Asus UL30VT FAQ / Official Owners Lounge redux

cmasupra,

Did you ever have any luck on that keyboard issue? I've been using mine for a week and love the feel of it, but the "rattle" from the three loose keys on the left side is bugging me.

It's a shame, because this laptop is 100% perfect in every other way. I just really don't want to take the keyboard out and mess anything up.

Does anyone know if it's possible to pop the keys off and put them back without damage? I've seached and found conflicting reports. I'd love to just pop those three keys off, put a dab of something to take up the extra space under them, and then pop them back on. The problem is that I don't want to break them. I do use the left shift from time to time. The Caps Lock and Tab keys, not so much.

Thanks again for any reply!

 

I did a cross-ship RMA with Asus for the keyboard, but I literally just called them a few minutes ago. Apparently the RMA didn't get pushed to the next step, and it still hadn't when I finished talking to them. The guy couldn't push it to the shipping stage for me. I'll have to re-submit the RMA form.

To remove the keyboard: look at the top of the keyboard. There are little indentations. Just take a small, flathead screwdriver and push down and back (toward the screen) to unlock each keyboard lock. Then pull up on the keyboard. Just be gentle since they are plastic and don't sound very sturdy. You will have to push a little hard, though. You can't be too gentle.

I don't know how you can remove the individual keys, but I'm sure you can.

 

looking forward to you results.

 

This is the first time I've used my laptop on battery without wi-fi. I was wondering if anyone else was experiencing this issue.

If I'm not connected to wi-fi, the CPU usage goes up to 60%+. As soon as I connect to wi-fi, it goes down to under 5%.

Anyone have a solution? The services that seem to take up the most CPU in Task Manager are asuswsservice.exe and sensorsrv.exe, but the top of the list is always changing, like it does on every computer.

 

I just received my 2nd UL30VT (sent the 1st back cause it says centrino) from amazon and on the notebook, there's an intel Centrino2 sticker on the palm rest. There's also a sticker that says it's a ULV SU7300 CPU. Is this really a C2D or a centrino and is intel centrino2 the same as Core2Duo? If not, is that better or worse?

 

My CPU info is attached, if that helps you any. Also, ignore the fact that my CPU is running at 1066MHz. I was on battery mode and have it set to downclock the CPU before turning on the fan if it needs to reduce heat.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I also got it from Amazon, and it was shipped from J&R.

 

Couple of questions here too:

1) CPU seems to stay at 1066Mhz in Entertainment mode according to CPUz it never kicks up to full speed. Tested with SuperPi Mod, and a Vice c64 emulator in warp mode. I adjusted P4G to allow 100% CPU.

2) In Battery saving mode the screen turns 90% white?

3) Anyway to improve the screen colors, white does not look white?

4) Slow Wireless N speed (VT) model, only getting 130mbs vs 300 on other laptops?

 

Hi,

I just had my notebook serviced by Asus and the wireless card was replaced. Under device manager it says Intel Wifi Link 1000 BG. I actually never looked at it before, but based on the notebook specs, shouldn't it be Intel Wifi Link 1000 BGN?

Thanks

 

Mine says Intel 1000BGN can you connect at N speeds?

 

Go to Start -> Control Panel -> System and Security -> Power Options. Next to "Power4Gear Entertainment", click "Change plan settings". Then click "Change advanced power settings". Go to "Processor power management" -> "System cooling policy" and select Active for both battery and plugged in.

Passive down-clocks the CPU to reduce heat instead of turning on the fan, useful for being quiet and increasing battery life. It will only turn on the fan if it needs to.

Active turns on the fan to reduce heat. It will only down-clock the CPU if the fan isn't enough cooling.

I'm thinking that was down-clocking your CPU to 1066MHz to reduce heat, as that is what mine gets down-clocked to on Passive.

 

General Announcement About Warranty Coverage on the UL30VT-X1

Hello, fellow UL30VT-X1 owners, as I have some xtra good news for all of you with USA/North American/Canadian machines.

