Random Freezes with the 8130 and 8150

More from Sager:

In the next hour we will post Intel Chipset driver 9.2.0.1021, Intel Mei driver 7.0.0.1144, and USB 3.0 controller driver 2.0.30.0

We would like the users that are currently experiencing freeze up issues to please update these 3 drivers as well as enabling “Disable USB 3.0 power management functions” to see if the freezing issue remains.

Utility of USB 3.0 can be found in your Windows ORB menu.

 

Been using the laptop for almost a month, Civ V, SC2, WoW, Rift, VS 2010, email, web, etc, no lockups whatsoever.

HW: NP8130 stock configuration
HD: OCZ Vertex 2
OS: Windows 2008 R2 and Ubuntu Linux

 

Just choose your OS (probably Windows 7 64-bit) and Drivers and it should be the first one there version 10.1.0.1008. Use this whether you have SSD or HDD.

 

The 3 drivers are posted.

http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.php?page=driver_download2

 

speculator--which Sager model do you own?

 

So when the new laptops get shipped out, do they already have the new drivers installed on them or do they have to be updated be the end user?

 

I experienced the lockup today everyone was talking about. Nothing running except for windows media player for music and thx trustudio pro.

I wasn't experiencing any lockups before, but I newly installed thx trustudio pro and I got a lockup.

I uninstalled it, and no lockups when listening to music so far.

 

Everything will be updated when new ones ship.

 

If you can consistently recreate the issue then I would advise installing one driver at a time and seeing if you can recreate the issue again. I'm sure it would help the community greatly to help pinpoint the problem.

 

Should everyone update these drivers? Even the ones who have yet to experience any issues?

 

I almost thought THX Trustudio would be the culprit on my P150HM and closed the application, but I still experienced the issue. I'll try uninstalling the app and see if it'll remedy the situation.

 

Well kinda glad you guys are figuring this out while I'm waiting now... Just thought of something with the AVG comments. My school does not allow you to connect to wifi without scanning your system for the presense of virus scan software. I currently use an expired trend micro subscription to fulfill this, but I hate how much resource virus scans take up.

Anyone have any advice what I should stick on my new laptop?

My work used to do this, they now just have you click a check box saying your liable if you infect the system...

 

AVG Free - Antivirus Download | Free Virus Protection or www.avast.com. Avast has a free version too.

 

I recommend Avast or Microsoft Security Essentials. Both are free, have a small memory footprint, are reliable, and take up very few resources. AVG used to be great, but it seems to have become bloated and consume more resources than the others for some reason.

 

avast is great

 

I know this uses more resources and whatnot, but I've been using Norton Internet Security for years now. I know its not free and might bog down your system for a bit, but the end result is the same with a secure system.

Also, I can't vouch this for other anti-virus programs, but Norton has this thing where it can tell a site is safe or not when you search on google before clicking on the site. It's pretty nice, but others could have it too.

 

Avast and MSE are strictly real-time anti-virus / malware protection. Although I would get occasional popups telling me that a site might not be safe.

 

ESET Nod32 isn't' free, but it is really solid and has a ton of configuration options with virtually no footprint.

 

Oh. The big reason I use NIS is because my family and I buy a 3-computer sub for 1 year for about $60. So, in the big picture sense its pretty cheap overall.

20 bucks/computer
$20/365 days = 0.054/day

 

Hmmm... mine will come with MSE, but I'm not sure if it will satisfy my schools' requirements... lets see...

 

Wow didn't expect Sager to chime in so quickily. Hopefully they know what's up.

 

Well they didn't say anything but to try new drivers. Let's hope that's the case.

 

Suggestions:

Do a clean install using the new Windows 7 with integrated SP1.

It was officially released by MS to TechNet and MSDN subscribers.

You can find untouched torrent for it on TPB uploaded by thethingy that has correct MS hashes.

During the clean install at the add driver screen install the newest whql RST software v10.1.2.1004 from station drivers.com

After the installation of W7 finishes install the newest whql Intel chipset software v9.2.0.1021

Add your newest version:
Wireless driver
Lan driver
Graphics driver
Sound driver
Intel auto detect driver update.

Other necessary drivers

Add necessary software.

If you have an SSD set bios on AHCI and set it up correctly.You can try SSD Tweaker to do it.

 

Hey Guys,

I just wanted to chime in w/ my experiences with the 8130. I was getting atleast 1 BSOD per day, sometimes up to 3. In various programs, while playing Crysis, using Chrome, and 1 while watching a movie in VLC.


