Quick Launch buttons issue - no longer work

[WestChase]

Hello. I own a new DV9035NR pavilion laptop running Windows XP Media Center Edition ver 2002 SP2. For 7 months now, since ownership, I have not had any issues with the Quick Launch buttons. However, they stopped working over the last fews days and I can't figure out why. I tried all the obvious, such as remove the latest Microsoft patch (just 1 and unrelated), remove/reinstall the drivers, remove the hardware and reboot, etc., but nothing has worked.

The strip of buttons that I am referring to resides just under the Altec Lansing speaker area and has a label on the left titled "quickplay". All buttons are normally illuminated in blue, while the mute/unmute button can display in amber when audio is muted. I am *not* referring to the "FN" keys counterparts that are tied to the horizontal numeric keys on the actual keyboard.

When these buttons stopped working, the volume + and - buttons were constantly dim and the mute button remained amber ... despite the audio being unmuted or not. This is true even during the pre-boot stage.

I ran HPs system check (http://h20239.www2.hp.com/techcenter/HP_SystemCheck/hp_syscheck.htm) and followed the instructions to update my BIOS and other drivers to current. In particular, my BIOS went from F.06 to F.26; a seemingly large jump for such a young computer. After the BIOS updated, the volume + and - quick launch buttons now appeared illuminated in blue once again (as they normally should). However, the quick launch buttons continue to do nothing -- no sound, no change in color -- when pressed ... and the mute remains amber.

I contact HP support via chat who recommended everything from a reload of the O/S to mailing my laptop in for repairs. While I appreciate their efforts, does HP think that people buy laptops and use them once every 3 months? I could not survive without mine for 4 hours; never mind a stretch of days.

At present, I have installed "sp33258 - 12-2006 - version 6.10B" of the Quick Launch system. There is a icon in the taskbar shaped like a rocket ship. A right-click offers "Adjust HP quick launch properties" as well as "Desktop Zoom". Regardless, the About windows reads "HP Quick Launch Buttons ver 6.10 C1". Strangely, the HELP states that I would see a MEDIA tab with configurable options ... however, that is untrue (zoom and preferences are the only tabs).

Would anyone kindly offer some insight? While the buttons are not life-threatening to my existence, I did find the mute/unmute and volume+/- quite useful.

Thanks in advance,
West

[Anshumali]

donno but reading this thread might help
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1090609

[Colin Patrick Brady]

I agree, I have the same problem with my dv9000 series HP notebook. It runs vista, and has gone through long stretches of 'normality', however for whatever reason (updates, reformatting, etc.) the thing flips out and freezes the moment that any of the quicklaunch keys are hit. Is there no solution to this problem?

Colin

[sumr]

Issue:
-All HP Quicklaunch buttons don't work.
-Speaker, minus and plus buttons not lit (other Quicklaunch buttons lit).

Experience:
Hard to believe after all the hours I spent reading your post (thank you), browsing this forum, reading the pitiful HP knowledge base, contacting support (India), emails with HP support that the buttons work again!

HP Solutions tried:
Flashed new BIOS v27
Reinstalled HP Quicklaunch Buttons software v 6.10B9

HP Solution refused:
Do complete recovery.

Solution:
I turn my laptop off at night shutting down the right way through Windows Shut Down.

I turned on my laptop as usual this morning and then decided to clean house a bit so closed the lid while the laptop was running. The power scheme it was on when I closed the lid was the default Portable/Laptop.

While cleaning I accidentally unplugged the laptop. I keep the battery out when not using it so the laptop power was interrupted.

I plugged it back in and logged in to find the speaker, minus, and plus buttons were lit blue. All the buttons including these work now. Looks like it was a hardware reset to me.

Hope this wasn't a one in a million fluke that the buttons began working for another reason. Probably best to do through BIOS versus a hard reset.

[yama_2]

OK gather around children i have a definete SOLUTION. yes you heard right a solution! and no its not a recovery!

ok so for a long time my quick launch buttons werent working. and only the + - volume buttons light was off.

after reading tons of forums i decided to flash my bios to the latest version as mr west said. that resulted in the + - button light to come back alive.

however this still did not actually make the buttons responsive to touch. so again i took west's experience and took out the battery while the AC adapter was on.

then when your ready pull out the AC cord and presto!! turn your laptop back on and you will hear that sweet beeping sound of your quicklaunch again!! and no west that wasnt a 1 in a million! :D

[Ricardo HK]

Same problem here... Brand new Pavillion HDX. The quicklaunch buttons worked fine for the first weeks, but then, suddenly, nothing more.

