New topics: Your Pet, IOU, Baby IQ, The Poisons, Birther II, Games, Future Power

Welcome to the Tech Space!

Microsoft Related

Skip to end of metadata
Go to start of metadata

HP HDX 16 laptop has a touch sensitive chrome strip at the top of the keyboard with various controls embedded in it. Unfortunately, this strip is overly sensitive, and is prone to phantom activation. It will act as if the user has touched the wifi enable/disable knocking the computer offline. The onscreen popup for the volume/bass/treble controls will frequently activate and sit in the middle of the screen.

Solutons tried:

  • updating drivers - didn't help
  • updating bios - didn't help

Google searches tried for a solution:

  • HP HDX 16 disable button bar
    • http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-PC-Sound-and-Audio/HDX-16t-Sound-problem/td-p/13432
      • problem is sound bar keep poping up for no reason and adjusting itself without anyone touching anything
      • Hey, please go here

        http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

        please try to get to your hdx product page by automatic detection, just to make sure you are not going anywhere you are not suppose.

        Secondly, we want to go to software and driver dowloads, select your operating vista 32 or 64 bit and

        Thirdly, we want to download hp quick launch buttons driver from under Driver - Keyboard, Mouse and Input Devices.

        • Answer: removed the quick launch program, installed the new one from the HP site and the problem continued
      • I have an HP HDX 18T with the same problem. The sound turns on and off and it affects the internet connection too! It started when I downloaded and updated the bios from version F.20 to F.21 to F23. The on and off volume with onscreen pop-up and the affected internet connection became severe that I reverted back to bios ver. F.21 which seem lessen the occurrence
      • Possible solution:
        How to disable the touchpad button panel?

        The controls can be disabled by ending the process SmartMenu.exe.

        You can either disable it temporarily (http://www.pcpitstop.com/faq/disable.asp#stop) or permanently (http://www.pcpitstop.com/faq/disable.asp#msconfig).

        • Trying msconfig:
          • Services does not list SmartMenu. I already disabled Startup fro "HP Quick Launch Buttons", "HP MediaSmart", and "HP Wireless Assistant", and still the button bar was just going crazy. On my HDX 16, I don't see any smartmenu.exe listed under MSConfig->Startup or services.
    • http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-envy-hdx/388917-hp-hdx-16-touch-buttons-faulty-adjusts-volume-bass-turns-off-wireless-randomly.html
      • Randomly, even as I am typing here, the volume bar (with treble, bass etc) will appear on screen and will increase/reduce very quickly as if im pushing down on the touch buttons, this stops me being able to type, sometimes crashing the computer.
        • fault also occurs for the wireless LAN button to the far right, which will randomly disable (turn red) as if i'd touched it, sometimes causing the desktop to crash but more importantly causing me to lose connection and have to reconnect on a frequent basis.
      • The row of touchpad buttons above the keyboard on our HDX 16 went flaky after about a month. They started activating themselves randomly (popping up the volume indicator or turning off the WiFi), and finally reached the point that trying to adjust the volume would always turn off the WiFi.
  • hp hdx 16 wireless problem site:hp.com
    • HP HDX 18T MediaSmart wireless switches on and off by itself
      • No solutions
    • HDX16 Quick Launch Button Issue - HP Support Forum
      • HP has sent me three HDX16's in the past two months and each one that they send has an issue with the Quick Launch Buttons.
      • The Quick Launch Buttons will start working like I'm touching but I'm not even near the laptop. It will also shut off my Wi-Fi as well. The Wi-Fi will turn from blue to orange without anyone touching them. I called HP and they are aware of the issue and need to capture a laptop that is doing this.
      • Users in other threads have been told to update all drivers, update bios, and still had problems, requiring the laptop to be returned to HP for service.
      • The quick launch buttons randomly go off and on by itself. I reformatted my computer, did a software update, audio driver update, flash drive update, quick launch button update, and BIOS update. Nothing worked. The Quick Launch Buttons still pop up by itself.
      • Possible solution: Well, I kind of fixed it. I had to go into MSCONFIG and under the service tab I turned off hpqwmiex. It does not do it as much. Try that and let me know if it works. Answer: Hey I tried that, it did not work.
      • No one found any successful solution.
    • Random volume control popup
      • I have been having this same problem... volume box flashes on the screen... wireless goes off. After 3 hours with tech support on livechat, countless updates (wirelss, sound, quicklaunch and BIOS ) I'm being told I need to reformat my hard drive and I will lose EVERYTHING in my computer if I don't back it up to an external hard drive.
      • Was giving a presentation to some clients. Lost internet connection because the WiFi popup kept disabling/enabling. Then the volume popup took control of the machine and I couldn't even get a keystroke in. Had to hold the power button down and force a reboot.
  • hp hdx 16 wireless problem
    • How do I disable onscreen volume
      • its called "HPKBDAPP.exe". its description reads "hp quick touch on screen display" if your not confident about ending random tasks.
        • On windows vista found these in msconfig on hdx-16
          • "HP MediaSmart"
          • "HP Wireless assistant"
          • "HP Quick Launch Buttons" - in twice
          • Tried disabling all of the above
        • in taskmgr: qblctrl.exe - ending it did not disable the buttons
  • hp hdx 16 wifi touch sensitive buttons

Other keywords:

  • Google: hp hdx 16 wifi
  • Google: hdx wireless turns off and on
  • Google: hp hdx-16 volume control pops up
  • Google: hdx hp 16 wifi
  • Google: hp volume touch problem
  • Google: hp hdx 16- notebook wireless problems
  • Google: removing touchbar from HP laptop
  • Google: hdx 16 wireless off problem
Labels:
None
Enter labels to add to this page:
Please wait 
Looking for a label? Just start typing.

