~VX2S Owners' Lounge~

i think i shall call asus tomorrow about the second battery...

i will let you know what they say....

 

I've been having minor problems with my ASUS VX2S since I bought it. ie. the sleep crash problem, and lately the sound goes dead and hangs the system.

So I updated it using the winflash bios with the latest 301 bios. My current one was 208.

Instead of running as planned - the system switched itself off - unfortunately, the sound problem hung the computer at the same time. And I had to restart the machine

The bios did complete an update at the bios startup.

However upon restarting i got a BAD CHECKSUM error message - then a whole bunch of text goes up quickly before I can read it.

There was a heart stopping moment when Vista seemed to hang at the startup - but then all seemed to run smoothly.

However upon switching off the machine, the bios would again broadcast error messages. But then run ok.

I experienced a similar problem with the ASUS bios update before - 5 years ago on a different machine of course - after awhile the system crashed and was totally unrecoverable.

What can I do to reflash the bios?

 

Well you can always download the old BIOS off support.asus.com, and flash it over the new one. You can check my guide for details (signature) on how to force an older BIOS being written over a newer one.

BTW the checksum error is OK after the BIOS is updated, that means the settings are not OK -- that's OK because the BIOS changed. However after you reset the settings, and set them the way you like it, the message should no longer appear. If you do continue without loading the defaults, then it might appear again. In a nutshell, make sure you load the default settings after updating the BIOS.

If it still gives errors after that, post back.

 

if it can help: I've the 301 BIOS ver. and no problem with that.

one thing I noticed (but I don't think it's connected with the bios) when I start the webcan on msn, if I try to start lifeframe application, the notebook crashes! btw even if I don't start the application, msn is not usable after a while.

maybe the webcam is faulty? moreover and this is the worse thing), right side of the webcam moves up and down in his hinge! damn!

 

At the moment it seems fine. the bios at the splash screen flashes a load of info. but i don't see the checksum error.

It seems mostly "INTEL ME" messages. How do i pause the screen? and how do i load optimum settings or default? I followed the instructions from ASUS to the T - but its came out all different. I guess my problem was that I used WINFLASH. But instead of Winflash running - it cut to EZYFLASH after doing an automatic restart. Its bizarre.

Thanks for the advice btw! have a good weekend.

 

I'd like to know if there is a chance to enable the integrated GFX, and disable the 8600M GT like in the AW m15x. I think this notebook has the same chipset and processor, so there would be a chance that we can also switch from 8600 GPU to the integrated GFX. this can improve battery life, when you don't need the GPU.
stupid question?

again, if anyone has some infos about the second optical battery, and where to get it, it would be appreciated. thank you
(I'm interested in buying even the lightscribe optical drive, so...)

 

sniper968: you can pause by pressing PAUSE. Resume by pressing Enter.

I would suggest that given you're not quite sure the BIOS setup went OK, that you do it again. This time use the EasyFlash BIOS utility -- check my guide for BIOS update. Write the same BIOS again. Although, if the BIOS setup really had gone wrongly, your computer would most likely have been a paperweight at this moment.

You can load defaults by pressing F2 at boot, then navigating through the tabs of the BIOS until you find the "Load Defaults" option.

Also note that the information flashing on the screen might be quite normal. E.g., the default settings have Boot from LAN enabled, and that might log all those messages.

WLF46WLF: Does this notebook have an integrated GPU as well? As far as I know, only the U6 has this combo (or was it the U3?) in the ASUS lineup.

 

well, I don't really know... maybe it is a question of drivers, I mean: chipset santarosa GM965 supports the intel graphic integrated X3100. isn't there a way to enable it, so you can switch between 8600 GPU & integrated one?

if you take a look at the AW m15x, it has this feature, and I think it has the same chipset that supports integrated graphic card.

I don't know, if it would be possible, I think it will improve battery life 45/60 mins. for a notebook with 3:20hrs it's not bad

 

I don't really know the hardware details... but I suspect the chipset supporting X3100 isn't the same as having it on board. I'm pretty sure that if the VX2S had had a switchable-GPU, ASUS would have marketed that heavily. (maybe they did and I don't remember)

 

Thanks EBE. I did several cold restarts of the computer and it seems ok. Just INTEL ME doing a checklist of some sort. I tried pressing F2 and CTRL P - but both did not access the bios.

 

That's weird. F2 should do it on any ASUS laptop. Try Del, F8, F12, and other typical keys

I don't know what Intel ME is...

