W7S LCD Display Problem

Hello all,
I hope someone can help find the problem with my W7S, I'm afraid
I was using it normally, so it broke on windows... the colors went weird (a little bit pink) and the machine hang out.
So a forced the shut down and booted it again... I also have Ubuntu, so, on the Grub screen the graphics were weird, we can see 6 smalls screens duplicated, as shown on this picture when i was running Memory Test:

After some time, I rebooted and it works fine again, until the weird colors happens again and the machine hangs once again.

Anyone knows what it could be? I guess its a Hardware problem, maybe the lcd flat cable? I guess when I move my nottbook it can or hang up or back to work fine.

Sorry my english, and hope to get some help, thanks.

 

maybe this post will help you
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=243818

 

Hi, thanks for the reply..
I guess its not the case of overheating, since it is working for about 3 hours now without any problems.

But if I move it, or shut it down maybe it will show the problem again.

 

When you said the screen hangs whilst you are on windows/linux, my first initial reaction would be to monitor the CPU/GPU temperatures with NHC to check overheating; which might not be the case.

You also mention the screen goes a bit 'pink' which might suggest upgrading the graphics drivers to the latest one; though this might be a bit complicated if you are using Ubuntu.

But that picture of the LCD screen showing multiple instances of memtest indicates the problem happens even before the OS and drivers are even loaded, which leads me to believe that this is a hardware problem. Since the problem occurs when the laptop is moved, there might be a mechanical failure and as you have pointed out, loose connections, faulty screens, or maybe even a hard drive failure can contribute to this.

One more thing I can think of is to update to the latest BIOS, though I'm not aware of any updates which solves this type of problem.

 

Yes, I'm pretty sure it's a hardware problem. Bu t I don't think its the HD, since I never got any problem reading any files.
To make a test, I used my notebook with a external monitor, and it didn't hang up... I'll try using it a little more with a external monitor, to see if it will broke at least once more.

Since it worked fine with the monitor, and had just hung up before I put the monitor, I guess the hardware problem is somewhere beetwen my Nvidea GPU and my LCD Screen... maybe the flat cable or the inverter. I hope.

Well, I'll try to contact Asus, since the computer has 2 years global warnaty (as I heard). Hope don't have any problem, as i bougth it in Canada but living in Brazil.

thanks

 

Yep, it certainly looks like hardware and I think your best bet is indeed contacting ASUS for repairs. I don't think you'll have any problem, their warranty is international. the only thing where it may go wrong is the quality of the service, but there you can only hope for the best...

I think it's something more severe than the LCD coax cable (flat cable as you call it) or inverter, since it involves hanging the computer... Except if there is an electrical short somewhere, I'm not sure imagine how problems with those components would hang the computer.

So yeah, send it in.

 

I have'd the same problem 2 weeks ago. They told me there's problem with the motherboard. Send it for repair and get it back after 5 days

 

MOtherboard, oh gosh
Weel, they didn't replymy email yet... and Asus don't have a support office here in Brazil... ow man!
Well, waiting their reply.

Just another thing... I don't think it's motherboard, since it works like a charm with the external monitor only... And, in text mode (linux console) at the same time I get a multiple instances screen on the LCD I get a normal screen on the external monitor... So I really hope its a small cable problem (if Asus didn't repair it).

Thanks all

 

I would suggest calling, that's usually much faster than emailing. Just get the nearest store to you. Perhaps they also arrange for international shipping for you (can't be sure they will pay for international shipping, but there's a good possibility they will -- it says global pick up and return warranty, after all). At least you should ask them for it and see what they say.

 

Have you received any new updates? Or has your issue been resolved?

My W7S laptop just began to show symptoms of this same thing...




I'm really hoping it's not a motherboard problem as mentioned...although I find it odd that the screen is still divided even on bootup and bios...

 

Hello,

After some sleepless nights I found a way to send the W7S to asus to repair. Today I got the veredict: they replaced the motherboard.
I dont really think the problem was reaaly the motherboard, I still think it was just a cable fault... But hey, to replace the motherboard the cables are reconecteds anyway, and I got a new one (hope its a good thing).

Since all W7S are still on warranty (due to the release date about 1 year ago), I guess the best choice to all is to contact Asus a RMA.

Best Regards,
Thanks all,
Lincoln

 

I' ve experienced the same problem. And I'm sorry to say that 6 months later than they replaced de motherboard, I had similar problems again.

Looks it is related to a nVidia geforce 8xxx bug. Asus and Nvidia won't admit it soon, tought.

Please check this post at my blog, and people in Brazil experiencing the same problem, contact me. If Asus does not offer any sollution, I'm planing to try a refund by legal way (consumer rights law). If asus and nvidia don't officialy admit there is a problem, many people showing proof that there is a problem may convince a judge. Please contact me that toguether we may be stronger to get our rights on this.

More info:
http://cristiantm.wordpress.com/2008/09/26/asus-w7s-and-nvidia-gpu-8400m-overheating-problem/

 

I had this problem around five months ago.. Good luck to both of us

 

Well, the Asus updated notebooks are coming with ATI video cards...
We really need a real solution for this then.

 

I experienced this exact problem about a week and a half ago. Sent it into ASUS Canada for repair and got it back in 4 days. Nice.

Surprisingly though, they upgraded the mainboard in my W7S to the W7Sg model. So I went from 512MB onboard RAM and 8400M G 128MB graphics to 1GB onboard RAM and 9300M G 256MB graphics, with everything else staying the same. The free upgrade is nice. Alas, I doubt if the 9xxx series has fixed the heat issues that plagued the older 8xxx/7xxx series mobile chips and caused the premature failures.

