Windows 8.1 Update Issues and Discussion

For those who updated to Win 8.1 and get a black screen on startup, this worked for me....

1) shut down
2) hit F8 during bios startup
3) work your way through the windows advanced menus (forget the exact path), and startup in safe-mode with network
4) download and install intel graphics drivers, 2nd last ed. 15.31.xxxxx

this worked for me.
I also installed the beta AMD 8800M drivers, and the system still boots OK.

I'm currently ignoring the latest intel graphics drivers that popup in windows update.

 

Didn't see this thread, updated to 8.1. Everything seemed to load OK, except that occasionally my screen would flicker black and when it came back to normal a second later, all my windows would be moved around (as if the screen resolution had changed). Also, some windows had their control bar black (making them impossible to close, minimize, or maximize). I thought this was odd and decided to run SW Update, which bade me to restart...and then I ran into that nasty black screen + blinking cursor bug. Rolling back the 4000HD driver from safe mode left me where I was before, with the blinking screen.

Nuking Intel's graphics drivers altogether from Control Panel seems to have fixed that particular issue, but now I don't have control over my screen brightness - the various sliders slide, but brightness doesn't change. Is there some way to get that back with currently available drivers, or will I have to roll back to Windows 8? And if so, how? I foolishly did not back up.

 

What I did to get brightness control back:

1. Control Panel, Uninstall AMD Catalyst , Control Installer, Selext Express Uninstall ALL Amd Software, Wait for it to finish, Then reboot.

2. Do the same for the Intel HD4000 software, Also go to Device Manager and Uninstall the HD4000 driver there also. Then Reboot

3. When you reboot windows should install the default HD4000 Driver. When it does, reboot.

4. Run Windows Update and get the Latest HD4000 driver from microsoft, then reboot.

5. You should now have brightness control back., now you can go get the latest AMD beta driver 13.11

 

Would it be possible to test Windows 8.1 and Samsung's drivers in a Virtual Machine? Luckily for me I was having trouble getting the 8.1 update before I found this thread and I haven't busted my Series 7.

 

Unfortunately, the newest HD4000 driver IS the problem that causes the flickering black screen, so that doesn't work. I rolled back to the generic Microsoft driver which at least lets me use the slider in power management settings, if not the hardware buttons.

 

Can anyone here help me get this Samsung NP700Z5C-S02UB to either boot with DVD or USB .. It keep ignoring and I cannot find in the bios to force it to boot from the DVD or USB

 

You have to disable fast boot I believe. Save and restart. Go back into the BIOS, then you should see boot options.

 

Hrmm did not see Fast Boot anywhere in bios .. I will go look again. Thank you


Bill

 

Finally got it to boot up back to my Windows Desktop, but it running and loading application very slow

CPU about 40% but HHD is running at 100%

Any idea what causing this slow speed? I am doing a disk scan now


bill

 

I managed to fix it all now ... Recovery "F4" was able to repair my boot master successfully then when it booted up it start to run very slowly.

I checked over the settings in Windows 8 then I caught that the video driver for nvidia would not load at boot up. I downloaded the newest nvidia driver and now it running fast again and the CPU dropped down to about 2% and HDD dropped down about 1%

Look like it working again but I am glad I didn't lose anything this time and still all my data are still there. I don't know why did Window 8.1 update corrupted my MBR or SecureBoot in the first place.

Bill

 

I have the brazilian edition of Ativ Book 6 (670Z5E-XD1BR). After upgrading to Windows 8.1 I went through all that damn black blank screen with flickering mouse cursor, but managed to get rid of it after rolling back Intel graphics driver to an older version (9.17.xxx I think).

But I noticed that SW Update doesn't show all my softwares! I updated it to 21.1.19.0, but nothing changes! It only shows:

• Quick Starter
• SW Update
• Allshare play
• Support Center
• Recovery
• Help Desk
• Side Sync

There's no BIOS info, nor Graphic Card or wifi drivers...

I chosed "Windows Blue" as my OS, btw. I understand that there may be no updates for all that stuff yet, but I think it was supposed to show them anyway!

Any help?

 

Same here ... Mine only showing

Quick Starter
Allshare play
SW Update
System BIOS Update
Recovery
Online Chat Consultation Service


I was wondering what happened to all the other software in the SW Update and I thought maybe I was the only one who had this.


Bill

 

Welp .......

Even I managed to recover my Windows back again but the boot up time in 8.1 is a lot lot lot worse than Windows 8. It take about at least 10 minutes to completely boot up and for the harddrive to stop going crazy and for my laptop to run fast again.

I already did a scan disk and it claimed to find no errors in it.

I wondered if something in Windows 8.1 broke the Fast Boot feature or is Fast Boot feature a driver controlled? So Samsung probably need to release a new driver for Fast Boot?

