Major Problem with A8Jm

Okay, so I bought a fancy 21" widescreen Samsung SyncMaster 215TW to use with my notebook at home. I hooked it up to the DVI, set the SyncMaster to the main screen and all that.

Now I can't use the notebook screen. At all. In trying to fix it, I'm also no longer able to use either screen on DVI. So I'm doing this through the VGA cable and frankly, I'm more than a little terrified.

The big and most unsettling problem is that I think this is a BIOS setting, as the post doesn't display on either screen, so I can't even get into the BIOS to fix the problem. And probably the most catastrophic issue is that the notebook seems to think the 215TW is its main monitor and has forgotten it has one connected.

Anyone have any ideas? This seems to be a profoundly unique problem.

I'm going to attempt a BIOS flash to the most recent BIOS. I think that by doing this, it will reset the CMOS by default and thus, get me my screen back.

UPDATE: BIOS flash didn't fix the problem. The only thing I can think of is that this problem has to do with the video BIOS.

And whenever I try to change a setting for the laptop screen, it gets horrible horizontal lines on it and nothing resembling a picture.

I'm wondering if the power outage that occurred while I was using the Samsung as my primary has anything to do with this. That was when I tried to switch back and the computer wasn't having any of it.

*sigh* I was really stoked with this computer, can anyone tell me what to do?

 

Hi,

I dont have this laptop, but these are a few things to try.

1. try reinstalling the asus graphics driver
2. Does the asus not have a hot key for switching between the monitor and external ports????
3. if that doesnt work you can try reinstalling windows with the asus recovery disc. - that should solve it really

 

So you can't even get into BIOS? Not even by pressing the F2 button ? And the Hotkeys for switching between displays doesn't do anything?

ps. There was an output issue that a W7J user had, but not sure if this relates at all.. .maybe will help maybe not.. but try reading this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=65986

 

Im assuming you've tried the hotkey (Fn f8 on the w3v) to switch between LCD and external monitor. If that doesnt do anything go to:
display properties (either through the control panel or just right click on desktop --> properties)
then the "Settings" tab
then -->'advanced'
then in the window that comes up find 'Displays' and play with that. Im not sure exactly what to do from there but play with it and try.

 

I've tried everything everyone here has suggested except reinstalling the display driver, which I'm going to try now.

UPDATE: Reinstalling the display driver didn't correct the problem. When I rebooted into Windows after reinstalling the driver, the screen displayed the screwy horizontal lines and didn't resemble anything other than a really messed up signal. I'm beginning to think the unit is defective, but it was working fine a few days ago. It wasn't until I connected the external monitor that it went to hell.

 

try a system retore. from the factory partition. if that doesnt work. its prob video card related. and you need to return it or send it in.

 

System restore from the factory partition is impossible, I've upgraded the hard drive personally.

I also can't boot into BIOS or a Windows CD. Well, I mean I can boot into a Windows CD, I just won't see it.

 

Maybe the video card / or connection was loose and when you connected the external monitor made it worse??????

It deosn't make sense to hook up a minitor messed up the software.
.

 

If you try that, all the recovery file are on the CD1 and 2.

I feel it is loose hardware related.
.

 

I agree. I couldn't even boot into the recovery CD to try and recover it.

 

I'm sensing the Graphics Card (nVidia) drivers.... you might have to reinstall them from the factory CD?

My experience might be similar because I updated graphics driver on my V6V from the ATI website and for the first few reboots it was showing a screwy horizontal white and red lines.... in addition to the white vertical line that was present when playing full-screen DVDs....

 

I reinstalled the drivers from the factory CD to no avail. I've frankly tried pretty much everything I can think of and then some. Nothing works.

 

Did you set optical drive to the first booting device?

 

I might actually have it set back to hard disk, but the problem is that I can't even get into BIOS to change it.

 

It sounds defective to me. If it wont load up using the in built monitor at all. Just send it back, as long as upgrading the Hard drive didnt void your warranty that is....

On a side note, did the problems start b4 or after u upgraded the hard drive. What could be the case is that the driver for the inbuilt monitor has not been installed on the fresh install u did with ur new HD. So u might be in luck if you can find that.

 

Even though the post doesn't show, did you try hitting F2 all the way when starting the notebook?

I know that in dual monitor setup, sometime the first monitor doesn't show anything until Windows is booted up, but behind the scenes you should still be able to get BIOS... what happens if you have both VGA and DVI plugged in? Where does the screen display?

 

that sucks, seems like the asus notebooks, especially the a8jm and the s96j are having problems of sorts...

 

Did you find a solution to your problem yet?

I think you should call Asus, despite the hard drive upgrade.

I had a defective A8Jm, and Asus repaired it quickly for me. They ignored my upgraded hard drive.

Coincidentally, I'm also using the same Samsung 215TW LCD with it. if you want me to try out anything, let me know

Good Luck

 

Actually, yeah, a while ago. I probably should've posted when it was resolved.

The day after I posted this thread, I took it to the ASUS headquarters in Fremont. They fixed it the same day and sent me home. I had to push a little to have them expedite it, but they got it handled.

Just a moment ago I had the same problem that hosed it last time - power outage - and it recovered and swapped back to the internal LCD, unlike last time.

How's that Samsung 215TW working out for you? I frigging love mine, totally money well spent.

 

I'm glad you got it fixed.

I love the 215tw. I use it for dual display with the notebook and instead of a TV with my PS2 via component. It is a vivid display, and I haven't noticed any significant ghosting through the video inputs.

only two gripes
-The 215tw makes my Asus notebook's colors look less impressive.
-Because the notebook blows hot air out the right side, I wanted to have the notebook to the right of the monitor. There is a bug in 3ds Max 8 that makes the main toolbar unusable if you match the order of the monitors in the windows xp display settings.

Other than this, the screen is great, and works well with the laptop.

 

Pulp, so Asus were okay with your upgraded HD or did you put the origianl one back in when you took it back? Did you tell them or did they ask anything about it?

 

I actually put the old one back but it's my understanding they would be okay with an upgraded one.