HP z555 Upgrade Project - Page 2

@azmrtwo,

Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Each Recovery CD (or Recovery DVD, in the case of the z555's) is built by HP specifically for this or that particular PC, so just sticking an ISO out there would do nothing except invalidate someone else's license code.

However, you can re-create the DVD yourself, the files are on the hard drive (or should be) to create it. In my case, the directory had gotten whacked at some point, so I had to order the disc myself, but if you're on a fresh install, they should be there. If you click here it goes to HP's page that walks you through creating the Recovery DVD.

Can the PC not even boot into safe mode? If you can, then you should be able to get enough functionality to get them off onto a thumbdrive or something, and then go to another computer to burn down. Alternatively, you could pull the hard drive and stick it into another PC, and then again burn them off and create the Recovery DVD.

That's pretty lame that it's delivered that way. I know how painful dealing with HP's tech support can be. If the above procedure doesn't work, then click here to go to the Product Support page for the z555. About halfway down is the link to ordering the Recovery DVD.

Strange that they quoted you $25. It cost me $12.12. I'd throw the red flag on that one and call for review.

Of course, all this shouldn't even be an issue. If they included the wrong DVD, then they should replace it at their expense. They screwed up, they should fix it. I'd call back, and if the front-line guy won't give you satisfaction, ask for a supervisor, and keep going up the chain. You have (or should have) recourse in this one.

Good luck, and let us know if there's any other help we can be.

BW

@ azmrtwo,

You are correct in that the license is determined by the Windows license key you have, as well as by the serial number of the unit you have. I just reloaded my z555, so believe me when I tell you this. There is no point in the setup process where you enter your 25-character license key. It is built into the automated setup on the DVD. Therefore, if you use a disc not specifically built for your machine, the license key on that disc will not match the one you have.

The Recovery DVD I have is not generic. HP has a database of every PC they've sent out by Serial#, and which Windows license went with it. That way they can make a Recovery DVD "just for you." The Recovery CD I had for the HP laptop I used to have was generic, and you entered in the license key at load time. But not with these media PC's, or at least, not with mine.

There are probably ways to create a Recovery DVD for yourself by using another one, but I think that a discussion of that topic probably runs up against the policies of AVS Forum.

Agree that HP's customer service could be more user-friendly, but then, so could just about every other CS line I've ever called, with a couple of exceptions. Aperion Audio has exceptional customer service, but that's outside the scope of this thread.

Good luck to you. I'd keep fighting them, though. I would be fired up if they told me I had to pay shipping on replacement parts when they're the ones who screwed it up in the first place.

BW

Ouch... Sorry to hear that it didn't work out. Get that MSI 8500GT, it'll do the trick.

I can't hear my LG drive at all. I can barely hear the fans from here (10-12 feet away from the PC) and can't hear the LG drive period.

HD DVD audio is a problem with the OEM version. With either track I'm not sure what I'm getting. It says Dolby Digital on my amp, but I don't think I'm getting true surround. I just put the amp in Dolby PLIIx mode, which works for now.

Blu ray is a different story. I put Blu ray discs on PCM Uncompressed and it outputs as DTS to the amp. Beautiful! Except for the slight ringing problem that others have reported on Spiderman 3. I get it too. Didn't do it on Apocalypto, though. I'll check Ultraviolet and POTC3:AWE on Dec 25.

Like you, I'm waiting for Arcsoft. Hopefully, they're not as crippled as PowerDVD. I'm not paying $100 for the retail version if this OEM is any indication of the quality of the product.

Get the 8500GT!!!

BW

@ sandflea,

Welcome to the family! You'll love it.

@ Derek,

The 8500GT has a huge heatsink as well, but it does fit. It comes close to but does not touch the PCI riser assembly where the tuner cards are, and has plenty of front-back clearance to the back of the DVD drive.

I get the same thing with HD DVD's. The amp shows Dolby Digital (or PLIIxif I select it). With both, all speakers are active, but it just doesn't quite have the OOMPH of standard DVD's or the Blu-ray's I've played with Uncompressed turned on.

May try the Japanese trial of Arcsoft and see what that does. I'll keep you posted.

BW

Well, I tried the Arcsoft TotalMedia Japanese trial. Playback: horrible! Stutter all over the place. CPU usage is pegged at 100%, so obviously hardware acceleration is the key. But, given that the program is in Japanese, I can't find the option to turn it on, if it exists.

