Problem with Pavilion dv8 top slider bar (treble/bass control)

[Hasham07]

Try to uppdate from Microsoft Windows update optional patch:

Hewlett - Packard Development Company, L.P. - HP Mobile Data Protection Sensor

Realtek RTL8168D/8111D Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20

When I uppdated the Realtek from Windows update optional patch, my wifi seem to stop turning on and off. I will report back if it is really in that case. So far  my wifi has not been a bad boy =P

I got this information from this forum:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-PC-Sound-and-Audio/HP-Pavilion-dv8t-1000-CTO-treble-bass-indic...

[Hasham07]

Bahh it did not work =(

[liberty7641]

I've had my dv8 for a couple months, and it just started doing this with the treble and bass control.  It is REALLY obnoxious.  Has anyone figured out a way to fix it yet?

[carmamd]

No FIX that I've read about, but it was posted that you can go to msconfig and UNCHECK the HPToneControl service.  Then allow msconfig restart the computer.  this turns OFF the treble and bass buttons, but stops the annoying constant "fluttering" on-and-off of them that steals focus so badly nothing else can be done!  Don't really need them anyway...

BUT it is really anger-making that HP has not owned this problem.  It is  a HARDWARE problem with the button bar, seems to be related to heat build-up, and the entire button bar will often shut down.  The only solution for THAT (which I got from HP support call) is to unplug the power from the laptop, shut it down, take out the battery, then re-start everything.  Very frustrating when it also takes out the wireless on-off button!

Otherwise, this dv8t is the best laptop I've owned, and all the engineering is otherwise top-notch, and i do NOT miss my Dell, NOR do I miss Dell service.

I hope someone from HP is watching the forums, and will take a warning from Dell, and NOT stonewall everyone on this problem any longer, OWN the problem and give us a fix, even if it is a recall to install proper button bar, or authorize local techs to do it.

[woody1958]

I too have a pavilion dv8 that I've had only a couple of months and today the treble/bass problem started. I am going to try the suggested fixes and hope for the best.  The best hope sounds like the disable them completely options.  I have uninstalled the dvd control program mentioned a few comments ago, rebooted and 10 minutes later no treble/bass annoyance yet.

I completely agree.  HP NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THIS. Even though this is the most amazing computer I have ever owned, it really does make HP/Windows look bad.  I have seriously considered an APPLE and this may be the final straw.

[dsc1000]

I am having the same problem.  I tried everything.  Went to HP chat and after several things were tried they had me do a complete system recovery.  After recovery, the symptoms stopped.  I installed all updates and no symptoms.  Once I installed office 2007 they started again.  I uninstalled office but the symptoms are still there.

[dsc1000]

Nevermind.  That wasn't it either.  HP has no idea how to fix it.

[infiltrator1]

You guys are not alone, I have this problem too and it has gotten bad enough (hard to type as I keep losing focus to the jumping Treble/Bass bar) to seek a solution.  I am not looking forward to calling HP support because I know I'll lose an hour or two and either be told to wipe out my whole system or mail it in for repair - neither is a workable option for me.  Very frustrating, but at least I see that this is a common issue so maybe HP will come up with a fix for it.

[berkley84]

I tried the drivers thing, the BIOS thing, doing a system restore, then I did it all twice.  Finally I called HP and spent two hours on the phone with a guy who took remote access of my computer and did the exact same thing, and when it didn't work he told me he would call me the next day and never did.  So I called back and talked to a new guy who essentially went through the same process, then did a system restore, and when it didn't work again he told me I had to open the back of my computer to tell him what kind of wireless card I had.  I tried to do this, but the screws wouldn't come out all the way.  He just kept insisting that they couldn't help me until I opened the back of the computer, and then he said he would call back Monday.  Very predictably, he did not call back on Monday.  After wasting  at least 4 hours on the phone with these people, I wrote an email to HP support explaining the situation and they sent me a box to send it back.  

So I'm waiting to get it back now, hoping it will work properly this time, but my hopes are still not too high, especially seeing how many people have responded to my original post and have the same problem.

Alex.

[Gonzalo]

Hi Everyone,

I have exactly the same problem... new DV8, 4 days after using it started doing the crazy flash thing on the mute icon and wi-fi... then, after a week it got worse... the flashing became superfast and then it appeared to "shutdown" entirely those lights for good, but then approached to the case and if you look really really close, you'll see them there, flashing superfast totally dimmed (is almost unperceptible, it just looks like is turned off).

I found a partially stupid solution, that lasts a couple of minutes: take out the power cord, unplugg the battery, leave it like that for about 10 minutes... plug back things and then everything works fine again... at least, for another hour.

HP should give us a solution really really fast! This is NOT a cheap notebook!