ATTN: N80VN-X5 Owners

I purchased this model a few months ago and have been having an issue with system crashes and reboots. I have already sent it back to Asus twice, had the motherboard replaced, and still have this problem. I'm convinced it is a hard/software compatibility issue with Vista64. I am suspect of the Atheros wifi chipset. I do not have any reasonable grounds for saying any of this but my experience has shown me that a system with working parts and OS should not have this problem. With that said, I am new to Vista and was wondering if this is a known OS issue with Vista and particularly Vista64. Anyone share these problems or can offer any suggestions? Thanks.

 

It sounds like a software issue more than hardware related.

run eventvwr.msc and check to see if there are any recent critical errors in the Event Viewer - especially the System log.

run mdsched.exe and run the extended memory tests and report.

 

Memory tetsts, hdd tests, and other system stability tests have been run without any problems revealed. However, I ran the memory diag anyway, reporting no errors. Event viewer shows no critical errors, only wmi, language pack setup, and kerberos errors. I have resolved the wmi and language pack error before, and problem persisted. The kerberos error from what I understand is harmless. From what I can surmise even the other two mentioned should not create a problem. Event viewer also shows that an unexpected shutdown occured, error id 6008.

 

I've had mine for a few months now also, but with no problems. I uninstalled Norton 360 at first boot and updated all drivers (including Atheros wifi from windows update). Only problem I had was random crackling audio, but the latest driver downloaded from Realtek seemed to cure that. Only other issue I can remember is when I pulled the memory out, and reinstalled it, the laptop wouldn't boot, so I removed and reinstalled them in opposite slots and has been running fine ever since. An uncommanded reboot sounds like a driver/hardware issue. If you suspect the Atheros, you can easily remove it, and reseat it, or just take it out completely and use an ethernet cable for a little while for longer term testing. It's located right beside the hdd.

 

Well, considering its a new notebook, I should not have to play technician. I don't have the time. I have already wasted enough time already. I am going to call Asus and request a new notebook. Since receiving my Asus, I have not loaded any software other than what came with the unit. I even reloaded the OS, several times, so as not to have all the crap Asus installs. Problem still persists. Thanks for your help guys.

 

Just got off the phone with Asus; spoke to both customer representative and tech. They want me to send it in again. They are not promising a new notebook because I am past the 30-day mark after purchase. But I'm afraid that considering their small window of test time they won't find a problem, and I'll be back to square one: Screwed. I am going reload OS, even the extra crap and do my own testing before sending it back to Asus. Their systems were down so they couldn't issue me an RMA at this time....

 

I believe the ASUS policy is that after 3 failed repairs they fully replace the machine. So, because (judging from the first post) this would be a third repair, you are close to a new machine anyway.

 

I hope you're right E.B.E. They sure did not mention that policy to me. Just that they need to verify the problem, which after having my unit twice, they did not seem to know what was wrong. So far, after hearing so many good things about Asus and their customer service, they have failed to live up to that reputation. When I called for my first RMA they forgot to schedule a FedEx pick-up and a waited three days until I called and found what the problem was. Then After sending it back a second time, I gave specific instructions not to return my notebook until contacting me - I called them twice to verify this request. They did not call and when I spoke to them last they said that there was no record of that request. Also, when I recieved it back the second time, the keyboard pad was reinstalled improperly, half not even pushed it. But even when installed properly the right side is all flexy and the left side sits higher than the right. As many of you know a complaint with Asus notebooks is the "clackety" keyboard pads. Well mine was not "clackety" when I first received it, now it is, and it is the same machine.

 

Yes, ASUS have a good reputation for service in North America, but it seems lately they (often/sometimes?) don't live up to it.

Anyway, if they didn't mention that policy, maybe you should. I haven't seen it written down in any legal document, of course, so it's not guaranteed information, but it has been mentioned to me here in the Netherlands, and I've seen examples in the forums, so you could try to play this card.

