Just got a new G74SX-BBK7!

Hi everyone, I'm new here... just got the G74 from Best Buy. I'm excited, as I haven't had a game-worthy rig in over 6 years.

The case had been opened and "certified" by Geek Squad. I asked them about this and they said that GS had removed the bloatware and optimized the laptop, and installed antivirus. Right. I don't think this is pre-owned/refurbished, but I raised my eyebrow over it. The sales guy said every ASUS G-series laptop was opened and gone over by GS.

The laptop still had the plastic on it, and was very nice out of the box. I combined the recovery partition into the main HD, but other than that haven't made any changes.

Is there any info/links on overclocking, or other things to do with setting up a new G74? Should I do a clean reinstall? Is registering with ASUS all I need to do to put my warranty in place?

 

First, update to BIOS 202 for keyboard fix Throw the rom file onto a USB stick that's FAT32, and use the BIOS's EZFlash, or use WinFlash in Windows. (Utility should already be installed, and is also on your Driver disk, unless you have a BB model, and you need to download it from support.asus.com (search for g74sx)

Keep the recovery partition intact, and go ahead and reinstall that OS. Disable Windows Update until you get SP1 installed and your drivers. Wireless console 3, Power4gear Hybrid, ATK Package (1.0.0.00010) + webcam software. Don't bother with THX NB unless you need EAX for an old game. Download Foobar2000 for tunes, and MPC-HC (xvidvideo.ru) for mkv's. Run the Windows Color Calibration wizard to get the screen proper. (way too much blue) Or, download my color profile from my driver page.

Then download your Steam client, and load some games.

Then, go get a beer. And cold, too.

Also, don't forget to do your VIP and ADP registrations for your warranties, or else you'll have to come to me in 60 days to get your protections registered, and I will snicker at you evilly.

If you run into any issues, post here and our patient staff will get to you after they're done fraggin' someone woefully. Oh, and thank you for buying Asus.

- Chastity
Asus Customer Care Specialist

PS - Asus owners are also welcome to come hang in the IRC channel #asus-rog on freenode.net, details listed below.

@ Dallers, why haven't you dropped in? Hmm??

 

Grrr double post, sorry.

 

Thanks Chastity, that's just what I needed. I'll get to work on this list! Can I install the bios after windows is reinstalled or does it have to be before?

When I install games, should they go on my C drive or my second drive? Does it matter?

 

OMG chastity ive learned lots from you but i have just a few questions. 1. i have no issues with my bb version g74sx BUT should i still install the new bios? 2. if i reinstall my OS as you posted DO NOT delete the recovery partiion that came with the laptop only the main partition?(where os will be installed) and what is the THX NB? is that that dumb thx software from creative?

 

1. I'm not sure what the new bios fixes. So no idea. But if everything is okay, then leave the bios alone i guess.

2. When you do a clean install of windows, it'll ask ask you How you want to do an install, Ie, on one partition only out of the x number of partitions you have, make two partitions or over the entire harddisk. Choose which ever you want and in the next option, you should see one partition marked recovery drive and your other partitions. Format the other partitions leaving the recovery partition alone (there should be an option called delete or format or advanced after clicking each partition) and continue. I have deleted the recover partition though cuz i don't need it as i have an asus driver cd and a copy of windows that works only with my computer that asus sent me.

 

The 202 BIOS fixes the numpad keys to map properly for games. Everyone should do this.

 

Not trying to hijack the OP's thread but I have questions along the same line, so I didn't want to make another thread with basically the same questions / ideas... I found this while searching for info on the G74SX-BBK7 (Best Buy Model) and first and foremost I want to say thank you Chastity for your knowledge and advice but I do have some questions, if you don't mind. So I quoted and will add the questions in as I go...

OK, just for an update on what I have done so far, I just completed doing the BIOS 202 flash using WINFlash and Asus Updater...

Here is the part where I have the most questions...

I have a Windows 7 Home Premium disk that I can use to reinstall the OS, but I was wondering what all drivers will I need to search for, and / or is there a way to get or create a driver disk for the laptop, remembering that I have the best buy model so it did NOT come with one. Also I plan on keeping the recovery partition but should I keep the partitions as they are (second 500GB split into 2 partitions) or should I combine them ? I am sure there is a reason why I am disabling Windows Update until I get SP1, but I was wondering if you don't mind me asking what that reason is just for my knowledge. Is Wireless console 3, Power4gear Hybrid, ATK Package (1.0.0.00010) + webcam software the only list of programs I should download off the ASUS website, do I need to download the one for the Touchpad ? I also found while using the "default, fresh from the box" programs and such that the volume was way low and the only way to fix it was to go into the THX TruStudio Settings and changing the "Speakers" setting to "External" will this problem be resolved with a fresh reinstall or will I need to reload THX as well and do the same as I am doing now? Also... where do I find this "Color Profile" you are talking about ?

I like where your going with this part...

Already registered the laptop with the "Popup" registration through the ASUS website but I only remember 1 and neither of those sound familiar... How do I know if I registered everywhere I need to ?

And thank you again in advance... J

 

Oh weird...what does it change? My imprmession has been that the number pad on the G74 (somewhat strangely) is duplicates of the numbers above your keyboard, rather than being separate/different keys like on a normal keyboard. (Although the other keys like +/- etc. seem to be from the numberpad.)

