SSD and clean Win764 ultimate issues

[rdboze]

I have recently installed an OCZ Vertex II 120GB SSD in my DV7 4280US laptop. I removed the drive that came with the system and replaced it with the SSD drive. I used the 7 factory restore DVDs (that I made with I first got the laptop) to reinstall windows 7 home premium and all the HP software and divers. The restore completed with out a problem. When I tried to reboot the system after the restore the HP bios did not recognize a valid boot partition. I tried the restore again with the minimum drivers and software option and got the same result.

I decided to just do a clean install and obtained a copy of Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit and it installed fine and I was able to boot from the ssd without a problem.

My question:

I downloaded all of the drivers that were listed in the driver download section for the 4280us. It appears that there is still a problem with the memory. Windows states that there is 6 GB of memory installed, but it states that only 2.43 GB is usable. Why is this? Am I missing a driver? When I run the windows experience index It is reporting that my system has slow memory (5.5 rating) and I do not think this was the case before. I seem to remember that before the upgrade every part of the index was over 6 except for the disk drive.

Also I can not find an istaller for any of the software that I had previoulsy. I can not get the volume buttons, the web cam, the finger print reader and who know what else to work. If you could provide a guide for a clean install with a step by step guide on what dirvers to install and in what order I would appreciate it. I also would appreciate a link to download ALL of the factory software for my 4280US.

Thanks

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

The index rating for memory is probably right.  Mine is only showing 5.9 on the HP DV7t.  Windows 7 64 bit allocates memory differently than 32 bit Windows.  Go into Task Manager---->Resource Monitor ---> Memory tab and see how Windows 7 64 bit is allocating memory.  What does Task Manager indicate for installed memory?

You should have used an imaging product using partition alignment when trying to load the hard drive with the original operating system.

Please post the exact model and product number for your laptop..

How to Find the HP Model Number and the HP Product Number

Did your laptop come with 6 GB from HP or did you add memory?

[rdboze]

My laptop is a DV7 4280US Product number is XZ027UA#ABA.

It came with 6GB of memory. I have made no other changes to the laptop except the SSD.

thx

[rdboze]

Task Manager is stating that there is 2.485 GB total memory.

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

Task Manager is only showing 2.485 installed?  Please look again on the memory tab page for Resource Monitor.

Otherwise, boot into the bios and verify the total amount of memory indicated.  If you are not seeing 6 GB then you have an issue. Try running a memory diagnostic if that is the case.

[rdboze]

I checked resource manager and it is indicating:

 In the first section (under the process list)--- 1015MB in use  1246MB available

Then under that--

3659MB hardware reserved

1015MB in use

227MB modified

1160MB standby

42MB free

BIOS shows 6144MB

I ran the memory test in BIOS and it passed

[rdboze]

I am going to put the old drive back in and see if these number are different with the factory image. I will let you know the results in a few minutes.

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

Hardware reserved shouldn't be anywhere close to what you are experiencing.  I am only showing 203 MB reserved and 1085 MB in use on my dv7-4100t.

[rdboze]

ok I put the old drive back in and here is the same data I collected earlier with the SSD in place...

for the Windows experience index:

proc 6.9 (SSD 6.7)

mem 6.9 (5.5)

graphics 6.7 (6.7)

gaming 6.7 (6.7)

HD 5.9 (7.6 Yea)

Resource Manager Memory tab:

1400MB in use   4436MB Avail

203MB Hardware Res

1400MB inuse

106MB modified

2071MB standby

2367MB free

I also noticed that the fault graph on the right was bouncing all over the place with the SSD and not at all with the old drive.

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

That fault graph probably indicates page faults due to the lack of real memory.

Go to the RUN window and enter:  MSCONFIG

Then go to the Boot tab ---> Advanced Options   --->>>>> make sure that the Number of processors and Maximum memory boxes are unchecked.