HPLapTopDance
10-16-2011 10:23 PM (150 days ago)
Hi all :smileyhappy:

Just took delivery of a Probook 4530s around 5 days ago and it's quite the looker and performer. Love everything about it, but the display quality could have better luminence and contrast ratio. My only gripe, really.

But thats not what this is all about! Here is the deal:

Upon unpacking the notebook for the very first time and doing intial set up, before it even booted into Windows for the very first time, it had a fairly bad audio / video glitch. A "hiccup" would be an understatement. More like a cough, sometimes a hacking one. A well audible "buzz" and accompanying video stutter if watching video, and simply an audible buzz if listening to music. This would seem to happen randomly and at various intervals. But it would happen in under a minute when listening to or viewing media, and continue throughout.

I found a thread here where a guy had the same problem for a different model, others chimed in, solutions banttered about and finally it came to this and it works:

Disable the wireless device.

At first i tried to just disconnect it from the Local Area Connection, but no go. Disable the entire device and the problem goes away. Tested it time and time again. When i have the internet connected it messes up within 20 seconds. But disconnect / disable the wireless card and watch an entire movie without a hitch and well, problem found. And i hope this thread will help others find a partial solution, too.

But as said, it's only a partial solution. The internet has video streaming, music streaming, movies, TV, games, all those audio / video goodies i enjoy! But I can't enjoy them if connected to the internet because the computer coughs, and if not connected the computer doesn't cough....but i am not connected! Ugh!

So I wonder what is my next move? What are some compatible drivers / updated drivers for my card that may solve the total problem, and won't mess up my computer? I think maybe something different for the audio and wireless? But which ones? Oh sure, Windows say they are the "latest drivers," but who cares what Windows says? I would like to take care of this all in one shot if possible without too much guessing and trial and error. Right now I have:

Atheros AR9285 802.11 b/g/n wireless adaptor

and

Atheros AR3011 Bluetooth 3.0 + HS Adaptor

and

High Definition Audio

I don't know the exact drivers as i am away from the laptop atm. But i figure they can be changed or uninstalled / reinstalled. I just want to do it w/o issue. And I firgure the BT might be important, as the BT doesn't work without the wireless card activated. So i mentioned it. Which is another cause for concern. Having to disable the device (wireless) to watch video or listen to music means no internet OR bluetooth, apparently.

I am halfway home, guys. HELP! :smileytongue:

Paul_Tikkanen
10-17-2011 07:08 AM (149 days ago)
Hi:

First, I would install the latest chipset driver and reboot.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...

This is the latest audio driver for your notebook:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...

Latest wireless card driver:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...

Latest bluetooth software and driver:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...

Paul
HPLapTopDance
10-17-2011 08:46 PM (149 days ago)
Thank you much, Paul. Problem solved.

I followed your links and first installed the chipset. Problem persisted. Installed audio driver. Problem persisted. Installed the WLAN driver. Problem SOLVED!

After the uninstall of the old and reinstall with the latest WLAN driver you linked, nothing but clean, clear audio with no hiccups, coughs, video stutter, or otherwise. Perfect.

Thanks once more, and hope this thread may help others in resolving an issue or two :)
Paul_Tikkanen
10-18-2011 07:17 AM (148 days ago)
You're very welcome.

That is great news!

Happy to learn you got your brand new notebook working as you would expect it to.

Enjoy!

Paul
ashtaylor001
11-07-2011 12:41 PM (128 days ago)
Hi there- I have the same issue -and followed the advice above installing all of the updated drivers, but still I get that audio glitch about every 10 seconds when watching a video..

Only had the probook 4530s for two weeks - and this is quite frustrating...