10 minutes is too long to wait for a complete boot up.

Bill

 

hello everyone my laptop is samsung ativ book 7 NP740U3E touchscreen version and the store is when i finished the download of windows 8.1 in STORE and restart my PC , there's a message that i failed to update to windows 8.1 with error code 0xC1900101-0x30018 and after that my laptop is restored to the previous version. My question is how to solve this problem and update to windows 8.1 successfuly? and what should i do? i have tried some ways including updating all of my drivers, all of windows 8 update, but the result is the same , i have tried this for 6 times and all of them leaves the same error code.... help me

 

From my experience on my NP740U3E-S04UK, installing Windows 8.1 creates a completely black screen that renders the computer unusable. Worse it appears that a simple uninstalling/roll-back of Windows 8.1 is impossible. I tried F8 (Control/F8?) during boot, then "Refresh" but although this got me back to Windows 8.0, I lost all my software installations and settings.

In the end I was forced to recover using a disk image that I had luckily made a couple of days ago (using Macrium Refect Free, and external CD/DVD drive and a 1GB external Zip hard disk).

In case anyone needs it, hold down Fn and then hit F2 during boot in order to open the BIOS.

In order to boot from an external CD/DVD you need to change these settings in BIOS:

Advanced ==> Fast Bios Mode set to off
Then: Boot device chanced to my external CD/DVD and it *immediately* boots off the Rescue CD I had put in the external CD/DVD drive.

Phew!

 

I received a new update to SW Update today - SW Update Patch, 854kb. I'm using NP370R5E-S01EE model (Estonian version). But when trying to install the Update I get 'Update Failed(-10)' error. Don't know what to think about that...

 

i feel lucky that i failed to update to windows 8.1 because of the error and managed to restored back to windows 8 safely without any lost..... hmmm maybe i should wait samsung update for windows 8.1, i hope that SW update provide the windows 8.1 so that i don't need to update from the microsoft store....

 

Since august 29 RTM release, Samsung had so much time to shape out bugs for start and I wonder what do they have done until now? I'm really disappointed of Samsung

 

8.1 has ruined my laptop. I have the Series 7 Chronos (780Z5E)

I can no longer control my screens brightness - it either boots up at full brightness, or at the lowest setting (which is probably the worst).
When I close the lid, nothing happens. It no longer goes into sleep mode.
If I leave it idle for a while, instead of going into 'sleep' state, it shuts itself down.
My AMD drivers don't work either.

If anyone knows how I can resolve these issues, I'll forever be i your debt.

Thanks

 

I agree, it is very disappointing. In the opening post I mentioned my thoughts on what may have caused the delay, but of course we will never know for sure. Even though I could easily entertain that discussion myself, I prefer if we don't get too carried away in this thread speculating about the why's or venting our frustrations. I am still hoping that we can keep this thread to a manageable size, so that new participants will actually read it (or at least skim it) before upgrading.

But don't get me wrong, I am with you entirely.

So many good tips have been posted here since my last update of the opening post yesterday. It's a busy weekend for me, but if I can find the time, I'll add some more updates, probably tomorrow.

I would like to stress (again) the importance of making backups before attempting the upgrade. Owners of laptops delivered with Win8 have Samsung Recovery Solution 6, which allows them to create a standalone, bootable factory image backup on a USB stick, or system state backup on an external drive. The USB stick can be used to re-image the drive, no matter how messed up it becomes.

Even those who already performed the upgrade -- and survived -- should consider making this backup while they can. Since Microsoft has stated that 8.1 clean install ISOs will NOT be available to consumers (only to Enterprise) that means future 8.1 installations have to start with a Win8 installation. I'd say such a "Recovery on a stick" containing the Win8 factory image, is a very attractive tool for anyone who doesn't have other Win8 install media.

 

This. I make a complete system image in case the worse happens, that way it will just be like it was when it was working. Unfortunately Microsoft have removed the UI way of doing the backup in windows 8.1, so if anyone does want to do a backup they have to use an elevated command prompt and use WBADMIN, (or third parties like macrium) I did this last night, and restored the image (just for testing purposes) and it worked fine, although I was sweating for a bit...

I have everything running fine, although the Fan goes mental at times, which it didn't do before.

 

Just some of my thoughts to this matter:

First is the graphic driver. To those of you who has the newest HD 8000M or HD 7000M, there are two options that might help you to fix the black screen or anything related to the driver. Because those cards have a completely different switching mechanic - Enduro - than the old generation HD 6000M with PowerExpress, you can actually install separate driver for each card in this system. As been said, currently, AMD only provided Catalyst 13.9 WHQL, but you could try the beta 13.11. For Intel, the working driver with 8.1 should be their preview driver, version 15.33.3282 (Note: After installing the driver, the driver's version is different as it is 10.18.10.3282). But in case that this does not work, then you could try to download Leshcat's driver or LeeKM's driver. However, be careful with this because the Intel component on those two are actually lower than the preview from Intel. If both of them are not possible, then I suggest revert back to 8 and wait for Samsung to release official driver, especially for those that have HD 6000M version from the 2012 Series 7 Chronos.

