~ Asus U6 Owners' Lounge ~

Yeah I have noticed that bug as well....
Have you tried the new BIOS? My fan stays at max speed with new BIOS so had to downgrade back to original.....

 

Hi Guys, I have just received a lovely Asus u6s...I could just stare at it with loving eyes all day. But love is fickle, and can quickly turn to something nasty (like death from a thousand hammer blows!). I have the "No Audio Output Devices is Installed". Device Manager says that the Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device is working properly. Typing "DXDIAG" in Run command tells me that no sound card is installed! Is there another test I can run to verify this? I need to be 100% sure before contacting the retailer. Thanks in advance.

 

I did not know there is a new BIOS version. But from your report I would stay away from it. Also usually common wisdom says to avoid to flash the BIOS if there is no evidence of fix for bugs that you encounter.

At least apparently BIOS can be down-leveled (from your report) because sometimes it is not possible, and in this case we are stuck!

 

It is easy to downgrade the BIOS on ASUS notebooks. See guide in my sig.

I don't know about this:

I can only suggest making sure the audio driver is properly installed / trying a different version of the driver...

 

Thank you for your great guide. For EasyFlash method, I assume the BIOS image can be put on a NTFS partition (c:\ usually with XP/Vista installation). This means that the BIOS should have a kind of mini-NTFS file system driver. Also the BIOS image should probably be in low-numbered sectors, in all case not beyond the 137GB on the hard disk (regardless of the partition) to be safe from 48-bit LBA problem. And it is also probably recommended that the BIOS image file is not fragmented (use 'contig' utility from Sysinternals to check/fix).

I found that the U6V BIOS has 48-bit LBA limitation, that means it cannot load boot loaders (ntldr, bootmgr or grldr) that are located beyond 137 GB (=128 GiB) barrier.
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/bios/sizeGB128-c.html

 

I do not know if the EZFlash can read NTFS. I always used a USB key to store the BIOS for update/downgrade, which I recommend for other people to do as well, in my guide.

I also never worried about fragmentation, although the small size of the file (512KB) probably means that it is unlikely it will be fragmented.

 

Please update your guide, since in method A (EasyFlash) there is no mention of USB key, so for me after reading it is the hard disk. Now with your input, the only hint is you tell about D: and not C:. D: (or whatever else) should be the USB key (FAT32 or FAT16). With the key no problem for 137GB problem and less problem with fragmentation (you can format the key first then copy the BIOS image file). And of course is the size is 512K, it will fit in a default cluster size, so no fragmentation.

You mention the USB key only for method B and C.

 

Oh, sorry, I thought I had the USB key as the default method for the EZFlash too. Well, long time no seen that guide. I don't remember exactly, but I must have tried the HDD method and it must've worked -- otherwise I wouldn't have written it down in the first place.

Nevertheless, I will edit the guide to suggest a USB key for the EZFlash too, when I have the time.

 

After few searches and experimentations:
1) The Bluetooth problem is related to Wireless console that should be installed first (so you can activate Bluetooth device). But the wireless console cannot be installed without ATK0100 ACPI, so catch 22 situation since the latter cannot be installed with the provided 2Ksetup.exe!
The solution is with the install.txt of ATKDrv for XP found with other Asus laptops models:

Code:

How to install ATK0100 ACPI Control Driver in Windows XP
=========================================================

Install:
========
1. During WinXP OS found a "Unknown" device.
2. Click on "Search for a suitable driver for my device(recommended) and click "Next" button
3. Only choice "Specify a location" and click on "Next" button.
4. Click on "Browse..." to your driver location. (example: CDROM driver:\ATK0100\WinXP)
5. Click on "Open" button and "OK" button to start driver installation.
6. If OS request you to "Insert Disk", please "Browse..." to your driver location.
7. Click on "Finish" button.
8. You need to Restart System for driver work fine.

I find it is easier to go to device manager, locate the "unknown device", then right click and choose Update driver, then set it to the location of the ATK0100 driver (inf, sys files).

2) For sound driver, if you have XP SP3, no need for the UAA high definition audio, it is already installed, so just install the latest Realtek audio driver.

 

In fact, no need to change your documentation. I just try to use EasyFlash (no flash image, just to get the interface dialog). And on the online help (right column) of EasyFlash it said: "This utility deosn't support: 1. CDROM 2.USB HDD 3. Secondary HDD.".