 

The 9300M G in the W7Sg mainboard heats up significantly less than 8400M G (around 10 degrees less on idle and load). So you have made a large step in the correct direction, even if the GPU is affected by the fault.

Also, it's about 50% faster, I think. See my W7S+W7Sg review.

 

I would be very happy with this upgrade. Looks like 9xxx series is not affected, at least I have not found anyone with problems with it. But until now, I had no answer from Asus.

 

How I envy you!

 

Yes, the first thing I noticed was that my laptop now runs noticeably cooler just to the touch. It should also be way faster since it doubled up the stream processors (8 to 16) and RAM (128MB to 256MB), but I haven't tried out any gaming on it. For my purposes, running cooler and increasing battery life is all I really wanted, so to have increased performance on top of that is quite the unexpected surprise.

If it makes you feel any better, they lost the slot cover for the SD card reader and my old restore disc no longer works.

 

They didn't give you a new restore disc? It's a good upgrade anyway

 

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuude, how did you manage this? I want a W7Sg mainboard, with the 1GB and the 9300GS.

Seriously, it'd make my W7 a lot nicer. Less heat, better performance, more battery life ftw!

 

*cough* bad NVIDIA card *cough*

edit: I guess I'm too late.

 

Nope. I also no longer have the restore partition on the drive, so I was forced to install from scratch. Oh well.

Just luck of the draw. Maybe they were short on W7S parts the week I sent mine in. Since it seems like the majority of other people are getting the same thing back, don't count on a free upgrade if you send yours in for repair.

 

I already had to once, got the same W7S mainboard as the replacement. Though I sent mine in quite a while earlier, back in early summer, June-ish.

 

The W7Sg was out then, though.

 

I don't think the W7Sg was ever actually for sale in the US though. So I don't know - I'll tell you how it goes if my beloved W7 ever dies again.

 

Yeah, that's right, I didn't think of that. It appears it's never been out in The Netherlands, either. The W7S has disappeared and the W7Sg does not exist...

I guess the W7S didn't sell to well.

 

hey guys... not only in Brazil. here in Singapore, I have the same problem too...
So now the only solution is to bring my notebook to service center?

 

Yes, this is a case of the GPU malfunctioning. Get it to the service center, and try to convince them to upgrade you to the W7Sg; motivate this with the card on the W7S having the widely publicized nVidia issues.

 

I just had the same problem today, just wondering, what did you describe the problem as exactly? and when you sent it, did they format everything? or no?, also, is there anyway to back up files incase they do? Right now, all it does it just reboot, with the screen spliting just like the pictures posted. I am able to access only safe mode... but with split screen sadly. ; ;
So yea.. lol.

 

Pull out the HDD, buy a 2.5 SATA USB enclosure, put the HDD in it, and back up your data. Send it to them with "GPU overheated and died" as a problem description; add a mention and perhaps link of the nVidia problem; and ask them to replace with the newer W7Sg mainboard +GPU, in order to avoid the card overheating and dying in the future (which, if the nVidia stories are true, will certainly happen if the just replace it with W7S).

 

just got back my laptop from ASUS Singapore after sent in for 4 days repairing...
when i ON the notebook.. surprisingly... they upgrade me from W7S to W7Sg mainboard... and i got free upgrade RAM to 3GB (from 1.5GB).... they also replace the old grahic card 8400M G to 9300M g...
the upgrade was totally sweet... and all for FREE..>!!

 

Like I said above, they are aware of the problem with these burning-up GPUs and are replacing them wherever possible with the newer versions (W7S -> W7Sg, G1S -> G1Sn are the cases that I know about).

 

Well, I just got it back after sending it, they changed the nvidia to 256mb 9300M G, upgraded the internal ram to 1gb and the mainboard. But was wondering... the GPU's heat goes up to 85 C, and the fan is almost always working when i got it back. Is this normal?

Edit: Sorry didnt notice my topic had any replies.

 

No problem, but we should continue the discussion there.

 

Hello, this threat was quite usefull for me as i had the same problem with my GPU and LCD. First of all the customer service from ASUS is quite good. I bought my W7S in Hong Kong about 18 month ago. Now i am back in Austria/Europe and called the customer service hotline. They picked my notebook and i got it back one week later...

Unfortunately i didn't got the free upgrade to W7Sg and new GPU... Also the memory upgrade did not work out so well on my side. It seems that they changed my 2GB memory with a 1GB module. So i got a free downgrade... Beside of this my notebook is working fine. I will try to complain about the memory downgrade.... This just for information for anybody who want's to send in his notebook with extended memory module...

 

Hi guys
I’m from Iran and have Similar problem with my W7S GPU . I’ve just send my device to a Service center and wating for their response.
but I’m really nervous to have this problem again after repairing from warranty Service.
I wonder if they can change my Motherboard with a W7Sg Motherboard with Nvidia 9300 that is cooler than 8400 or not , what do you think about it?

 

Lesson to be learned: always send the notebook in with the stock configuration (no upgrades). Since when they assemble it back, they may assemble it with the stock configuration anyway, and you may lose any upgrades such as the RAM in the case above.

Although, do complain about it, of course.

I think it's a great idea, the question is what they think about it
Call them and make it very clear to them that they should exchange it with the W7Sg mainboard, because the W7S has clear problems with GPUs dying out due to the wellknown nVidia problem.