Even though Amazon.com has advertised the unfounded "fact" that the UL30VT-X1 (black body, black everything!) has only a 1-year warranty, they are WRONG! DEAD WRONG!

The UL30VT-X1 has a 2-year Asus Warranty, parts and labor on everything, not 1-year as Amazon.com would have you believe.

I confirmed this myself tonight by calling Asus Tech Support, because I suspected that this was the case as there is no disclaimer on the web site at Asus/Support.com about the notebook having a 1-year warranty, and I was correctamundo! 2-year Warranty on the UL30VT-X1. just like on the brother computer the UL30VT-A1--there is no difference whatsoever between the two in terms of warranty!

Isn't that great news? I thought it was important enough that I post it tonight because I always thought something was "fishy" about the Amazon.com advertisement of the notebook having a 1-year warranty, and I was correct! 2-Years on EVERYTHING, parts and labor, 1-year ADH Warranty, end of story.

That's all, folks, so you can go back to your discussions now...

 

I just got my ul30vt-x1 and the large Asus sticker next to the trackpad says warranty 12 months?

 

Thanks that solved it

 

Since there have been quite a few posts since I asked this question, I'm posting this again, so that it will get noticed. I don't mean to be rude by quoting myself.

 

I have just ordered a new black UL30VT. The product name shows:

UL30VT- QX018V

Does anyone know if there are any special specs attached to this apparent new batch of UL30VT? (Ordered in Norway - Europe)

 

You probably saw laptop's specs before ordering, so there shouldn't be any surprise.

This model number tells which HW and SW you get with laptop and it also seems region related. You can see Americans talking about two models, with distinctive characteristics (different color and battery). Same thing applies all over the world apparently. My QX002 for example came w/o any preinstalled OS, but it has bluetooth module (unlike American counterparts) and large battery. Yours looks the same (after quick google search), but with Windows 7 preinstalled.

 

Hi all,

I seem to have the issues Mrrudzin had been having in regards to the g210m and driver issues. Does anyone know if there was ever a fix? I have tried nearly everything under the sun (except find the solution).

=(

 

And just fixed it! After a week of doing everything! Ended up being a bios issue and needed to update it from default to the newest (or any other one that wasnt default haha).

SO RELIEVED!

 

Hey just bumping in to check if there is a fix for the unresponsive brightness controls after waking up the notebook out of hibernation?

 

I think it's safe to say this is not a widespread problem. Have you tried booting using msconfig for selective or basic booting? Sounds like something goes nuts when it can't phone home.

 

Mine works fine...

 

I finally figured out why the CPU usage went so high when my laptop wasn't connected to the internet. Turns out that the Asus USB Printer software I installed for the RT-N16 router hates being disconnected from the internet. So I just deleted the software and now the CPU usage doesn't go above 5%. I'm now a happy camper, as college classes start tomorrow, and I needed this laptop for class, and not all the buildings have wi-fi. I didn't even use that software after leaving home.

If anyone wants to know, I used Process Explorer to find the program that was using all the CPU. Task Manager wasn't enough, as it didn't tell me. The USB Printer software doesn't even show up in Task Manager.

Now I have another problem, I turned off Bluetooth using the icon at the bottom-right of the screen, thinking that might have been the problem, and now even when I have Bluetooth enabled using Fn+F2, the icon doesn't show. Not a big deal, I don't even use Bluetooth, but if anyone happens to know how to bring the icon back, do tell. I don't want anyone to go out of their way to try to figure it out, though, as it is no big deal. I don't even use Bluetooth.

 

Two seconds away from chucking this laptop out a window. It heats up and locks up all the time! I have had to restart it multiple times throughout the day, and I can't overclock it (to the same clock you guys recommend in the first post) lest it freezes immediately. I installed SpeedFan a week or so ago, and it is telling me right now that Temp 1 is 63 degrees Celsius, with the GPU at 53 degrees Celsius. Does that look normal to those of not experiencing these problems and are on a normal clock speed? Is there some new BIOS release I am not aware of that may fix this problem?