 

you have to press F2 on the first screen with the lambo logo

 

does anyone know if i can install a solid state drive in this laptop? i dont know much about solid state drives yet, as i have done very little research...
has anyone done this? is it a good idea? pros/cons??

 

If it has the correct interface (SATA I suppose) there's no reason for which it shouldn't work.

Pros: fast, no moving parts. Cons: small capacity, very expensive.

 

Pressing f2 at the Lamborghini spash screen helped. Everything seems to be in order. However that INTEL ME bios program runs each and every time I restart- on cold boots - it'd flash more data messages. So far I see no error or warning messages. INTEL ME is somekind of bios program made up by INTEL. I don't know how it got there. I just ran the 301 bios using winflash and its been appearing at each restart. So far, the computer seems to be running well. better than before actually in some marginal way. Occasionally Vista seems to hang at its initial splash screen for 10 seconds or so. Then the progression bars light up and move.

 

Can;t Intel ME ( http://softwarecommunity.intel.com/articles/eng/1004.htm ) be disabled from the BIOS? I don't suppose you need it (see link).

 

hey, im curious.... my left touchpad button does not "click" like my right one does.... it feels like pushing down on the touchpad itself. it does select things like its supposed to, but it feels like im not pushing down at all.... is it supposed to "click"???
i cant remember if it did, and has just stopped or if it was always this way...

 

my left one clicks better than the right one...

 

does xp run well on this laptop? is there drivers for everything with xp?

i was on the asus website, and most of the drivers seemed to only be vista.. is this a problem??

 

It's possible many of those drivers will work in XP as well (for the new M models, that is the case, for instance). But you'd be on your own figuring out the rest, I suppose, unless you find somebody else who already tried it.

Isn't the Vx2 based on some other, "basic" ASUS ensemble (V1S? -- I don't really remember; e.g., the first Lamborghini was based off the V6J)? If so most of the hardware will be the same, and any guide for the "basic" model will work for you to a large extent.

 

WOW!!!!!

getting vista off this laptop was much harder than i thought, but now that it is off, and i have xp up and running with all my drivers installed... this laptop is SCREAMIN' FAST!!

that was the best decision i made!!!

i cannot tell you enough how much better gaming is now!

THANK YOU "SASOVICS" FOR THE DRIVER PACKAGE YOU MADE!!! YOU ARE A LIFE-SAVER!!!

for those looking for xp drivers, just check out pg 43 of this thread, and then thank sasovics for doing such a great job with that.

 

thx for the tip, I'll add the link to that post to the Info Booth

 

i recently updated my bios to 301 hoping it would fix my crash problem. However it still crashes! anytips on how to fix this?

 

when does it crash?

 

Uh, yeah. Please detail the "crash problem".

 

it crashes randomly, its crashed when i was watching a movie, surfing the web, etc etc
when/if it crashes again i will b sure to copy down the error code

 

Random crashes == usually faulty RAM.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3020173#bsod

If the error code is always the same, then it might be some driver. Copy the STOP error code, and any file that is mentioned on the BSOD.


BSODs can also happen because of undervolting or overclocking.

 

i got BSOD and this time it says UDFS_FILE_SYSTEM
stop 0x000009b
would that be due to faulty ram?

 

Are the errors different when you get other BSODs? If so, yes, perhaps it's faulty RAM. Do the memtest86+, it doesn't hurt.

Are the errors always the same, identical to the one you posted?

 

It really depends. I'm using a U6S at the moment, and it has BSOD at least 5 times in the last 48 hours. The memory modules are perfectly fine, and I've updated the Vista to the latest SP1.

Talk about poor code writing

 

Hi, I am trying to get my UWATEC dive computer to talk with my VX2S via infrared. Unfortunately the VX2S isn't picking up the Uwatec. Where exactly is the VX2S infra red port?

 

in front, right side (I guess)

 

hi guys,
i recently wiped vista and installed xp pro on my vx2s. thanks to sasovics for the drivers and e.b.e for the installation guide...it helped a lot!. I have a couple of issues:

1. i get bsod when i try to enable sata enhanced mode (from compatible mode) in my bios. i downloaded the sata driver posted by sasovics and in the hardware device manager i have tried to update the drivers for intel ICH8M 3 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2828 with iastor.inf. when i click "have disk" and select the inf file i get a list of various sata controllers. Which one should i pick:
631xESB/632XESB SATA AHCI Controller
82801FBM SATA AHCI Controller
82801GBM ...
82801GR/GH ...
82801HEM/HBM...
82801HR/HH/HO ..
ICH9 SATA AHCI Controller

2. I have an exclamation mark next to PCI Simple Communications Controller. i tried using the wizard to find a driver on the internet but it does not. I read on previous posts that a forced install of HECI.inf would work. How do you do this?

thanks again

 

oxyd: you should post this in the BST forum instead.

