Questions about my new Aspire 6930G

So far I think its a great notebook for the price. I have'nt ran into any serious issues, but there are some annoyances that I hope can be fixed.

1. Sound - When playing music the sound is ok, However with Bluray or DVDs the sound is very low, even on 100% volume level. I tested the Bluray disc that came with it and the DVD to Twister, and in a quiet room its too low to capture all the details of the sound.
Agian music (ie.MP3s) sound fine, but movies are very low. I tried enabling the Dolby Pro IIx but that didn't help.

2. Webcam - How exactly do I turn it on/off. I found the crystal eye software that works with it automatically turning the camera on, but it has no options to do anything with it. No record button or anything.
I read that Windows Movie Maker can be used, but it does not detect the camera at all.

3. Acer Arcade Deluxe. - The album art of the music that I add does show up. I have them embedded in the idtags, They show up in Vista Media Center however.

4. This is probably more of a Vista issue, but I noticed the hard drive is constanly being access most of the time, and I can't figure out why.
I googled and learned about potential culprits like Superfetch, and Search Indexing, Auto defraging, and Malware Scanners. And after disabling all of that the drive still read/writes like crazy when its idle. In Task Manager, I've discover that a file lsass.exe and svchost.exe are the primary culprits, but I don't know if and how I should disable them.

 

Not all stuffs you disable are the culprits behind your problems.
My predictions are:
a.) Start-up, processes and services.msc.
b.) Virus/spywares/malwares/trojans/rootkit infections.
c.) Lame BIOS version/setting by Acer.

Maybe you should list out the start-up you have(type in msconfig to check) and services you have(type in services.msc to check).
Some services are freakin EVIL. Example:
My HP Deskjet F4280 installation gives me stupid services which slowdown my boot-up by extra 60seconds. I have it off(disable) now and forever. Cheer.

 

I have an 8930G which is similar to yours and I have the same sound problems as you.

Also Arcade deluxe is the most useless piece of software going as when you update to the latest version it won't play any blu rays and cyberlink don't support it anymore either! I went with arcsoft total media in the end works like a charm. Power DVD 9 doesn't work but being by cyberlink didn't expect it to really.

 

LOL. But mine does support(latest version). Blu-rays can be run. I always use Arcade Deluxe and I am loving that software due to its cool design.

 

Thanks you for your reply.

You're right I didn't mention everything. However I did check the start up programs, when I booted up without them in Safe Mode.
I even checked msconfig, and chose to hide all the Microsoft services, and I really only had about 8 things that were from things that I Installed and I know they worked fine on XP without any problems.
Virus/addware/malware I'm aware of but I think is unlikely, since this is such a new install, and I've only visted here at Notebook Reviews, and several manufactures websites for drivers and I do have Virus protection.

There is a new BIOS update for my Notebook, but Vista would'nt let me install it, it keeps blocking one of the files and I have'nt been able to find a solution.

Yeah I've read about the latest version of Acer Arcade disableing Bluray playback. This is one of the things I was testing to make sure. However my Bluray worked perfectly fine, and the picture quality was better than I expeced for the 1388x768 resolution. I wonder if it is because I have Vista Service Pack 2 which adds Bluray support natively. I have not tried with any other programs yet though.

My only issue is just that the sound is too low, even in a quiet room 4 feet away.

 

LOL! You can judge Vista using XP. This is a total failure(not insult or offense).
You know why a lot of important softwares(drivers and application) are made for Vista or XP only. If they are same, then it is not necessary to create 2 versions.

Now, I would go to main point. Do not disable all the stuffs which you think it is unnecessary. It could mess up your system.
Kindly post the LIST of the services and processes you have here. So, we can help you.

 

Any easy way to generate a list of running services and start up?
EDIT: Nevermind I found out.

