Windows 8.1 RTM and SW Update (no auto updates, need to search for my modell every time)

Decided to wipe my laptop (7-series) and install Windows 8.1 RTM. It all went smooth but when I start SW Update I don't get a list of drivers to update, instead I need to browse/search in order to find my modell. Once I find it all I get is a long list of drivers with a checkbox in front of them and then at the bottom two buttons for "Export" or "Close".

Is this a know problem? I can export the drivers but I like the other way, to be able to search for updates and install them.

Please advice, I'm think about going back to Windows 8 instead.

 

Try the SW Update provided for the NP940X3G. That version might have been made to be 8.1 compatible since that notebook is currently the newest from the Samsung factory.

Otherwise a periodic manual check using SW Update is not a big chore. Many people prefer to not have Samsung keep trying to fore unwanted software on them.

John

 

Thank you John.

Just realized that I could try running the program in compatibility mode and that made it work just the way I'm sued to. So problem solved. If only the wifi could start working and not disconnect constantly I would be pretty satisfied

 

Thanks for the update.

I presume you have the Intel 6235 which has known issues which Intel are being very slow to fix. In the mean time you can try the remedies suggested at http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/727499-wifi-remedies-samsung-laptops.html.

John

 

Sadly Windows 8.1 installs a newer set of 6235 drivers as default and you can no longer return to the original old working default ones from Windows 8 now.

 

Even with the "good" driver from Win8 (which is my preferred one too) some of the other remedies listed in the thread linked by John are still important. Particularly the power profile tweaks, without which disconnects are almost guaranteed -- even with an otherwise good driver. So definitely make those tweaks if Win 8.1 now contains a newer (and poorer) driver.

 

How do you run it in compatibility mod? I have the same problem.

 

Well, that was an unpleasant experience.

The upgrade install using the Technet ISO went fine. I added an ei.cfg to the sources subfolder in the install directory so that Core Windows 8 would be installed and so I wouldn't be prompted for a serial at the outset. The install routine ran and the final boot into Windows 8.1 went wonderfully. At that point I uninstall Setting 2.1.09 and installed the one recommended for the NP94xxx. I rebooted and... black screen. When I moved my mouse/trackpad the cursor would appear then disappear. I rebooted into repair and restored back to the point prior to removing the settings app and installing the new one. Same problem - black screen.

I could have rebooted to safe mode and mucked around with display settings or display drivers but decided that it wasn't worth the time. I fortunately had made an Acronis backup prior to this adventure and am now in the midst of restoring.

Just FYI, the newer version of Settings permitted the function keys for the keyboard led's to function, but the screen brightness up/down keys were not functional.

I am going to put my faith in Samsung to provide whatever updates will be necessary for when Windows Update offers me 8.1 on October 18th (unless someone figures out a fool proof way of insuring that this will work). My guinea pig days are over.

 

Once I went with the default plain Win 8 driver I never had disconnects and didn't need to change power profile levels at all! Just a shame intel can't get their act together.

 

Could be that your version of Settings changes the power profiles as needed ( Samsung Optimized / Balanced and Power Saver, depending on Settings version). In any case is it too bad if WIn 8.1 now gives us a less stable WiFi driver.

But that said, I still would recommend that you check the other tweaks listed in the WiFi Remedies thread if you haven't already. It won't take you long, and it's what other Samsung users have found to be working (or helping). Remember, WiFi issues have been discussed here for years now, long before Win8.1 or even Win8.

 

Thought I would add that I made a second attempt last night at upgrading my 780Z5E and the black screen appears to be related to the switchable graphics not making the upgrade. Installing the newest Settings doesn't fix it and neither the intel graphics control panel nor the catalyst control panel are accessible/functional. I considered installing the 8.0 versions of both the intel drivers and amd drivers but it was getting late so I once again restored back to Windows 8 for work.

Anybody with the NP780/880 series that have the switchable graphics manage to upgrade to 8.1 successfully?

 

I'd try installing the 8.0 drivers - they should work that way. Just make sure any old remains are removed first then install AMD, then the Intel ones

 

Thanks Byron - that worked! I would advise those of you with this laptop to follow this order:

1. To prepare for the install, download the Intel display drivers and AMD drivers via SW Update (export) and save them to an external drive or your desktop. Also download the Settings app for the Samsung NP940xxx.

2. Create a file called ei.cfg with the following contents:

[EditionID]
Core
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

Save and place it in the Sources folder of the install iso.

2. Install 8.1 and you will not be badgered about a key - make sure you have your previous CD key (use keyfinder - aka magic jellybean keyfinder to get it).

3. After successfully installed, DON'T REBOOT FOR ANY REASON. First install the intel drivers and accept that you are installing an older driver. DON'T reboot. Then install the AMD drivers. DON'T reboot. Finally, uninstall the version of Settings you have and then install the Settings app that you downloaded for the NP940xxx.

4. Now you can reboot.

5. Tweak the wifi settings as per the wifi remedies thread.

6. Rejoice until you find some incompatibility I have yet to find.

Make sure you have cloned your system in case something screws up. Have fun!

 

I did it through the Control panel but I can't find the guide that I used. But this looks like another way of doing it:

Using Compatibility Mode in Windows 8.1 | Teching It Easy: with Windows

 

Is anyone know, when can we downloads new 8.1 drivers from SW update? I mean for everything, Chipset, GPU, wifi, touchpad, sound and etc.

 

I think for sure when 8.1 is released on Oct 18 -- because Samsung will be shipping laptops with it. Possibly a bit earlier.

 

How are we going to know the new drivers replaced the old ones? Unfortunately in SW Updates I cannot see any dates, just a version number. It is quite difficult memorizing the version numbers .

 

Win 8.1 is sufficiently different from Win8 that I hope Samsung will have a page similar to this from when Win8 came out.

Also, maybe they will give Win 8.1 its own category under Find Model in SW Update.

We may have to wait until October 18. There is nothing in 8.1 that I am desperate to get, so that would be OK for me. But for owners of the new AB9+ (who need improved display scaling) or anyone who need to do a clean install now, it is certainly frustrating.

 

I mentioned in the owner's lounge thread for the NP780Z5E that I restored back to Windows 8 (it gave me the chance to see that the recovery program works pretty well - I may uninstall acronis disk image now) because of driver flakiness. What I gained in 8.1 wasn't so awesome that I would miss it for the next month.

 

Hi, can i download drivers from SW update for a 900X4C and use it on a chronos 700z3c?

 

Only the drivers for what is the same hardware, such as the touchpad or the WiFi.

You would have a better chance of success using the drivers for the NP700Z4C or NP700Z5C which has more in common with the NP700Z3C.

I would point out that Samsung does not appear to be officially supporting Windows 8.1 on notebooks that originally shipped with Windows 7.

John