 

Just did, thanks for your advice.

 

Hi, just a quickie, I want to do a CPU upgrade on my VX2s, does it support the T9300 as in the higher spec Asus Lambo models?

Cheers.

 

Ok, better question, what's the most powerful CPU option I can upgrade my VX2s to, T7700 or T9300?

Any ideas?

 

Hi, just a quickie, I want to do a CPU upgrade on my VX2s, does it support the T9300 as in the higher spec Asus Lambo models?

Cheers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, better question, what's the most powerful CPU option I can upgrade my VX2s to, T7700 or T9300?

Any ideas?

 

Check the socket type on the Lambo, which I believe to be 479, then read up on the compatibility of those Penryn processors and see if they use the same socket. If so, then you're good to go.

 

Hello again, boys and girls!

I have not been in this thread (or in the forums, for that matter) in a couple of months.. and neihter have you it seems..

I came to this site, and thread, back in March (page 54, if you're curious), cause I did have a shut-down problem.

Finally I'd managed to kick myself in the butt and send it to repair. That was not many days ago. It was returned so quickly I couldn't even believe it -I'm never that lucky when it comes to this sorts of things.. And I was right! On the paper it said that they didn't find any errors, but they did change the fan for some reason (don't remember why, and I don't have the note here, but it was nothing special anyway). I tried to run the tests again: 3DMark05 and 06. This is what happened.

3DMark05: Shut down
3DMark06: OK
3DMark06: OK
3DMark05: Shut down
3DMark05: Shut down
3DMark06: Shut down

I returned it again the next day, and now I've recieved it again for the second time. The first thing I tried was the 3DMark-tests..

I tried the 3DMark05 4 times, and 3DMark06 3 times, a total of 7 tests and not a single shut down or crash!

This time they didn't find any errors still, or so they say, but they've changed the VGA-card "due to suspicion". Well it seems to work.

Did not have the time to test it any more (I had the charger somewhere else, and I'd only managed 7 tests before the battery ended), but I don't know if it's necessary? What I mean is: I'm a bit suspicious, to be honest. Just waiting for it to shut down again..

I'll report back when I know some more.. When I'm more sure, or if it did shut down again..




Anyway: I have a copule of questions that is not "shut down" -related.

1) Do you recommend 64bit Vista on this machine (I'm going for dual-boot with XP, so it's the 32 vs 64 bit thingy I'm curious about)? Also: Why? And what's to gain? Are there any drawbacks to the 64 bit? Driver support?

2) I do have Vista 32 bit Ultimate which did follow when I bought the Asus, but the two CD's (Vista/Asus-CD and drivers I guess), which is used to restore the PC to it's default, adds a lot of stupid programs and such that I don't want. And I can't controll the the partition size, etc., either. Is it possible to use another Vista CD and somehow get it legally and corretly activated (like one downloaded?!)? Since I do have the product key underneath the notebook?

3) The Chi-Mei(?) display?! How can I get one of those? Order? Send it back to repair? Is it expensive? Is it worth it?


Many thanks in advance!!


NotebookBone

 

I had the same shut down issues! sent it to repair (for many other issues also) they told me the notebook was fine; it didn't have any kind of problem (I think that because of the long period they hide some problems officially). when it returned the problem wasnt there anymore. no shut down problems now. but I have to retest it, because I think it could be a thermal paste problem and that the problem could come again!

for the other question: I use vista64 and I adore it! I found every driver and it work perfectly. aven 32bit programs work a little bit better, and if you have somethink that work 64bit you can use it.
I installed it on march, I installed/disinstalled many programs, I worked on it hard, but it still work like the first day! xp it's only a bad memory for me

 

Thanks for your reply!

Did you find your 64 bit drivers on the Asus site, or did you have to search everywhere?

You think it's possible to use the license on another Vista Ultimate 32 bit? From a different source, that is.. Cause I really don't like all the things that are installed on default..


Glad to hear the notebook is working for you now!

