New A8JP and Some Questions

I received the A8JP (I think) today from NewEgg, but have a couple of questions and would appreciate any feedback/thoughts:

1. I've tried inserting an SD card, a Sandisk USB stick, and tried using Sandisk's mobile mate card reader (it connects via USB). For each one of them, I get the "found new hardware wizard". Whether I try to find the drivers for the new hardware or install them from CD, I get an "A problem occurred during hardware installation" and it may not work correctly. And they don't work - nothing shows up in My Computer. They all work fine in the Compaq Presario and on the Gateway desktop, so I don't think it's a device issue. They don't work on any of the ports on the Asus. The USB mouse that came with the NB does plug in just fine and works as expected.

Edit: The USB ports do recognize a 256MB USB memory stick; but don't recognize a 1GB or larger USB memory stick.

Any ideas on what's going on or how to fix this? I searched here and looked through Asus Support's forum and downloads.

2. The A8JP came with LightScribe pre-installed. I thought that was an HP-only program. Is that incorrect.

3. Some of the Asus programs don't work - Live Update and Power4Gear. I click on them and nothing happens. Is that usual?

4. The RJ45 connection doesn't work. I've tried really pressing the cable in, but no go. Intel Pro Wireless works. Windows Zero doesn't seem to work.

Guess I'm wondering if I got a genuine Asus or if there's something else going on. Or if it's a lemon.

Any thoughts or suggestions greatly appreciated. (I thought there was something on the forum about drivers and Asus, but I couldn't find it. If there is and it's applicable, I'd appreciate a nudge in the right direction.)

Thanks!

 

I also own an A8JP (from Newegg also ), so let me give this a shot.

1. My USB ports recognize my 2GB USB drive. So Check your Device Manager for errors.

Right click "my computer" --> Properties --> click "Hardware" tab --> click "Device Manager" and look for and icons with a yellow exclamation point (that means error). See what you have.

2. Initially my SD and Memstick Duo cards initiated the "Found New Hardware" window. Just put your driver CD that came with the laptop and let the Hardware Wizard search the disk for the drivers. Easy fix.

3. I think that ASUS may have bought a bunch of extra Windows MCE from HP. Lightscribe is only for HP/Compaq as far as I know. Just uninstall it. No Big deal.

4. My Live update didn't work either, so I just turned it off (run-->msconfig-->startup-->uncheck the block for that program). If I want updates, I know where to GO

5. Power4Gear works on mine. The icon is in the bottom right side of the start menu. Right Click to change options. If you unplug the laptop, does anything change (screen brightness most noticeably)? After you unplug the power, right click on My Computer-->Properties. Does it say you have a 2 GHz processor @ 1 GHz? Thats power saving mode in Power4Gear.

6. My RJ45 ethernet works. DON'T push to hard and break something. Is the cable a known good one? Does it work on other computers? Did you set up your network correctly. Whats Windows Zero?

7. I doubt you got a lemon, but you may need to a little more work than I did to get your lappy up and running 4.0.

Good luck and let us know if you get it fixed.

beefdonkey

 

Beefdonkey,

Congrats on the A8JP! And thank you for the info. It seems like the A8JPs are temporarily unavailable from NewEgg.

1. Yeah, my USB device hub shows conflicts, but nothing that I can determine. Tried downloading an updated driver and that didn't work.

2. Great tip and I'll try it. But it didn't work for the USB mouse (the only one I can get to work from time to time.)

3 and 4. Thanks and thanks. I don't mind having lightscribe, if it works. Just thought it was odd to see. But you cleared up a good question.

5. I found the icon in the systray and can modify screen brightness, etc. by switching options. Found that the icon on the start menu just enables Power4Gear, if not already on. Doh!

6. The RJ45 did work on mine initially - Windows said I had successfully registered over the web during setup.

7. Well, I'm doing a full system restore now. Also downloaded an updated drivers for wireless (from Asus) and it stopped working. Error about "no network adapter installed for wireless".

It's kind of a drag. Haven't had this many issues with a new computer. Ever. Having multiple USB ports was a real plus for me. Guess I should have asked for working USB hubs!

I'll report on how things go. It just occurred to me, though, that my problems started after I converted to NTFS. After initial setup, I removed Norton (ugly) and converted at that point, then installed all the Windows updates. So, this time I'll leave everything alone, download the patches, wait a day and then convert to NTFS.

 

Check to make sure USB works before you do anything else.

I have had a few different computers do an 'Add New Hardware' when inserting a new USB device (some do, some don't, don't know why) for the first time, even new Mass Storage. Usually I just click 'next' and it finds the normal Mass Storage driver...

 

Try clicking on the icon that has yellow error and update the driver.

I converted and uninstalled Norton also, but I have no probs

How did you get all you updates? Wireless?

 

Yes, I did the updates wirelessly, which might be problematic. I'll have to see if I can get the RJ45 jack working. The cable is good - it's the one I use on my desktop.

Yeah, I went into device manager and tried updating that way. All I got was "no new drivers" were found.

I did a fresh re-install of Windows but no Windows updates. After Windows was set up, I did a selective install from the Asus drivers CD. I did not install the modem, Skype, or most of the Asus software (just Live Update and Splendid). Neither Norton nor LightScribe were options and neither auto-installed with Windows. So maybe there was a bunch of "legacy" junk leftover? I'd had a bunch of other oddball little problems - Skype would start automatically, even after being disabled, boot up time was terrifically long, and a couple of other wierdnesses.

Things seem to be working fine now - bluetooth devices/hubs, the SD card reader, etc. Things are working splendidly and quickly. No new hardware wizards to fend off, no conflicts in device manager.

Wireless is fast, and connects automatically to my wireless net (had to manually connect before - or try to connect. Applications, etc. seem OK.

Thanks for the help and advice. I appreciate it. The A8JP is now behaving like the NB I expected to have.

 

I'm glad everything worked out for you, enjoy your Asus.