Upgraded your HP TouchSmart IQ500/800 to Windows 7? A tip on installing the new apps.

57 CommentsHP TouchSmart, Software, Windows 7

(Update 2009-11-05: Looks like one more application is now made available for IQ500/800 customers: Twitter)

(Update 2010-02-05: The “shell” has been updated from 3.0.32.0 to 3.0.35.0 on HP’s support site. I’ve updated the link here as well)

I can’t get into every detail of the upgrade process (how to install Windows 7, drivers, etc.), but I thought I would list the HP TouchSmart software applications that are currently available for download and suggest a good order of installation to you. This is all just interim, personal information until something official is made available.

So what’s currently up there on the HP support site? Here’s the list (as of the time of this post) in the order that would be good to follow when installing (again, this may differ from whatever official guidance may come out later; it’s my personal take on it as of right now):

Note that the Live TV application only works with a certain set of TV tuner models. I snagged the links in this post (which may get outdated over time) from the updates page for the IQ527. Since your model may be different, the Live TV app may not work for you. That’s partly why it’s listed last.

So there it is, a refresh to work with Windows 7 for all the original applications that came with the IQ500/800, plus three new ones (Netflix, Hulu and Live TV.) A total of 390 MB of new software. All for just the cost of download bandwidth and your time to install everything.

57 Comments

  1. technabob

    So I ran through these upgrades on my Touchsmart 815, and most of them worked. However, the Webcam update said “your system does not meet the minimum requirements for this update. The update was canceled.(9996)”. Any idea why? Is there some unsupported hardware on older models?

    Also, any ideas on if I’ll be able to get some of the other new apps like Twitter and Touchsmart Canvas that aren’t on your list?

  2. GeekTieGuy

    Sorry, I’m not sure why that error message was produced. It depends on how the update was put together, and I have no insight into the details of that. As far as the other apps go, only time will tell. Some updates take a while to post because of the number of updates there are in total and the position they have “in line”. I don’t know if Twitter and Canvas are “in line” or not.

  3. Rob

    lol, I STILL can’t get Hulu to function from within the TS application.

  4. GeekTieGuy

    Rob, please restart the computer after the Hulu app is done updating, not just the HP TouchSmart software. That should do it.

  5. joe

    I just wanted to say thanks. I’m not a real computer buff and never would have known that all these updates were possible. Thanks again!

  6. Tony

    Has HP made clear whether Canvas and Recipe will ever be made available to legacy Touchsmart users?

  7. GeekTieGuy

    I don’t think HP has made any specific announcement about that. Unfortunately, I can’t speak to it. Maybe a good avenue would be to contact HP directly (perhaps via email) to find out for sure.

  8. Nextlevel

    I tried to install the twitter update on my hp iq524 and it shows in my list of add/remove programs. However it does not show in my HP TouchSmart Application. I uninstalled and reinstalled several times. I restarted everytime. I updated my touchsmart application, along with every other support updated available. No luck.
    Does this update install the full application? Is there another twitter application I need to install first?

  9. GeekTieGuy

    It installs the full application. The thing that’s probably missing is the part where the tile gets added to the TouchSmart “shell” software. Did you upgrade to Windows 7 using an upgrade DVD set from HP or did you buy Windows 7 elsewhere?

  11. GeekTieGuy

    I investigated some things around the Twitter upgrade installer, and it looks like it is indeed not adding the tile to the “shell” correctly. You can do the following to remedy that: copy the file starting with Twitter_ and ending with .xml from C:\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\TouchSmart\SmartCenter 2.0\DefaultAppSettings to C:\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\TouchSmart\SmartCenter 2.0\UpdateAppSettings. That should make the Twitter app show in the TouchSmart shell.

  12. Nextlevel

    Thanks it worked. You really seem to know your stuff. Thanks again.

  14. IBRAHIM

    I JUST BOUT THIS COMPUTER HP IQ 500 TOUCH SMART . I LIKE TO UP GRADE ,DOWNLOWD MY FREE WINDOW 7 HOW CAN I DO THAT …… THANK YOU

  16. lorenzo 24

    why i cant install hp touchsmart,aplication?it tells me:upgrade could not finish(259).i have i touchsmart iq500.it,ive instaled windows 7,now i cant install ,the error sound like this because is in italian language:l aggiornamento non é stato completato.(259).please respond me how to install it.thanks.

