Samsung NP930X5J / NP940X5J ATIV Book 9 (2014) 15.6" Haswell announced Jan 6, 2014

I can't find it in Device Manager. There are no problem devices there.

It also does not show in Disk Management.

Where do I find the multi-memory card river?

 

I saw it listed in SW Update for the NP930X5J-S01US when I looked using the Find Model facility.

Have you also tried right clicking on the top of the list in Device Manager and selecting Scan for Hardware Changes. It would be best to do this after turning the computer off and doing a cold boot.

John

 

I'm always an advocate for clonezilla. It's free and retains F4. Use tuxboot to create a bootable usb.

 

To answer my own question, the s01 is the one that comes from the microsoft store and features the "signature experience" AKA no bloatware

 

I did a cold reboot and Scan for Hardware Changes.

The computer still does not recognize any SD card, even if I take it out and put it back in.

The only SW Update I am familiar with is the one on my computer and it does not have a Multi-Memory-Card Driver

I went to Download Center: Download Software, Firmware, Drivers & Manuals | Samsung and searched for NP930X5J-S01US but it only offered me to download the complete SWUpdate SWUpdate_2.1.25.4,zip, which extracts SWM_setup.exe.

Where do I go from here?

 

Are you looking at what SW Update automatically offers you are are you using the Find Model button to look for United States > Series 9 > NP930X5J-S01US > Windows 7? When I go that route I can see the card driver listed.

If there's also a USB 3.0 hub driver then reinstall that as well (or in its absence try the Intel chipset).

John

 

Ahh, the "Find Model" button!
I learned something new!
I downloaded and installed the Multi-Memory-Card Driver and the USB 3.0 hub driver and rebooted the system.
I also ran Samsung Hardware Diagnostic and Microsoft Memory Diagnostic.
Still no luck.
Perhaps leaving the SD card in the slot all the time was not a good idea and wore out the connectors?

 

Which is the better 512 GB M.2 SSD... the Crucial M550 or the Transcend MTS800?

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

 

Ah! If a card has been left in the socket all the time then there is potential for mechanical damage.

The only further checks I can suggest are (i) checking the BIOS for any relevant entries and (ii) booting using a Live Linux disc / flash drive and seeing if that can see the card reader.

It can be a struggle to get the Crucial's idle power consumption down to an acceptable level. Those who have bought the Transcend SSD report that it is good in this respect. Note that a 512GB Samsung M.2 is now available (details not much further up this thread).

John

 

I've decided to get the 940 model, isn't that samsung a pcie m.2? I thought the 940 only took SATA

 

The Samsung SSD PM851 512GB STORAGE SERIES, M.2, SATA 3.0, 0.7WPD is available now. I just installed it.

Check my prior post here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...ll-announced-jan-6-2014-a-87.html#post9746675

Note: Provantage's description says it is pccie, but that is a mistake.
Just order by model number MZNTE512HMJH-00000 and you'll be OK. Provantage is the cheapest ($ 334), but took over a week to arrive.

 

Ordering now, thanks

 

Slim 90w power adapter on clearance, $60 off at Best Buy

Samsung AAPA3NS90US - Best Buy

 

Anyone have a keyboard skin for the NP940X5J ? If yes, where did you get it?
Thanks

 

Thanks for the info. I just ordered one from BestBuy for $43.19, including tax.

 

Let's hope that it has the slim power tip. I didn't think any of the Samsung notebooks with a slim power jack needed a 90W PSU.

Does the NP930X5J ship with the "slim" PSU or the more boxy one shown here? The latter is actually slightly lighter.

John

 

The charger from Best Buy has a slim adapter tip in the box as well

 

The NP930X5J ships with a tiny, "boxy" adapter. It looks different than the one in your picture.
I put it on a scale and it weighs 5 oz. (without the 110/220 V cable)

The 40W slim adapter ($66) that you also can get at Best Buy weighs 9.6 oz (not sure if that weight includes the shipping box?):
Samsung AAPA3NS40US - Best Buy

EDIT:
Samsung Specs say: 0.69 lbs (11 oz)
http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/pcs-accessories/AA-PA3NS40/US

I think I stay with the boxy one for now.
You can get it for $27.99 (free worldwide shipping) here:
http://www.uspartsdirect.com/samsun...2wn4Vht38_lxRnB41KAyLJZGYzbn7AvwzQaAk4O8P8HAQ

 

I couldn't see any indication of that but you could be right.

