Samsung 2012 Series 7 Chronos (NP700Z3, NP700Z4 & NP700Z5 series) Owners Lounge

Easy Settings - Display - disable auto brightness

 

@Dannemand

Alright, I tried the HECI and it is still coming up missing, any other ideas?

 

Come to think of it, SecureGuard could be an UEFI extension. Do you have UEFI enabled, and was it enabled when you installed Windows? I've kept it disabled on mine (default).

Somebody around here must have seen this device before and know exactly what it is. Anybody...?

I am sure it causes no harm as it is, but I too hate having lose ends like that.

 

Hey, I just had a quick question about the series 7 line and windows 8. Does anyone know if samsung will be supporting these laptops with windows 8 drivers? I asked a few reps in the online chat but nobody gave a halpful answer/knew what I was talking about which seemed a little strange. If not, is it something that wouldn't matter anyways?

-Thanks

 

HECI is the software interface that is used to communicate to the Intel AMT subsystem (Management Engine). Search for the Intel Management Engine driver. You may never use it as that is intended for IT departments.

 

Thanks yknyong.

Yeah, HECI was our first suspect and he already installed that driver package. That didn't take care of it. So either this is a different device OR the driver didn't install properly.

If you know for certain that SecureGuard is a HECI/ME device, then please confirm. (You may want to check the last few pages for context.)

Matt: If yknyong confirms that, then try the following: delete the device in device manager (check to delete the driver); un-install HECI (programs/features); reboot; re-install HECI. See if that takes.

 

It should be a management engine for Samsung. Google phoenix secureguard management engine.

 

Thanks. Let's see if a driver re-install does it for him then.

@Matt: please see my earlier post. Hope it solves it.

 

I just jumped on board and ordered a SSD and a HDD caddy to replace the ODD.

Are there any downsides to cloning the hard drive? What is the best method for getting my stuff onto the SSD? I do plan on keeping the HDD the way it is in case the SSD fails and I need a backup drive. Should I just backup my drivers, install the SSD, recover the drivers, and then reinstall all of my apps instead?

Also, are there certain settings in the BIOS that I should have before installation? I know that ExpressCache should be disabled.

 

@Matt: I ran another test install on my NP700Z3A, this time using Easy Software Manager, and stumbled onto something regarding your SecureGuard device:

Lo and behold, in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Samsung\Easy Software Manager\driver" folder there is a SecureGuard driver. So maybe some models need Easy Software Manager to be installed in order to satisfy all devices...

You have to actually install Easy Software Manager to get to it, as the installer is just one big EXE. But I seem to recall that you actually did install it.

See if that works for you.

 

Easy Settings is also a package that is more than just a simple interface and does other things in the background to help with the configuration.

John

 

Thanks John. I was actually referring to Easy Software Manager (not Easy Settings).

The context was a SecureGuard device in Matt's Device Manager, for which he couldn't find the driver. We all thought it was HECI/Intel ME, but he'd already installed that (AND Easy Settings of course).

Turns out there is a SecureGuard driver included with Easy Software Manager. I didn't realize it contained actual drivers in that package itself.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I was supplementing your observations to note that Easy Settings, which some people may be inclined to skip when doing a clean installation, also does some configuration work (the Fn key shortcuts come to mond) as well as proving an interface to various settings.

John

 

Got it, thanks!

Yeah as much as I hate how Easy Settings was implemented (delayed loading of everything in order to pretend a faster boot) I don't see how anybody can use these PCs without it -- at the very least to have Fn keys.

 

@Dannemand

I did have it installed but i had un-installed it, so i just re-installed it and searched for that folder. I got to program files(x86)/Samsung/Easy software manager, but there was no drivers folder.

Weird thing was when i re-opened easy software manager it actually opened, as opposed to the previous message it had been giving me.

 

@Matt: did you check in device manager if installing easy software manager fixed the SecureGuard device in itself?

Still puzzling that ESM installs a SecureGuard driver on my PC (which doesn't have SecureGuard) but not on yours which does have it.

 

Nope it still isn't there. Here's the device status though:
Windows cannot verify the digital signature for the drivers required for this device. A recent hardware or software change might have installed a file that is signed incorrectly or damaged, or that might be malicious software from an unknown source. (Code 52)

 

Sounds like what could happen if you accidentally downloaded an XP version instead of the win7-64 version. But I don't think there is an XP version of Easy Software Manager.

Afraid I'm out of ideas

 

Hello everyone,

I recently installed an updated version of easy settings. But it's not working that well. When I open my laptop after he goes to sleep, he don't wake up anymore. I hear the fan for a second and after that the led from the power indicator is blue but he seems to be in off state. The only way to fix this is resetting it.

I don't find the old version of easysettings dating back from november. Does someone have the installer of that version?

