F3Sv: "hick-up" after starting up

I'm experiencing a strange "hick up" with my F3Sv:

After signing in, Vista continues to load smoothly, the desktop shows, the Windows Defender and Windows Sidebar icons are loaded into the systemtray and then all the sudden, the machine hangs for 30-60 seconds (it does not respond to any mouseclick, keystroke, etc.).

After this pause, the screen flickers, turns to black, jumps right back on and then the machine runs smoothly again.

Anyone else experiencing the same problem or know a fix?

 

By the description, it seems to be either:
A. Network drivers (known to cause sometimes this sort of hanging upon OS startup)
B. Video card drivers (see flicker)

Are you using modded video drivers? If so, remove, cleanup using DriverCleanerPro, and install the stock CD version, or an official driver from the ASUS website.

Otherwise, try updating / reinstalling the Ethernet (wired lan drivers). If this doesn't work, you could go ahead and reinstall wireless/BT drivers as well, although those are less likely causes.

 

I'm using the video drivers that came on the companion-cd.

The strangest thing is that drivers from the NVIDIA-website won't install, supposedly because there's no supported graphics card present.

The card properly shows as a 8600M GS in the hardware settings though ...

 

Re-install the OS while connected to broadband Internet. I know that means reloading all your apps, but that's the only way I beat a Vista problem on my desktop. The online drivers from MS are way improved from the launch drivers. The install process downloads the newer drivers.

 

I re-installed Vista and batch-installed all required drivers through the utilities-cd and the problem remained.

I have now re-installed Vista and installed all drivers manually, one-by-one, leaving the wireless driver and the vga driver for last. No problems occured. I then installed the wireless driver and utility and the problem still did not occur.

Considering the above, I'd assume that the problem lies with the vga driver (I haven't installed it yet, will create an image for easy recovery first).

Current problem:
- vga driver on utilities-cd presumably causes hick-up.
- other drivers (from the NVIDIA-website) won't install, because "no supported device was detected".
- vga adapter shows as a generic vga graphics adapter in hardware setup (it shows properly as a 8600M GS when installing the -presumed- faulty drivers from the companion-cd).

What to do, what to do?

 

Nobody there to enlighten me?

 

Please tell me about F3SV's build quality. I have 99% decided to get a F3SV. just concerned about its built

 

Andy: I am not disappointed. I think the build quality is a little above that of comparable HP/Compaq-models, and definitely above just about anything Acer puts out. The casing feels solid. The screen-hinges feel sturdy, and while there is a little flex in the screen, I don't foresee any problems in that area.

The one thing that does worry me a bit is the coating: somehow I think it's quite prone to scratches. I haven't had any experience with that yet, though - fingers crossed!

Oh, and then of course there's the directx 10-vga adapter that's currently doubling for some '91 Trident vga. ;-)

 

Thank you timstr.

Thats a relief. want it to last atleast two years.

Scratches wont bother me much. I just dont want the notebook in two pieces within a year. Thats the reason I changed my Dell 1505 plan.