5oz is impressively light. I would have expected around 7oz.

The photos of the "slim" PSU don't show the lump on the bottom needed to provide enough space for the cloverleaf plug.

Either way, I think it's always good to have more than one PSU: One on the desk at home (where size and weight aren't important) and one that lives in the bag.

John

 

Photos:
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/aplus/detail-page/samsung-AA-PA3NS40-1-l.jpg

http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images500x500/836024.jpg

 

Thanks.

I just hope that whatever PSUs they are currently selling have the L-shaped plug to go into the notebook (unlike one of these photos).

That's a no-brainer when the power socket is on the side.

John

 

Unfortunately the one from best buy has a straight plug

 

I couldn't find any SD related entries in the BIOS.
And I tried booting with my "original 256GB Samsung SSD".
Next thing I will do is open the unit and bend the pins a little bit.

If that does not fix it, what are my options? Is there on-site warranty repair? I can't be without my computer for even a day.

 

If you are looking inside then look carefully at how the SD card slot is fixed to the board in case a soldered joint has got broken. Is it on the mainboard or a daughter board?

The other software test we haven't yet tried is to boot the computer using a Linux Live CD / flash drive. I would try that before attacking the hardware. The live Linux is good at detecting and configuring the hardware as it loads.

John

 

I made a a Linux Live USB drive. Ubuntu does not recognize the SD either.

So I will open it up and examine the SD reader with a magnifying glass. (It is mounted on the main board.)

 

What on earth is going on with this? How is it that nine months after launch Samsung UK isn't selling their own product

 

Is there any hint of looseness or damage to the soldered connections?

I think Samsung, for whatever reason best known to themselves, got cold feet. I don't think the other European countries have had their stocks of this model replenished in recent months either. Stocks of the NP930X5J-K01IT (possibly the nearest to the UK keyboard layout) seem to have disappeared although the NP910X5J-K01IT (Book 9 Style) is available. I got bored waiting and am typing this on a Dell E7440 (it's only a 14" display but the FHD one is good quality and it uses the easily available mSATA SSD format).

John

 

SWUpdate just offered a new Sound Driver.
After I installed it, there was no more sound.
I used System Restore to un-do it.
I am posting this here just in case anyone else runs into the same issue.

 

Another reason not to use SW Update. I don't understand this compulsion to update working drivers, it seems to be the only thing Samsung does with their notebooks anymore. I maybe pull down new graphics or wifi 1-2x a year from intel directly, I don't think anything else is going to get much better.

Clearly you know how to handle it if things go awry though.

 

That update changed my settings in Sound found in Control Panel.

 

You are right. "If it's not broken, don't fix it!"

@Jim C: In which way did it change the Sound settings and what did you have to do to make the sound work again?

 

@Jim C: In which way did it change the Sound settings and what did you have to do to make the sound work again?

I changed a few things but I believe that it was Realtek HD Audio 2nd output in Playback and just leaving it checked

 

I have had the 940 for a couple of months now and am really enjoying it....however I've been having trouble with the touchpad. I know the touchpad has been a touchy (pun intended) subject in this forum but I'm not sure if anyone's has been super glitchy. It starts when I have to double click to open everything (or like minimize the screen). One click is not even registered. Then instead of just moving the cursor it highlights everything in its path when I haven't clicked on the cursor (like writing in this box now). Then when I try to move the cursor again it keeps on trying to move the text. And then eventually the touchpad just quits all together and the cursor won't even move...as it just did as I was typing. If I didn't have a touch screen I wouldn't even be able to send this reply off! This is the second time its happened, the first time I restarted- it didn't fix it, but then a hard shut down and reboot did. Anyone else having this problem? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

Hi, I'm probably set to buy a 940X5 for myself, but need some clarification on the power plugs.

I'm in Singapore, and Samsung is not selling 940X5J anywhere here so I'll have to purchase from Amazon.com.

Can I swap out the 2 pin cable and replace it with a 3 pin cable like the following? Will the Samsung power brick be able to use our power sockets here?

Pic of plug: http://www.commonsense2013.cs.ucy.ac.cy/images/5qfzR.jpg

Power rating in Singapore: 230V; 50Hz

Please advise....hope I can still use the Ativ Book 9 2014 here in Singapore without frying my 19K purchase!

 

Notebook PSUs made in the past 20 years (and probably more) have been made to work with a wide range of power sources.

