Acer 8930G Issues

Hi

I am new to the site, I've had a number of Acer laptops over the years, I've just bought the 8930G as a replacement to my desktop so that I can hide it from my 18 month old son when not in use.

For the most part, I am very very happy with it, it's display is awesome, both built in wireless and bluetooth, and BD.

I have a few questions and a few issues with it though.

First off, sound when play BD and DVD's, you can barely hear the voice on any film, had to resort to using travel speakers whilst I was away as I could not hear any voice in any films in a small room. Yet normal sound is amazing, how can this be? Anyone had this problem and solved it?

Second, is there a way to make Bluetooth on permantly? It's a bit annoying having to turn it on all the time.

Wireless performance appears quite slow on my wireless g network.

There is a new BIOS version, 1.13, but it does not say what the changes are, anyone know?

I am considering adding a second hard drive to it to store movies and music, I am considering by a 500gb drive, can anyone recommend a drive?

Otherwise it's an amazing bit of kit.

 

Well I am using bios 1.13 in vista x64 and it works fine sound on voices in blu ray as loud as you can get.

 

Is this happening only with DVDs and BDs?
If that's the case it might be because of the program you are using or the volume for that program is set lower than the general volume. When you have that program on, check its volume by left clicking the sound icon in the task bar bottom right.
Otherwise, check the sound properties, right click the sound icon bottom right task bar > Playback devices > Right click Speakers > Properties > Levels tab > Check the appropriate sliders if they are full 100.
I don't think there is way to make it permanent on but I might be wrong. If you turn off the laptop with the bluetooth on, I guess it doesn't solve the problem, right? My old laptop (5920G) used to do that. I don't know if that was because I had uninstalled the Launch Manager though.
500gb hard drives are plenty around WD Blue scorpio or Seagate or Hitachi but you can wait bit for their prices to go down as new higher capacity will come out in the following weeks. If you can't wait any of the above will be just fine.

 

I have the same problem with the sound level on voices - it only appears on playback of dvds & blu-rays using 5.1
It appears to be software independent as happens on both Acer Arcade & VLC Player.
I tried upgrading Realtek drivers and lost 5.1 sound. Only way to improve is to swap centre and subwoofer and tweak other speaker settings to compensate - HOWEVER these settings then sound awful when playing music. VLC player gives you a "2 front 2 rear" audio setting which is pretty good compromise - but doesn't handle blu-ray. Must be someway of changing the 5.1 settings to boost the dialogue as really runis the whole effect - any ideas anyone?

Also - how on earth do you upgrade to Windows 7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit - and how and where do you fit another hard drive - are there instructions anywhere?

 

It happened on BD's and DVD's. I downloaded the latest available drivers for Video and Audio. For some reason the nvidia video driver also contained and audio driver. I also installed the latest realtek drivers. I played a DVD and changed the speaker properties and now I am very happy.

Will hold off on the second hard disk, will keep the original one but would like to install a 1TB drive in it, anyone know when it's available?

 

Exactly which drivers did you install and in which order and from where???
Also, how did you adjust the speaker properties - did you have to swap the centre and subwoofer?

 

Installed the new drivers from the Acer European support site.

I removed the sound card from Device Manager so none was available.

Installed the Nvdia display driver which also contains an audio driver.

Installed the Realtek Audio driver.

To adjust the volume properties:-

Right click on the volume control in the sys tray
Select playback devices
Select properties on realtek hd audio
Changed the levels on all the speakers

I then changed the volume in arcade deluxe and hey presto!

 

With regards to the hard drive, i bought a western digital 500gb from ebay for 65 quid, just slots in the 2nd slot, I now have a total of 2.g TB of storage (1TB laptop, 1.5TB external hdds) which will last me a long long time!

 

I am going to splash out on a 1TB one in the next few weeks and keep the original installed 320GB in.

I wonder if there will be any future bios upgrades where you can add more RAM?

