G73JW-XA1 Problem, need opinions

Hi,

Today my G73JW-XA1 arrived, but to my missfortune, i have some problems on the initial boot, if i was on the US i would just return it to amazon for new one, and i still might, if i cant make work it out, but i would prefer to see if i can fix it to ask for a partial refurn instead of returning and to pay shipping to the US and to pay again taxes for entering guatemala.

In my initial boot, i got a blue screen (sry about the flash but its late cant take good pictures atm)


After that i get an black windows screen where it asks if i wanna start windows normally and another to do a recovery, i chose the recovery, and i get this screen.


If i go start windows automatically it kinda starts the first setup screen "Setup is preparing your computer for first use", a couple of time i was able to pass some steps, but i get the same blue screen up.

At some point in one of the loading, it starting chkdsk automatically,


Im still unsure what could it be, maybe with all the G73 people that dealt with GOSDs, maybe you guys know what the errors might mean, if its the Hard drive im fine ill ask for a partial refund and use a Hitachi 7k500 that i still have here, but if its memory or any other hardware, then i probably would just return it, even though i would prefer not to as its gona be really expensive to do this.

I have a desktop oem windows 7 here, i could try to install it on the hitachi if you guys think its the hard drive and use the bottom sticker key, the laptop came with driver cd (no recovery cds though) so i can install all needed hardware drivers there, and if not i could just dl it from asus website,

I know most of you would just return it for new one trouble free and i might but ill try to avoid it if possible, mainly becuase from guatemala its going be like $100 to ship it to the US, and another $150 again to pay taxes and another $100 for weight of shipping to me, maybe more this are rough estimates. So im looking for some opinions or if you guys know the errors into what might it be.

 

It could be one of the RAM is bad, you can try remove the RAM one stick at a time to test.

 

dead RAM most likely.. u'll have to test like Ken said.

 

The Amazon XA1 has a 1 year Asus Global warranty, so you could look to contact your closest Asus representative, if the solution as above does not work.

 

Thanks Ken, sean and thegloaming for your post/opinions.

Its weird, i woke up the next day started and it booted fine, the computer booted windows for the first time install all correct, and i got happy (later i got sad again), i stress test the laptop with prime95 for 6 hours, and not a single issue at all. I ran furmark check if anything wasn't recognized correctly and everything went without a problem, even rebooted like 10 times doing window and drivers updates, so i was happy and i though was a hiccup, but a day later i traveled like 300 miles to visit a customer and again blue screen, i turn it off with the power button, and back on and again no problems, this behavior has repeated a lot, once it boots there is no issues at all, really weird stuff.

But to my good fortune my boss is going to LA and im returning the defective one, the new one is on the way already on its way.

 

I too have a G73JW-XA1 with these problems you listed.
Erratic BSODs that were not always similar and quite often.
I noticed that they happened MUCH more when the battery was the power source. Not sure if that has something to do with it.

I just had a quick question for Abula:
Did you try moving/removing the memory sticks before you sent it in for a replacement?

I am considering sending it in for it to be handled by ASUS; however, I would like to try as much as I can before doing so.
I've been Googling around and it seem that the problem has been happening to a more-than-usual crowd whom purchased this laptop. :/
My only guess could be that the RAM (which is manufactured by A-DATA) has quite a few defective models or ASUS made some mistakes.

Thanks for any information.

Also, Abula, please do let me know how your replacement works! Thanks.

 

Im not sure what it was, i didn't try the ram out of not wanting to reach the 4th ram too deep inside, i woulda probably if i didn't had a choice, but the next day my boss said not to worry that he would take it with him.

Now whats really weird is that this issue, at least in my case, presented almost always when you moved the laptop (not talking about couple feet, but traveling), the first start always was a bad one with the blue screens like in the first post, but a button power down and power up again would boot no problems, i even prime95 for 6 hours without a single issue, not saying there isn't, all this lead me to believe is more a hard drive problem in terms of heads not moving or not parking securely, and the power down probably rests then in an adequate spot.

Now again if i have to ill disassemble it and try different things, but the reviews i seen in amazon don't reflect a single problem so i just though my case was just a bad apple.

The ram is hard to say, its not 1066 ram but 1333, im thinking is the same the JW-A1 use.

I would strongly suggest to return it to amazon if you can, im guessing your 30days aren't out yet, its free shipping back and free shipping overnight of the new one, and you can do this the number of time you want until you get a good one, just be careful into not missing the return dates or amazon will charge you for each laptop. I recommend this out of seeing like 5 reviews of this exact model with nothing but good remarks, so it could be some hdd or memory are bad (i still think its the HDD, the only 750gb with nothing on the market, probably first units out didn't got well tested).

The new laptop will be back on nov12 (when my boss returns to guatemala), and ill let you know how it went, but again if your 30days arent out, just issue a return, amazon will take it back and fully refund you or send you a new one, your choice.

If you find the source let me know, cause this might come back someday, although im probably not going to use the 750gb drive out of fear of losing my data, so ill just move the hitachi 7k500 and intel x25m, so if i get issues probably will be the memory, if i dont then it could be the drive but not totally sure.

 

Thanks for the fast reply!

And thank you for telling me about Amazon's amazing RMA service.
I will definitely do that asap because I've only had the laptop a few days, haha.

Just read Amazon's return policy for computers and it says I should contact ASUS for a return.. hmmm. I'll call them to make sure i can return it.

 

Good luck with your return, i didnt use the phone, too expensive for me to do it, will have done it if i needed, but now they have a chat option, so i talk to a representative, explain the defect on the new item and he ask me if i wanted a new one, i said yes, he overnight it. But remember to return the first one (with complete packing and all stuff, if you threw it away use the packing of the new laptop coming, you dont need to ship it before the 2nd one comes), you have a month from when you got it, else you will see a charge on you creditcard for the 2nd laptop.

 

Okay, WOW! Just got off the phone with amazon..
One word: brilliant
They are going to send my new laptop with 1-day shipping and at THE SAME TIME send me an email with a shipping label to ship the defective one back.
IN-ING-CREDIBLE! Basically, I'm going to have 2 laptops, though one is defective, haha.
Thank you Abula, thank you so much. Never thought amazon would be so awesome!
So, by this Friday I will have my new, working, kick- laptop!
And all it took was a 10 minute phone call, printing a label, and packaging the bad laptop. Will absolutely use Amazon again for this reason.

 

Glad it work out for you, this is one of the reason i like Amazon, their return policy on the 30day windows is extremly good, not only on laptops but almost anything.

Just a couple of question, out of curosity,
1) Is the return UPS, FEDEX or USPS
2) Is it prepaid or do you have to pay it and then you will get the refund?

Aside from that, pls let me know if your 2nd works or if you find the problem with your first one, ill do the same (although my defective is already going back). I really would like to see whats wrong.

 

Well, after I got off the phone with Amazon, I got an email with a mailing label. And it stated that I needed to pay the shipping, so I'm chatting with them now to figure why I'd have to when the phone rep. stated that I wouldn't.

"James:I see, I'm sorry about that, let me see what more I can find out for you. You shouldn't need to pay return shipping on that one."

lol

"Me:Okay, well the email that I received directed me to a place to print a return auth. and a mailing label.
James:Yes, that's correct, the postage will be included in the mailing label."

My label said "YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY RETURN POSTAGE."
so that's why im chatting to them, haha

Here we go:
"James:OK, I'm going to modify that label to not require additional postage on it, and I'll email that to you within a minute or so after our chat is completed. Is there anything else I could help you with tonight?"

WIN!