Thanks

 

Yeah, that definitely doesn't sound right. But although I am not a great fan of Easy Settings, I can assure you what you see is not a "feature" of the latest version (1.1.1.4 for my Z3A). Something else must be wrong.

I would try to un-install then re-install Easy Settings, see if that solves it. Re-boot after each. But maybe you already tried that

I don't have the earlier version, but if you still have your recovery partition, it contains the one that came with the PC originally. You can install it with Easy Software Manager.

Let's know how it goes.

 

Hi, Id like to ask you for help or an advice on how should I deal with the following issue.

Last night I cleaned the screen using a screen-suited cleaner. I admit I might have let some leak beyond to the edges of the screen. I turn the laptop on after some time and only after further 10 mins I realize there is something wrong with the screen - started to show white pixel lines, jumping etc, and dark areas along the whole right side of the screen. Then i tried my best to dry as much as possible - cloth and fan. Anyway, now the screen does either the same, turns all white and stuck, but also on occassion looks like new with no problems, a situation which deteriorates after some time however. Otherwise the laptop works normally and I can use it with a projector.

From this I, as an amateur, could get that rather than screen damage the problem is its connector. Based on your experience or knowledge, can you please advice me what can I do to fix this? I am quite dependent on the laptop these days so I would prefer trying something myself rather than wait for the surely lengthy service.
Thanks

 

Hi, I few days ago i bought Samsung 700Z5A-S02CZ and I was exited about it. But when I connect my headphones (Samsung headphones bought with S8000 Jet) music sounded like some "Echo" effect is ON. Best quality is when volume in windows is 100% and headphones volume at minimum. Slightly headphone volume increase causes noise and listening music is suicide.

In Easy Settings is set "Standard", in Realtek HD software is set "None" effect.

I tried reinstall audio drivers (2 verisons are available for my notebook at samsung support) and also audio driver for 700Z5A-S01CZ and 700Z5C-S01CZ.

Had anyone same problem and know solution?

PS. I hope that you understand my simple english

 

The connector is most likely to be at the bottom edge of the screen and gravity dictates that is where any excess liquid will run to. Maybe you will be lucky and once it has dried out everything will be OK. However, any specially made screen cleaner is likely to contain some chemicals and those may leave deposits which could be conductive or corrosive. It would be preferable to remove the bezel and clean the connector. However, I don't know how the bezel is fixed on this model. It may be screwed, clipped or glued.

John

 

It is glued and as one poster has stated, once that bezel is removed it cannot be pasted back in perfect condition (meaning warranty is void).

 

I still have a screen dimming issue (with auto brightness disabled). It seems to me that it's cycling between "plugged-in" and "battery" states when it's at 80% or 100% and hops back and forth over those lines. I haven't been able to solve it with the power settings either.

 

Does anyone know if you can get a dvi dongle instead of the vga dongle for this laptop

 

Where are you changing the settings? In Easy Settings or in Windows power management? What happens if you set the display brightness to be the same for both mains and battery power?

You can get an HDMI to DVI adapter, if that is what you want.

John

 

Have you tried checking your Intel Display Power Management? That did it for mine, as my screen (on battery) was constantly changing brightness between 2 settings regardless of me disabling auto brightness in Easy Settings. You'll want to turn Display power management completely off. It worked for my case.

 

Hello to all... first time poster. I have a NP700Z7CH 17.3 and noticed something strange and wanted to get an opinion. The laptop comes with Home Premium windows 7 and I wanted Ultimate on there so I wiped the drive and installed my own windows on there. After installing all the drivers from samsumgs drive page I noticed that the Windows Experience index has dropped from 7.1 to 6.7 for the graphics part and the gaming graphics part. I tried this twice on the orginal windows that came with the samsung and on my reinstall of ultimate. Are there setting that I am missing in the nvdia settings that is causing this or is it something else?

 

Thanks. I can set them identical brightness for mains and battery, so that's a valid workaround. I guess I'm accustomed to other laptops operating under mains if plugged in and not toggling to battery ever. Not sure that it impacts too much, but I was always under the impression keeping a li-ion fully charged and topped-of is better than any cycling.

 

Purchased a np700z3a-s05us a few weeks ago off tigerdirect for around $770 after all rebates. Also purchased a SSD. I've been using the laptop for 3 weeks now and these are my thoughts on it:

1. Very nice form factor, perfect size, good build quality (way above average for PC's)

2. Screen is obviously not as good as IPS panels, but IMO it is definitely not as bad as some people make it out to be. I wanted to get a UX32VD simply for its amazing screen, and I can honestly say that I wasn't disappointed with this screen despite being set on getting a comp with an IPS panel. Also, adjusting the color profile made it noticeably better.