On the 15th I re-seated my ram modules and also installed Win7 Service pack 1. I haven't had any crashes since doing those 2 things.

If you are brave, google "sevenforums" and you can find more info on win7 sp1.

good luck!

 

Good advice, but you shouldn't HAVE to go through all that to prevent lockups. With that said, I've downloaded the newest drivers and will see if it locks up. I do have a msdn subscription so if it locks up on me again, I'll download sp1 and see if that makes a difference.

 

If you wish to only install SP1.exe then I suggest you first run sfc /scannow as administrator and a registry cleaner to minimize chances of error messages during install.

Also run SP1.exe in safe mode for best results.

The clean install is best since SP1 is a major 600mb+ update installation.

The Windows 7 X64 Ultimate with integrated SP1 ISO from MSDN has now been uploaded to rapidshare.It's in 8 parts.

 

the freezing reminds me of a issue last year when I bought a SSD for my desktop a A-DATA S599 64GB drive.
I cloned the SSD from 150GB rapter with Acronis true image.
The clone went fine no errors where reported after a couple hours of using the PC and playing games I would get hard lockups, no response a restart was necessary.
this went for a week until I went to look for similar issues on google, I went to OCZ website and found some commented that SSD need to align when windows is being installed from a clean install.
So I reinstalled windows 7 X64 and loaded drivers updates games ,and from that point on I never got hard lockups again.

If users with SSD could reinstall win 7 again and see if the issue is fixed, then the vendors are probably cloning SSD with image files to save time installing windows.
food for thought.

 

From the time your notebook is created and the driver cd is burnt to the time your new notebook is delivered every driver and piece of software could be outdated.

New drivers and software updates are issued mainly to fix bugs and add support for updated hardware versions.

If possible buy your notebooks without the OS installed and do it yourself the day you receive it along with the newest drivers and software versions.

That way you know it's done right.

 

I dont have an SSD and I"m getting the lockups on the 8170. That said I'm going to download the latest updates and see how that works.

 

Latest updates ....

The WHQL Intel chipset software v9.2.0.1021 was released officially by Intel on January 4th 2011,Why so long to post it on Sager support?
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...y&keyword="+Chipset+Device+Software"&lang=eng

Nec/Renesas WHQL USB 3.0 driver v2.0.32.0 dated December 22nd,2010
SONY/NEC firmwares

Intel MEI is at version 7.0.4.1197
intel drivers pour chipsets

Intel WHQL RST software v10.1.2.1004
intel drivers pour Raid/Sata/Ata/Ahci

 

Re: driver release timing:

As you are aware, different hardware/software implementations with different coexisting hardware/software will sometimes require tuning, tweaking or matching coexisting hardware/ software to make matching tuning and tweaking.

This will always create timing differences between driver releases that are officially released by the original manufacturer. The process takes time because after release the driver needs to be validated and tested, tuned and tweaked by Clevo, our supplier. Once it’s officially approved by Clevo, it moves to Sager test beds for our validation and verification to ensure it does not bring any side effect on our production preload and to our customers.

We apologize to our customers that in this case we do not release new drivers on day one of the drivers’ official release by the original manufacturer. However, this is not something we plan on changing.

It was bad luck in timing that the Intel chipset issue was issued on 1/31/2011 when we had updated the posted drivers yesterday on 1/30/2011 to our production servers. Last week our preload server was updated to windows 7 service pack 1. So, any units shipped now will be preloaded with windows 7 service pack 1 + all the latest Sager verified drivers.

With that said, once we had read the thread on the forums regarding the freezing issue, we immediately tried to track the issue down on our test beds as well as on our production. At this time we are still unable to reproduce the issue. And Because both our test beds and production are now under windows 7 service pack 1 + the 3 updated drivers we hope that this is the solution to this issue, therefore we have asked users to update the drivers first to verify if the freezing issue remains.

Since our request posted on page 5 of this thread, we still have not received any users contacting or reporting back with the details of their system so that we can look further into this issue.

 

Please go to page 5 and fill out the form and email sager. Not only does it help fix your issue but will possibly fix the issue before they start selling SB laptops again.

 

So? Anyone who encountered freezing issues, did it stop after the driver update? Comon we need some feedback here.

 

I'm kind of guessing so, I know its common for people (I've done it several times) that once they find a solution, they never return to update everyone. Or atleast not for a very long period of time.

I'm sorry to say it but I've done that on message boards for buying cars as well as computers and programming. Though on the programming side I try a little harder since some of that information is like finding a needle in a stack of needles.

