NP530Uxx Thread (Series 5 ultrabook)

Before spending time digging deeper, make sure Silent Mode is OFF.

 

My bad... I stand corrected... I hadn't had my morning coffee yet.

 

thanks but what is silent mode and how to turn it off .
thanks

 

Just open your user manual and search silent mode! Or read the link dannemand posted. I'm always glad to help, but never happy to support the lazy.. Do your part.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

 

hello Sokr,
actually, the samsung laptop is not my laptop, i do not have it under-hands at the moment. i am just trying to help a friend out
this is why i may be asking basic questions. anyway, i will fwd the msg on!

 

You should ask him before asking us, and even if he doesn't know you should read the links before. Sorry for my brutal honesty, but dannemand took the time to search and provide you with a link with what you needed to know, yet you discard it and keep asking us what's already answered simply because you don't bother to read.
To me that's beyond lazy, it's disrespectful. You're not considering the work he had giving you a complete answer. Hope this serves you a lesson in the future. Take the time to read and search before asking what you could figure out yourself.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

 

Right on! Well said! dannemand does a great job... fast and efficient! And appreciated by me and many others.

 

Ahem, guys... while I appreciate the appreciation and support (and I really DO, thank you) and while the general point raised by member skor78 is legitimate, I also want to make sure that all members feel welcome here at NBR.

Many new members are not familiar with NBR or forums in general, and I usually prefer a gentle nudge in the right direction before pulling out a sledgehammer (although my patience does admittedly run out sometimes).

Had I seen skor's post sooner today, I would probably have toned it down a bit, or asked him to do so. After all, the first bullet in our forum rules demands that everybody treat everybody else respectfully -- even when they make mistakes.

I'll leave it now as it is, since it has been quoted in Jack's post, and since the issue is indeed common, that some new members need to work harder and search and read before posting -- particularly when relevant links have been posted for them.

In this specific case, my response to asalousa was itself a fast one, where I normally post a little more explanation, including pointing out that I have shared a link -- which is not always obvious to newcomers. (I italicize links exactly for that reason.) I had already written several answers about Silent Mode earlier that day, so I was lazy myself, and figured turning my sentence into a link would be self-explanatory.

In any case, @asalousa, we want you -- and all members -- to participate and have a good time here. And yes, as surely you gather by now, other members and regulars here are generally more accommodating and helpful when they see that questioners make an effort before posting.

Enough about that now, back to the thread topic:

Silent Mode is a trapdoor which many Samsung Owners fall through, since it it caps the CPU at a very slow speed -- and is easily enabled by accident, due to the way it is implemented. Reading the information I linked can potentially save your friend (who owns this laptop) quite a few headaches.

That said, there are of course other possible explanations for slow performance. But please check Silent Mode first.

 

Although I admit I used a hammer, I did started with a nudge. And I believe I was harsh but respectful. I had no idea if he was new or old member, I was (and am) on tapatalk on android and can't see user details. Anyway, I saw something and felt the need to point it out. I have no intention of further flaming the situation, it's already in the past.

Cheers.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

Yes, you DID post a nudge first, that is true. And thanks again for your support and help here, in general and in the Series 5 threads in particular. It is much appreciated

Edit: I use Tapatalk most of the time here as well. If you tap a member's avatar in a thread, it will take you to their profile, where you can see post count, join date and list all their posts. A very useful feature.

 

I will definitely be present and will help within my possibilities particularly in my own series 5 laptops threads. Occasionally I participate in other threads but I'm limited..

I run a professional laptop repair lab at home, and also actively participate in 3 other forums (2 electronic technical support forums and 1 laptop hardware support forum), this is the main reason I limit my support here.

I still remember when I first bought my NP550P5C, you and Ratsey helped me a lot with a bunch of doubts and experiments. I'm hardly repaying the help I got. ;-)

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

Hello Dannemand,

yesterday we turned Silent mode off, the CPU rating increased from 3.6 to 6.9. overall system rating is 4.7 ( graphics is the weak link ). i c the performance is better now. we will be checking and advise back the status.
thanks a lot for ur support. BTW, when i asked for more details. i was not able to open the link.

@ Sokr.. no heart feeling from my side.. i just did not really want to got into the details of why i am asking basic questions. so no dis-appreciation to anybody here
thank you all

 

Glad to hear you got it sorted. I won't argue this anymore, let's move on.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

That is a big jump in CPU rating and what I have. My weak link is also graphics at 5.4 for me.

 

Hello Dear Forum members,

Glad I found this thread.

I own NP530U3C-A01US and would like to upgrade it's memory.

I could not find anywhere on Samsung site the specification of the required memory module. I believe it should be: 4GB DDR3 1600Mhz So-dimm

However, I am not sure if it should be low voltage (DDR3L - 1.35V) or regular 1.5V ?