I have no idea why they did that...not too big of a deal for me, but I don't get it

I do LOVE having a numberpad though now! I really missed that, plus now I don't have to turn numberlock on and off all the time like I did on my last system every time I plugged in an external keyboard.

 

Asus is very smart having a CS rep monitor the thread here. Me = impressed.

 

Check the new Humble Bundle , cool games, cool price ( cause you decide how much it is )

Previous Humble Bundle were just AWESOME , i'll check how good the game are this time , it's downloading ( with rift , 5 buck on Steam also today )

 

Where should I go to get a Windows 7 ISO to use for my reinstall? The link at the ROG forum isn't working... too slow.

 

^^^^ http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html

Correct, Chastity is working on the ROG site.

 

You can download most of it from support.asus.com search G74SX

I have the drivers disk (and the recovery one too) but nowhere to set them up yet. My server's upload speeds are being pitiful, and I am not paying for a webhost when Asus already has it.

Sure, go ahead and merge those partitions. I did.

I do SP1 before WU to minimize the updates. I just did a JH at work and WU has gotten a LOT better in regards to SP1.

You can use the Sentelic driver on asus for your touchpad. As for the sound, do the software update in the dropdown menu for THX to 1.04.04. Some have reported fixing the issues, and other not.

In Control Panel, do a search for "Color" and you should get the Color Management header. From there run the Color Calibration Wizard.

 

So do you insist on doing a fresh install of windows 7 on any new g74sx or are you tellin him to do this because he thinks he may have a best buy refurbished version? I have the g74sx-xn1 should I also be doing a fresh windows install?!

 

I am not sure which they are stating, I just asked originally because it was a sure fire way to remove all the bloatware that came with the laptop from Best Buy. LOL

I know it was a brand new one but it comes with so many trial versions of this, and other programs that I don't want / need, that it was just easier to do a fresh install rather than seeking them all out and uninstalling them and leaving fragments from them behind possibly.

 

Oh and Chastity, I meant the one you said I could download "from your page" on your original post.

 

Ok, I got a good disk of Windows 7. But when installing, the option to format the System partition(Disk 1, partition 0) is greyed-out. I have googled it without any real luck. Any ideas?

 

I ran DISKPART through the recovery console and set the OS disc to Inactive. Then restarted and I was able to select it for formatting.

 

That's weird. I remember having the ability to format the whole drive when I installed Windows 7 from scratch on my N80.

 

Hope you don't mind me bumping this thread after all that time.

Actually, I was hoping Chastity was still lurking and could possibly help.

I also got a G74SX-BBK7 but have not been able to update the BIOS from 201 to 202 or now, 203.

I keep getting:

"The BIOS file version does not match the BIOS ROM version"

Here is a screenshot:

Any ideas?

Thanks,

-Mark

 

have the exact same problem

 

Just wanted to throw my hat in to the situation! Just tried updating and got that same exact message. Anyone got a solution for this yet? There's three boxes which look like you should be able to input something there? I'm nervous about messing with the BIOS update... was hoping this was a less risky way to do it.

 

having the same issue as the few post above. oh well, im too afraid to update my bios after hearing of all the bricking going on and also bricking a old acer laptop beyond repair

 

the numpad wasnt that important when i bought it
but now i need it to work(in game)

 

lol ... no1 is here ? :|

 

I had the same problem. I believe it is caused by the
upper case "X", vs. "G74Sx" for the existing bios. I have heard
reports that the windows update utility can corrupt your bios, as
well as using Easyflash (in bios setup), if accessing the file via
an NTFS partition. I can confirm the latter, since it bricked my
G74SX. If you are going to update your bios, definitely follow the
advice here (be sure your flash stick is formatted for FAT32):

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/174395-bios-update-guide-asus-notebooks.html

Good luck,

Sir Robin

 

I had exactly the same problem with ASUS live update nagging me to update from BIOS 201 to BIOS 202 and failing to do so on my G74SX. Found this thread via Google, so I thought I'd leave my solution here for anyone else.

If you download the version 202 BIOS, then install your own version of WinFlash (as detailed in the link given by Sir Robin), run it with the /force option, e.g.

C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\WinFlash> WinFlash.exe /force


then although it will complain about the wrong version as usual, you'll be able to click on 'Flash' to get it to flash the BIOS anyway. Obviously, the words 'force', 'flash' and 'BIOS' together make me nervous, but it worked for me.

I notice that there was a version 203 now available for download, but don't jump straight to that one. I tried it and the ASUS Live Update just wanted to install version 202 anyway. Which it failed to do (unsurprisingly), so it was another round of /force and rebooting before blessedly, ASUS Live Update left me alone.

 

Asus Live Update has always been a real piece of crap. It's best to remove it from your system and update the bios using EZFlash from within the bios. All the necessary info is here on all methods available to you to update Asus notebook bios: http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/174395-bios-update-guide-asus-notebooks.html

 

tijo i saw that guide for quite a while ... but i'm not sure if its ok to force flash my laptop ... i mean ... is it 100% compatible .. ?

i went to the shop i bought it and they said they dont take the risk for flashing it ..
i dont really want to take that risk me neither ...

any advice ?

 

As long as you download the bios for the G74 there shouldn't be any problems. I have flashed Asus laptops and Asus motherboards using that method without any problems. Just make sure the flash drive you use is formatted in FAT32 and not NTFS or you'll brick your laptop. Note that there is always the remote possibility of something going wrong.