ASUS U500vz/UX51vz Owners' Lounge!

Heya,

I finally give up on finding a motherboard replacement for my UX51VZ. I battled Asus customer service for a protracted period but they insisted on the CID argument. All I have left two brand new 256GB SSDs, those I managed to get from Asus. I guess, I'll be looking for a way to get rid of them.

Don't know breaking the rules here by posting these following words, but I'm planing to go for an auction on Ebay. PM me if you like.

I miss my UX51VZ

 

If someone wants have any modifications bios for overclock GT 650M, or overclock system memory, or for enable RAID function in menu bios setup, or unlock additional functions in menu bios setup, you can send me request to my email: [email protected]

 

Hello All,

I purchased my UX51VZ back in July 2013 and loved using it every minute of it (except when AC adapter sometimes has issue connecting to laptop fully, so I'll get a pop-up)

Unfortunately and sadly, last night, laptop just died. It had about 10-20% power left, I went over to my desk to connect monitor and then AC adapter then, boom, laptop turned off and refuse to turn back on.

ASUS rep insists that since there is no LED light where AC adapter is connected, it's most likely a motherboard issue.

Has anyone experience something similar and what was (if any) your solution?

Thank you so much!

 

Since you say the connector is loose it may have created a short that killed the board. It's very likely the motherboard yes.

 

Where can I buy motherboard for UX51VZ laptop?

 

They are available sometimes on ebay or aliexpress. Don't know if it is a straight swap though.

 

If you got it through a reseller you could ask them or contact asus directly.

 

Hi guys, my dad has one of these laptops (UX51VZ-XB71) and I'm trying to set it up properly. Device manager won't show the Intel HD4000, it only sees the NVidia. I've uninstalled the Nvidia drivers, software, restarted and still doesn't show up. If I try to install the HD4000 drivers myself it starts to for a bit then says my computer isn't compatible. Any ideas?

EDIT: Found my answer in this very thread, see below. New question, can it be re-enabled?! I imagine the idle power draw is much higher with NVidia on all the time.

 

One more thing, I'll put this on a separate post. The NoteBook FanControl (love this app) config for "UX51VZA" doesn't work properly for the UX51VZ-XB71. It only controls the left fan, but the right is uncontrolled. Anyone have a config for it or have some clues on the read/write registers for the second fan?

 

I'm not sure that the HD 4000 is even connected to the screen in that model, the motherboard have two footprints for a display connector and it is possible that the high resolution model uses one connected only to the Nvidia chip. Would have to see a picture of the motherboard to be sure.
If it is connected in the same way as the "standard" model it should be possible by modifying the BIOS in some way.

 

Yes the high resolution will be via a different connector and the HD4000 series IGP wont be connected.

 

Thanks guys!

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

Due to the narrow memory bus of the GPU and small die size it wont draw much in 2d mode anyway

 

First time poster here, I'm wondering if anyone would be willing to make a recovery ISO for me? ASUS will not provide recovery media and I'm trying to reinstall Windows 8 (with or without bloatware) before the pending Windows 10 upgrade.

 

Why not download the ISO from microsoft?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

 

Because this produces a retail version of the installation media, and in Microsoft's infinite wisdom they have designed Windows 8 so that you cannot reinstall it with a retail version of the media. It must be an OEM recovery image. Complete bulls*** if you ask me, just one more way the manufacturers can squeeze some dimes out of us.

 

I used it with my own machine, it automatically actives these days.

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...tted-genuine-windows-8-lenovo.html#post330277

 

That wouldn't work either. I was able to install with a generic Windows 8.1 key, but after installation the activation stated the product key doesn't work. I'm really at a loss as to why Microsoft would institute this type of restriction, this whole ordeal makes me want to buy a mac. The Zenbook costs just as much.

So far I have tried an MSDN Win8 Pro ISO, Asus Win8 Core Recovery Image, A Win8 Pro ISO from MS's MediaCreationTool and nothing works. Does anyone have a Windows 8 Pro Asus (assumingly, but not positively an Asus UX51VZ-DH71 "Zenbook") Recovery Image they would be willing to share and let me attempt to install a valid copy of Windows?

 

I am running NBFC for more than two years now on my UX51. NBFC can not control the GPU fan only the CPU fan. There is no way right now to control the GPU fan by a third party application because it needs access to the NVidia GPU fan controller chip which is not possible.

The same goes for other notebooks with two separate fans.

 

It works fine on my UX32VD with 2 fans. NBFC sees it as 1 fan though and IT probably has something to do with both being soldered to the motherboard.

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

So you edited the file in the setup folder to OEM and it would still not work?

 

I have, but I'll try it again with the MediaCreationTool ISO, that's the only one I think I've not tried it on... Report back in a few...

 

That is if I could find the ei.cfg file. Is it under a different name that I'm unaware of?