Indeed, when you enter EasyFlash you can choose the drive A: B: C: D: etc..., and NTFS are well recognized. So the easiest way is to put the BIOS flash image (1 MB) to the root of C:\.

 

Have you tried reinstalling the audio driver?

 

i'm really having trouble with the touch pad.. somebody know how to fix the side scroll problem? i've had it for almost 2 weeks and it's driving me nuts.

 

Hi all,

just purchased a U6sg-2po15c. I was on a trip to hongkong and i had not seen this spec'd version of the u6 before. It's exactly the same as the normal u6sg except its only got a 2ghz dual core, the t5750. Still got the 9300 in it and exact same appearance.

Anyhow, i could not refuse such an offer on this laptop, i picked it up for only 8500 HKD. So far its been pretty good, although i am not a fan of vista, have many people downgraded to xp on their u6's? I'm guessing i need xp cd's?

Also, i have the recovery dvd, how would one go about reinstalling vista and deleting the partitions on the hd? I do not like the amount of bloatware and the way the harddrive was partitioned.

Oh and also i've got installed version 167.49 of the forceware drivers. From people's experience, which drivers work best.

Thanks

 

What do you mean by the side scroll problem?

For XP, you need the XP drivers, I'm not sure if anybody compiled a list for the U6Sg.

See the Info BoothFAQ, one of last questions, for the way to make a clean Vista install using the recovery DVD.

I'm using the 177_92 on the W7Sg, without incident (same video card as yours). Not sure what is "the best" though. I think the 177_92 gave similar 3D Mark results with 176.15.

 

Thank You for your answers....but I tried them all before coming here. Just re-flashed the BIOS and now no audio devices show in Device Manager, or anywhere for that matter! What with shipping, Customs and the fact that I need it for a one month assignment abroad, I am feeling rather tired and emotional. As those nervous American cops say: "Step away from the computer!".

 

In this case the audio board may be faulty...

One way to check is to boot into some flavor of Live Linux (e.g., ExpressGate, if you have it) and see if the sound works there.

Another is to verify if you get the ASUS POST sound on boot. (make sure it's enabled in the BIOS). If not and it's enabled, and the volume setting in the BIOS is positive, then I think it's faulty hardware.

 

Thanks E.B.E

Just a couple questions on recovering from the optical disk, i can reorganise the size of partitions right? Or even just have one partition?

Also, if i don't insert the driver cd, where do i get the drivers for chipset / camera / card reader etc. I know i get the gpu one off net.

Thanks.

 

You install the drivers off the drivers DVD, later on. The difference is that the bloatware is not installed, instead you control which applications you wish to install.

You can only create 1 or 2 partitions in the default "factory" sizes. I suggest you rearrange partitions prior to installing, using qtParted, Partition Magic, or whatever else. Then recover to 1st partition only (i.e., without disturbing the partition layout).

 

I'm getting the Bluetooth problem in Vista - can you offer any advice?

 

Hi all,

I just did a clean install of vista, got down to 50 processes now on boot up instead of 75. Things were a bit hairy when i was manually installing drivers as i wasn't entirely sure on which to leave out.

So i've only got two minor problem, so far! The webcam works fine except the picture is upsidedown? I can use the camera in ASUS lifeframe, where there are two camera adapters listed, the asus virtual camera and usb2.0 0.3mp UVC webcam. Should i be uninstalling one of these camera controllers / drivers?

Second, my bluetooth is now a bit temperamental, sometimes the bundled wireless mouse will connect straight away, while other times i have to manually add up to 3 times before it works.

Some other things,

what audio/video codec pack(s) would people recommend.

And how can I reprogram the Fn + keys, eg. i want to be able to control itunes with the media keys not wmp.

Thanks

 

Well I would say:
1) Install ATKDrv (using 2Ksetup.exe).
2) Install WirelessConsole2.
3) Run Wireless console and activate ON Bluetooth. Then install the Bluetooth stack.

 

U6V: I tried to install XP on U6V. Some problems found:

1) The standby function is OK, but on resume there is no video. It looks like nVidia Forceware driver problem. I used version 179.13. I have to use the hibernation function.

2) The card reader works irregularly. The SD card is not recognized as always is should be, but if it is inserted, it causes a very long delay during boot and other disk operations.

3) If you plug an eSATA disk, there is blue screen of death at boot, after desktop showing.

4) The microphone volume input entry is too low so it is barely usable unless speaking at very few centimeters from it. I already set the MIC volume to max. Is there a solution ?