Processes


Image Name PID Services
========================= ======== ============================================
System Idle Process 0 N/A
System 4 N/A
smss.exe 536 N/A
csrss.exe 604 N/A
wininit.exe 648 N/A
csrss.exe 668 N/A
services.exe 704 N/A
lsass.exe 716 KeyIso, SamSs
lsm.exe 724 N/A
svchost.exe 856 DcomLaunch, PlugPlay
nvvsvc.exe 908 nvsvc
svchost.exe 936 RpcSs
svchost.exe 972 WinDefend
svchost.exe 224 AudioSrv, Dhcp, Eventlog, lmhosts, wscsvc
svchost.exe 388 AudioEndpointBuilder, EMDMgmt, hidserv,
IPBusEnum, Netman, PcaSvc, SysMain,
TabletInputService, TrkWks, UxSms,
WdiSystemHost, Wlansvc, WPDBusEnum, wudfsvc
svchost.exe 408 AeLookupSvc, BITS, Browser, EapHost,
IKEEXT, iphlpsvc, LanmanServer, MMCSS,
ProfSvc, RasMan, Schedule, seclogon, SENS,
ShellHWDetection, Themes, Winmgmt, wuauserv
winlogon.exe 696 N/A
audiodg.exe 920 N/A
svchost.exe 660 gpsvc
SLsvc.exe 1028 slsvc
svchost.exe 1060 EventSystem, fdPHost, FDResPub,
LanmanWorkstation, Mcx2Svc, netprofm, nsi,
SSDPSRV, SstpSvc, upnphost, W32Time,
WebClient, WinHttpAutoProxySvc
svchost.exe 1184 CryptSvc, Dnscache, KtmRm, NlaSvc, TapiSrv,
TermService
aswUpdSv.exe 1360 aswUpdSv
ashServ.exe 1376 avast! Antivirus
rundll32.exe 1472 N/A
spoolsv.exe 1864 Spooler
svchost.exe 1900 BFE, DPS, MpsSvc
dwm.exe 1948 N/A
taskeng.exe 1956 N/A
explorer.exe 848 N/A
taskeng.exe 1336 N/A
MSASCui.exe 2320 N/A
IAAnotif.exe 2328 N/A
ePower_DMC.exe 2384 N/A
eDSLoader.exe 2392 N/A
rundll32.exe 2416 N/A
PLFSetI.exe 2428 N/A
eDSMSNLoader32.exe 2504 N/A
svchost.exe 2600 AppHostSvc
CLHNService.exe 2644 CLHNService
eDSService.exe 2744 eDataSecurity Service
ETService.exe 2868 ETService
SynTPEnh.exe 2884 N/A
RAVCpl64.exe 2972 N/A
ehtray.exe 2996 N/A
ehmsas.exe 3020 N/A
LSSrvc.exe 2212 LightScribeService
MobilityService.exe 1844 MobilityService
SMSvcHost.exe 1304 NetPipeActivator, NetTcpActivator,
NetTcpPortSharing
RtkBtMnt.exe 1560 N/A
sidebar.exe 2596 N/A
eAudio.exe 2588 N/A
QtZgAcer.EXE 1456 N/A
ArcadeDeluxeAgent.exe 2484 N/A
PMVService.exe 2336 N/A
CLMLSvc.exe 1444 N/A
svchost.exe 2940 PolicyAgent
svchost.exe 412 stisvc
svchost.exe 3088 W3SVC, WAS
svchost.exe 3100 WerSvc
SearchIndexer.exe 3156 WSearch
XAudio64.exe 3316 XAudioService
ashDisp.exe 3352 N/A
IAANTmon.exe 3460 IAANTMON
BrccMCtl.exe 3560 N/A
MMDx64Fx.exe 3956 N/A
ashMaiSv.exe 4064 avast! Mail Scanner
ashWebSv.exe 2344 avast! Web Scanner
WmiPrvSE.exe 3508 N/A
unsecapp.exe 884 N/A
msconfig.exe 4552 N/A
SynTPHelper.exe 4644 N/A
wmpnscfg.exe 4968 N/A
CCleaner.exe 4828 N/A
mscorsvw.exe 4212 clr_optimization_v2.0.50727_32
mscorsvw.exe 5076 clr_optimization_v2.0.50727_64
iexplore.exe 4520 N/A
iexplore.exe 3288 N/A
cmd.exe 4716 N/A
taskeng.exe 3208 N/A
taskmgr.exe 4868 N/A
WmiPrvSE.exe 2232 N/A
tasklist.exe 3776 N/A


