*Official UL30VT-X1 Owners Lounge*

I found this on www.winhelponline.com. I don't know if they know what they're talking about or not, but it seems to say that only store ISO's work. I haven't gone further and investigated the next step that it mentions.

"The tool works only for the Windows 7 ISO image downloaded from online Microsoft Store. It throws the following error if you use a custom Windows 7 ISO image.

The selected file is not a valid ISO file. Please select a valid ISO file and try again.
However, Rafael Rivera of Within Windows has written a tool that will allow you to use your own ISOs with the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. For more information, read the excellent post Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool with custom ISOs by Rafael."

 

I just tried the x15-65733.iso that is linked from lifehacker and it worked perfectly with the windows usb/dvd tool.

 

Here is a think I found about the problem with custom isos and the windows usb/dvd tool. In it is a link for an additional tool that will make your isos compatible with windows tool.

http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/11/01/use-the-windows-7-usbdvd-download-tool-with-custom-isos/

 

Thanks, Jack007. I appreciate your help. I did get the ISO with the same name, but I got it from the reference on mydigitallife. Maybe it was invalid or didn't get downloaded correctly. I'm not sure what the other site meant about the ISO having to be from the store. Is this lifehacker one considered to be from the store or is it a "custom" ISO?

By the way, when I looked for a torrent (I've never used them, but thought I'd look since you mentioned it), the first site I tried seemed to hang my machine! I guess I shouldn't just google and go to any random site. Is there a specific place that you like to get these torrent files from?

 

Yes, I mentioned that tool above (the quote mentioned a guy named Rafael). But since you said you had no problems, I didn't think it made sense for me to get the tool. I think I just need to get the ISO from the same place you did (lifehacker) instead of where I had found it.

 

Better be careful.... you can get viruses/spyware and other stuff very easily if you don't know what you're doing with torrents.

 

All that matters is that iso linked from lifehacker is legit. Remember, since it is a upgrade version, do not check "automatically activate when online" during the install and don't put in the key until after install has completed.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

for creating the bootable usb, i suggest formatting to ntfs, and using bootsect from the boot folder in the iso (copy to your desktop or whatever) to make the drive bootable. command is:

Code:

boosect.exe /nt60 x:

where x is your thumbdrive.

This guide worked well for me.

Also, according to a technet post I saw, one may have to alter the contents of ei.cfg under sources to use "OEM" under the channel variable instead of "RETAIL"....on the full retail discs.

I've made the thumbdrive. I haven't used it to clean install though. I needed it for the recovery console (to Use d: partition for c:\Users...I like this method better than relocating the user folders in their properties dialogs). Though I suggest adding /copyall to the robocopy command to maintain security permissions and ownerships properly.

 

I am not sure if this is true or not but the site below refers to a "student-only" product key so I am not sure if our keys will activate the student upgrade. I think the best thing is to find a good torrent of the retail disk.

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/1...-dvd-for-windows-7-student-upgrade/2#comments

 

Good job. Well written. You might want to link to some UL80VT benchmarks and gaming results (Quadron's review) since they share the same hardware and there is a lot more info available.

The mods should consider putting up your user review given they haven't gotten around to doing their own review.

As a complete aside, sort of regret there is no express card slot... cause I'd love to add a cheap express card SSD as a boot drive so you can have the benefits of an SSD while keeping your HDD and saving money. That's not something I'd put in the review- just an aside.

 

This is my last question about this, Jack007. On this link,

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/28/direct-download-ISO-dvd-for-windows-7-student-upgrade/

it says:
"Also, don't bother downloading this ISO if you don't have a valid student-only product key. You'll probably be able to install it, but your key won't activate the OS."

Obviously, I will not have a "valid student-only product key" when I get this notebook. You mentioned entering the key later in the install process. Will that help to alleviate the problem this mentions, i.e. do you think the part that says "your key won't activate the OS" is not true as long as the key is entered at the appropriate time?

Gooberlx -- I think the WUDT procedure will be much easier than what you have described. But if it worked for you, that's what counts.

 

Sorry, Jack007, I was writing you about the same topic before I saw your post. Do you know where to find a good torrent of the retail disk?

 

how many version of window 7 iso files are out there? is it distinct by the file name. I have one that has a file name that says X15-65805....it is windows professional though.

 

I just did a quick search on torrentfly.org for windows 7 home premium x64. The torrent below looks good (RTM/OEM is just as good as retail)

MICROSOFT WINDOWS 7 HOME PREMIUM RTM X64 OEM ENGLISH DVD-DivxMon

 

good to hear that buy.com battery seem legit.

anyone think the battery will go sub 100 anytime soon?

hmmm i find this odd, amazon shows the buy.com battery with a picture of a random graphics card and "8 cell" in the title whereas the title for buy.com says it is a 6 cell battery. How many cells does the 5600 use?

 

Thanks, Jack007. I'll look into that torrent soon. It may be the "safer" way. FYI, this link seems to say the ISO that you found before would be good and not restricted to being a student copy. But I don't think I'm sure of anything!

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/...links-ultimate-professional-and-home-premium/

 

If I knew the battery was legit, I would have ordered it during 20% BCB on Ebay a couple days ago. I ordered one anyway after hearing it works fine.

