Solved HP drivers - should xyx driver be reinstalled?

[Slartybart]

This is a discussion thread, not a problem thread.

Started so one of Doc Brown's thread wasn't hijacked.

The posts from Doc Brown's thread that initiated the conversation, but might be off topic there.

I should note that I had difficulty finding the correct drivers for
Bluetooth - HP did not list it for my machine - had to search HP
--> Note: the BCM card is a combo card (BT & 802.11)
AMD USB 3.0 & SMBUS - had to install base offered on HP download page for chipset (only HP called it AMD Graphics) and then update Graphics to newer versions.

Biometrics - found the drivers searching HP, left it uninstalled last time (current)
Coolsense - found it ok, just had issues with it. Seems as though it was causing high temps. When I removed it, temps were in range, left it uninstalled last time (current)
DriveGuard - found it ok, left it uninstalled last time (current)

If I think of anything else.....

Oh wait..... HP laptop.... which one?

The two HP programs which you mention and are debatable about reinstalling after a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, Cool Sense and Drive Guard, are worth more discussion since they safeguard critical temperature and HD hardware on the PC, yet they can cause issues. What do others here think about their net value for reinstall?

I am facing this issue right now on an HP and don't want to fall short of Best Practice. The tutorial also needs something more determinative on this.

 

[gregrocker]

HP Minimal Recovery only reinstalls drivers, activation SLP file and Coolsense so I would consider that a good reimport benchmark.

I wonder if BSOD analysts are seeing Coolsense crashes. I haven't seen any but I don't reimport anything. However it needs discussion about whether additional software which protects HD and overheating should be a Best Practice on Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[Slartybart]

Coolsense on my machine seemed to interfere with the OS temperature monitoring and the machine actually ran hotter with it installed. Additional testing on different machines might show whether this is an issue on all HPs running Coolsense or it is only manifested on my machine.

Driveguard sounds like a good idea, but how much additional protection does it really provide?
If people are walking around with their machine awake and accidentally drop it, then Driveguard might be a worthwhile thing to have running. The question is "How fast does Driveguard park the heads"?

Best pratices: Shutdown or sleep when transporting a laptop.

 

[gregrocker]

Bill I agree and have never really allowed ANY crapware back onto a PC after a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164.

However recently I've been given some really high end HP's to reinstall and am wary of leaving out software that allegedly assures hardware safety like Coolsense and DriveGuard. If we had a long string of problems caused by them here then I'd feel better. But what if the new HP I reinstalled for my roommate's colleague at Morgan Stanley overheats and she calls them for replacement under warranty, they refuse once they learn I didn't reinstall Coolsense. These are the only cases where I've ever allowed crapware back in and it gives me real qualms which is why I'm asking.

Believe me I am with you on reimporting any crapware because I've yet to find one that is worth the overhead or problems it adds to the OS. But I am a Win7 guy and don't want anything on its back at all so it runs free and unthrottled.

 

[Slartybart]

I fully understand and your name is on the tutorial (or advice given).

I'd have to read the warranty to answer the hypothetical. My initial repsonse is HP would most likely honor their warranty regardless of whethr Coolsense was installed and running.

I decided to search Coolsense for issues, found this (only one, didn't dig too deep)
Does HP CoolSense actually do any significant? : windows

It seems to support my observation of Coolsense INCREASING temps.
no, that wasn't my post I post here, nowhere else

I don't know how much time you've committed to this, but have you observed temps with Coolsense running / not running.

I'm not going to ask if you threw the machine up against a wall to see how well Driveguard works.

 

[Slartybart]

HP Intel Rapid Storage Technology-Disable Acceleration & Rapid Start

View attachment HP IRST (pgs 27-28) Disable Acceleration & Rapid Start.pdf​

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

I can't really see the point of DRIVEGUARD. On a Desktop you aren't likely to be moving the computer and on a laptop the 2.5 inch HDD's are pretty robust. On an SSD it's pointless.

I would always try and uninstall every piece of software that isn't required for 100% working of the machine. Install the specific manufacturer drivers when needed - but anything else -- just AVOID -- eventually this stuff becomes adware / trialware and you will get email bombed with "special offers" etc etc.

Cheers
jimbo