 

1. I'm also using XP and standby works perfectly for me. I'm using 177.92 drivers.

2. Try the Realtek media card driver http://www.2shared.com/file/4054487/c991b464/Media_Card_Reader.html

3. This never happened to me. I'm using eSATA almost on a daily basis. Try reinstall the intel chipset driver

4. Maybe an external mic would help?

 

@emporiumboutique

Thank you very much for your help. I will try your suggestions, at least I know that it should work.

It would be really useful if I can have:
1) The order of XP drivers installation (it is important, since apparently my problem with the card reader is that generic USB mass storage has been used automatically, and not the Realtek rtstor.sys driver).
Edit: the card reader now works flawlessly with your Realtek driver (version 3.0.1.4). And no more very long defaly if SD card present at boot time.

2) The link to the drivers, or at least where you got them (for example from Asus U6SG XP drivers, from U6V Vista drivers, or from manufacturer site), and the versions used.

Edit: I tried nVidia driver 177.98, the standby problem is still alive (at resume, no video, black screen). I have to try 177.92.

Of course there is no Smartlogon XP version, and the Fingerprint functions and applications seem to be different from Vista?

Other question:
I still have a yellow question mark at this item: Audio Device On High Definition Audio Bus. With "Unknown devices" program and comparison with Vista, I find out that this is "Nvidia HDMI Audio". How do you fix it?

 

Anyone know how to fix upsidedown webcam in Vista? I've done a search and most people only have this problem in xp!?

 

@aubz

I would suggest you to uninstall the webcam in Vista, and let Vista reinstalls it automatically (or at least through Windows update). I did see Vista detects the webcam automatically on a fresh Vista installation.

 

Thanks Lilas,

i uninstalled the driver and reinstalled the latest one off the asus website and it fixed it!

Anyone know how to customize the keyboard shortcuts?

Thanks

 

Glad that the card reader works now
When you come out of standby, try pressing Fn + F7, give it a few seconds and see if that works.
Unfortunately, the smartlogon feature is only available for Vista.
As for your Nvidia HDMI Audio, you have to install the driver for that. Link below:
http://www.2shared.com/file/4056156/a7faf0df/nvidia_hdmi_audio_xp_mb.html

@ aubz
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/52f853fe-de4d-4924-bfc0-0373fcf862391033.mspx

 

thanks emporiumboutique, but i want to be able to change the asus built in shortcut keys, with the fn key.

As in fn + right arrow to change the next song in itunes, at the moment it only works with windows media player. I want to be able to assign the shortcut to run a little vb script which tells itunes to play, pause, next etc.

At home with my desktop pc, my multimedia keyboard has a utility which allows me assign a script or program to run off the keys. I was wondering if there's anything like this for the asus keyboard laptop?

 

Unfortunately this does not work (Fn-F7 is a toggle). I programmed Fn-F1 to hibernate, so with black screen I manage to hibernate then resume correctly. I even tried different drivers for mobile version (Asus-specific) 176.28 at http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=20424 but all failed (resume on standby gives no video=black screen). I used Bluetooth mouse, should not be a problem. I have Splendid installed etc... Do you have other idea for fix?

This works very well, there is no longer corresponding yellow question mark in device manager, but I do not know what is the benefit of it, maybe by plugging HDMI output to external LCD TV?. It would really help others if you can explain how do you find such a solution (your expertise), by searching on manufacturer site for example?

I still have a last yellow question mark due to Fingerprint sensor (Authentec). I assume I have to install from U6SG
Fingerprints_XP_080530.zip. But it does not seem to install fingerprint application ?

For the microphone low volume entry, do you observe the same problem? Because buying new external microphone would be a possible solution, but then you need to carry it and plug it, so this is less practical than the built-in microphone.

 

@aubz
You may want to try Hotkeyboard Pro:
http://www.hot-keyboard.com/
If it recognises Fn-key combinations, then it is OK.
You can then use Hotkeyboard Pro as a more generic solution that should work on any computer.

Be warned about possible conflicts with Asus installed application as ATKhotkey, ATKOSD2, ATKmedia, kb_filter.

 

Unfortunately, you can't reprogram the Fn shortcuts. It's all part of the Asus hotkey utilities and unless you know how to write your own code, it's not possible AFAIK. As for 3rd party programs, be careful of conflicts with the other Asus software lilas mentioned.

That's very weird. I don't have hibernate enabled on my U6V, but resuming from standby works just fine for me. I'm not sure why you're getting a black screen. I don't have any Asus programs installed except for Power4Gear, but I don't think that's the reason behind this issue.

