Uboxing a HP Pavilion DV7-4177NR with BEATS Audio

[ksalbrecht88]

Today, February 6, 2012 is 1 year since I received my HP Pavilion DV7-4177NR. I find it mighty ironic that I just received it back from repair today. I sent it in for some minor repairs. The screen was a little loose & there was a build up of dust around the fan & thermal module. My 1 year warranty expired today so I am glad I was able to get a once over repair before it ended.

[ipwnyorass]

which is better this or dv6?

[ksalbrecht88]

@ipwnyorass It depends on the specs of each computer. Just because DV6 is one less number than DV7 doesn't mean the DV7 is more powerful that the other. I have seen some DV6 laptops that have better components than this DV7-4177NR I own. You'd have to be more specific on exact model numbers.

[TheMjtmaster]

Is this CPU unlocked?

[coquiangel]

I've had my computer for since April, I have only notice a small one time issue where windows would not turn on. I rebooted and all is fine for now. But I do love this Notebook, and hope it'll last a while.

[ksalbrecht88]

@ps3wolfdemon It cost me $1081.36. That includes 4 years of McAfee Anti-Virus. That was the "THEN" price... I'd say my computer is worth about $800.00 right now. I'd sell it for no less than $750.00.

[TheMarReMix]

i7 rules!

[OGKxTOM]

do you ever have a problem with the backlight not turning on somtimes? my fiance and i both have this laptop, and it happens to both of us all the time.

[ksalbrecht88]

@OGKxTOM Are you talking about the HP logo that lights up on the back of the computer or the monitor not coming on when you bring the computer out of sleep mode?

[OGKxTOM]

@ksalbrecht88 i'm talking about the monitor not coming on out of sleep mode... it did it to me this morning to.. even with no backlighting the computer still functions the way it is suppose to, so i swipe my finger print to log in, then hit control, alt, delete.. then hit tab 3 times to take me to the shutdown button and then hit enter... the backlit always comes on after restarting.

[ksalbrecht88]

@OGKxTOM Dont you & your fiance feel alone here, I have the same exact issue. I only use a slightly easier way of shutting down my laptop.

After swiping my finger & accessing my desktop I hit the Windows button, then right arrow then enter.

I have yet to contact HP tech support to figure out why this is happening & for them to fix it. I have a feeling it may have something to do with an outdated BIOS. I am going to call HP tech support tonight & see if I can fix the issue. I'll get back to you.

[OGKxTOM]

@ksalbrecht88 yeah man, let me know what they have to say about the problem. thank you.

[ksalbrecht88]

@OGKxTOM I have officially been on hold waiting for an HP tech support agent for 1 hour 3 minute & 51 seconds.... They claim to be available 24/7... 1 hour is absolutely unacceptable. I'm so frustrated right now!

[OGKxTOM]

@ksalbrecht88 damn... i'm not gonna lie, i would have hung up after 30 mins... that is ridiculous.

[ksalbrecht88]

@OGKxTOM Well the agent said that since my computer's BIOS is currently up to date that an other troubleshooting step would be to perform a factory system restore which would wipe the computer completely clean & reinstall Windows, basically bringing the computer to it's factory out of the box state.

Unfortunately for me I have more than 100GB of music & a whole bunch of other data I don't want to lose & I don't have an external hard drive so I am going to have to buy one & work on this later.

[OGKxTOM]

@ksalbrecht88 awe dude.. don't even bother with that, mine had an error once were i had to do a full system restore, and that did not help this issue at all... still thought, you should get an extrenal.. i have a 500gb western digital passport, and that works great.. i recommend it

[xlr8cody]

i kno this may be kinda stupid but does it have wifi i didnt see that on the box in the beggining of the review

[ksalbrecht88]

@xlr8cody There is a 802.11b/g/n WLAN Wifi Adapter inside the laptop. Rarely do laptops not have WiFi.

[xlr8cody]

@ksalbrecht88 Thanks i was jus curius cause i think i heard one of my friends say noy all laptops come with routers built in.

[TheAjr1987]

Would you recommend the 9-cell battery? I like the idea of better airflow underneath, but I'm worried out it just being weird with it tilted up just by that.

[Miltomartichino]

i just bought it and love it, another questions, the gpu supports 3D?

[ksalbrecht88]

@Miltomartichino I am not sure if it supports 3D or not but I do know that the 60Hz 17" monitor on this computer won't support 3D because in order to support 3D it would have to be at least a 120Hz monitor... but if you were to connect this computer to a HDTV that is 120Hz or more than it may work IF the GPU supports 3D.

