Anyone getting frequent BSODs with an Envy 17T?

[rhony2]

I purchased this late last year and it ran fine until about the 3rd week of April when it started getting frequent stopcodes (Blue Screen of Death).  In late April it came to a point where it just hung at boot and the automatic repair didn't work so I used my rescue flash drive to take it back to orginal factory.  That only solved the problem for about 4 days.  I then decided to delete any programs that I added one at a time.  I also changed the security program from McAfee (came with the computer) to BitDefender.  None of this worked and I still kept getting periodic BSODs.  So I decided to redo the rescue and then run it without having any additional software loaded to see if I still got BSODs.  I got 4 of them right after the 2nd Rescue when the laptop was updating Windows.  I've run the HP diagnostics at setup (using mostly the quick options) and no problems.  I guess my next step is to run extended HD and Memory tests.  But I was wondering if anyone else was getting similar problems with this model.

[Huffer]

At this point you really do need to run the extended memory and HDD tests. 

Also Envy 17t covers a wide range of laptops so your specific model would be helpful information. 

[rhony2]

Yeah I was afraid I would need to do that.  I have called HP support and they are sending me a link to download new rescue software.

As to the specific model of 17T I really don't know.  There is nothing on the invoice or on the laptop itself identifying it as other than an HP Envy.  I purchased it from Costco.com during their Black Friday Sale and it was drop-shipped directly from China which kind of surprised me.  I know that it has nVidia Geforce graphic and Bang and Olufsen sound.  16GB of RAM and 1TB HD with Intel I7 processor.

Oh wait, the HP support site calls it 

HP ENVY - 17t-s100 CTO

I'm wondering if its some sort of heat issue.  The BSODs generally occur when its been on for a while, although it may not be doing anything.  It originally happened whenever I was on the web so I thought there might be some malware, but having it happen right after the rescue while it was updating proved me wrong there.

So I did contact HP support but in my experience, generally the forums are better at solving these problems.

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Service Manual for it:

Manual

The copyright date on the Manual is 2016 so it can't be very old which kind of cuts against dirt buildup around the heatsink/fan. Still I might download speedfan and try to get a reading on the temps:

http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

And until you run the extended RAM and HDD tests we are in the dark because those are the most likely issues and should be ruled out before we try anything else. 

[rhony2]

OK thanks, I'm running the extended HP test right now.  Will run the extended Memory test after that finishes.

I was wondering about Heat since I bought this computer to run newer games that my old laptop had problems with (they ran but really slow).  And I know there are heat issues with GPUs since I had heat issues with my Xbox360 and PS3.  The HP ran my newer games much faster but it did run hot and I could hear the fan going constantly.  But I haven't run any of these games since March.

[rhony2]

OK, no problems with the HD but the Extensive Memory Check found a failure.  When I called HP Tech Support they only had me run a Quick Check, not an Extensive.  However now that I ran an extensive, it looks like my original suspicion of a possible Hardware problem turned out to be true.

Thanks for your help.

[Huffer]

That is actually the easiest. Just replace a memory module. Glad we found the problem. 

[rhony2]

Yeah, but I have to send in the laptop.  I thought they would just send me replacement memory modules but looking at the back, there are no panels I can unscrew to do it myself.  So now I have to wait for them to send me a box for me to send it back to them and its probably going to be another couple weeks after that before I get it back.  This is the first HP laptop I have ever purchased and I've owned computers for over 30 years now - I can't say that that the inability for me to make my own changes thrills me.  I used to build my own computers in the days of DOS since it was cheaper to do it that way back then, but since the turn of the century, I've bought pre-built (mostly Dell but also Toshiba, Sony, and Compaq before it was bought).  And of course building laptops is problematic at best - possible but very limited in what you can do.  However since moving to AZ, I've moved from desktops to laptops, even for gaming, as you want to generate the least amount of heat during the summer months.

But anyway thanks again for your help.  I assume the HP CSR did not want me to do the extensive tests due to the length of time it would take but if I had just done what they said and try to use the new rescue software they were sending me, that would have just been more wasted time and would not have solved my problem.  Which is why I usually try to get help from forums as they tend to be the most knowledgeable.

[Huffer]

I'm going to sheepishly plead guilty on this one to the "knowledgeable" thing. Been doing this a long time. And you are preaching to the choir as far as these new "closed" designs. HP is not the only manufacturer doing it. Save a few pennies on each unit by not putting in doors but also allows the laptop to be razor thin which the public wants...sexy sells and clunky sits on the shelf. Nobody is thinking about "how am I going to service this thing" when she buys it. 

You can by the way make your own changes. We have it on solid authority you will not lose the warranty by opening the chassis to replace memory or a hard drive even if the Manual says that is not for end users to do. Of course you would have to buy the memory. An 8 gig stick of RAM is maybe $45-50 and I would gladly pay that not to be without the laptop for a week or 10 days. This model is not terribly difficult to work on as far as memory replacement.

Post back if you want more help...we can direct you to the relevant pages of the written Manual (linked above) and likely even find a youtube video. 

[rhony2]

Thanks but that is ok.  I have a number of computers, including additional laptops, just for these types of problems.  I usually buy new equipment every 3 years and keep the old one for another 3 years as a backup.  I have a computer just to do my taxes and financials, one just to do downloads (since this is where most malware problems arise I like to keep one computer specifically for this purpose just in case something happens and my security programs don't work), and two micro-computers I built to play the stuff I have downloaded.  And this is less than I used to have.  I tried a home server back in 2009 but dealing with its issues took too much of my time,  So it's not like I am without access to the internet.  The HP was purchased as a gaming computer since the one I am using now was having problems with newer PC games.  But I just purchased a new game for my PS4 that it's going to take me several weeks to complete so I'm not going to miss it.