3. FAST. Even before installation of the SSD this thing was pretty fast. With the SSD its just ridiculous. I'd definitely recommend a SSD to everyone in here, especially as prices fall. I plan on upgrading to 12GB of ram as well eventually (even though it says 8GB max several people have successfully reported upgrading the ram to 12gb)

4. Only thing I'm not that happy about is the wake up time from sleep once I open the lid, and that's just because I'm trying to find something wrong with it. It takes several seconds for the computer to realize that the lid is open and the display should be on.

Overall very satisfied considering the price.

 

Check if there is any fast boot option available in Easy Settings. If so, make sure it is enabled.

John

 

Yeah, definitely check to make sure this setting is enabled. Mine wakes from sleep VERY fast. Pretty much immediately.

 

Hi Folks. This might be a very simple fix. Samsung 7 series chronos Z5B. The issue I'm having is peculiar and might be something to do with the touch-pad sensitivity. What happens is this. I'll be typing something in word and suddenly I'm typing several lines above right in the middle of a sentence. This has been going on for as long as I've owned the thing. It happens both when I'm typing a document in word, where I place place the pointer away from where I'm writing, and continue typing away staring at the keyboard only to find that half the sentence is where I started and suddenly it has jumped up to where I'd put the pointer. It also happens when I'm typing an email message or some such thing, such as a message in Linkedin. I'm typing like crazy and glance up at the screen only to find sentences in all sorts of weird places. I'm then spend the next 5 minutes cutting and pasting it back into something intelligible.

Drives me nuts, what's going on here and what does a person not well versed with the technicalities of the Chronos 7, do to fix it?

Thanks Very Much for your advice.

 

I would suggest you look through this thread about the touchpad (it is the same pad, also on the C models and the Series 9s). There is a utility called ETDAniConf.exe which includes a sensitivity control.

John

 

@Chuckles: when possible, you could also plug in a mouse and disable the touchpad (Fn-F5 on mine). At least see if it helps, that'll tell you if the touchpad is the culprit.

 

I've just ordered an np700z5 (reassured by all the great comments on this forum!) and wondered what pre-installed stuff I should keep and what should go? I'm not massively technical but I'm happy enough deleting stuff off and adding in my current favourite utilities (like AVG, CCleaner and Defraggler) if that's the most sensible route to go down.

I'm in the UK if that matters.

Thanks in advance.

 

Derek, congrats, you'll be getting a great laptop there.

Check this recent post for suggestions on what you can uninstall from a new Samsung - and conversely what to avoid if doing a clean install.

 

I'm heading to Thailand in a few weeks. Can I safely plug my USA purchased Series 7 directly into a 240v outlet in Thailand? It says 100-240v on the adapter but I've never done it before and I'm really nervous about smoking my beloved laptop. I could use a little reassurance from someone who has used theirs in both 120v US outlets and 240v overseas outlets. Thanks!

 

Hi,
Easy Support Manager says i have 3 updates:
Easy Support Center v1.2.2.7
Easy Settings v1.1.1.4
EasyFileShare v 1.3.1.5

However when I try to run the update it states 'Disconnected from Server - No Internet connection available'.

My internet connection isn't dropping out so i don't know what the issue is. Any ideas?

 

This is a known problem discussed here. Contact your local Samsung support to add to the complaints about this.

John

 

yes, have used my NP700Z5C in the UK (240V) and Canada (120V). You will not have an issue and just need a plug adapter.

 

Make sure you get a grounded plug. It's not nice to feel the tingling sensation

 

is there any workaround?

 

Samsung have recently issued an update to Easy Software Manager which, once you have got it downloaded (using Easy Software Manager, seems to connect much better.

John

 

Hey, I've got a small problem:
Whenever I plug in an external mic the speakers stop working. Like it thinks I've plugged in headphones. Is this just a downside of the combined headphones/mic jack or can I fix this?

 

With the mic plugged in, I would right-click on the loudspeaker icon and explore the different audio options.

John

 

On my older Z3A (Sandy Bridge), that's just how it is with the combo jack.

But someone recently pointed out his Realtek Audio control panel had a setting to chose internal or external speakers. Again, mine doesn't have that, but if you have an Ivy Bridge model (Z3C, Z5C) maybe you do.

I'll see if I can find that post.

Update: Here is that post I mentioned (that was a link). By btb32 and a follow-up by kuncheesh. Good stuff.

 

Hello,

Does anyone of you can tell me how long will last Z5C battery for office & internet usage? I assume you charge it at 100%.
Is it much different from the Z3A model?

I am up to buy the sony s15. The only thing that attracts me to samsung is the better build quality and the battery life (although it is heavier).. but all these problems I am reading here discouraged me a bit (touchpad, bsod...)

 

Can anyone with the chronos 15 inch model tells me if it runs as hot when gaming as the 14 inch? I returned the 14 inch because the WASD area got really hot during gaming, like over 100 degrees F. I know that the kepler 640m gpu should run cooler.