I flashed the BIOS last night 1.13 and could not find any changes.

 

Cracked the sound issue - as you say, update the drivers and then set the sound levels - used "powerful" and "room" to get good equalization on the voice - happy now!.

New problem - the screen resolution is 1920*1080, and I am attaching a clone monitor which runs at 1920*1200 - is there any way of forcing the Acer to run at 1200 rather than 1080 even if it is a bit "squished" at the sides? I don't really want to have to downscale both to 1680 x 1050.

 

my advice is stop wasting that scond screen in clone mode and use it properly in dual screen.

 

When I had this computer, I also had the sound-problem. You should simply play your movies in Acer Arcade Deluxe - Then it's loud and clear! In Windows Media Player, you can barely hear it in a noisy room - Even on full volume!

 

Going to go for the 2nd hard drive for this baby, anyone fitted it? And which one would you recommend?

 

I installed the Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB and I'm very happy with it.

 

Did you have the standard model drive, or the model with "G-Force Protection "?

 

The G-force protection model because in Holland it costs just 10 euro's more.

Edit: I was just wondering if a 12,5mm drive would fit in the 8930g. Because then you would be able to stuff a 1tb WD drive in there! Or perhaps two!

 

Hi guys,

Sorry to ask help with a problem with my first post but im not having much luck anywhere else. Im trying to burn backup DVDs through the empowering technology app. DVD 1 burns fine but then i get 1014 error and i cant burn the 2nd and 3rd one. Does anyone have any ideas how to sort this out or Burn the back up DVD's? The laptop is as I got it, except I uninstalled the acer game zone

Cheers Everyone

 

@ Home we have 2 8930's one is from my brother and one is from me. Mine had no problems burning the recovery DVD's but my brothers lappie did. I simply tried a different brand DVD and that worked.

 

Which vendor did you get it from? Think I am going to buy two, there does not not appear to be any 1TB laptop hard drives available yet. Was thinking of buying a Western Digital Scorpio Blue, though not as fast as the Seagate though.

 

Just bought the Seagate 7200.4 500GB drive - have downloaded Windows 7 64 bit version and ready to set up.

Anyone have a step by step guide as to how to fit the 2nd Hard Drive and set up Windows 7 as a dual boot?

Am currently backing up existing OS in case I it up!

 

I'm not sure if you are from Holland, but if so than this is a site where you can check the current lowest price for the 500 GB momentus. I've ordered mine on this site which is very reliable.

And just for the record, Seagate really makes 1TB 2,5" hdd's.

For those prices you can check this site.

BUT!!!! I do not know if a 12,5mm disk will fit in the 8930G but if so 2 disks of 1TB would be awesome.

1. Remove battery.
2. Simply open up the bottom cover by removing the screws and then lift the cover. But be gentle!
3. If you have screws included with your new hard disk you have to put at least 2 screws in the hard disk. (if you do not the standard comes with 4 and you only need 2,
take 2 out and put 2 on the new hard disk)
4. Put in the new hard disk.
5. For the installation and dual boot simply install windows 7 onto the new disk. Or check this guide.

 

I've opted for 2xWestern Digital Blue 500GB.

When you install the second OS you will get the option on which drive you want to install it onto and it will create a Boot Menu for you.

 

thanks fo rthe step through guide!

 

I was tempted but unsure if it would fit.

 

OK I fitted the Seagate, installed Windows 7 64 bit, along with NVidia & RealTek drivers - all hunky dory.
No idea where to get Arcade Deluxe from, but the BIG problem is that the new drive is located under the mouse pad and seems to cause a slight but annoying vibration all the time.

Any idea how to prevent this?

 

Fixed - took 2 screws from other drive!

 

are the screws used to stop the drives moving side to side
as in my 8930g the drive isn't held in by anything, it just a tight fit
also any 500gig drives about that are 7200rpm

 

My two drives have been posted, so looks like I will be breaking out Norton Ghost soon, can't wait to have the new drives in.