Tried everything possible: uninstalling, reinstalling, checking the autostart (msconfig), active/inactive services, downloaded all latest drivers, manually removed the drivers at the devices mngr. but nothing makes the buttons work again.

It's funny, because I payed A lot for this laptop which is one of the most expensive ones around and It's really sad how it starts to present failures so early.


Media center also doesn't recognize the built in tv tunner, as it freezes everytime you try to watch tv.

Thanks.

[dderolph]

I'm still trying to determine exactly what the "HP Quick Launch Buttons 6.10 B9", that I see in the Programs and Features list (Windows Vista Home Premium), is and whether I really need it or can uninstall it.

Based on the discussion here, I believe it's not functioning in my Compaq Presario Notebook PC. I gather the quick launch items that work under HP Quick Launch Buttons 6.10 B9 appear in the system tray area, right?

I believe my Presario Notebook simply shows what Windows Vista would normally show. You can see what my tray area looks like here: http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y256/farmpond/forums/systemtray.jpg

Does it look like I have HP Quick Launch Buttons or just regular Windows stuff?

[yama_2]

hey again. i noticed that my previous solution doesnt fully fix the problem. after hard booting it the light reappears and it all works fine. but after a while it seems to decay.

so far i only know that you have to hard boot it everytime it stops working.. :S

[sumr]

Hey Yama,

In your post saying it wasn't one in a million you responded to west. I think you meant to respond to me - sumr : )

Anyway, I'm sorry you have to put up with the Quick Launch problem! It stinks. I'm happy to say that after I discovered pulling the plug worked (without battery in) - essentially a hard boot - that everything has worked since.

One thing that is different, is everytime I push the volume button, the volume slidebar 'window' pops up. This is frustrating when it happens during full screen gaming.

I'm looking for a solution. The Quick Launch software (rocket ship icon) has very few options and none address preferences.

[Ricardo HK]

Hey all,

Yama's solution works sweet. When you unplug the power cable without battery, seems like the issue is gone, but, it comes back every time you put the computer to hibernate.

In my case, I'm using a HDX, which is the "best" people can buy from HP.

[yama_2]

yes sorry that was sumr not mr west lol my bad! :D

yeah so the problem does come back and i find myself hard booting everytime. as with your volume display thing sumr.

i had that too a while ago when the quick launch buttons WERENT working. when i used the remote it had that green display and the windows one.

and as a gamer i was annoyed aswell! but what i just realised is that i dont have that rocket ship thing anymore. and only one display comes up.

so my advice is to get rid of that rocket ship (whatever its called) blast it out of the sky lol.

hmmm i dont remember how i got rid of that but yeah its gone and i dont have that problem anymore.

currently i have flashed the bios to the oldest version to see if that provides a constant cure. the hp people are always talking about restoring the hp settings maybe its the bios the is disrupting the bios settings.

because i think the quicklaunch buttons actually rely on the predetory part of windows (bios). when they make the 'beep' sound its not comming from the speakers mounted on the top. its coming from the internal speakers.

so i will give that a go and will get back to you guys shortly with good/bad news.

tc and good luck!

[sumr]

Ricardo HK:
Perhaps you want to change your power schemes hibernation setting to Never.

Yama:
The rocket ship has been blasted out of space LOL : ) I will let you all know if the buttons stop working.

[yama_2]

hey sumr

after flashing bios to the old one everything seemed to be going well the light was on and it was working.

but i noticed the light turned off and stopped working all together when i played counter strike in full screen!

im annoyed badly. and the other thing too is the manifold of the lid is starting to open up! its cracking on the sides. everytime you open the lid the side gets cracked open. i have to actually press them together!

which bios are you running now? see if the same thing happens to you to sumr?

later

[Ricardo HK]

What?
OMG, I'm really starting to get worried. Life was too smooth with my VAIO. I hope I don't regret eternally for buying this hp thing.

Sumr, thanks for the suggestion. That's what I'm doing now. The problem is that sleep mode doesn't turn off all lights, including the external one, so I need to shut down the computer every night.

[sumr]

Yama:

I'm running the latest BIOS, vF.27 (7/07).

Does counterstrike have audio settings that would override the system (Quick Launch audio . . .)?

That stinks that the lid is separating. I have the 9000t CTO notebook and the lid has one release switch. I've often wondered if it will hold up as it's hard to release the switch at the same time as opening the lid without lifting the weight of the lid by the edges. So you're out of warranty?