The two Samsung PSUs I have to hand both say 100-240V, 50-60Hz but I would expect them to work happily for at leat 10% each side of those ranges.

All you will need to do is to either change the power plug or buy another cable (if you don't have one already) to go between the power outlet and the PSU. PSUs normally use a C5 or "cloverleaf" (3 pin) connector for the mains cable although some use a C7 "Fig-8" (2 pin) connector.

John

 

I'm not sure if you have any idea about this John but, would a poorly grounded or dirty-power outlet cause erratic behavior of a laptop? I would think the power supply would remove any issue with the conversion of ac to dc? But I'm well out of my area of knowledge.

 

This is a possible problem, particulary in terms of erratic touchpad behavour. If what is meant to be a grounded computer is actually sitting at a voltage above ground then a small amount of power can pass through the user. The notebook's power supply is less likely to be the cause than bad building wiring. I've been in places where the ground wire has a floating voltage because it isn't grounded properly and consequently power leakage from connected equipment that goes to the ground wire doesn't get drained away. Such leakage is not usually dangerous because it is through a high resistance circuit but can leave other connected equipment with some unwanted floating voltage. I tend to use unground PSUs when travelling for both this reason and because, with the help of one of these, I can carry a thinner and lighter mains cable.

If you get a slightly rough feel (it's difficult to describe) when running your fingers over the computer surface then that can indicate a power issue although it is best to test any metal parts with a mains testing screwdriver.

Some power supplies are better than others when used with ungrounded supplies. I've two older Dell PSUs which leak some voltage and really need grounding while two newer PSUs have no problems when used ungrounded. The various recent Samsung and compatible PSUs I have used have also given me no problems when used ungrounded.

John

 

Thanks. Yes, the touchpad was misbehaving. Also maybe the HDMI port. I'll have to do some testing.

 

When your computer is connected to other mains-powered hardware then ground loop problems can also arise.

The quick test is to disconnect the notebook's PSU so it is running on battery with the other device still connected. If the problem disappears then a ground loop is a possible diagnosis.

John

 

I did some testing with the multimeter and found that the SD "card detect" switch is always on (with or without card inserted).
Photos below:

 

Shouldn't that mean that the system always sees the reader, whether or not any media is in the slot.

I can't remember: Did we check for the BIOS seeing media in the slot in the one time boot menu?

Or is the card detect switch always off, not always on as you suggest (I haven't a clue as to how this works!).

John

 

Hey guys,

Been researching this laptop a couple of days now. How is usage after a couple of months? Want to get something that lasts.. A bit concerned after reading some users touchpad is not working properly, SD card reader stopped working, etc. Really want to get this laptop but these issues are a bit concerning. If anyone can provide feedback that would be great!

 

There will always be issues, no matter which computer you get. This one has been very reliable after 4 months of use. Just don't leave the SD card in the slot while you carry the unit around.

 

Were you able to resolve the issue with your touchpad? Has that issue been re-occurring?

 

Note: At one time I thought my touchpad was broken. Then I realized that I had accidentally clicked Fn+F5, which turns the touchpad on and off.

 

Has anyone here had any luck finding a touchpad driver that'll run under Windows 7 for the NP940X5J?
-Keith

 

You could try the Windows 7 Touchpad driver for the NP930 from SWUpdate.

 

I'm in Canada. The easiest place I can get this is from Microsoft Store online: Buy Samsung ATIV Book 9 Touchscreen Laptop - 128GB (2014 Edition) - Microsoft Store Online

But the only thing is, I think it comes with a Canadian bilingual keyboard instead of the US keyboard layout. Can anyone confirm this? Did anyone from Canada buy this computer?

 

The image on the link you quoted shows a standard American English keyboard:
http://dri1.img.digitalrivercontent...ATIV_Book_9_Plus_Black_CWF-01615_RM1_mnco.jpg
which means that if they were to ship you a bilingual keyboard, you could return the unit without penalty.
(Actually the keyboard layout in the Microsoft Store photo is not identical to my NP930X5J. Perhaps it is a photo of a 13 inch Series 9)

 

I can't really figure it out.
How long does it take if I send in the unit for warranty repair?
Is on-site repair available?
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/service/location
tells me that my closest service location is Intelisol, Inc 1001 N.E. Loop 820 Suite 200 Fort Worth, TX 76131 800-726-7864 817-230-5187 (929 miles)