 

What is the version of your BIOS?
BIOS 210 should have fixed this problem.

I just found out there is BIOS 211, anyone tried it? It seems the description doesn't make it worth updating.

 

I've attached my temps. I took the screenshot after coming back, after having my laptop on for a couple of hours with the screen folded closed (off) and on the switch user screen.

I would use CPUID's HWMonitor to check your temps. SpeedFan was meant for Dell laptops, and sometimes its labels are incorrect on non-Dell laptops. The temperature it's listing as GPU might actually be your CPU temp or ambient inner-case temp. We don't know. Also, my CPU is running at 1.73GHz because I have Turbo33 turned on.

The temps you listed aren't bad, though, so I doubt it has anything to do with temps. You probably just have a bad part.

Edit: I just realized I didn't attach anything.

 

Upgrade to the newest bios 211. It solved the problem for me.

 

Since it doesn't seem the edit added my picture in, I'll add it in this post.

 

Hi guys, I'm wondering whether you could help me.

Went to hook up my UL30VT into my TV for the first ever time (after 5 months!) and am having some problems. Using an HDMI cable, there's nothing wrong with either the cable or the TV (My housemate can connect his macbook to it no problem) but I just can't get anything to appear on the TV.

What exactly am I doing wrong? Every other PC I've had, I've just plugged in and it's immediately popped up. My laptop is plugged in and running on the NVIDIA card too, so it's not that.

Anyone care to venture a solution?

 

Make sure it is on the NVIDIA GPU. Then right-click the desktop, go to "screen resolution". Click "Detect". Make sure that a second display is showing in the box. If it isn't, then the laptop isn't even detecting your TV.

There is also a shortcut that says "Connect to a projector" in the same box. You might need to do that. I've never connected to a TV with this laptop, and I've never seen that link in Windows, but I have connected to a TV with other laptops.

I know this isn't much help, but it's a good start.

 

After 8 months of use, the AC adapter that came with my UL30VT is giving up. It makes squeaking and high pitched noises, and occasionally will just stop working. Lately I've been having to unplug the power cord from the brick (the 120V cord), let it sit, then replug it until it dies maybe 10 minutes later. Anyone else have issues with their power bricks?

EDIT: Adapter is completely dead. All I have left is a 50% charge and counting down until Asus tech support gets back to me. I doubt they'll respond anytime soon, and who knows when they'll mail a replacement. Little bit annoyed right now...

 

Thank you! Works fine now

 

Why don't you give them a call? They're call centers are available 24/7.

 

Yea, available to put me on hold. Tried 2 times, gave up after 15 minutes of waiting (while being reminded how reliable asus notebooks are).

 

I haven't found Asus' tech support to be very good either. I gave up on trying to get a replacement keyboard.

 

Yeah... based on my experience with tech support and being the unhelpful dudes they are, considering just selling this hassle. >_>

 

Can someone tell me if a 12.5mm 1tb hard drive will fit inside the ul30vt or not? I d prefer knowing before I order one and find out it wont fit in the drive bay. I called asus but of course the tech support people there dont know and the hold time is 39 minutes

 

Anybody have a modded .inf to get the UL30Vt-X1 to work with the new NVIDIA 260.63 beta drivers?

 

For those who ares till hesistant to buy a UL30VT, Amazon now has it for $630.

Amazon.com: ASUS UL30Vt-X1 Thin and Light 13.3-Inch Black Laptop (11 Hours of Battery Life): Computer & Accessories


Do take in consideration of the problems the above posters have mentioned!

Goodluck

 

I got this laptop today for $630 and I'm very impressed with it for the price.

I really like the keyboard, it's fast, it looks nice, it's thin and light, has a long battery life, and it has good graphics performance. StarCraft 2 plays perfectly at medium settings at native resolution.

