesn't even launch. Also, going to ATI's website and trying to install drivers for my video card returns an error saying my hardware is not compatible with the driver.

Overall I get the feeling that the hardware in the laptop has been tweaked with a custom HP flavor that doesn't function well with the drivers that are written for the generic hardware. And since I am not running HP's version of windows their drivers don't seem to understand that they are written for my hardware.

what is the best way to proceed? is my issue that I'm not running win7 Pro instead of win7 home? should I just use the HP restore disks and forget using a normal version of windows? is there a way to verify that my computer is actually happy in its current state once I get the wireless card fixed? Thanks.

[RicheemxX]

For starters you want to go to the HP site and get all the latest drivers Software & Driver Downloads HP ENVY 14t-1100 CTO Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English) even if windows installed drivers during the install you want to make sure you have the latest available and the ones directly from the manuf. not some generic version.

Once you have everything installed double check the device manager to make sure everything is working and there are no question marks, exclamation points or unknown devices.

As to wireless, yes there should be a button to turn it off or on. Usually its on the keyboard somewhere and shows either a blue or amber light with a little antenna. You'll probably have to install the drivers first for it to work but once you've got that covered you should be able to turn it off or on.

[dizizcamron]

Nothing I download from HPs software download site successfully installs. I downloaded the files related to the network drivers (who's device names don't match what windows installed for them incidentally), uninstalled the defacto windows driver, and then ran the executable. Either nothing happens at all, or at some point during the instal process the installer says I don't have the hardware it is intended for on my machine.

Also, you're correct that I do have a physical (sort of) switch for my wireless card on my laptop. However that switch, which is actually just a button on the keyboard, does not function. when i press it, the light just stays orange, indicating its off.

i have pulled my battery and confirmed that Envy 14t-1100 is my hardware version. but HP's drivers don't seem to "see" any of my hardware....my thought was because they aren't trying to install in HP's (customized?) windows environment..or perhaps cause this is win Pro vs. win home? I realize neither of those should matter, but that is all I can think of.

[RicheemxX]

Have you tried entering the product number on the HP site to verify you are getting the right downloads Locate the Notebook Product Number or Serial Number - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

It makes no difference that's its a none "hp customized" install. But when you say its an OEM copy where did you get it from?? Newegg or some actual retailer or some other source?

[paul9]

Aren't you able to upgrade just by entering the new version's key, rather than reinstall? In which case, the original HP install disc may be a better option.
This type of thing: Windows Anytime Upgrade - Buy and download today or have it delivered from Microsoft Store UK

[dizizcamron]

RicheemXX,

yes, my model is the Envy 14t-1100. Thats what their software detected and is what is written on my laptop. Its good to know I didnt waste my money on the OEM, and that it should work. I bought it from newegg.com. so far, no dice getting my hardware, specifically my wireless but i think my video card is also not idea, to be updated w/ the drivers that are supposedly for my laptop.

Paul9,

well i already spent my money on an OEM, and i'm sure that product key isn't transferable to a different form of upgrade. But more importantly, my recovery disks are also not working as far as I can tell. They won't auto launch, and before i formatted they would run but always throw out an error before completing.

now, when i try to insert the system recovery disk and boot off of it, the system goes straight into windows and does not boot off the disk