Appreciate any other advice?
ashtaylor001
11-07-2011 02:07 PM (128 days ago)
Further to that - disabling the wireless / bluetooth and network adapter does not stop the glitch from happening...
Huruntz
12-07-2011 08:08 AM (98 days ago)
Hi

To my mind you need to disable hp power assistant service in system configuration (msconfig)
mako
12-13-2011 05:10 PM (92 days ago)
Thanks for the pointer Huruntz, simply killing the power assistant tray application fixed my 4530s (HPPA_Main.exe). This has been driving me mad for ages!
Sujay1234
12-17-2011 06:38 PM (88 days ago)
Hi All,

Thanks a lot for this update. I replaced my new probook4530s due to audio stutter and new one arrived and guess what??? SAME PROBLEM... Its really frustrating. Contacted HP technical assistance, same standard procedure, update drivers and BIOS. They suggested me to replace this unit too. Did lot of research and I was surprised that many people are having this problem.

Did lot of trial and error methods. What worked for me is in same line with what you posted here. I used "DPC Latency Checker" to check where the exact problem is. So Latest Power Assistance driver is the problem.
I uninstalled latest version (you have to do it manually from control panel) and installed earlier version. Use this version (2.0.5.1)

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...

Restarted my lappy and its working fine now. :) HP technical people have not done their research on this issue and everytime they quote it as a "Hardware Issue". Its SHAME that users have to figure it out by themselves. This will be my first and last HP laptop as i am not at all satisfied with the resolution they have provided. FInally my lappy is working fine but it took me almost a month to get here. :(

Hope this will help other people who is having this problem

Thanks,
Sujay
YaBoyJon
12-18-2011 06:19 PM (87 days ago)
Wow, unstalling the latets Power Assistand and installing the previous one did the trick for me. That stuttering audio bug was really annoying me. I was so disappointed after restoring it and install all my stuff againa and the same problem showed up. I was about to call HP. Now I dont, Thanks.
kl122002
12-20-2011 04:23 PM (85 days ago)
Thanks for you help very much!
I have this issue too. I have sent it to HP for repariring, and they just reconnect the cables, and thet issue still exitis. Somehow disappointing when I get back the computer from their services. .

YaBoyJon
12-20-2011 04:43 PM (85 days ago)
Your welcome. I cant take the credit as I did not come up witht he solution. I just confirmed from what others were able to figure out. It would make me upset as well sending my laptop back to the manufacturer only to found out that they havent fixed the problem. But the end user is always going to be the with the hands on experience and will give you the best feedback to resolve things quickly. I still love this laptop deerly.
joit
12-29-2011 04:12 AM (76 days ago)
I had the same prob, it's really ridiculous to see how HP does quality ensurance. Since the problem comes up on different machines I really wonder how they can sell buggy stuff.
mfamfis
01-04-2012 09:41 AM (70 days ago)
i had the same problem. uninstalled power assistant and reinstalled previous version. solved everything. funny thing is allthough support assistant prompts to update power assistant to version 2.1.0.6, hp on their driver webpage have version 2.0.5.1 listed as the latest version. 2.0.5.1 works without causing any problems.
thanks Huruntz and Sujay1234
amarkula
01-07-2012 05:57 PM (67 days ago)
Kudos to you for your endurance and for that post, If only would I have found it before I had to walk that same road, without a map... My luck was that I knew that update caused this, so hardware problems were kinda out of the question. I troubleshooted this down with DPC Latency Cheker and Process Explorer. Added a "cycles delta" column to PE and waited for problem. After few try-runs HPPA seemed to pop to top of the usual suspects and shooting it down ended problem.

So, I confirm this problem in my Probook 5330m with HP Power Assistant, version 2.1.0.6. Uninstalling that version removed that problem and even after reboot problem is still gone. ;)

HP Power Assistant 2.0.5.1 Seems to work fine. Latency seems to be under 1100 us, even when enabling single devices. Compared to 70 ms that 2.1.0.6 caused, I say that "there's your problem". Please HP, smash this bug.

If you have installed updates via HP support assistant, as I did, you might also have old version stored in local drive. Default directory seems to be C:\swsetup where you should look for directory named sp54342 .