[007Elizabese]

Yes this laptop can run GTA IV at full specs, i have it minimized now while surfing youtube!! running on windows 7! very powerful laptop. no lags at all!

[Miltomartichino]

@007Elizabese it has an ati 5470 or 4250?

[ksalbrecht88]

@Miltomartichino It has both... it has a switchable graphics card. You can use the lower powered 4250 when running off battery & the more powerful 5470 when plugged into a power source.

[Miltomartichino]

@007Elizabese how can you do that? on ccleaner figure that i have a 4250 gpu

sorry for my ingnorance and bad spelling

[Miltomartichino]

I'm about to buy this notebook and I want to know if it runs the gta 4? thxxx

[ksalbrecht88]

@Miltomartichino The specs of this computer are definitely powerful enough to run GTA 4 but I can't confirm that it is compatible with Windows 7.... I just looked at the system requirements & it didn't say that it was compatible with Windows 7. I also checked out some forum discussions that talk about it... but since I personally haven't played GTA 4 on my computer I can't give you an answer. If this computer was installed with the latest version of Windows XP or Vista then yes it should play.

[Miltomartichino]

@ksalbrecht88 thanks for answer, ill buy it!

[007Elizabese]

@Miltomartichino yes it can, I run this game at full specs all day! this laptop is very powerful!!!! the graphics are gorgeous! I can even minimize the game (GTA IV) while browsing the internet and laptop still runs fast! I love it.

[REPOMAN24722]

HAHAHAHA i SEE YOU HAVE FALLEN INTO THE DEATH TRAP TOO, My AMD dv7 heats up just running windows most useless laptop I have ever had

[cwild]

I was wondering which cooler are you using?

[ksalbrecht88]

@cwild It won't let me send you think here in the comments. I will send you the link in a personal message.

[pinguinovolando69]

@ksalbrecht88

could you please send me too the name of the cooler you use? thanks

[Chips702]

hey i have the same one but my bluray drive doesn't have light-scribe but on the box it said that it does.

[ksalbrecht88]

@Chips702 My specs say I have LightScribe & I have LightScribe software on my computer... I just have yet to be able to use LightScribe because I don't have LightScribe compatible blank CDs... So I am not sure if my computer has it or not. It should because you can even see that my box says that my computer comes with LightScribe.

[chinadollcjo]

@Chips702 I just got my second on from QVC, first one did not have a LS drive. This one also does not have a Lightscribe drive. HP offered to send me a new one to install myself, but the wanted my credit card info. I was like, "No, I don't get paid to do your guys' job." So I am returning this asap. It's a shame because the computer is pretty nice otherwise. I just feel like the computer should operate as advertised and that I should get what I paid for.

[Chips702]

@chinadollcjo Hey hold on I felt the same way. you just might have a Lightscribe drive just hold on. Well first try to create a labeled disk. go to the store and buy yourself some cheap lightscribe disks I got the cheapest 10 disks for 6 bucks. then put it into your computer and make sure the disk is upside down. then go to start> then on the search bar type "Lable", Then gp to lable print. If your computer doesn't have lable print then check if you have lightscribe control pannel.

[ksalbrecht88]

@Chips702 I have a feeling that our HP Pavilion DV7-4177NR laptops DO have LightScribe... I have LabelPrint software pre-installed on my laptop & LightScribe Control Panel as well. I have yet to use it but I'd say don't say you don't have it until you confirm it won't laser etch LightScribe compatible discs.

[Chips702]

@ksalbrecht88 They do. :) Just tested mine out and it works great. Thanks.

[chinadollcjo]

I ordered mine last month and didn't have any "significant issues" with it. Overall, the computer is pretty solid, only mine didn't have a Litescribe drive. I spent 2 hours w/ HP Customer service and found out that my computer wasn't LS capable. It was a bummer. Another thing that peeved me was that when I shut the computer to go into hibernate mode, if I opened it back up, the screen would be blank. Not really impressed w/ the max volume either. Have you had any of these issues?

[chinadollcjo]

I sent it back for an exchange and should get the new one next week. QVC was very helpful with the return process, so I'm hoping that the one I had was just a fluke...

[ksalbrecht88]

@chinadollcjo My specs say I have LightScribe & I have LS software on my computer... I just have yet to be able to use LS because I don't have the correct CDs.

