Intel Centrino Advanced N6200 AGN wifi locks up Envy 17 whenever I try to download large files.

[grafals]

I have a brand new Envy17 3D running Win7 Professional x64.  I first noticed a problem trying to download a movie on iTunes and spent a week installing/reinstalling/configuring iTunes thinking that was the problem.  Then, I tried to do an internal file transfer between 2 PCs on my network and the HP locked up.  I finally figured out that any time I try to transfer a large file (~1GB +/-), the download speed begins to slow and then the machine locks up forcing me to do a hard reboot.  This is totally maddening!  There is no warning and no error message.  It just stops responding (hardware and software).

I seem to have the most current driver.  I've played around with the settings on the adapter and even on my router (which works fine with all other hardware on the network). 

If it was a hardware failure, I would think it would be more erratic and lock up regardless of file size?  Nothing special on the PC; MS Office 10, Adobe X, iTunes, Quickent, etc. 

I've tried removing and reinstalling the driver and anything else I can find loading thath looks like it runs through the wifi, including disabling the MS miniport wifi driver.

I'm at a complete loss.  Surely this is not characteristic of one of HP's top line PC's?  HELP!

[pepe999]

Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200 AGN is a top wireless card and very reliable hardware. I have downloaded several hundreds GB of data using this card and it has never failed me. Have you tried an ethernet cable instead of wireless to find out if the problem is the wireless??

The latest driver: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=19856

Do not use the 14.2.0.10 driver version. It doesn't support your card. The latest compatible version is 13.5.0..

[Sledge81]

I too am having exactly the sane problem and have yet to rectify it. The wired ethernet port works fine and I can leave it over night downloading or streaming music. However the WIFI card lasts about 10 minutes and then freezes up the whole system, no blue screen no minidump. Very frustrating!!

My WIFI driver version is 13.5.0.6 and dated 19/01/2011

I have had the problem since I first got it 2 weeks ago with the original HP build.

I have re installed a legitimate copy of Windows 7 Ultimate and loaded all of the drivers from the HP web site.

I installed Windows 7 Service Pack 1 yesterday and still no fix.

I'm about to remove the Intel PROset My Wifi application to see if this has any affect.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Cheers

[Sledge81]

Still getting freeze up after un installing Intel PROset and reinstalling just the driver.

I'm currently downloading at 485 kb/s and streaming Ted talks over the wired ethernet with no issues what so ever.

I'm starting to suspect a hardware issue with the N6200 AGN.....

[Sledge81]

Ok..so i'm really just posting this now for everyone else's benefit that may come across the same problem...

After preforming this fix I have had the Envy running for around 7 hours downloading, streaming radio and watching youth without any freezing!!

Fix for the Envy17 3D Wifi freeze issues with Intel 6200 wireless.

1. Download and install driver version 13.0.0.107 from Intel
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...&DwnldId=18212

2. Open Device Manager and go to Network Adapters -> Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6200 AGN -> Right Click and select Properties -> Go to Power Management (Far right) -> Uncheck the box that says "Allow the computer to turn of this device to save power"

I found this information at the following site...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-envy-hdx/570182-envy-17-sb-keeps-freezing-up.html

Will post again in a few days to hopefully close this off.

In terms of the forward plan not sure what will happen with future driver updates but hopefully someone from HP reads this and does a comparison on the drivers to work out what may have been causing the issue.

Cheers,

Chris

[grafals]

I sent it back to HP. After about a week they returned it. The only info they provided said they "upgraded bios/driver" checked on a form. After 2 days it SEEMS to be working. It did lock up once. But maybe that was caused by something else. I will say that this machine is waay to expensive to have these kinds of issues. The last 2 $700 Gateways I bought were far more reliable for a fraction of the cost of this one. I'm tempted to change the adapter but that seems ridiculous on a brand new machine at this performance level. I would have (should be able to) expected better.

[Sledge81]

Totally agree. I would expect a laptop of this stature to never crash unless it was pushed beyond it's limits. I have had 80% reliability with the old drivers still having the odd crash every few days since the changes.

I have also ordered a N6300 AGN card that most people seem to have found fixed the problem completely.

If I have no success with the new card I will be putting everything back to the factory build and shipping the unit off to HP for a repair. If I get any crashes after that I think I'll be asking for a refund or flogging the unit off on ebay.

Fingers crossed the N6300 fixes the problem.

Are you still getting crashed Grafais??

[grafals]

Knock on wood, fingers crossed, rabbit's foot in the pocket . . . only 1 crash since it came back from HP.  I am just chocking that up to some kind of anomaly or fluke.  I can now stream videos and download large files with no problems. 

Unfortunately, I can't swear as to what they did, except that their form letter check sheet had a check by "upgrade bios/drivers".

I don't know which they actually updated or what the update was.  It just seems to work now. 

Good luck!

[GimpsUnlimited]

I, too, have had this issue.  I had gone through HP support.  It plagued me so that I had thoughts of selling my envy17 and get another brand.  It is only because I could not find a suitable replacement for its size and capabilities that I am trying to fix it. 

It was constantly freezing with 14.2.x driver.  So I downgraded to 13.5.x.  Yet, I still get random freezes.  Bearable, but will not be tolerated for an laptop of such class.  I have ordered an Intel 6300 from ebay.  If that card solves my issues, I will be a very happy man.

Also, does any of you get 007 - Wifi card not compatible ... error during BIOS post?  I use a laptop cooler that is USB powered.  It seemed to cause this error when I plug it into the shared eSATA/USB port during boot.  I had to unplug all, take out the battery, wait a while, put the battery in, power up, then plug in AC, then USB for it to work. 

[pepe999]

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GimpsUnlimited wrote:

I, too, have had this issue.  I had gone through HP support.  It plagued me so that I had thoughts of selling my envy17 and get another brand.  It is only because I could not find a suitable replacement for its size and capabilities that I am trying to fix it. 

It was constantly freezing with 14.2.x driver.  So I downgraded to 13.5.x.  Yet, I still get random freezes.  Bearable, but will not be tolerated for an laptop of such class.  I have ordered an Intel 6300 from ebay.  If that card solves my issues, I will be a very happy man.

Also, does any of you get 007 - Wifi card not compatible ... error during BIOS post?  I use a laptop cooler that is USB powered.  It seemed to cause this error when I plug it into the shared eSATA/USB port during boot.  I had to unplug all, take out the battery, wait a while, put the battery in, power up, then plug in AC, then USB for it to work. 

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Hi,

Is the Intel Ultimate-N 6300 compatible with the laptop?? You may buy any wireless card you want but the BIOS won't let you to use them with the 104 error at startup..