And remember to "postpone forever" to HP support assistant, if you don't have courage to update it after this.

edit: typo
Peeter
01-08-2012 01:50 PM (66 days ago)
....I was so disappointed after restoring it and install all my stuff againa and the same problem showed up. I was about to call HP. Now I dont, Thanks.
Well I started with that and the rep told to get rid of gadgets... Wow!

Tried that and zillion of installing and re-installing and Rebooting along the process. Why this is not found as a sticker or at the top of the Support center.

I disabled about everything and the surge buzz was there. Only after killing the process from Taskman the sound vanished. Oooh, I hate this fidling with these things.

Not only it takes a huge amount of time off from, what you was supposed to do, but is SOOO agonying at same time.

Hope they put a new version to the Downloads soon enough, and the Support/Update software should by the way also be updated, since it does not update the drivers - I think.
Aelynthi
01-09-2012 03:07 AM (65 days ago)
I just got my ProBook 4530s a couple of weeks ago, and I, too, have the same problem.
I tried to download all the things from the links Paul provided, but for some reason, the link for the latest audio drive is no longer available.
Can anyone give me another link to download the latest audio drive update?
Thanks in advance!
antonis
01-19-2012 03:36 PM (55 days ago)
Thanks a lot Sujay1234 !!!!!

you reply was the solution!:smileyhappy:)
i tried all the other installations but nothing happend!


thedailyoutfit
01-20-2012 06:52 AM (54 days ago)
Sujay,

Where is the power assist file in the control pannel located and then can I just follow the link you have posted. Will my systemautomatically undo the changes in a week or so by automatically updating???? - My Probook 4730s seems to be having the same problem everyone is describing - After speaking with HP they said send it to them it is a hardware isse but I find it hard to believe - and would like to test out the resolution you all have offerd here.

Thanks for the help in advance.

DB
Geckoo
01-21-2012 02:38 PM (53 days ago)
Thank you so much! I noticed these little hiccups while playing games and music. I uninstalled the HP Power Assistant and it immediately was performing better. So relieved it was just a bad driver and not any hardware damage!
Thanks again!!
thedailyoutfit
01-21-2012 04:31 PM (53 days ago)
Where do I go to Uninstall the bad HP Power Assist Driver?????


amarkula
01-22-2012 02:33 AM (52 days ago)
Hi,

HP power assistant is installed as a normal program, not as a driver, so uninstalling is done just like any normal program, by going uninstalling programs and choose "HP power assistant" from list and follow instructions.

Just type "uninstall programs" to windows 7 start menu.
or
Just click "Start Menu", from there "Control panel", then "Programs" and then "Uninstall program".

both will take you to the same list of installed applications, in which you'll find all applications that are installed correctly.

You can also see installed version numbers on the rightmost column.


YaBoyJon
01-22-2012 11:21 AM (52 days ago)
Don't install the other linked programs. They don't help or fix anything. It is the hp power instant program that is causing the audio stutter proble. U need to uninstall it and install the version before it. Hope that helps.
Merme87
01-23-2012 12:55 AM (51 days ago)
Hi, when I go to uninstall "HP Power Assistant" it isn't there. Could it be under a different name? Here's a screenshot of all the "HP" names on the list, would someone mind looking at it to see if they know which one it is? Thank you so much! :)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Merme/hp.png


If it isn't any of those, does anyone know where to find HP Power assistant, and how I could uninstall it?
eddiem3
03-09-2012 05:33 PM (5 days ago)
I feel your pain Sujay - I have the same problem but on a much powerful machine - the HP EliteBook Workstation 16G ram i7 (8 core cpu) with an awesome Nvidia Gforce AV card - all of these great components ruined by the stinking HP Power Assistance driver. What bugs me is that I have to keep uninstalling the new driver and reinstalling the old driver to get rid of the annoying problem - whenever my laptop goes into auto-update mode.

What a shame - no forth coming solution from HP.

I wish I can recommend this workstation for its awesome performace but I rather not due the anoying problem.

eddie