The only thing I really don't like is the screen. It's a little washed out and the viewing angle is veerrryyyy narrow.

 

Can anyone tell me how to see which version of Power4Gear I have? I only found something telling me I have 1.1.0.0. I went to C:/Program Files/P4G, and moused-over P4GXui.exe, which tells me I have 1.1.0.0. Is there a better way to see which version I have?

Assuming I do have 1.1.0.0, anyone have a link to 1.1.25? I could only find 1.1.24 on Asus' website.

 

Okay so I also experienced a power cord failure and called them. I tried to call during the day and waited about 30 minutes before giving up so I called them at 1 am and someone answered within 2 minutes. However, they requested the entire laptop to be sent in just for the power cord to be replaced and no exceptions will be made... So I also mentioned a few other problems such as my squeaky palm rest and one of the keys rattle. They said they would replace the parts I mentioned. Hopefully it won't take too long.

 

I was able to get an Advance-RMA with my keyboard (although I gave up on it after they lost my RMA form). Do they not do Advance-RMAs on power cords?

Advance-RMA is they send you a replacement, and then you send your old one back to them.

 

I just received my ul30vt-x1. I always do a clean install with a new computer.
I downloaded the 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium ISO and installed it on a 4GB flash drive (tested and it boots the installer from USB). I also downloaded all the latest drivers from ASUS.

Now I want to backup the ASUS bloatware HD as it was shipped prior to the clean install - just in case I have any major issues (windows activation, drivers, etc...).

I plan on doing a full system image backup using windows 7 backup and acronis (free via seagate) to an external USB drive. Should I also backup the hidden asus recovery partition? Could I ever use it down the road to restore from? Not sure how this works since I will be doing a clean install over their bloatware windows partition.

I plan on using the windows key on the bottom of the notebook to activate the clean install. Not 100% sure if this key will activate? I also used ABR to backup the key from the ASUS default install just in case.

 

Your key will work. When I did a clean install, everything went including backup partition. Your choice there.

i'll just use the flash drive to install again and used the utilities DVD for drivers and select utilities.

Some of the guys are using their N routers to back up to remote drive for another option. Search back through the posts.

 

I'm now at 32 minutes of wait time for a drive swap. LOL, I guess we gotta pay Apple prices if we want fast service. 2 months ago I had no problems with phone wait time. Asus may be going through growing pains?

I also had great fun with Dell support and language comprehension in the past.

Oh well, i'll catch up on the forum while waiting till phone dies..

 

It took them four days to reply to the email I sent, and they simply told me to call instead. Thanks, ASUS. Fixing then selling this thing.

 

One week into my power supply failure and counting. I've faced seemingly infinite call times, getting a clueless "tech" each time, some of which they claimed their RMA system is down and that I should just call back. I eventually heard back via email...about 5 days after I originally mailed them.
Advance RMA requires that you email or fax Asus your billing and personal info. Taken out of context, it sounds like a Nigerian scam. Even though it's not, I'm not exactly compelled to just email my credit card number or have it sitting on a fax machine in who-knows-where. Unfortunately by questioning that point, it seems that Asus no longer wants to deal with me.
Growing pains? Asus has been in business for over 2 decades. From my 1 week of experience with them, their customer support sucks. Plain and simple.

 

anyone have had this problem?
I just got my UL30VT, installed Windows 7 Ultimate x64 via mounted image on the computer itself. Downloaded all new drivers for it according to this link
After that I tried switching between the different Graphics mode and sometimes after switching, it goes to the original background and settings before the new windows was installed. Anyone have any idea to why?
There is a folder called windows.old from the previous windows 7 but i deleted that.

 

Control Panel\Programs and Features...

1.1.25..I think that is under the ul80vt drivers.

 

No problems here. I'm cross shipping a second drive. The tech I talked to 2 months ago sounded US based while yesterday I think the support was out of India.

The tech said they are working to improve wait time so guessing new support is being set up but did not ask.