2013 Ativ Book 9 13.3" Ivy Bridge NP900X3E / NP900X3F

Is Easy Launcher a Samsung program? I don't recall it being very useful and might contribute to the problems.

I used to see regular Kernel Processor Power reports on my NP900X4C but they didn't seem to reflect real problems. I've just looked in my Dell E7440's log and thee are no similar events so they must be a feature of the Samsung firmware.

John

 

Thanks for the info and the link to a more detailed discussion on the Settings program. My current Settings program says version 2.0.0.72, so I'm not sure if I should be looking to install a newer version. SW Update doesn't show anything that needs updating.

Gotcha, kinda thought as much eventhough it did identify some of the similar Warning messages I was getting in the Event Viewer log.

 

Not sure what it does, but it's not located in Programs and Features if I wanted to uninstall it. Rather, it's located in Program Files(x86)>Samsung>Settings>CmdServer folder and when I try to run it, a little command prompt window opens but then quickly closes. It doesn't give me enough time to read anything inside the window, maybe it indicates an error.

 

Easy Launcher is part of the internal workings of [Easy] Settings, I believe a service for loading individual modules.

Samsung also has a bloatware piece called Software Launcher (which is just a menu on the desktop for loading programs instead using the Start Menu). I remember getting that one mixed up with this Easy Launcher in a response some time ago, until member @mmortal03 pointed it out to me ( here).

Samsung stop pushing updates through SW Update not long (enough) after a given model has been released. Thus we are forced to hunt for newer versions manually by looking under other models.

When you re-install Settings, I suggest you install the latest version. However, note that only the 2.0.x versions support "legacy" features such Battery Life Extender (and ExpressCache for Series 5/7 owners). Versions 2.1.x and higher do not have those features.

The [Easy] Settings thread (linked below) was recently updated with info about where to find the latest versions of the various settings programs. I believe 2.0.0.89 is the latest version of Easy Settings (Win7) and Settings with BLE, while 2.5.0.13 is the latest non-BLE Settings version.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/settings-easy-settings-what-you-need-to-know.729139/

 

It seems a bit odd that the default Settings program (2.0.0.72) for my X3E is a Win7 version, since my X3E is a Win8 machine out of the box (even has the Win8 sticker on the bottom). And subsequently, I upgraded to Win8.1 about a year ago.

From what I've read prior, BLE is a great feature to have and so I'd ideally like to keep it.. so perhaps I should just look for that latest 2.0.0.89 version that has BLE. Of course, it'd be nice to know directly from Samsung what the best, optimized version of Settings should be used for my specific X3E hardware combined with Win8.1.

As you said however, since they've long ago stopped pushing updates via SW Update, it seems like we're left to guess via trial and error. Not the end of the end of the world of course, but when you start getting random Sleep/Shut Down malfunctions, it makes troubleshooting more difficult. Afterall, picking through Event Logs and trying to decipher which error/warning might (or might not) be the true root cause isn't an exact science.

 

I agree, it's a bit absurd having to jump through hoops to get the latest version. I think the logic on Samsung's part is to only push 2.0.x versions of Settings for models that have BLE -- since the newer versions (now 2.5.x) don't support it. In your case, 2.0.0.72 is just the last version they got around to push for your model before they decided to focus their attention on newer models.

Fortunately all versions of Settings (and Easy Settings) are compatible with all models (as far as we can tell), except where features depend on hardware or BIOS functionality available only on some models. And at least they have maintained the numbering logic that 2.0.x versions have BLE (and EC) so we know to only look for the latest 2.0.x version.

But I agree it is odd that we have to download Easy Settings (for Win7) in order to get the latest Settings (for Win8.x) with BLE support. (It used to be the other way, that Win7 users had to download Settings in order to find the latest Easy Settings hiding inside.)

Thus, you want to look for the latest models available that have Win7 drivers (and thus Easy Settings), which right now still appears to be NP930X5J-S02US, with Easy Settings version 2.0.0.89. Download that, and you will find a Win8 folder inside it.

I am actually still running Settings version 2.0.0.74 myself, and never got around to install that 2.0.0.89. Think I'll try it now

Edit: And yes, BLE is a great feature if you don't need the full battery capacity. My NP700Z3A is 2.5 years old, with an estimated 3-400 charge cycles, and HWiNFO still only reports 9.1% battery wear. Admittedly, I haven't performed a calibration in ages, so that number may not be accurate. I usually just need 3-4 hours on battery (or less) and only disable BLE when I know I need more.

Edit2: I didn't experience any difference between Settings version 2.0.0.74 and the new 2.0.0.89 on my older Series 7 with BLE and EC. But I can confirm it works as expected. I updated the [Easy] Settings thread with this post.

 

So I did the Windows 10 update, and everything seems more-or-less ok, except that the 2-finger scroll got reversed and I can't figure out how to set it back. Anyone know how to fix this?

 

There should be an option to reverse two finger scroll in the touchpad control panel (in windows Control Panel). It's there on my NP900X4C which I upgraded to Windows 10. If you can't find the touchpad control panel then search for ETDSimpleUI.exe. There is also a more advanced control panel called ETDAniConf.exe but to be able to access all the options you first need to first go to the Additional tab and set the Gesture Effect to Microsoft modern touchpad experience.

John

 

Tip: remove the 1st fan (the one below the F11 key) for an almost true silent system

The bearing of this fan has gotten worse and worse over the time, but recently the rattling got so bad that I decided to remove the fan altogether and see if I run into any issue. Because this was the fan that used to kick in first of the two, it means that fanless operation is now possible in silent mode upto the cpu temperature threshold of 64°C at which the remaining fan kicks in, almost 10°C more than before.

before: Fan On: 55°C; Fan Off: 47°C
now: Fan On: 64°C; Fan Off: 55°C

My average temp is in the 53°C - 57°C range, which means the sytem now runs fanless almost all the time. And that is with the cpu uncapped, more info in the Silent mode thread.

Even if the cpu load is at 100% the remaining fan has enough cooling power to keep temps between 80°C - 90°C. So there is no throttling on my i7 system.

If only I had done this 4 years ago