User guide missing dv6 series

[Mike726]

Looking for electronic (not pdf !) user guide for Pavilion dv6-6117dx or any dv6 series. Guide was not installed so Help Assistant gets error. Guide is not in Recovery partition (tried that, plus two rounds with HP Chat support to no avail). When installed the app gets listed as HP User Guides xxxx in programs list. Help Assistant is working properly as it found an old guide I used as a test.

I don't know why HP did not install it at the factory but its frustrating especially when the Quick Start page says to go there.

If specific guide is not available, will settle for any dv6 series guide in app form.

Thanks.

[Dragon-Fur]

Hi Mike,

Test system: dv7t Quad, Windows 7 Ultimate, 64bit

I was curious about your problem and looked up what is on my own dv7t.  I found that down in the folder dedicated to the help manuals, that the manuals on my system are actually in the PDF format.

The software package (in Programs and Features):

is named "HP Documentation",

it is 333MB in size and

is located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Documentation

I realize that your hierarchy must be different (different Windows OS?).  My point is that if you can provide the structure of the container folder needed (in my case, Documentation), then maybe you can download the pdf manuals from the website and be back in business.

I do understand that your setup may be so different, that this does not apply.  If that is the case:  My apologies and just ignore this attempt to help.  Smiling.

Graphics:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Documentation\

   Getting Started Guide - HP - 648110-xx1a

I hope this helps solve the problem.

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[Mike726]

Thanks, but that does not work. I have no documentation folder. I also have no document viewer as some people have described elsewhere. There is an old user guide that I found by chance that when installed is listed as a piece of software and puts some files in very buried directories - no pdfs are involved. The Help Assistant is supposed to lauch a Jscript (Launch.jse looks for "APP HPUG"). I'm starting to wonder if this particular machine type specifically did not have a user guide installed.

[Dragon-Fur]

Mike,

"Yuk" - that sounds messed up.  And, "what would I say if I were not college educated?"  (Really old Bob Newhart joke - sorry.)

You could be right, but I'd think if that were the case (no help files for your system), you wouldn't have software directing you to programs and files that don't exist.  No programmer I know is that stupid - and I never wrote code that stupid, either:  I'm sticking with messed up.

Something to try:

Take a look in C:\Swsetup\

You could do a search in the Swsetup folder for all the *.cva files.  There will be a number of them; grab a group and "Open" Highlight the group and then Right-Click.   (Don't grab too many or it gets weird and won't do it).  The files can be opened with NotePad.  You can then examine the contents.  If you have little patience, search for .cva files in just the H* folders (search string = H* *.cva) - there will be fewer files to open that way.

If you do find what you seek, you can reload from that folder.  (setup.exe or something...)

Less Likely Ideas:

• You might try totalling removing the HP Support Assistant (probably not related, but I'm Easting Egging), and then reinstalling the latest version.  Reboot in between removing and reinstalling.

• Another improbable candidate, but cheap to do, scan the system and make sure it's healthy.

sfc-scannow

Scan and repair the system.  The sfc /scannow command will do that - it will scan the operating system, looking for corrupted files and inconsistencies; it will replace and repair whatever it can.  If it finds corrupted programs or libraries, it will try to fix them.

• Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Right-Click Command Prompt > Select 'Run as Administrator'
• In the Command Prompt Window, type (or copy and paste) sfc /scannow and press Enter.  (Note the space between sfc and the "/".)

The sfc scan will report its findings; you can examine the results:

Open a Command Prompt (does not have to be as Administrator):

• Type (or copy and paste) findstr /c:"[SR]" %SystemRoot%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >sfcdetails.txt and press Enter
• Type (or copy and paste) notepad sfcdetails.txt and press Enter

Here's Hoping...

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[Mike726]

No luck again. The cva for the user guides don't exist. When I installed the old user guide mentioned in the first post then a cva was on the machine. I found that old UG by chance on a post from 2009(?). It was buried in the HP ftp site and was for a notebook available in 2007/8. Help Support worked just like it should with that so I know the code for Help Support is correct. When I uninstalled that guide the cva was removed and Help Support had an error message again. I was hoping I could find a file for my notebook but the ftp site has 100's of thousands of files, in no particular order! Higher numbered files can be from 2007 with low number files from 2010, or just the opposite depending on directory/folder.

