Should I replace the laptop or upgrade the hard drive?

[gkclark1953]

Trying to decide which would be the better investment, buy a new ENVY 17" laptop or replace my 768 GB HDD with a 1 TB SSD drive.  This ENVY 17" System SKU C2Y69AV still runs like a champ but it is getting long in the tooth.  I am somewhat concerned about the hard drive failing due to age (7+ years).  This thing does everything I want EXCEPT wireless video projection which I can probably live without.  I am thinking about replacing the HDD with a 1 TB SSD.  The question is which brand and model would be supported.  Or should I just forget it and replace the entire laptop?  I am looking at roughly $150.00 vs. $1,300.00 plus tax. How can I make it support wireless video projection?   Any thoughts?  

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Since you are running W10 on there, your notebook does not support wireless display.

You can see the wireless display hardware requirements at the link below.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000014932/emerging-technologies.html

You can get a good performing, name brand 1 TB SSD at the link below.  I have the 500 GB version and it works great.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk-ultra-1-tb-internal-sata-solid-state-drive/5969503.p?skuId=5969...

Use the remaining cash from the $150 SSD budget and upgrade the outdated Intel 2230 wifi card your notebook has, to this one...

Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 802.11 ac 2x2 WiFi + BT 4.0      HP Part # 710661-001

The card is readily available on eBay.

Do your search by the HP part number, not the model of the wireless card.

If wireless display is a must have, then you would have to reinstall W8.1 or buy a newer notebook that supports wireless display in W10.

[gkclark1953]

Thanks, Paul.  I've already replaced the wireless card based on your recommendation back in January.

Two questions... do I need any mounting brackets for the drive?  Why doesn't Win 10 support wireless broadcasting?  I'm trying to understand why newer laptops with Win 10 support it but this model does not, or it DOES if running Win 8.1 (which I hated and replaced it with Win 7 for a while).

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

Unfortunately, I don't know why wireless display isn't supported on platforms with 3rd gen processors, but it is what it is.

Your notebook with W8.1 installed, should support wireless display.

Wireless display will also work with W7 in your notebook as long as you install the Intel wireless display software.

This package contains the Intel Wireless Display Software for supported models that are running a supported operating system. The Intel Wireless Display Software enables users to display information and video on a remote monitor or TV that is equipped with a device that supports the Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) technology. This software runs only on systems that meet the prerequisites specified by Intel.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp69001-69500/sp69024.exe

Didn't Microsoft do an update to W8.1 so that it kinda works like W10 with a similar program list?

All my ancient PC's had Vista or W7 on them, which I upgraded to W10, so I never got to really test out W8.1.