That driver is for HDMI audio output and like you said, it's for hooking up LCD TVs and/or monitors with an HDMI input for digital audio. Actually, Ken from GenTechPC gave me copy of all the XP drivers But if he didn't, I would have to search the manufacture websites for the individual drivers which can be very tedious. As a matter of fact, the media card reader driver GenTechPC provided was the wrong driver so I had to manually find it from the Realtek website.

Try this for the fingerprint:
http://www.2shared.com/file/4056332/f549472e/FINGERPNT.html

Actually, I'm experiencing the same issue with the mic. I've tried all different settings and none worked. The only way around this is to use an external mic.

 

@emporiumboutique
Thank you very much. For the standby problem, I may have to reinstall XP, then incrementally test the standby function after installing one by one the drivers to find the culprit.

I currently run into a very annoying problem: I got under XP only (not under Vista) the famous "limited or no connectivity message" on my Ethernet connection. This means probably software problem somehow, the hardware (cable, modem router) should be OK. I booted from previous working XP from external USB HDD and still same problem suddenly, so it is very weird. I tried all solutions found as reset IP stack, Winsock without success. I tried uninstall/reinstall Realtek NIC software: same problem.

Do you have a suggestion for solution?
Edit: with this driver (seems to be the latest) it reworks now for me (cross the finger ):
Drivers Realtek RTL8100/8101/8102/8111/8168 version 5.702.0806.2008 WHQL
ftp://218.210.127.132/cn/nic/PCIE_Install_5702_0922.zip
My previous driver version was taken from U6SG LAN driver 5.670.530.2008 WHQL.

 

Usually this is a GPU driver issue, try a different GPU driver version first.

Moreover, about customizing the hotkeys: you could have a look at the thread "Customizing ASUS hotkeys" (or something along the line) in the Info Booth.

 

@ E.B.E. and @ emporiumboutique

Wow! Success. I find a fix for my "resume from standby without video (black screen)" problem.

Details: I tried several times Fn-F7 (toggle LCD). In fact the screen is not entirely black, in a dark room and with a blank background you can hardly see some shapes, in particular the OSD icons when you type Fn-F8 (toggle LCD or external display) or Fn-F5/Fn-F6 (-/+ luminosity).

So at resume from standby, I found that the screen is exactly as if I press Fn-F7 under normal situation (black screen but can be guessed). And pressing Fn-F7, Fn-F8, Fn-F5, Fn-F6 several times in some kind of my logic (or randomly ? ) finally get the LCD screen back to light!

But I did not find out the right and shortest way to do that (since I always typed Fn-F7 first). Finally, on resume, first key I typed is Fn-F6 as if to increase the luminosity. And it works flawlessly! Champaign glass for all!

One remaining problem is of course the microphone feeble volume.

Other problem is that HD Tune 2.55 does not show any S.M.A.R.T. information (Info tab), although SMART is enabled by default in BIOS. Other utilities (like Everest) have no problem display SMART info for the 320 GB Western Digital hard disk.
Any idea ?

By the way Rightmark RMClock 2.35 works well on Asus U6V, it is a recommended tool to keep CPU temperature as low as possible without sacryfing performance by using Performance on demand profile. This is better than Asus Power4Gear I believe.

 

I have that problem with this C90s in Vista....need to check the flip and reverse boxes, but it's annoying....think someone at factory is having fun? ;-) You know, kinda like hanging a Coke bottle in a new car door at the factory? lol

 

It is, it offers better control. However what I have found out is that with Santa Rosa and later notebooks, it doesn't always work properly. When I find out that it doesn't, I just remove it and run with the default Windows power schemes (for Portable/Laptop, Intel Speedstep is activated so the CPU is adjusting frequencies according to load).

 

@E.B.E.
What problem did you encounter? Maybe a setting problem? My rmclock works flawlessly under XP and Vista. For Vista, to avoid asking for admin rights at start, use this trick:
http://forum.rightmark.org/topic.cgi?id=6:942

 

I do not remember the problems in detail. I was getting inconsistent voltage readings, I believe, which made me not trust RMClock for setting the voltages (which it does automatically, you can't have it set only the frequencies AFAIK).

This continued even if I did check the "Mobile CPU" option, and the correct type of CPU was detected.

 

@E.B.E.
I assume you use Super LFM, P-state and not using OCDM nor throtthling. This is the correct combination for me with Core 2 Duo CPU.