Second is the backup. You can actually use System Restore to backup before installing the driver. Or if you prefer, then you can actually use the same old method to refresh and reinstall Windows. It is not in the General tab on 8.1, but it is in the Update & Recovery. For backup, you can search for Recovery and select the Create the Recovery Key. On the matter that Microsoft would not provide us the ISO for 8.1, you can google the leak RTM. It is basically the same thing. The different is you have to download 3 more Windows Update from the internet called the GA Rollup to actually be official GA version of 8.1.

I currently don't have my 2012 Series 7 to test those because it is in service, should be returned to me by next week. Hopefully, by that time, Samsung would actually release those drivers for all of us.

 

Can you go into a little more detail about this? Intel's website is not very good about telling me which driver is which, and I've never heard of Leshkat or LeeKM.

 

Well, I managed to do download an 8.1 iso following instructions from
How to download the Windows 8.1 ISO

Though I haven't tested it yet, also waiting for official drivers from Samsung.

One observation though is that in SW Update you can choose from Win 7, Win 8 and Win Blue
but no 8.1 drivers (yet).

Per

 

Go here

Code:

https://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-21232

for more info on the Intel. About the other, just google it and you could find Leshcat on his official site or LeeKM from Guru3D. Leshcat was famous for his custom AMD graphic that built for switchable graphic. LeeKM created a fix for PowerExpress/Enduro (as I said before).

Note: Both those custom drivers are not signed, which means that you have to turn on TESTSIGNING ON or equivalent to TEST MODE to be able to run those drivers.

Windows Blue is actually 8.1. It was a codename at MS.

 

Uninstall the AMD drivers - then install the latest AMD Mobility beta - 13.11 beta 1. Should restore your brightness settings.

 

I'm unable to install beta 13.11 because I have switchable graphics. How do I bypass this?

 

i think its the same for everyone. When installing the catalyst, there is no driver shown... WIndows either does not recognize, or does not allow. Some people speculated that it could be related to digital signing or somthing, and the only solution i found, is to uninstall amd, then use ccleaner to completely remove any registry entries about amd, restart, and only then try to install AMD. i have not tried it. as i can live for the moment with hd4000, i am still waiting for samsung's official fix. (i have hd8750m).

 

In my SW Update I see only Win 7 and 8. No blue nor 8.1
SW Update version 2.1.19
Serie 9 NP900X4C-A01IT italian

 

Firstly, big thanks to everyone for their tips. I managed to successfully 'fix' my ultrabook using the guidance here (ie. boot into safe mode, disable the Intel driver, download and reinstall both the Intel and AMD drivers). This was way more helpful than the Microsoft support guy who promised to call me back but never did.

Now I have some questions:

• Device Manager now reports an unknown device. How do I figure out what it is?
• I see some comments about the ATI graphics not working. How do I tell? Previously I could never tell if the graphics were working anyway, there was no visible indication. The only game I play is FSX but it seemed to play quite nicely.
• Should I have a go at running the Samsung software updates?

This so-called 'free upgrade' has really shaken my confidence. I'm due to travel this week for work and really need my ultrabook - I'm scared about making any changes that will break it again.

As I say, many thanks everyone.

 

Also, can someone post the instructions to create a recovery disk on a USB drive (sorry, my technical language might not be great).

I think this is great advice, but I have no idea how to do it and can't find a Samsung tool to assist.

 

• Is there no name or anything in its Properties that might tell you what it is? What category is it under? Can you try and get Windows to find drivers for it?
• Download a benchmarking utility, any one will do. The HD4000 is a decent card, so an undemanding game will run fine on it.
• There's nothing available for Windows 8.1 yet.
  

 

I also play FSX. FSX Does not like Windows 8.1 or the current AMD Driver at all. I cant find the 13.4 driver to try that, but i have tried 13.9 and 13.11 and it CTD's everytime i go to the menu in game.

 

That Intel driver causes the black screen error on my Chronos. I will try one of the custom drivers instead. Will they work fine with 8.1?

Edit: Okay, something's definitely wrong. The Intel driver keeps reappearing (and re-screwing everything up) even after total removal with Driver Fusion like UniL suggests. What's going on here?

Edit 2: Ok, I have the 10.18.10.3282 driver installed now without it screwing anything up, and Radeon driver 13.200.16.0 but brightness still doesn't work.