Services




Image Name PID Session Name Session# Mem Usage
========================= ======== ================ =========== ============
System Idle Process 0 Services 0 24 K
System 4 Services 0 7,688 K
smss.exe 536 Services 0 984 K
csrss.exe 604 Services 0 7,924 K
wininit.exe 648 Services 0 5,096 K
csrss.exe 668 Console 1 10,764 K
services.exe 704 Services 0 8,152 K
lsass.exe 716 Services 0 2,684 K
lsm.exe 724 Services 0 5,404 K
svchost.exe 856 Services 0 7,668 K
nvvsvc.exe 908 Services 0 4,132 K
svchost.exe 936 Services 0 9,216 K
svchost.exe 972 Services 0 44,264 K
svchost.exe 224 Services 0 16,188 K
svchost.exe 388 Services 0 105,228 K
svchost.exe 408 Services 0 73,932 K
winlogon.exe 696 Console 1 7,208 K
audiodg.exe 920 Services 0 19,132 K
svchost.exe 660 Services 0 5,928 K
SLsvc.exe 1028 Services 0 13,672 K
svchost.exe 1060 Services 0 18,492 K
svchost.exe 1184 Services 0 34,248 K
aswUpdSv.exe 1360 Services 0 472 K
ashServ.exe 1376 Services 0 13,344 K
rundll32.exe 1472 Console 1 7,640 K
spoolsv.exe 1864 Services 0 14,980 K
svchost.exe 1900 Services 0 24,980 K
dwm.exe 1948 Console 1 60,564 K
taskeng.exe 1956 Console 1 15,284 K
explorer.exe 848 Console 1 67,116 K
taskeng.exe 1336 Services 0 7,552 K
MSASCui.exe 2320 Console 1 13,844 K
IAAnotif.exe 2328 Console 1 7,596 K
ePower_DMC.exe 2384 Console 1 31,672 K
eDSLoader.exe 2392 Console 1 21,744 K
rundll32.exe 2416 Console 1 6,848 K
PLFSetI.exe 2428 Console 1 6,784 K
eDSMSNLoader32.exe 2504 Console 1 5,616 K
svchost.exe 2600 Services 0 11,308 K
CLHNService.exe 2644 Services 0 4,968 K
eDSService.exe 2744 Services 0 5,616 K
ETService.exe 2868 Services 0 27,452 K
SynTPEnh.exe 2884 Console 1 10,732 K
RAVCpl64.exe 2972 Console 1 11,360 K
ehtray.exe 2996 Console 1 3,180 K
ehmsas.exe 3020 Console 1 6,172 K
LSSrvc.exe 2212 Services 0 4,568 K
MobilityService.exe 1844 Services 0 17,388 K
SMSvcHost.exe 1304 Services 0 29,188 K
RtkBtMnt.exe 1560 Console 1 5,268 K
sidebar.exe 2596 Console 1 41,968 K
eAudio.exe 2588 Console 1 14,832 K
QtZgAcer.EXE 1456 Console 1 10,220 K
ArcadeDeluxeAgent.exe 2484 Console 1 9,516 K
PMVService.exe 2336 Console 1 7,912 K
CLMLSvc.exe 1444 Console 1 13,176 K
svchost.exe 2940 Services 0 6,864 K
svchost.exe 412 Services 0 10,576 K
svchost.exe 3088 Services 0 10,476 K
svchost.exe 3100 Services 0 2,812 K
SearchIndexer.exe 3156 Services 0 23,796 K
XAudio64.exe 3316 Services 0 3,168 K
ashDisp.exe 3352 Console 1 2,384 K
IAANTmon.exe 3460 Services 0 7,060 K
BrccMCtl.exe 3560 Console 1 20,580 K
MMDx64Fx.exe 3956 Console 1 6,840 K
ashMaiSv.exe 4064 Services 0 1,716 K
ashWebSv.exe 2344 Services 0 16,308 K
WmiPrvSE.exe 3508 Services 0 7,904 K
unsecapp.exe 884 Console 1 6,928 K
msconfig.exe 4552 Console 1 11,716 K
SynTPHelper.exe 4644 Console 1 4,356 K
wmpnscfg.exe 4968 Console 1 7,128 K
CCleaner.exe 4828 Console 1 20,616 K
mscorsvw.exe 4212 Services 0 5,876 K
mscorsvw.exe 5076 Services 0 7,652 K
iexplore.exe 4520 Console 1 22,708 K
iexplore.exe 3288 Console 1 80,592 K
cmd.exe 4716 Console 1 2,576 K
taskeng.exe 3208 Services 0 5,364 K
WmiPrvSE.exe 2232 Services 0 8,340 K
taskeng.exe 584 Services 0 5,396 K
tasklist.exe 2256 Console 1 5,856 K

 

Well, what do you disabled? You said you disabled almost all right?
Nevermind, just tell what you disabled. Don't tell me the all the "N/A" are disabled processes. It would be ridicolous.