 

well you have the recovery DVDs right? you can have your clean version of vista ultimate 32bit just not putting in the dvd with the drivers. after that you can put it in when vista starts and choose only drivers and not utilities you don't want! btw, my dvd recovery was fault (oh dear) so I installed a clean version of vista 32 and then the drivers, but you can do the same!

you can't use your license in another OS on another machine, because the licence is OEM, but hear this: when I installed vista 32 bit from another dvd (because my recovery was fault) I had to do the phone activation, because it didn't activate my license automatically. when I installed vista 64 to test it for the free 30 days I try the same procedure by phone and it activate my genuine version. in my opinion the oem version is only @32 OR @64 bit, but if you can find the installation dvd by yourself you can install also the other version, while in the retail one you have support for both version and you can install it on the machine you want

 

Thanks again for your reply..

No, I think you have misunderstood me..

I have two CD's that came with my Asus, to install and recover my OS and such. But I have not found a way to choose what to install, and most important: what NOT to install.. This is a Vista 32 bit OS.

But, let's say I want to control what to install, so I get a hold of another PLAIN regular Vista 32 bit OS (that does not do "everything" for you). It's still Vista 32 bit OS, but it's not from the same CD, but it's still on the same notebook: my Asus!

 

I have 2 dvds, one with the OS an the other one with drivers & utilities. when you recover it asks you the dvd with drivers and utilities, you you must not put it in and reboot. you will have vista without drivers and utilities and then you can choose them with the dvd into the OS. something wrong?
i'm sorry my english is not perfect

 

Hello again!

Sorry for the late reply, I've been somewhat busy the last days..

I really didn't think you could choose to NOT insert the driver-disc, so I thought the problem was a bit larger than it was, but I've solved it now! Thanks..



The good news is that I have a Asus VX2S that seems to work perfectly! Not a single shutdown yet, after the repair!



I have some questions still, though.. it's about the drivers found @ asus.com..


ATK Generic Function Utility - What is this? Drivers?
ATK Hotkey Utility - To use the hotkeys, right?
ATK 0100 ACPI Utility - What is this?
ATK OSD2 Utility - What is this?

LAN Driver - What's the use for this? The network seems to work fine regardless?! I'm connected through a TP-cable right now..

What camera do I have? There are 4 driver-packs to choose from..

And, what are these:
Intel Matrix Storage Driver
Intel Turbo Memory Technology
Intel Active Management Technology

ASUS NB Probe
ASUS Live Update utility
Mult****** Utility
NB Software kit Utility
PowerForPhone
ASUS Data Security Manager Utility
InstantFun Application
SPLENDID Utility
ATK_Media



A lot of questions, I know.. but, if anyone could help me to explain these things, it would be great!


Thanks in advance!!

 

I recommend you install all these. GFU and 0100 are required (I think) for a good functioning of the power management of your notebook. The other two are optional, but the hotkeys won't work without the hotkey utility.

You have the default Windows driver. If it works fine, no real reason to upgrade.

Check the advanced properties in Device Manager, you should see a device vendor ID. Then, support.asus.com should list the device vendor IDs for the four types of drivers, and you should be able to choose.

Otherwise, just try all four of them...

* Intel Matrix Storage Driver
SATA/RAID

* Intel Turbo Memory Technology
Turbo Memory, as it says

* Intel Active Management Technology
Don't know this one.


All these below are optional utilities. Have a look at my Vista guide for some comments on them.
ASUS NB Probe
ASUS Live Update utility
Mult****** Utility
NB Software kit Utility
PowerForPhone
ASUS Data Security Manager Utility
InstantFun Application
SPLENDID Utility
ATK_Media

 

Thank you so much for your reply!!

I really didn't think anyone would bother, but I'm so glad to be proved wrong!!

Still, I have a couple of follow-ups:

I didn't quite understand the part about finding which cam-drivers to use!? I have Vista? Where did you want me to look, again?

Turbo Memory? Do I like need that? Does it improve my memory a lot? At all?


Again; Thank you very much!!

 

Device Manager. You're on your own finding it in Vista, I do it by pressing Windows+Break, then Hardware tab, then Device Manager. (XP)

Then, find the camera device. Right click, properties. Then Details. You should get an alphanumeric string that describes the device. Now compare that with the driver descriptions on support.asus.com. You should have a (Reasonable) match with one of them.

Otherwise, as i said, just try all 4 of them, one should work.

Turbo Memory -- No you don't need it, I would say. So don't bother.

 

WLF46WLF, i too have tried Vista x64. I found all the drivers necessary (i think), and it ran great as far as remember, EXCEPT... it took about 5-7 minutes EVERY time i booted to windows. It was so bad i had to go back to x86. Can you please let me know where i can find all the drivers you used to properly have Vista x64 working? Much Appreciated!