 

Argh, I should have pre-ordered this baby.

Anyone know an estimate for when Amazon gets this back on stock? Probably sometime in January, I assume (Hope not ><)

 

Yeah its the link to same file so maybe it is just an RTM. Not sure. Doesn't hurt to have two different copies in case one doesn't work out for whatever reason.

 

Ok, here are pics of the battery using my crappy cameraphone.

First both batteries beside each other:



and here's a closeup of the 5600mah one:

 

KungFusion, in case you haven't received a reply yet:
I asked customer service at Alina Systems about the battery before I ordered and the ASUS UL30VT-QX030V comes with the 4400 mAh. They also said that according to ASUS the 5600 wasn't going to be sold in Sweden. For now at least...

 

ridiculous. I saw it online in stock using my cellphone since i didn't have a laptop with me... went back home (less than 20 mins) the laptop is out of stock again. AMAZON PLAYING GAMES OR WHAT?

 

I held both batteries, one in each hand, and it took me a few seconds to be sure; the 5600mAh is a bit heavier. So I guess technically yes, but frankly I don't think it's going to make a noticeable difference when plugged in to the laptop.

 

Thank you very much kind sir/lady.

 

Anyone successfully copied the contents from the ASUS's Windows 7 Installation DVD to a USB Drive to make it bootable?

I tried it, but it doesn't work.

The steps usually given for "Windows 7 DVD to USB Tutorial" are for people with retail Windows 7 DVD.

 

possible to put it on a scale to check the weight?

 

There's now a page on amazon.ca for the UL30Vt-X1 but it says it's out of stock.

I was just wondering if it came in stock since I checked last night and sold out, or they just haven't put up stock yet.

http://www.amazon.ca/ASUS-UL30Vt-X1...9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1260450996&sr=8-9

Can someone link that amazon stock checker again?

 

Hey, Battery Man, any reflections on its performance yet?

 

Just got my 5600 battery as well, fit perfect!

OK so this could be a problem; does anyone notice their displays flickering after starting up? Best way I can describe it is, for the first 5 minutes or so of use from cold boot I swear I can see the display flicker very minutely. After that it's fine.

 

I tried using the windows 7 usb download tool and it didnt work for me either. I think the problem was that my usb drive doesnt support booting when its formatted as ntfs. I reformatted the usb drive as fat32, copied over the contents of the win7 disk to the drive, and then it worked. Give that a try.

 

You're kidding, right?

 

not really, thats what i do with all my laptops....just pop it in a 5kg kitchen scale. but I suppose you can't if you done have one.

 

He cooks his laptops and needs precise measurements for his recipes...

 

Do you mean this one?

 

i am wondering if it is possible to just completely disable the intel integrated graphics and use the nvidia graphics all the time. i dont mind losing the battery life, but i dont like the idea of having both the nvidia and intel graphics drawing power at the same time.

anyone attempted this?

 

I just placed my order on the amazon.ca page and they say it will ship out after December 25th

 

I'm not 100% positive, but I don't think both graphics cards draw power at the same time. It's one or the other I believe. If that were the case, it would be impossible to get long battery life when intel graphics are selected...

 

If it's any consolation, when I pre-ordered on Nov. 23rd, Amazon also told me my estimated delivery date would be after Dec. 25th. I received it on Dec. 4th.

 

my understanding was that the nvidia card is off when the intel graphics are in use, but when the nvidia card is in use, the intel graphics are still on. you can see both in the task manager when the nvidia card is on, but only the intel graphics when its in use.

 

Haha wow... it's cheaper than when the UL30A first came out here (it was $929 CAD if i remember correctly)

 

That's really odd because when I have Nvidia graphics on, my intel graphics icon disappears.

 

I was under the impression that the included Asus Windows 7 Recovery DVD could not be used to clean install. It would be great if it could. Is this the DVD you used to copy over to the USB drive and clean installed win 7?

 

Really! That's really good news I hope it does come sooner

 

I joined this forum just so I could discuss this laptop! I'm excited its finally in Canada but wish there was a silver version. Think theres any chance a silver one will come out before end of the year? I'm planning on installing a SSD and clean install with win7 pro 64 bit and I'll be sure needing some help.

 

Let me also add that the ASUS rep also confirmed that we'd get our shipments early. I don't know if the ASUS rep has confirmed anymore shipments before the holidays. You'll have to check back on the Amazon forums for any news.

 

To Canadians:

I'm betting that if you wait a month, and the UL30Vt-A1 should be available for other retailers for around the same price as what's on amazon.ca.

}:^)~

 

No, I used a copy of Win7 Ultimate that I got from MSDN.

 

Have they confirmed this version for sure? And how will it be different? (sorry if I'm out of the loop!)

 

But does it disappear in the task manager? It doesnt for me. Someone many pages back in this thread posited that it means both are drawing power.

 

ahbitheman: from what I've been reading, I get the feeling the silver version with the extended battery won't be available until the end of the holiday season (read: mid January.) I'm personally getting super-impatient now that it's on amazon.ca...


And to those that got the SSD: so is it the consensus that the Intel G2 SSD is the best one to put in this laptop? Price/size/performance considering?