HP Spectre how to fix flashing/flickering screen, auto-dimming screen and set up the touchpad

[AdamJohnson]

This is not a question but answers to problems that I had with my 2017 Spectre X360 13 inch that I have been able to resolve after digging around on the internet. To help others, I wish to provide the answers here. 

PREVENT FLICKERING / FLASHING SCREEN PANEL

This problem is related to the Intel Graphics 'Power' setting called 'Panel Refresh'. You can Google what this is intended to do (save battery life). On my machine it causes intermittent flickering. To turn it off:

1. Download and install the latest version of the video card driver from Intel (to see your video card type tap the Windows key then type Device Manager and enter. Under Display you will see the type listed (mine is Intel HD 620U. 

2. In the system tray, click Intel Graphics Settings. This opens the Intel Graphics Control Panel. 

3. Under Battery, disable Panel Refresh on both battery and plugged in. 

PREVENT AUTO-DIMMING / AUTO BRIGHTNESS SCREEN PANEL

Follow instructions above, and turn off Enhanced Power Saving Mode. 

SET UP YOUR TRACKPAD / TOUCHPAD (SO IT WORKS ALMOST AS WELL AS A MACBOOK)

The touchpad on the Spectre is actually pretty good, but needs fine tuning to work properly. Here's how I did it. 

1. Press the Windows key and type 'Touchpad' then enter. 

2. In Touchpad Setings click Touchpad, then set sensitivity to Low. 

3. Click Additonal Settings > Clickpad Settings > Clickpad Settings

4. Make sure every option is ticked except for Scrolling. 

5. Under 2-finger scrolling click the cogs to enter settings. Set scrolling speed to four notches from left. Turn off Enable horizontal scrolling. Set coasting to 2 before maximum. Press close. 

6. Under Smart Sense settings, set SmartSense to Max. Set Tapping Disabled to fourth notch. Set Pointing Disabled to first notch. Click Restrict Pointing and Restrict Tapping to on. Set Filter Activation Time to 0 seconds. 

7. Still in SmartSense, set up the Green Zone to be flush with the top and left of the rectangle, but about two fingers equivalent distance away from the right, and one finger equivalent distance away from the bottom. (This will mostly prevent your right palm from accidentally tapping or moving the cursor, and your thumb from doing the same). Click Close. 

8. Under Tapping settings, turn off Tap again and Double tap. Click close. 

9. Click Apply to save your settings. Then OK. 

10. Select Clickpad Profiles and save your new profile so you don't have to set it up again in the future. 

All in all the Spectre is an awesome machine, made much better with these few tweaks. Enjoy! 

[CherylG]

Thanks for contributing to the forum. The Touchpad has been my biggest gripe on the Spectre- trying your tweaks now.

[AdamJohnson]

Great! Let me know if it works better for you

[CherylG]

The touchpad works much better now.  I use a wireless mouse most of the time because the tp is so sensitive and would sometimes select/highlight everything on a news page when browsing. Now I think I will have no problems using the tp when  mobile and a mouse is not. practical.

[captkeebz]

Great tips, thanks! I just bought a Spectre 15" and the Intel display dimming was making me insane (mostly because your regular brightness indicator shows 100%).

My touchpad settings differ so I may need to search for an updated driver.

Thanks again.