Now as far as the black screen goes... I had the same thing happen to me the second day I had the computer & I contacted HP Tech support immediately. They were very helpful & told me the issue was that my "system BIOS" needed to be updated. They guided me through the BIOS updating process & I have yet to have the problem repeat itself.

[serrotecnal]

Is this better than the I7 dell xps 15' ? One I found on Qvc but it doesn't have blu-ray

[shadow444222]

@serrotecnal it will be cause the i7 is a ticking time bomb, no joke thats what i have been hearing lately.

[serrotecnal]

@shadow444222 i got this one its pretty cool

[ksalbrecht88]

@serrotecnal There are 2 separate graphics cards in the computer. A lower powered ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 GPU is optional to conserve power consumption when the computer ISN'T plugged in. Then you have the option to run the more powerful ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 when the computer IS plugged in. You don't have to use the lower powered 4250 while it isn't plugged in if you don't want to. It is just an alternative. Basically you can switch between either GPU as desired.

[Talia5267]

How is the computer holding up?....I'm thinking about getting this exact one, but i'm pretty skeptical, there seems to be a few bad reviews on it...I'd like to know how it is for you so far?. and is it pretty good for gaming?...like Sims 3 and Witcher 2??...

[ksalbrecht88]

@Talia5267 It is mighty ironic that you post this question exactly 4 months to the day since I received this laptop. It is still holding up well. Let me start off by saying that I am very technically inclined. When I read all the negative reviews I assumed that most of those people didn't take the steps necessary to get their computer running correctly. Once I got through the initial set-up I immediately began updating Windows & all drivers etc... I have yet to have had any significant issues.

[ksalbrecht88]

@Talia5267 Now as far a video games... I just recored a short video of me playing Portal 2 on this laptop... I will put an annotation link at the beginning of this video & in the info pane below the video.

[JelyVids]

its called condensation

[ksalbrecht88]

@JelyVids Wow... you sure are informative!

I know what it is called. 4:23

[dcast323]

I have this laptop but does anyone know how to improve the sound? It sounds really low even when volume raised all the way.

[ksalbrecht88]

@dcast323 I don't have an issue with low volume on mine. Mine are actually so loud that they make something near the CD-ROM drive vibrate & buzz. I am sorry but I can't help you here. I advise you call HP support & see what they can do for you.

[KorgeKalasian]

Thats the same one I have 6gb Ram and 640 H drive Blu-ray ...But it's going to HP for repair after only 2 months .. The sleep mode doesn't work when you open the laptop again ... while watching videos the AMD graffics card crashes all the time heats up all the time :P But I still like the 17.3 size... Beats Audio is ok But it is loader then my other laptop

[CuttsyTube]

I just brought a HP DV7 on ebay with 8gb ram 500gb hard drive a phenom ii dual core processor, bluray plus 8x dvd burning and ATI Radien HD 4250 graphics card I paid $1069 postage and insurance included do you think I've been ripped off or will I have some quality gaming/music production once I get my laptop ?

[mboy3515]

omg my dad got me the same laptop but with AMD Phenom II quad-core mobile processor P940 and a ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470

[ksalbrecht88]

@mboy3515 You have the same GPU as I do... if your dad purchased your computer from QVC.com then your computer with the AMD Phenom II Quad-Core P940 Processor only has 4GB of RAM vs mine which has 6GB of RAM. I felt like I was getting a better deal getting the computer with the slightly less powerful CPU because it came with 4 years of McAfee & 2 more GB of RAM & the one with the more powerful CPU didn't.

I have had this computer for just over a month now & I am very happy with it.

[mboy3515]

@ksalbrecht88 yeah it did come with 4gb of ram but we upgraded to 8gb for a little better game performance

[AllStarMartin]

Where did you buy it from if i could know?

[IkeyTV]

@AllStarMartin Qvc.com search for HP Dv7 4177nr

[ksalbrecht88]

@AllStarMartin Yea... if you search the model number on QVC.com that @IkeyTV gave you... you will see that as of right now they are selling this laptop for 5 easy payments of $166.50 before tax is added. The final subtotal for the computer after tax is $1,081.38....taking into consideration that you getting 4 YEARS of McAfee Antivirus which by itself is worth more than $200, I consider this a great deal!

[GaintSubiSin]

i have a pavilion dv7, the specs dont even come anywhere near how good this pc is

[points2shopPROOF]

wow those are some good specs