U6V: I observe some pecularities under XP.
1) The built-in Realtek card reader is seen as USB 2.0 device, and it shows in Explorer as a removable drive with a drive letter. This is unusual (at least for me): on other laptop, only when I insert a SD card that a new removable drive letter is assigned. This aspect is similar to U6V running Vista.

2) The Realtek NIC card is seen as removable device. No problem so far but it is weird. If you unplug it (from the tray) how can you replug it unless rebooting?

 

Just using P-state, no SuperLFM or IDA, those are even buggier.

 

I think I miss installed the card reader driver somehow, since it appears also under Storage volume/Generic Volume, and get a drive letter systematically at boot (as with cd-rom drive letter). And it works erratically. Disable/uninstall/reboot did not work since the same generic volume USB driver still gets involved.

I think I have to reinstall XP from scratch again to get rid of this problem.

@emporiumboutique or @ anyone that has installed XP:
Does the card reader have dynamic drive letter when you insert a card (the best behaviour I prefer), or does it come as mine with a drive letter (which is not ready since no card inserted in general)?

Thank you.

 

When you insert a card, XP will automatically assign a drive letter. Once you take it out, the driver disappears.

 

Why not try to remove the driver and install another one, before going the more expensive route of Windows reinstall?

 

@emporiumboutique and @E.B.E.
Thank you for your suggestions. I spent several hours trying to fix the problem. As said before, uninstall, reinstall did not solve the problem. Under Vista, no problem, the behaviour is OK (dynamic drive letter on insert card).

Under XP, even on install, the generic volume is already detected under Storage volume. The setup sees it as an unknown volume (of course no card inserted), and it takes a letter among my internal disk partitions.
I never see the Realtek USB 2.0 card reader in device manager, and the drive letter is already there. It is really the last thing that can make XP perfect for me.
I use XP SP3 to install, and curiously the Webcam is detected automatically (USB 2.0 video device), no need for driver.

I even try to install XP SP1 with all problems (Video drivers cannot be installed, chipset drivers KO due to msi installer not up to date...).

So please (maybe emporiumboutique), how did you install XP on U6V? Starting with XP SP2 or SP3, and with SATA drivers integrated with nLite of course?

Then what is the order of drivers installation? This is important I think. It could be interesting if you could give me a screen capture of the device manager (under XP) showing the Realtek USB 2.0 driver. I am really desperate now, fortunately I have backup image from Acronis True image to revert back before testing.

Besides, if a SD card is present, all operations are slowed down (boot, normal operations, disk manager access). As soon as I remove the card, all is OK again :-(.

You are my last chance now!
Here is my device manager screen capture:


The card reader is at disk drive and Storage volume/generic volume, so it used generic USB mass storage driver instead of Realtek USB 2.0 card reader driver, although I already installed Realtek.

Under details:
At "Generic volume":
storage\removablemedia\7&16D80BD1&0&RM

At "on Generic-Multi-Card USB Device":
usbstor\disk&ven_generic&prod_mlti-card&rev_1.00\20060413092100000&0

 

Realtek? I thought all readers used by ASUS are made by Ricoh.

What I meant was trying a different card reader driver. Such as this one: (assuming a Ricoh SD controller)

http://www.antifart.com/2007/12/31/panasonic-sdhc-driver.html

 

@E.B.E.
Refer to post #823, page 83 from emporiumboutique. It is Realtek USB 2.0 card reader, applicable to U6SG too. It uses rtusbstor.inf and rtstor.sys driver.

Edit:
Wow, I check in Add/remove programs, and the Realtek USB 2.0 card reader software is not installed, so I install it, and miracle, it works, I mean dynamic insertion and attribution of letter as under Vista. Finger crossed, let me check this more times with reboot cycles to be sure.

 

Thanks, seems they switched producers for recent laptops, then.

 

U6V: alas unfortunately my Realtek card reader problem under XP is still alive. It is definitely a software problem since no problem under Vista.

The problem is that under XP the card reader is recognized as generic volume, while under Vista ther is no such thing, and Realtek driver appears under USB controller, which is not the case under XP.

Please tell me if under XP device manager you see Generic volume, and under disk drive the generic multicard reader as in my previous screen capture.

Thank you.

 

I was wondering if it would be possible to configure the wireless LAN on/off switch on the side so that it toggles bluetooth on/off instead? I think it would be more useful as a bluetooth toggle switch.

Thanks.