 

Unfortunately, updating drivers hasn't fixed the issue (for me)

It's also a tough thing to get a feel for whether or not it's fixed. The only way i've been able to actually test for it though, is literally to start the computer up, set it to hibernate in 4 or 5 hours, then go to bed. What SHOULD happen is that i wake up to a computer in a hibernating state. What is happening instead is that i wake up to a computer with lights running, power lit up, and the screen either off or frozen at the time the computer stopped.

 

Can you try this, uninstall the THX TruStudio Pro software. When I researched and saw this was from creative labs that raised a flag with me. Also post more information on what your set up is so we have a clue, include the type of machine and equipment installed, OS, etc...

 

I can remove THX studio. I don't think i've used that software anyway. Won't know till at least tomorrow if thats the problem though.

As for the specs you're asking about, they go as follows.

Sager 8130
Intel 2630
Nvidia 460m
8 GB RAM
500 GB HDD (not a solid state, as some were asking about)
Realtek Wireless LAN. (This is the one that must come in the machine by default instead of the intel one)

 

Did you report this to Sager or your vendor, along with the rest of the information that was requested in post http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/555274-random-freezes-8130-8150-a-5.html#post7168961 back on page 5?

 

I sent the email to sager (i got it direct from them) little earlier today. I'm usually very slow to contact vendors, as previous experience tells me that 95% of the time, problems come from the user's end of the scale. I like to be sure that there actually is a problem before complaining about one.

Edit: The bulk of said email

For the last few weeks, I’ve been seeing the occasional Lockup of my Sager 8130. (Serial number xxx)

It does not seem to matter which programs are running, and seems to happen once or twice in a given evening. What happens when it locks up is that the screen will become frozen, and the system will be unresponsive, except that the Function+F12 command will light up the bluetooth Light. It requires a hard shutdown using the power button to restart the computer.

The best way I’ve found to re-create the problem is to start the computer, set the hibernate to 4 or 5 hours, and then leave it alone. What should happen is that in a few hours, I come back to a hibernating computer. What does happen is that when I come back, I come back to a computer that has lights and fans running as if running. It is unresponsive, and requires a hard restart.

The only external device connected to this computer is a Logitech M505 mouse, with the receiver plugged in to the USB 2.0 slot to the left of the keyboard. The optical drive is empty, The computer is connected to a wireless network.

Any advice on how to solve the problem would be appreciated.

 

I don't think that's the case. For some of us, the freezing is so random that it will take a while for us to test the new drivers. I've only had the laptop freeze on me once in a two week period, so it will take a while for me to see if the new drivers have any positive effect.

I've tried recreating the situation that made my laptop freeze last time (playing a 3 hour blu ray) and it didn't freeze this time. I changed some sleep settings since my laptop froze the last time, so I will rerun this test with my old sleep settings. This will take a while....

 

I installed Win 7 SP1 RC,

and it has been running solid since.

I'll keep you guys posted on if this lappy freezes on me again.

 

I would try disabling Hibernate, especially if you're running an SSD for a boot drive.

 

The SP1 seems to be working.

I haven't had any freezes, and it seems to be faster...(?)

Anyways, does not lock up on random times any more!

 

That's awesome! Let's hope it fixes the issue for most people too.

 

Isn't SP1 in beta?

 

It's RC, but I think they switched to RTM now.

It's verified that they will be the same.

 

Anyone have a link I can find this? I downloaded the 3 files posted earlier in this thread and I haven't had any crashes in a few days and all of a sudden I had my first freeze again today.

 

Its still in RC, downloaded it yesterday and I got an evaluation copy water mark on the bottom right of my screen But yes it is faster. CPU idles at 0-1% in comparison to before where it was 3-4%.

 

I have a 8130 with a regular disk drive. I've installed the latest drivers from Sager and win 7 sp1, but am still getting the freezes. Most of the freezes I've had were while playing fallout 3, but the latest two coincided closely with starting to play songs on grooveshark.com, which uses flash. Every freeze I've had was accompanied by endless random screeching noise from the speakers.

 

Can we ask that everyone who posts in this thread do a simple confirmation at the bottom of their post that they contacted their reseller in order to properly report the problem and symptoms.

This is good information for us all, but it seems like this is way too sporadic for us to solve together through this thread. It is disturbing that Sager reports no complaints 8 pages in.

BTW, hope that SP1 is included in the OEM disk that comes with my laptop. I'm overseas and won't be able to access the internet with this laptop for some time.