  17. GeekTieGuy

    I’m not sure why that is. Did you install Windows 7 “clean”? In other words, did you wipe out everything on the hard drive when you installed it?

  18. lorenzo 24

    yes i ve made a clean install,i formated the disk everything ,but i ve succeded to install it extracting from install pack,(with winrar)and i installed with setup exe from folder setup.thanks anyway!

  19. GeekTieGuy

    Depending on which update you downloaded, you may need to unpack one more level down using winrar and then run the MSI file.

    I think the clean install is messing things up for you. HP doesn’t support those kinds of scenarios.

  20. Andrew

    Hi. I have been looking for a tech site about this machine and this seems to be about the best. The machine is an HP Touchsmart IQ500 running Vista home it came with. The problem is that the built in webcam is broken, does not make a picture just colours. I have bought another webcam which is Vista compliant but, when trying to use it, the light for the built in webcam comes on, even though the application (Skype or Windows Live Messenger) has the external one selected, and it refuses to transmit a picture.
    I think I need to disable or uninstall the built in webcam but cannot, for the life of me, find it in services, programs and functions or anywhere else!
    If andyone knows how to solve this issue, could they please let me know.
    Many thanks. Andrew

  21. GeekTieGuy

    Andrew,

    Your best bet for getting an answer to this is to post it at http://www.touchsmartdevzone.com in the forums. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how exactly to address this issue. You could open up the computer and disconnect the internal USB connection for the built-in webcam, but that’s not easy to do.

  22. Andrew

    Hi,

    Thanks for the reply. I shall check out the site. As it happens, the machine is under HP warrentee which turned out to be rather fortunate on Thursday last as the hard drive blew!! Even the BIOS could not see it, so HP collected it on Friday and it is now in Bracknell having both issues dealt with 🙂

    Thanks again
    Andrew

  23. John

    How come I cannot re-size tiles after upgrading the TouchSmart Application software following a Windows 7 upgrade? I also noticed that the Windows icon is now not in the top left corner of screen to toggle between desktop and TouchSmart Software. Any suggestions?

  24. GeekTieGuy

    You can’t resize the tiles because of a design change in the software. The design change is that you can now interact with the application in the tile directly. That change requires tiles to stay the same size.

    The Windows icon has been replaced by a minimize button in the upper right corner. That’s more in line with standard Windows application behavior.

  25. Kelsey

    I’ve downloaded and installed all these updates — but my Touchsmart application still doesn’t open. If I double click on it (or push the Touchsmart button) it flashes up and then disappears, never to open completely. Any thoughts? I’m beginning to think there’s an issue with the shell itself — but I’ve updated it. Is there a way to uninstall and reinstall it?

  27. Ellison Keller

    I have an HP TouchSmart IQ504t PC and several of the upgrades recommended here as quoted from the HP support site include files that are not available for my model (e.g., RSS, Browser, and DVD). These seem like important files so should I be pulling them from the IQ527 site to install on my device regardless or bypass those downloads all together? Also the DVD download seems to be missing from your link as well as when tyring to pull directly from HP. Is this upgrade no longer needed or is this a glich with the HP site?

  28. GeekTieGuy

    Ellison,

    You should be able to pull the updates from the IQ527 Windows 7 software page. I’m not sure why they’re not available from the IQ504 page, they should work regardless of the model you have. As far as the DVD update goes, sometimes updates get temporarily removed when a new update is on the way. Perhaps that’s what’s going on there. Hang in there for a number of days, and maybe the DVD update will be back.

  29. potatoindianajones

    hi i have a hp lq505 and had seen but change it to win7 the problem is that HP TouchSmart software applications were no good and say your system does not meet the minimum requirements for this update. The update was canceled. (9996). but using the HP TouchSmart software applications lq527 hp model all work well want to thank you for your help
    thanks thanks thanks thanks

  30. rags

    What did you guys ever figure out for Kelsey? I am having the same issue and all of the files seem to be the correct versions. Thanks

  31. GeekTieGuy

    Kelsey ran the command line “smartcenter chromeless” once, and after that things started working.