The letters on my keyboard are wearing off (A, S, W, E, C, and O are half gone) and only the AWES are gaming keys - so what's up with the O wearing off? The spacebar also has visible wear. I guess we know where they saved money in production. I do like the quality of the screen.

I also have a HP7300 All-in-One and it is supposed to work on a network. It doesn't.

Ricardo HK: Why is it a problem that sleep mode doesn't turn off all lights? Isn't sleep just ready to resume versus hibernate. The minimal system requirements at ready shouldn't be a problem - right? Although I do think it's a good thing to shut down once in while anyway.

[Ricardo HK]

Hey Sumr,

the problem is that the HDX has a powerful bright glowing-in-the-dark logo on top of it's lid, which remains glowing when it's closed. The computer stays in my bedroom, so you guess how it is to sleep (human sleep) with all glowing lights in the dark... The room becomes like a disco.

[yama_2]

sumr

i duno know if it has settings that shut it down not sure but..

hows your quick launch buttons going? still alive?

i have a release switch too on my dv9009nr but the place where shell that holds the insides of the screen is departing at the point where they meet.

ive got 3 year international warranty but then i would have to send the laptop to someone and wait for ages for them to fix it.

[Ricardo HK]

I've used a P35 Toshiba for 1 year or so. Never had ANY problem with it, but little issues with the paint/finishing, etc, which is okay for a reasonable priced laptop, but no hardware or software failures.

[sumr]

PROBLEM: QUICK LAUNCH BUTTONS DON'T WORK
CAUSE: HIBERNATION
WORK AROUND FIX: HARD BOOT BY UNPLUGGING WITH BATTERY OUT

My system:
HP Pavillion dv9000t CTO Notebook Pc
64 bit machine running Windows XP regular not XP 64 bit)
BIOS F.27

***The question remains; do they stop working when the system hibernates using the original BIOS?***

My Quick Launch buttons died for the first time since unplugging to fix the Quick Launch buttons.

I gamed on battery last night which is unusual. I closed the lid when done. The laptop hibernated even though I had the Home/Office Desk power scheme selected because it has settings for "Plugged In" (default is to never hibernate) and "Running on Batteries" (default is to hibernate).

I've now changed all settings in all schemes to never hibernate.

Ricardo HK: I can see how glowing lights would be a bother - I'd cut out duct tape in the shape of the lighted logo and color it black with a permanent marker like a sharpie.

Yama: Getting warranty repair is hard to wait for!

[lizardfina]

So, I'm wondering if anyone can help me out with the quicklaunch buttons in a completely different way. I would very much like to turn OFF the beeping, without completely disabling the functionality. Is this at all possible, and if so, how can it be done?

Thanks,

liz

[sumr]

I googled "quick launch buttons stop beeping" and found this:

http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/hp-quickplay-buttons

"3) The buttons will still beep if you push them, so if you want to turn this feature off, you can simply just restart and go through the BIOS, where there is a feature to turn off the sound for buttons"

To get into the BIOS push F10, Esc, F1, Del, or F12 (depending on your PC) while your system is booting.

CAUTION: While in the BIOS, make certain you do not accidentally make unwanted changes to other settings. If you accidentally change the value of a setting and you don't know what to change it back to, exit BIOS setup and select DO NOT SAVE CHANGES. Reboot and enter the BIOS again and give it another try.

If you decide to try this, let us know how it went. Best wishes.

[lizardfina]

Yeah, I found that almost immediately after posting my original question. I tried it twice, and it didn't work at all. My laptop is an HP Compaq Presario V6000, and the guide was for a different HP model, so that might be why it didn't work.

Thanks anyways.

[sumr]

I hope you find the solution. I'd really like to know what you found that works eventually. You'd think they would have adequate software for Quick Launch to customize our "Learn, Use, and Create" experience!

Best wishes!

[Jan Kauffmann]

I have a new HDX9050EO dragon PC. The buttons worked in the beginning, but now they don't. I have now tried to reinstall from factory settings - still no solution. Have anybody called HP to get an answer? It cannot be true that you have to reboot w/o batteries?

JAn

[sumr]

[quote] I have a new HDX9050EO dragon PC. The buttons worked in the beginning, but now they don't. I have now tried to reinstall from factory settings - still no solution. Have anybody called HP to get an answer? It cannot be true that you have to reboot w/o batteries?

While there may be another solution than the one I posted in this thread, none of us have found it yet. If you do, please post.