Please let me know,

Many thanks in Advance

 

I just used a regular 4gb 1600MHz stick and worked fine.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

I just installed a 1.35V and it is working fine.

The exact model:
Kingston ValueRAM 4GB DDR3 204-Pin Notebook Memory KVR16LS11/4, PC3-12800 (1600MHz), 1.35V, CL11, Non-ECC, Unbuffered. ds

Output from CPU-Z is attached

 

Hey guys, I'm having a big headache..

I'm trying to install a SSD drive in my 530, and windows won't boot. It installs fine and after reboot, nothing! I'm betting the issue is related to Express Cache..

Any ideas?

 

I think you're right that it is caused by Windows Setup seeing your ExpressCache iSSD as the boot device. By far the simplest solution is to install from DVD instead of from USB stick, that eliminates the problem completely.

Alternatively, you can use one of the workarounds in posts #1 and #2 of this thread. But those workarounds are only for Legacy BIOS installations, NOT for UEFI installations. (I don't know which you are doing.)

I am afraid I cannot give you a tested workaround for this with an UEFI installation (other than to install from DVD). The challenge is to get the EFI boot partition onto the main SSD/HDD, whereas Windows Setup will probably try to place it on the iSSD. The end goal is a partition layout on the main SSD like this (copied from here):

Windows RE tools - 500MB (Windows Recovery - not Samsung Recovery)
SYSTEM - 300MB (EFI boot, so-called ESP)
MSR - 128 MB (Windows boot, MS Reserved, hidden in Windows Disk Manager)
Windows C: - size varies (Windows system and software)
Data - size varies, optional (Optional data partition)

If you find a good workaround for installing from USB in UEFI mode onto a model with ExpressCache, it would be great if you can post it in that thread I just linked

 

Yeah, I found that thread earlier (The thread should have a better title..) and it worked for me.. Thanks Dan!
I have another question. What to do with my iSSD? Should I still use it with EC or what?
If EC is not needed I was wondering if I could somehow create a recovery partition on it using a third party SW booted by USB.. Recovery partition is 22.93GB, and iSSD is 22.36GB. With any luck it will fit perfectly..

Thanks.

 

Good job there!

And no, you definitely don't want to install ExpressCache now that you have a "real" SSD as main drive, it would only slow things down and add unnecessary complexity.

What to do for the iSSD after its retirement is an age-old question. See this discussion and this thread. You don't want anything that does a lot of writing and adds wear to the iSSD: Once it fails, you have to replace the motherboard, even if you don't use it. I have suggested this and member TANWare recently suggested this.

If I had a 24GB iSSD (mine only has 8GB) I would shoehorn Windows on there, with a boot partition and pagefile on the main disk, and hibernation disabled (if I cannot find a way to get it on the main disk).

 

Thanks for your answer. Those suggestions don't fit my needs.. Definitely once I get everything up and running, I'm going to explore the custom recovery option..

I'm having another problem.. I can't install Intel Rapid Start on my laptop. Installation fails every time! Tried it through SWUpdate, and download both from Samsung and Intel site. Keep getting "This computer does not meet minimum requirements for installing this software".. It was working fine on my HDD..
Any ideas?

 

Have you read the IRST thread?

A few months ago I managed to get IRST working on a clean install of Windows 7 on my NP900X4C. I had to use the original Samsung version of the IRST installer to start the process (see my post here) but finished with the latest IRST driver from the Intel website but Easy Settings may have also played a part in the process.

John

 

Sorry for the delayed response.

I've downloaded Intel_Rapid_Start_1.0.0.1007.ZIP and I can't find FFSRConfigurer.exe anywhere! Can you help me out?

 

This is where life starts to get interesting, if not a little confusing.

I've got two versions of Intel_Rapid_Start_1.0.0.1007.ZIP both downloaded in July 2012 and one is about 1.9MB and one is about 8.5MB. The latter contains FFSRConfigurer.exe. However, I have just also downloaded 1.0.0.1007 as listed for the NP900X3B-A01UK and it is about 21MB. It is also different from your 1.0.0.1007, so that makes 4 versions with the same file name but different contents!



It may be worth giving that one a try. It includes the model environment file. Start the installer by running Inst.exe (you can see what then happens by looking in inst.bat).

John

 

Inst.exe opens and close (Installation failed in SWUpdate). Keep getting "This computer does not meet minimum requirements for installing this software" on setup.

Can you PM me the file you used?

Thanks.

 

Hey guys-
I'm doing a fresh W7 Home Prem. install on a friend's NP530U3B-A01US. When I run the install, everything works fine initially. When the machine goes to reboot, it simply shuts down (it sounds as if the HDD is being parked, as if you were to hold the power button). I'm able to finish an EFI install if I power it on manually each time it restarts. Once Windows finishes installing and drivers are installed, it still doesn't restart properly. I've defaulted everything in the BIOS, and don't want to attempt to update it because of the reboot issues. Is this a common problem? Does anyone have a proper solution?
Edit: Apparently this happened with his previous windows install.