    There is another potential issue that has to do with file system permissions getting restricted in the %programdata%\hewlett-packard folder, but that one has been rare as far as I can tell. Mostly caused by installing certain printer drivers.

  32. Rocketz

    Hi GeekTieGuy

    I have the same problem as Kelsey and Rags. I installed everything and double click on the icon and the touchsmart boot screen comes of for a second or two but then nothing happens.

    I have a Touchsmart IQ830 and upgraded the VISTA 64bit to Win7 Home Premium 64bit.

    I also have printer connected HP C4380

    Should I uninstall all the apps and try again? Please help

  33. GeekTieGuy

    It may be that you have the permissions restriction issue with the %programdata%\hewlett-packard folder. Make sure that it and all subfolders have read/write permission for “Everyone”.

  35. GeekTieGuy

    Could you look if there is a file in this folder: C:\ProgramData\Hewlett-Packard\TouchSmart\SmartCenter 2.0
    It should be a text file called SmartCenterTrace.txt

  36. Rocketz

    I found it not in the SmartCenter 2.0 folder where you told me to look but in the following folder C:\Users\Admin\HP\HP TouchSmart

  40. Rocketz

    Here you go, really appreciate your effort

    HP TouchSmart UpdateAppSettings folder not accessible. Check file/folder permissions.
    vid hp.SmartCenter.Lib.UpdateAMSConfigFileHandler..ctor()

    [EDIT: extraneous text removed]

  41. GeekTieGuy

    Well, that means that there are still issues with read/write access to %ProgramData%\Hewlett-Packard and the subfolders underneath it. Please double-check that all users have “full control” permissions to that folder and all files and folders underneath.

  42. Rocketz

    Hi

    Well you are going to have to excuse my thickness, I am good googler but thats about it 😉

    I am running a swedish win7 and there are two program folders one that says Program and one that says Program (X86) some I am translating.

    Aha could not find it because it was a hidden folder. I did all the admin changes (god what a mission) and now get the smart center up. SHould I reinstall all the apps?

    Thanks so much

  44. GeekTieGuy

    I don’t think you need to reinstall the apps. They don’t usually store data in %programdata%\hewlett-packard.

    I guess I was assuming certain things, so I didn’t make my instructions all that clear. Sorry about that. Seems you got it worked out, though. You can actually type %programdata% into the address bar of Windows Explorer, and it will take you to the right place.

  45. GeekTieGuy

    That’s a good suggestion. So far few people have run into the problem, though. So it didn’t seem necessary. I’ve been working on a standalone tool that does the permission changes for you, but so far I’ve not found too many people willing to test it. One issue is that changing the permissions requires a UAC prompt, and some people (probably a majority of users) dislike programs that put up a UAC prompt.

  46. jcallais

    Anyone have any luck installing TouchSmart SmartCenter on a new Windows 7 64bit installation. I updated my system and now my tiles are missing. I had to do a lot of tricks to get the base SmartCenter install to work in the first place. Any help would be appreciated.

  47. wayloo

    anyone fixed that webcam problem? i have a an hp touchsmart notebook pc running windows 7 professional and when i try to download the newest webcam update (since i cant run it otherwise) i get the 9996 error as well.
    pretty computer inexperienced, but kind of desperate

  48. Brad

    Can you find the BIOS update ver 5.10 that can be install from Windows 7?

  49. GeekTieGuy

    I’m not sure I follow the question entirely. Are you looking for a BIOS update that lets you install Windows 7? The BIOS doesn’t impose any restrictions on what OS you can install, Vista or Windows 7. Also, I don’t think BIOS updates are tied to a particular version of Windows. Most BIOS updates that work on Windows can be installed from either Windows Vista or Windows 7. You don’t mention which model of HP TouchSmart you want the BIOS ver 5.10 for. It’s usually pretty easy to find any updates like that on the support pages of hp.com. You enter your TouchSmart model number into a search box and then do a little bit of navigation to find any published updates.

  50. DAVID DICKINSON

    I have just installed a new Vista 64 OS on a new harddrive and cannot install the Touchsmart software on my system,any tutorial would be helpful…….Dave.

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