 

Well, I loaded only the drivers listed on Asus site. Also, the one's updated through windows update. It has been a couple of weeks and everything seems to be ok. But the driver versions such as those available fron nvidia and realtek appear to be more up-to-date, and video seemed to work better when the newer version was used, but it is not worth the chance of instability. Anyone else finding that when they update from the manufactuerers site they have issues? Thanks

 

Not sure about this model, but yes, sometimes upgrading to 3rd party (non-ASUS) drivers will lead to problems. So it's best to stick to stock drivers if they lead to a stable system and everything is working fine with them.

 

Well, I spoke too soon...rebooted twice in two days. EBE, not sure what you mean by third party, but I've been told by industry "experts" that even the drivers available on manufacture sites are not reliable or kept up to date. I am going to have to call Asus again and send it back again. I have doubts all around. As mentioned before, I do not have much experience with Vista, so all I can really believe is that if an XP machine can go years without a crash (I know that was not always the case but...) so should Vista. Naive?

 

Well it may be "naive" in the sense that Vista drivers can be less stable, and then the machine will crash in Vista even though it worked just fine in XP.

How about going back to XP?

That's right, they can of course be unreliable and they sure aren't updated very often. However, sometimes they have customizations that are required in order for the devices to work properly. Such as support for the custom-configured GPUs that you find in some laptops, which may not be supported properly by the main GPU vendor's drivers, or by modded drivers.

By "3rd party" in this case I mean anything besides ASUS-released drivers.

 

Call it being stubborn, to have to acquire xp 64-bit ( so I can take full advantage of the notebook), find all drivers that then could bring on similar problems, does not appeal to me. I have read reports of Vista'a instability, but that is regarding the problems of migration from older OS to Vista. I have not used any legacy drivers on this machine. All programs and drivers used are those that came with the machine, and supposedly Vista approved. The agent I spoke with last night assured me that downloading updated drivers from the manufacturers should not be a problem. Thanks for your input, EBE.

 

For some reason I thought this was an XP machine and you have upgraded to Vista. Since this is not the case (I see now the model is N80 which is quite new), my earlier remark about stability does not really apply.

If the machine came with Vista, then the drivers on the CD should work. Trying to get updated versions from the various parts' manufacturers is however a good step if you have instability and you believe it's due to drivers.

If you have installed software or updated drivers in the meantime, the instability may also be due to this new software. In this case, if you are willing to do it, you can also simply do a system recovery using the provided recovery partition (F9 during boot) or the recovery DVD, and that will take the machine to the stock configuration, including the stock drivers. Then if any stability issues remain, they are indeed due to the stock drivers.

 

Recieved my notebook back from asus today. They found a defective vga board and they replaced my keyboard pad. But it was still not pushed in completely and one of the bottom keys was sticking up. But it seems to be ok now. Last time I got it back from service it would not fit properly anymore. Asus had no idea how it happen so they replaced it. How nice of them. Hopefully this is the end. Oh, there is some very sticky stuff on my screen now... and I even sent it back them with the protective palstic sheet that it came with when I first got it.

 

Just crashed twice on me! Unbelievable...

 

Sent it back to get evaluated for a new replacement notebook. The three RMA policy appears to be fact EBE. But still not ok'd for a new one.

 

Asus would not send me a "closed-box" new model because it was past the 30-day period. They sent me an "open-box" demo model that was not really used. They said if I wanted a new one, I would have to personally contact their California office. It is apparently out of their hands when it comes to this. Crazy. But, hope every thing works out.

 

I've had zero issues with my n80-x5. I run Nvidia's drivers. I think I've updated three times since I bought it, and the drivers work great, go on just like on a desktop.

 

Wolfpup, looks like I first received a lemon. The graphics performance on my new machine is much better. On the old unit I noticed poor viewing angles and cloudiness. I had all the updated drivers and Asus even changed the video board. Perhaps it was the GPU itself. Anyway, after a lengthy and annoying experience, all seems to be fine now. It has been only a few weeks, so I'm not entirely out of the woods.

 

That's great! Hope it works well for you. So far mine's been a painless switch from a desktop, thankfully.