 

If the notebook has ExpressCache (I think it does) then read this.

John

 

Do you know what could be causing the machine to shut down on restart?

 

I don't recommend you do an UEFI installation on this model. Samsung's UEFI implementation on these models was not fully matured, and it could easily be the reason for the problems you are seeing (and several other problems).

Also, as John pointed out, because your model has ExpressCache, Windows Setup will get confused by the small SSD (so-called iSSD) and place its boot partition on it, even though the iSSD is not bootable at all. In the case of UEFI installations, that can even lead to a semi-bricked state, as discussed in this thread. Installing from a DVD instead will completely eliminate this issue and make for a much smoother installation.

I suggest you disable UEFI in BIOS, then proceed to install from a DVD, using the install guide linked by John (again here, post #40 in that thread). If you converted your disk to GPT (for that EFI installation you mention) you'll need to convert it back to GPT as described at the end of that guide.

If you MUST install from USB, you will have to follow the workarounds in this guide (post #1 or #2 in that same thread).

 

Initially I went to do the UEFI install not having realized there was a problem. I later read up on all of the EFI issues related to this series, so I reinstalled in a standard fashion, disabled UEFI, and found that the machine still has the restart/shutdown issue. I personally have a Lenovo y510p which uses expresscache as well, although it's an independent ngff drive which doesn't present such an annoying issue. I'd like to update/reflash the bios to BIOS (it is currently running version 06XK, from 03/16/12), although given this particular issue, I'm not sure how safe the procedure is. As you guys could imagine, I'd much rather not brick someone else's machine.

EDIT: It hangs at sleep too. The display shuts off as well as the hard drive, but the other lights (power, charging, and wireless) stay on.

Double edit: Did a BIOS update to the newest version (I believe it was 13XK), as well as cleared the CMOS and reset to defaults, but the problem persists. I'm going with a hardware issue.

 

Thank you for the update. Of course we cannot rule out a hardware issue, but before concluding that, I suggest you try installing one more time, using the EXACT steps and drivers recommended in the install guide we linked ( here). It was written specifically for Samsung laptops, taking into account the known quirks of different Samsung models. On your particular model, you MUST either install from DVD or go through the workarounds in the first posts of that installation thread. There are also some drivers and utilities that must be installed in order for Power Management to work properly. And again, make sure to convert the disk back to to MBR, as also described in the guide.

 

This has been done. It is also worth noting that the shutdown issue occurs with an ubuntu USB live session.

 

Got it! It would seem, then, that there are indeed some hardware issues.

 

Hey guys,
I need help! I want to sell my 530 and buy an hybrid to replace it, so i took out the SSD it took so much work to install and installed back it's original drive..
Now I'm trying to fix the Expresscache partition but I'm having a hard time. MacDisk won't format the the drive. Also, I don't remember anymore the exact size of both partitions for IRStartT and IRStorageT.
I do know one is 8GB and the other 16GB (which makes the total 24GB drive).
Adding trouble i no longer see any ExpressCache options in EasySettings.
Starting with the most important issue, what am I doing wrong with MacDisk? It gives error every time!

John, Dannemand, please help me out..
All other users, if your 530 as a 24GB EC drive please check Disk Management and provide the exact partition sizes.

TIA, Skor

 

Hi Skor,

I do not recommend the MacDisk thing. All recent versions of ExpressCache automatically create their partitions on the iSSD if it is left empty (no partitions).

Try the following:

1) Uninstall both ExpressCache and Intel Rapid Start and Easy Settings, reboot.

2) Delete all partitions on the iSSD. If you choose to initialize it, then make sure it matches the partition style of your HDD and your UEFI settings: If you have an UEFI installation (and hence your HDD is GPT) the iSSD must also be GPT. Conversely, if you have a legacy BIOS installation (and hence your HDD is MBR) the iSSD must also be MBR. If you have not changed UEFI mode at any point, I recommend you just delete partitions on the iSSD and not initialize it.

3) Re-install Easy Settings, reboot and log in and let it run for 5-10 mins. Now reboot and log in again (seriously). You can find a recent version 2.0.0.83 in SW Update under model NP930X5J, though I am not sure if it contains the necessary ExpressCache features. Of course, as usual, you need to set all power tweaks, Adaptive Brightness etc again.

4) Re-install ExpressCache and reboot. You can find a recent version 1.0.0.98 in SW Update under model NP540U4E. It should create its partition on the iSSD automatically. Also check our ExpressCache thread.

5) Install Intel Rapid Start. Easy Settings contains a module called FFSRConfigurer which is responsible for dividing space on the iSSD between ExpressCache and IRSTRT. I know nothing about this, hopefully John will chime in. Also see his IRSTRT thread.