 

No you misunderstood. I disabled some proccess that I thought would have been the problem, but since they were'nt I reenabled them.
Superfech
WMPNetwrk
Windows Indexing
Avast Ani Virus Software
and disabled Disk Write Caching

with those disbaled the remaining culprit in Taskmanager seemed to be Isass.exe and Svchost.exe they primarly write to a user.dat file, but those are supposed to be important system files.


And I only disabled processes when booting up in Safe Mode since only the basic services load up. I'm not still in Safe Mode.

I

 

Superfetch can be safely disabled. No problem.
Moreover, I even tweak Superfetch and Prefetch value in registry to have them permanently disabled. LOL.
Superfetch is a program to maintain and improves system performance over time. I consume about 100-300MB of RAM.
I checked my memory usage. With Superfetch it is higher without Superfetch it is lower. In addition, my laptop run smoother/faster though but some people are fine with Superfetch enable(which they have a faster system with it).
Superfetch is harmless. That's why I said it can be disabled safely.

Have you go into control panel and have a look of your Sound and Acer HD audio Manager?

 

Well Superfecth is supposed to return the unused RAM, when its needed.

Anyway yes I've checked my sound configurations in control panel, Acer HD Audio manager, Sound Properties, and eAudio Manager.
I also replaced the Acer drivers with the actual Realtek drivers but that only made things worse since it didn't support the Tubabass, nor 5.1 output for HDMI.

 

Before your replaced the Acer driver with actual Realtek Driver, did the problem exist?
Because the application and driver installation provided by acer included Realtek as the driver and Acer Audio as the controller of it.

 

I tried replaceing the Acer/Realtek Driver with the original Realtek driver BECAUSE of the problem. This was actually suggested to a user in another thread who had the same problem with volume. The solution worked for him, but because his notebook didn't have 5.1 or Tuba Cinebass, he did'nt lose any features. But in my case I didn't notice any improvment, and I lost features. So of coarse I've reverted back the Acer/Realtek drivers.

 

Well. I think you need a realtek driver update. Realtek High Definition Audio Driver, I presumed?
Nevertheless, do you upgrade your BIOS?
Go this link, http://support.acer-euro.com/drivers/downloads_gd.html
Find your laptop model and download the audio driver software. Install and see is it works. If you haven't upgrade your BIOS. Download the BIOS and install it(take note, FLASHING BIOS is extremely dangerous).

 

Thank you very much for your suggestions DarkSilver. But I think I'm not making myself as clear as I want. When I said I was using the Acer/RealTek driver I WAS refering the latest version on Acer's support site. When I mentioned the original RealTek driver I was refering the latest drivers from Realteks Website.

Now to add to that I've discovered, a semi-solution and that is to use a different DVD application like PowerDVD. The reason is because it has noise leveling modes Quiet/Normal/and Noisy which CyberLink recommends for Notebooks. And I think it works pretty well, the sound is still clear without distortion and it almost doubles the volume of DVDs. Its still not as loud as my older HP NC8000 (which still holds the record for the loudess speakers on a notebook I've used) But its is a noticable and welcomed improvement.
This makes me wonder whether this is a codec issue rather than a driver issue.


Thanks also for mentioning the BIOS. Because I had problems with that also. I tried Flashing BIOS, but VISTA would not allow me by blocking files and saying I did't have permission. I tried working around it by logging into the hidden administrators account in Vista, but I had the same problem.

 

Actually from my testing I find disabling Superfetch in Services and clearing the Prefetch folders improve boot time significantly.

 

I think you need to make yourself as the administrator.
Allow only 1 account(administrator) can be login to your computer.
Disable GUEST. Make sure only 1 ACCOUNT(that is administrator and it is U).
Disable UAC(user account control). UAC can be disable in the Control Panel>User Account>Turn UAC on or off
After finish with these stuffs, flash your BIOS again.

 

The problem is that the Flash Utility WinPhlash does not support a 64-bit operating system.
And I was wrong about Acer Arcade, it does have Dynamic Compression Settings for Noisy whichs boots the volume really high in 5.1 mode.

 

No wonder. You didn't mention you're using Vista x64. LOL.
I think you should ask TEHSUIGI(PM him). I think he have the idea on how to FLASH BIOS on x64 Windows.

 

Yeah I didn't think anything of that, because the Flash Bios program shows up on Acers site after choosing Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit as the operating system. Its stupid of them to do this if its not compatible.
I'm fed up with 64 bit too , as its causes a number of other compatibility issues with other software that I regularly use even after Service Pack 2, and I've noticed no benifits to the tasks that I do.
But since it came preinstalled on my Notebook I have no choice but to use it.