 

0) Well I have found success...
1) Got an MSDN Windows 8 Pro ISO
2) Created bootable USB with Rufus
3) Started the installation process
4) DID NOT ALLOW NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
5) Once the install finished, selected 'This PC' Properties via right-click
6) Went to the bottom of the windows and selected the option to activate windows
7) Then completed the Activation BY PHONE
8) Installed updates and then updated to Windows 8.1

I am curious now though, after I completed this the first time I completed a system reset with a Win8.1 ESD.
After it completed my system was no longer activated?!?! How can a reset deactivate my Windows system?

I'd still like to try resetting from a factory image if anyone still has their factory recovery partition from a UX51VZ-DH71 Zenbook. Mostly because the drivers are acting buggy, specifically the KB backlighting.

 

Ah there is a different process for those with windows 8 vs 8.1 keys I think. You can remove the key and de-activate it IIRC.

 

That's what I have come to conclude. Now that I've resolved this, I'm attempting to restore the Intel RAID Array and so far is an exercise in futility. Anyone have any experience?

 

Usually it's a case of making sure it's set to raid in the bios and building the array either from the bios (UEFI) or from the boot sequence during the raid controller page.

 

I've been trying to get to the RAID management page and can't seem to do when holding ctrl-I or any other combination of tricks, lol...

Is there another way to access it?

 

Have you carefully looked through the bios itself?

 

The available options are as follows:
MAIN: System Date, System Time
ADVANCED: Easy Flash, Internal Pointing Device, Wake On Lid Open, Power Off energy Savings, USB CHarger, Virtualization, AES-NI, VT-d, SATA Config, Graphics COnfig, Anti-Theft, USB Config, Network Stakc
ADVANCED/SATA Config: SATA Selection Mode: IDE, AHCI, RAID
ADVANCED/Graphics Config: DMVT Preallocated
ADVANCED/Anti-Theft: Intel Antitheft Technology: enabled / disable
ADVANCED/USB Config: legacy support and XHCI
ADVNAVED/Network Stack: enabled / disabled

Not sure where else it could be, and this is updated to the most current revision 204.

 

What SATA mode are you in?

 

I have tried RAID (which should bring up the RST ROM menu upon reboot) and AHCI for brevity. Both will allow me to install Windows but when I change it Windows won't boot. Not that I care about that because I need to create the array before the OS installation anyways. I'm trying to find a copy of the RST ROM to attempt to install but no luck. I feel like ASUS really screwed the pooch on this machine: proprietary SSD interface, RAM soldered to the board, Nvidia Optimus w/No Linux Support, and the worst customer service I've ever encountered.

The next best thing I can think of is finding a Ghost/Clonezilla image of both SSD's after a factory reset and attempting to write both of them to this and hope it works.

 

Can you describe how you accomplished this?

 

You must run windows in the mode you installed it in, so in raid mode it must be set to raid mode as the two modes need different drivers.

 

Well I think that I've got a system to basically wipe the entire SSD storage of the UX5* RAID array. I believe I'm about 90% there now but need an image of the recovery partition, or at best a virtual disk that I could mount. Here are the steps I've taken so far.

First, the preliminary requirements.
1) Get access to another functional windows system. Windows 8 is helpful but not required.
2) Obtain a Windows 8 [NOT 8.1] ISO to use as installation media, I got a hold of an MSDN copy.
3) Download and install RUFUS if you don't already have it on the functioning system.
4) Download " File name: SetupRST.exe", not required to be installed yet.
5) Get a 8GB+ USB thumb drive and back it up if there's anything on it you need.
*) I used RUFUS and DBAN to wipe the entire TARGET system (autonuke) before proceeding.

If the functional system (FS) you have access to is Windows 8, skip this next part.
1) On the FS make a bootable USB drive with RUFUS using the Windows 8 ISO.
2) On the target system boot from this ISO, 'esc' or 'F2' will bring up a boot/bios menu after POST.
3) Don't turn on the updates or WIFI and don't worry about names or passwords right now.
4) Just get a basic Windows 8 installation that's functional, so SKIP entering the license key.
5) Install RUFUS on the Windows 8 system.

If the functional system (FS) you have access to is Windows 8, start here.
1) Make sure that RUFUS and the ISO are installed and available on the Windows 8 system.
2) Open RUFUS, insert your USB, select the Windows 8 ISO and let it finish scanning.
3) Check the Windows-To-Go installation check-box, and press start. This take's a little while.
4) Once the installation is complete, copy the SetupRST.exe file onto the USB thumb drive.
5) Boot the TARGET system with the Windows-To-Go and just get the system functional.
6) Install Intel RST in the Windows-To-Go system and reboot, again with the USB.
7) Open up Intel RST and create a new volume, or up to four I believe, however you'd like.
8) I did the entire array RAID0, but left about a 20GB RAID1 partition.
9) Using RUFUS, now create a bootable USB for standard installation.

From here I booted from the USB and the installer picked up the RAID arrays without fail. During installation I DID NOT CONNECT TO WIFI, this is because a non-oem installation will fail to authenticate using the embedded BIOS key. After installation manually activate the Windows 8 installation with the PHONE method. It's only failed once for me ever and I have some more on that.