If this doesn't work, then try again, but install Easy Settings last. If all fails, just let SW Update install them for you, it should know the correct order.

Note that you can also manually create ExpressCache partitions using ECCMD -PARTITION (command line). Use just plain ECCMD for parameter details. There is more on that in the ExpressCache thread.

 

See the recent discussion in the IRSTRT thread for links to working versions of the bits of software needed to get it working. FFSRConfigurer is in one of the IRSTRT installer packages.

John

 

Thank you John. I remember that I concluded from the discussion here and here that FFSRConfigurer is a Samsung tool installed with Easy Settings on models that had ExpressCache -- which would make sense, since it has knowledge about both EC and IRSTRT. That's is why I recommended installing Easy Settings first.

But if FFSRConfigurer comes with IRSTRT (not Easy Settings) AND if IRSTRT is only installed after EC (as I suggested above) the EC partition will already have been created and presumably use the entire iSSD. If FFSRConfigurer is able to adjust the size of the EC partition (or re-create it) that should be no problem. Otherwise it would then be better to install IRSTRT before EC, so that FFSRConfigurer is present.

Again, in any case would I assume that SW Update has knowledge of the correct sequence, since it was designed to turn a new Windows installation into a Samsung installation.

 

It's possible that FFSRConfigurer is included in some version of the Easy Settings package. I'm sure it is capable of grabbing space from another partition. However, not having needed to do battle with ExpressCache I don't know how FFSRConfigurer behaves when confronted with one.

The recent discussion in the IRSTRT thread has served the useful pupose of identifying where the suitable software packages can be found although I can't be certain that the methodology works in all cases.

I also remember that the IRSTRT on the Samsung notebooks shipped during the first half of 2012 didn't have IRSTRT properly configured so the computers never went into hibernation but we figured out the fix for that.

John

 

Hey guys,
I don't want you to think I asked for help and abandoned the issue. What happens is I had an urgent matter and had to go to my mom's house for a couple of days..
As soon as I get home (hopefully tomorrow..) I'll try out your recommendations and report back.

Thanks for the help so far, regards.

 

That's nice to check in :thumbsup:...
Some don't, especially some new ones who post a question, get the answer, then never come back again.
Not cool.
It is also nice to click on the little star at the bottom left to add to ones reputation who helped you. That is a nice way to say THANKS! :thumbsup: That is not for me, but for the ones who take the time to help you. I've gotten a lot of help in here through the years.

 

Yeah, no worries, thanks for the update. I hope everything works out OK there with your mom (or whatever).

 

Omg! I was about to start reading instructions for solving this EC issue when my 550 asked for a nvidia driver update and crashed..
It appears I'm getting cursed.. Lol (not funny!)

I'll post my issue in 550 thread and address that first. Sorry for all the delays everyone.
Thanks.

 

Hi,

I'm facing the following issues:
- Although EC is present I can't uninstall it.
- I have uninstalled ES and IRStart, and now I can't install them. I get "unable to install" error every single time.

Thanks.

 

Hi Skor,

You can try re-installing ExpressCache over the current version and see if that will subsequently allow you to uninstall it. But that most likely will not help with the installation of Easy Settings and IRSTRT.

Seriously, it sounds like something got badly messed up in that Windows installation, either its files or its registry

 

Hi everybody! Can anybody help me?
Whenever I try to boot my computer from scratch (aka I have shut it down or hibernated it) it takes over five minutes to go past bios screen (samsung logo). How can I fix this?

 

Please don't cross post.

I have responded in the other thread you started.

John

 

Hi all.

I have a np540u3c which came with windows 8. I recently switched to windows 7 and found out that sw update does not offer 7 drivers for my model.

So ı downloaded "easy settings" from a NP530u4c, and it is working now but I find it a very unrefined piece of software in terms of size and controls (samsung fast boot, change power off to sleep etc. the features that I don't like meddling with my OS).

I was using the latest Settings of 9 series new ultrabooks which has only fundamental controls and basic stuff ( even excludes expresscache controls, which is good for me for it to not meddle with a background process)

So my question is, what is the latest version of windows 7 easy settings and where can I find it? Under which model? I am currently using 1.1.0.54.

Thanks in advance and have a good day.

 

See if this thread contains the answers you want.

John

 

Easy Settings 1.x is very old, and you will find the newer 2.x versions much better behaved -- though they still have some nasty hacks (such as the Boot Optimization / Samsung Fast Boot feature). That thread linked by John is indeed our Settings/Easy Settings reference, but unfortunately I haven't updated it in a while.

You can find the latest Easy Settings (2.0.0.78 as I recall) in SW Update under recent Win7 models such as NP930X5J.

The Win7 install guide here coves other aspects of (re-)installing Win7 on Samsung laptops -- including advice for when you downgrade on models originally delivered with Win8.x.