11 Comments

comments.show.hide

  1. Mar 29, 2010

    Anonymous

    I've had the same issues with this touch bar.  It is simply a bad design and HP will not fix or re-engineer it.   So basically if you bought this laptop, the sollution is, buy another model.

    Now, here is the fix I used.

    1) Open up case
    2) Remove Keyboard and cover
    3) Unplug the media bar ribbon cable
    4) Reassemble with ribbon cable unattached

    Laptop now works without phantom volume and toggling wireless.

    The downfall here is, this complete disables the wireless card since it can only be activated by this panel.  I carry around a USB wireless adapater with this laptop now so that I can actually use it.

  2. Jul 24, 2010

    Anonymous

    The real solution for me was uninstall :

    • "HP Wireless assistant"
    • "HP Quick Launch Buttons"
    • "HP Tone Control"

    Then remove all traces left in windows start services  etc and finally clean your registry...for this i use "ccleaner"

    Problem solved and you can adjust bass and treble with windows sound properties also the wifi and mute button in the touch panel still works.

    -Cba-

  3. Aug 22, 2010

    Anonymous

    I had the Volume control and Bass and Treble bars showing up ramdomly on my HDX 16 and after trying all the updates and uninstalling Quick Launch Buttons, Wireless Assistant and HP Tone Control I STILL HAD THE PROBLEM!  I finally unchecked the Media Smart Program in the Start-up Menu and that problem is gone (of course so is the use of Media Smart)

    The other problem of my WiFi going off and on randomly is still a mystery.  I cannot link it to a pattern of any kind.

    HELP....Does anyone know how to kill this monster?

    1. Sep 02, 2010

      Anonymous

      Keep calling them. They discontinued the touch strip in future iterations of the computer because it is so faulty. The only final solution is to send your computer in to be repaired. Mine went in 60 days ago and came back within 2 business days and has not had a problem since. You may have to keep bugging them about the problem until it is done.

      1. Feb 10, 2011

        Anonymous

        was that while you were with in your factory warranty? Because this issue didn't start happening to my computer until after my warranty ran out. Now my only options are spend either 49.99 or 99.99 for tech support that can't fix the issue or spend ONLY 349 to get it repaired OR buy a new damn laptop. If its a manufacture defect they should be able to fix it without making you spend this extra money it's ridiculous. I tried fixing it according to hp tech support and no dice so I'm pretty much out of luck it seems.

        1. Aug 30, 2011

          Anonymous

          Any solutions found? Happens to me too after the warranty expired of course..

  4. Sep 19, 2010

    Anonymous

    Same problem - I was getting close to insanity...

    Then lightning hit nearby and 'roasted' my TV, Satellite Receiver and a few other appliances.
    After rather expensive repairs, I followed the advice of an IT Guy and got a few "SurgeGuards (SZ-6)" - and to my surprise the problem with the "Flea Power" Keys was gone as well ?!
    Plug power-cable direct in socket and eventually the "Fleas" come back to live and depending on ???? do their dance from slow to rave.

    I am not a salesguy  of these things, so if you want to give it a try, google for the name above, get the brochure/datasheet and try a similar device.Neither am I an Electrician - I stumbled on it by coincidence and it works in my case (6 weeks and counting).

     The brand mentioned was available here in Thailand albeit they are sold at hefty premium price (around US$ 100 for 2,000W output), in Europe similar devices come at a fraction of this price.

    BTW - I tried one of the standard Battery UPS's - no impact on the the dancing Fleas... ;-)

    1. May 11, 2011

      Garnet Chaney

      I notice you posted the same message on a few other threads about this. Seems a little spammy, but I'm leaving the message for the following reason:

      I've noticed that Android phones, with a capacitative touch display, will have problems with their display when they are plugged into substandard AC adapters. The screens go wacky, sometimes I can't get past the security screen, but they recover immediately when the adapter is unplugged.

      I got my HDX out of storage recently and have been using it the last few days and thinking, this is a really good machine, better than the HP Envy 15 I replaced it with. I had trouble remembering why I rushed to upgrade. After a few hours use over the last couple of days, now today, the button bar is starting to go crazy again.

  5. Jul 27, 2011

    Anonymous

    Does anyone have fixed this on a linux installation?

  6. Dec 17, 2011

    Anonymous

    There is a fix for this - basically the problem is heat based and is fairly easily remedied by using hi-temp adhesive foil tape to shield the quick-launch soundbar area. My HDX16 was doing it for a past-time but has now not done it at all since applying the 'fix'

    Check out this link; http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware/HDX16-Quick-Launch-Button-Issue/td-p/85980/page/12

    The fix is located within post #120 by brian 220x

    Good luck!

  7. Feb 22, 2012

    Anonymous

    Well I had my Apvillion for 3 years and it came preloaded with Win 7.  I never had an issue with the phantom wifi or volume.  I did have issues with the video files crashing so I did a full reinstall with the recovery disks.  After 3 days and 200 software updates and driver updates (all windows update page) my computer started to do this on its own AND shut off my video.  I don't think it is an HP issue, it is a Win 7 update problem.  I only had the phantoms after the reinstall and now I have videos losing volumn (until I close and reopen file) or the computer restaring as if an auto update happened.  I have been leaving wifi disconnect and this doesn't happen, so I assume with my vast IT dergee that this is NOT an HP isue and they are just trying to cope until it goes away.  Since this only happenes when I watch video, I am hoping it was a video card driver update.  but since these are hidden in the package updates, I can't determine which it is.

Add Comment