At this point I have gotten as far as I can get with an image of the recovery partition. I would like to attempt to write the partition bit-by-bit with clonezilla or something. Then I want to use the Windows recovery options to restore from the oem recovery partition. And that is about as far as I think anyone can get without sending it back into Asus!

So, is does anyone out there still have the OEM recovery partition and know how to use clonezilla or some other disc imaging software?

 

Which version of the UX51VZ do you have? I still have my recovery partition and might also have the recovery DVDs. This is for UX51VZ-XB71.

 

Hi,

I've been searching the internet for a long time now trying to find answers to my question:

I replaced the 128GB SSDs with new ones (including brackets for compatibility), because one of the originals died. I disassembled the raid configuration using Ctrl + I, replaced the old ones with new ones. BIOS identifies them fine, but how do I access the RAID setup menu again?
Yes, the BIOS SATA is set to raid.

The raid settings menu is gone. How do I access it?

Any advice is helpful, thanks!

I see now that I'm not the only one asking this question. Do we have an answer?

 

Hi,
Recently my u500vz started to boot with a black screen. The fans and harddrive starts but nothing happens, no asus logo no mouse, shortcuts doesnt work etc. Up to This point repetedly restsrting the computer usually makes the computer boot into Windows after which everything workes perfectly. The issue only appears When the battery runs low and The computer shuts down itself after which it starts up to a black screen . Anyone Who know what might be the issue and how to resolve it?

 

IIRC this was a BIOS (okay, UEFI nowadays) bug that was fixed relatively early. Do you have the latest BIOS installed for your model?

 

I thought i did but will try to update the bios thanks for the tip

 

I've had this issue with my UX51VZA since I got it in 2013. Once in about every 20 to 30 boots it goes to a black screen, no keyboard lights, but fans spinning. I have to hold the power down to turn it off. I restart and it is fine. Sometimes it doesn't happen for months. For me it doesn't seem to matter if it is on battery or plugged in. I have the latest BIOS number 204 for the "A" version of this machine.....unless you are aware of another version from a different site than the Asus Support site.

 

No sorry I don't know of any "secret" versions
IIRC there is only one update for this specific model and it only officially tweaked the fan settings. But I haven't had this bug for a long time now and as I remember it stopped when the BIOS was upgraded - but there may be some other factor that make a difference.
Sadly I can't help you... :/

 

Does anyone know where there is a guide to how to set up the RAID array correctly if I wipe my hard drives? I'm thinking of doing a clean install when windows 10 comes out. Currently I have the two 250GB SSDs set up with RAID 0 so it all shows up as one 500GB hard drive. I have formatted drives many times before, but never set up RAID. Don't you have to do something from the BIOS to set this up prior to installing the OS? The instructions showing about Windows 10 state you can make an install image and then do a clean install once you have downloaded the free upgrade. I would like to do that, but want to set up the hard drives the same way as they are now. I also have the Intel Rapid Storage Technology software installed but I still thought you had to install something else prior to the OS to get it to work. Thanks.

 

No, the firmware takes care of it, so windows will see it as a single volume.

 

I am trying to help someone fix one of these laptops and may need a replacement SSD. The originals are a proprietary connector, and considering one of them died I'm not sure we want to use the same part. What adapter + SSD have people used successfully in the UX51VZ?

 

Thanks Meaker. I didn't know it was that easy. Although my machine is only 2 years old I think it will run a lot better with a clean install.

 

Depends what you have put on it I suppose. Might be an idea to backup before if you can.

 

There is a NGFF adapter available on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MGLLZAA...TF8&colid=2CF0I3K6DBTDN&coliid=I26JIGQHVU67V2

There is a guy who posted some pics of this application, which should be really helpful for you. I intend to do it myself some day.
https://imgur.com/a/6sy0J

 

Hi all, I am new to this forum and hoping to get some help here. My laptop (Asus u500vz) crashed last week because of an faulty dc-adapter (the cable scuffed off over time). I had it on service and they investigated the issue hoping that it was the dc-connector but it showed that the mobo was "burned" a bit in in the circuits and replacing dc-connector didnt help.

The data is on two 128 GB SSD ADATA XM11 disks in Raid0 configuration.
I really need to retrieve the files I have on it and have three solution for this:

1. Put the disks in another Asus u500vz with the exact same hardware and hope it will work. (My concern here is that it will reconfigure, reformat or not find the drives with the risk of loosing the data).
2. Put a new battery in the old one and hope it turns on so that I can copy all the files.
3. Buy 2 adapters to convert to "regular" SATA ( http://eshop.sintech.cn/sandisk-sdsa5jk-asus-ux31-ux21-adata-xm11-ssd-to-25-sata-adapt-p-904.html) then put these in an RAID cabinet and run a raid recovery software.

My question is what my chances are that either of these alternatives will work and which one I should go for to minimize the risk of loosing data?

Thankful for every tip I can get before I try this out!

 

Putting it in a similar device would be best (It should b3 set to raid and should discover the drives automatically, if it does not just take them out) and then regular backups of your data

Any modern intel board with raid should work ok at reading them.