New laptop came yesterday, already there's fail

[Dan Druff]

One day, two problems.

First off, the touchpad "rattles", as if it's not on very securely. Also the spacebar squeaks. This is an HP ENVY laptop. My girlfriend got a very similar one in December and it's great with neither of these issues.

Second, I can't enable stereo mix on the sound card, which is a disaster for radio. That's what I use to take calls and to connect the co-hosts.

I tried the usual things such as updating the drivers and making sure it's showing all disconnected/disabled devices. It's just not there.

Tried to call HP tech support. They had to transfer me to the "Smart Friend" department, which is some software department which helps computer illiterate people figure out how to use their machine (for a fee). Unfortunately these assholes wanted to charge me to figure out how to enable stereo mix -- on a 1-day-old machine!

I objected, then the guy cold-transferred me elsewhere.

I escalated the case. I told them I'm not paying to learn the obscure way to enable a feature which was supposed to be enabled in the first place.

If anyone has any ideas, let me know.

[limitles]

One day, two problems.

First off, the touchpad "rattles", as if it's not on very securely. Also the spacebar squeaks. This is an HP ENVY laptop. My girlfriend got a very similar one in December and it's great with neither of these issues.

Second, I can't enable stereo mix on the sound card, which is a disaster for radio. That's what I use to take calls and to connect the co-hosts.

I tried the usual things such as updating the drivers and making sure it's showing all disconnected/disabled devices. It's just not there.

Tried to call HP tech support. They had to transfer me to the "Smart Friend" department, which is some software department which helps computer illiterate people figure out how to use their machine (for a fee). Unfortunately these assholes wanted to charge me to figure out how to enable stereo mix -- on a 1-day-old machine!

I objected, then the guy cold-transferred me elsewhere.

I escalated the case. I told them I'm not paying to learn the obscure way to enable a feature which was supposed to be enabled in the first place.

If anyone has any ideas, let me know.

Buy local

[nutty007]

I cant help with your stereo mix issue but based on the other issues with the space bar and touch pad i wouldnt bother anyway and would just take it straight back to the shop for a refund/exchange

[dwai]

HP IS NOT GOD

[Bootsy Collins]

Why did you go with HP? The only other company whose hardware/support is Acer.

[Dan Druff]

Why did you go with HP? The only other company whose hardware/support is Acer.

What would you suggest? I've tried most of the majors and still liked HP best, despite the fail.

I also have pretty specific requirements:

17 inch screen
SSD drive of 1TB or more
Touch screen
Sound card with stereo mix
Medium-high end processor
16GB+ RAM
Preferably customizable

Got a Lenovo some years ago, wasn't a big fan. Used to be a Dell customer but I gave up on them. Heard bad things about Acer and never tried them.

[Starbucks Spunk Bucket]

I cant help with your stereo mix issue but based on the other issues with the space bar and touch pad i wouldnt bother anyway and would just take it straight back to the shop for a refund/exchange

[abrown83]

You’re welcome Druff

PS skip to 2:20

[Dan Druff]

You’re welcome Druff

PS skip to 2:20

I have already tried to download the HD Audio CODEC from the Realtek site, but I didn't do it the way this guy in the video said. I found some direct link to the list of files, and it was a bit suspect because it was from 2017, so I was afraid it wouldn't work.

And it didn't.

I'll try this guy's method and get back to you. Thank you either way.

[Dan Druff]

You’re welcome Druff

PS skip to 2:20

Well, now I remember why I didn't do it this guy's way.

Realtek changed their site and you can't get to this directly anymore.

As I mentioned, I found a version of the HD Audio Codec from 2017 through some old link, but it failed, likely because Windows has changed a lot since then.

[David USF]

One day, two problems.

First off, the touchpad "rattles", as if it's not on very securely. Also the spacebar squeaks. This is an HP ENVY laptop. My girlfriend got a very similar one in December and it's great with neither of these issues.

Second, I can't enable stereo mix on the sound card, which is a disaster for radio. That's what I use to take calls and to connect the co-hosts.

I tried the usual things such as updating the drivers and making sure it's showing all disconnected/disabled devices. It's just not there.

Tried to call HP tech support. They had to transfer me to the "Smart Friend" department, which is some software department which helps computer illiterate people figure out how to use their machine (for a fee). Unfortunately these assholes wanted to charge me to figure out how to enable stereo mix -- on a 1-day-old machine!

I objected, then the guy cold-transferred me elsewhere.

Sounds like they shipped you a used/refurbished laptop?

I escalated the case. I told them I'm not paying to learn the obscure way to enable a feature which was supposed to be enabled in the first place.

If anyone has any ideas, let me know.

Could they have possibly sent you a used/refurbished laptop?