Oh, I did do a reinstall of the Help Support and a total factory re-install (at the suggestion of HP Chat techs) with nothing remotely looking like a user guide showing up. This thing is going back to Best Buy tomorrow as its still under the return time limit. Maybe one of their techs can find a an HP person who knows for sure if even an electronic help guide exists.

Thanks for the help though!

[Dragon-Fur]

Good plan. I would say get another notebook and check it right there in the store. You do not need Internet to log in and look at the local files and you do know what you are looking for! I would like to hear what happens if you care to report back. Good Luck!

[icp_wolverine]

i have a dv6 2190us and my manaul user guides are located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Documentation

to reinstall go to start then all programs the recovery manager
then choose recovery manager when it opens choose the software program installation another window opens click next then another window opens with a list scroll down the list and you might find some thing like HP_USER_GUIDES_0514..

[Dragon-Fur]

Hi Mike,

icp_wolverine has confirmed that the documents on his dv6 are located in

C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Documentation

There is where the docs for the dv7 are located.  See previous post...

If you cannot find the information as outlined in Wolverine's post,

then

I'd say that with this information, you could call HP and get them to send you a zip file with the correct data for your system.  It's an easy fix if you can get HP to cooperate with your request.  It's only 333MB of data - if they would just put it somewhere where you can get it, you could download the file.

Thanks, icp_wolverine!

I am a little concerned about the missing folder; What Else is Missing?  May be best to return the unit, after all, and just get another computer to try.

I hope this helps solve the problem.

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[Mike726]

Dragon_Fur, icp_wolverine,

Going back to Best Buy was a wash, the dv6-6117dx had limited supply and is not in the supply chain and can't be ordered. Same for a similar dv6 that is being discontinued. Also, their tech people have no advantage over anyone else dealing with HP, despite selling and servicing HP. The BB tech told me what I already know. When I asked about getting a file from a different unit I got a "you must be kidding" look. Oh well.

Talking with a live HP tech last night got nowhere either. She had no info on what might be on the ftp site. She could only refer to what is on HP.com. She did mention that in her list of items for the machine there was no user guide, so it could be it did ship with no on-board copy. I just can't fathom that HP sold it with no on-board guide, not even a simple start up guide (any HP people reading this!) (there is info for power management, wireless and few other things)

Glimmer of hope - I found on an HP business site the file sp35970.exe which is listed as "HP User Guide Application for Windows". Its for Vista and is listed for several Compaq workstations, laptops, HP laptops and an HP Mini. I ran it last week on my dv6 but I took it off because the guide displayed was from a 2007(?) laptop. I'm going to reinstall and track down what files it uses to display info. Maybe it sets up like in Dragon-Furs image. If it uses pdf, maybe I can overwrite the old guide with a new pdf. If something else, maybe I can get an info file from wolverine or elsewhere. Should know something in a day or two.

[Dragon-Fur]

Hey Mike,

You may have a workaround there with the User Guide (2007).  It's worth checking out, for sure.

I'm not sure I'd let HP off the hook yet.  Since you are getting error messages - something is wrong.  If the software is supposed to act a certain way, then the software should not generate errors.  I used to write code for a living - this is just wrong.  I should think HP would know better.

IMO, call them back and ask to escalate the ticket / call.  Get someone who can generate something of a fix, not just someone who doesn't know what's on the ftp site and won't help you solve the issue.

IF this is the way it is supposed to be, then find someone who can explain to you why the software is generatinig errors.  Right now, I cannot believe that every dv6 owner is not freaking out due to this same issue - you may be "alone".

I'm of half a mind to send you a zip file with the dv7 data structure.  Much of what I can see in the interior of my system makes me think the dv6 and the dv7 are very similar machines.

Please keep us posted.  I'm interested in hearing more about this issue.

Good Luck!

It is my pleasure to assist.

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