Anyone figure out hardware acceleration in Arcsoft and can relate how to turn it on? Thanks in advance!

BW

@ Chienlim,

Answer: Maybe. These z-series machines were built with different series motherboards. Some (like mine) only have one SATA port, which the hard drive already occupies. Others have two SATA ports on the motherboard, in which case you'll have one open for the drive to use.

You'll have to crack your case open and see what the motherboard gives you. I had to add a PCI SATA controller since I only have the one port, but yours may be one of the two-port versions. No way to know without looking.

BW

@ jongig,

The z560 series is the same form-factor as the z555, no reason the 8500GT card shouldn't fit. The heatsink comes close but does not touch the PCI riser to the side, and has an inch or two of clearance to the DVD drive in front.

The eject button on the front panel properly ejects the drive. This worked properly from the get-go; no hacks or registry tweaks were necessary.

BW

Excellent! Another z555 saved from oblivion! Enjoy the new life you've given your machine.

@ Chienlim,

You can easily create an icon pointing to PowerDVD from the "Other Programs" portion of MCE by creating an .mcl file and placing it in the Media Center Programs foler under the start menu.

If you're not averse to doing some holiday "registry carving" you could alternatively have PowerDVD appear on the "Start" menu of Media Center. The easy way to do this is:

1. Install PowerDVD Ultra
2. Install the Arcsoft Total Media Japanese Trial
3. The Arcsoft program creates an item on the "Start" menu called "Play BD/HD DVD"
4. Start RegEdit
5. Search the registry for "Play BD/HD DVD"
6. It will find the key with the launch info for Arcsoft.
7. Change the file paths to find PowerDVD instead.
8. Done!

Disclaimer: If you aren't comfortable doing registry modifications, DO NOT PERFORM THE ABOVE! You can mess up your computer if you don't do it right. This is what I did, not an endorsement for others (there, I'm covered! )

The .mcl file is much easier. Let me know if you want it, I could post the one I created here.

BW

@ tgr131,

Here are the specs of your machine:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...110866&lang=en

It has the same motherboard and the same chipset as my z555, therefore, you would be limited to the same CPU, the Pentium 4 650. Also on that page, it lists that there are four memory sockets, for a maximum of 4GB of RAM supported.


@ John,

My HP wireless keyboard works from over 15 feet away quite reliably. Maybe you have a bad copy?


@ John,

On the processor, while this is a crude example, look at it this way. The extra 400Mhz of speed is about a 13% increase in processor capacity. With HD DVD playback, I am using 30%-40% processor utilization. A 13% deficit in processing capacity would increase that to about 34%-45% utilization. Is that a great difference? No, but every little bit helps.

I haven't tried dual output from the 8500GT yet, but it should be able to work with dual displays. However, when trying to play back HD DVD's or Blu-ray's, you may run into AACS or HDCP content protections. Either both would have to be HDCP compliant, or one would have to be turned off, or both, for HDM playback. But to answer your question, there should be no issue in all other cases running both screens, in independent resolutions.

BW

Here is how I integrated PowerDVD Ultra into XP MCE (sort of):

I installed the PowerDVD application. I then installed the Arcsoft Total Media Japanese trial. The Arcsoft application creates an item on the root level of XP MCE labeled "Play BD/HD DVD". I searched through the registry for this phrase. When I found that key, I repointed the key to the PowerDVD application. When selected, this item now fires PowerDVD from the menu and minimizes MCE. I set PowerDVD to maximize itself upon disc playback.

I own a Logitech Harmony 880 that has the Media Center profile as one of its devices, and it fully controls PowerDVD: Play, Rewind, FF, Stop, Pause, arrow keys, Enter/select, etc. So, once PowerDVD fires and MCE minimizes, focus automatically shifts to PowerDVD, and control shifts with it. No extra button presses. When I am done, I hit the "Start" button programmed on the Harmony, and it re-focuses to MCE, with PowerDVD still active in the background. Selecting "Play BD/HD DVD" again from the menu repeats the process.

So. While it isn't fully integrated, it is enough for my purposes. I get everything I need from it without having to use the keyboard except for more esoteric functions.

Hope this helps!

BW