 

Check the first two steps in this guide. That will create a bootable factory image backup on a USB stick so you can always get back to factory state. Most models need a 32GB stick. This feature is only available on models delivered with Win8.

Older Win7 models (using Samsung Recovery Solution 5) have a more complex backup procedure. Check this post for overview and this post for details.

 

Hello everybody!

I just clean installed Win 8.1 pro to my NP700Z5A , with amd 6750m.

With current v9.2 drivers, I have following issues:



The amd driver crashes at startup and whenever I launch catalyst center. Also gpu-z shows the message above when launched.

Is there any specific method of installing drivers so it works, or win 8.1 is not/will not be supported by my laptop?

Has anybody with same laptop installed win 8.1 ?

Thanks!

 

Brightness control is depending on the Setting application as well as the Intel driver. If the Intel driver is running fine, then you have to wait until Samsung release new Setting application.

Mine is the same laptop, from 2012. The current 9.002 from Samsung does not work on 8.1. You have to find the custom built from Leshcat or LeeKM like I said in my previous post. Of course this laptop is supported, but Samsung have to release the correct drivers.

One thing that I notice about the current graphic from Samsung is that it is really suck on Windows 8, not mention might be 8.1 too. They release only 1 version for the 2012 models, 1 version for 2013 models, then no update after that. For the 2012 models, you cannot install separate AMD and Intel drivers from their website because the drivers installation don't permit that. However, for the newest 2013 models, you can actually install both of them without any problem. I wish they could just take the drivers from Leshcat or LeeKM and release it with their tweak. I tried them both before my machine went to service, and the result are much better. Like in the case of GPU-Z, if you have Windows 8 and you only install the one from Samsung, open GPU-Z will tell you that it could not detect the Open-GL no matter what settings are on the switchable panel. But the custom drivers are actually work.

 

At the times that I didn't have the Intel driver installed at all (the generic Microsoft driver from 2006 was doing the work) brightness control at least worked with the slider in power management. Seems a bit odd that it would need the Setting app to do it.

 

Settings is only needed to adjust brightness with Fn-keys and within the Settings Control Center. But it relies on the display driver to actually change the brightness. So if the Windows Power Management slider doesn't work, Settings wont work either. OTOH, if Settings is broken, adjusting brightness with Fn-keys won't work -- even if it works with the Windows slider.

 

I'm just having difficulty understanding how having no driver could be more functional than having a driver, even if the driver is garbage.

I'm guessing Settings isn't to blame here, since Fn+F2 and F3 produces the little box in the top left corner reliably.

 

What is interesting though, I had nearly no issues with Win 8 and 9.002 driver. In 8.1, besides the errors I mentioned in my earlier post, It works somehow functional (Photoshop detects the AMD graphics card but without OpenCL) with no brightness issues. I will give a try to one of custom drivers. But I heard they keep the fans on constantly, is that right?

 

Thanks.

No, it just says "Other devices" and Windows can't find a driver for it. I think I've pretty much tested everything that has even connected to the laptop (eg. all my USB devices, bluetooth, SD card).

I will try to track one down. Never used a benchmarking utility before but I assume it will be easy enough.

I take it that the hotkey functionality is part of a Samsung driver? I notice that the screen dimming hotkeys aren't working anymore aren't working any more, although the other hotkeys are working.

 

I've just started testing FSX having read your comment. I don't get a crash every time but I do get some crashes when trying to change settings through the menu. I assume this is linked to the whole graphics drivers issues?

[EDIT]. I have discovered that once I am in a flight, selecting many options from the menu results in a crash. I haven't tested them all, but anything from the Aircraft or World menus will create a crash to desktop

 

Can I just check something? Following instructions found here and elsewhere on the net, I've got my laptop working with the following graphics drivers:

- Intel HD4000: 10.18.10.3316
- AMD Radeon HD 8500M/8700M: 13.200.16.0

Are these the best ones to use based on current knowledge?

 

For some reason, I don't have the Samsung Recovery Software on my laptop. Is it possible to download it from somewhere? I've tried to search on the Samsung Australia site.

Sorry about bombarding you all with questions, but thanks for all of the great knowledge and tips.

 

How did you install the latest AMD driver? It won't let me install it.

 

After I had successfully booted into Windows Safe Mode, I downloaded the driver from AMD. The funny thing is that I downloaded the driver called 3.11 Beta (just checked my downloads and the file is called "amd_catalyst_13.11_mobility_betav1.exe") and I could install straight from that.

Sorry, I can't really offer much more. I was reading lots of forum posts on my iPad and finally managed to get this to work.

 

I'll note it here and in the NP940X3G owners thread: I've just used SW Update to check for new drivers and there seems to be a full set for Windows Blue for the NP940X3G-K06DE (ie Germany).

That model is evidently a new one as the only Windows option is Blue and a quick comparison of version numbers shows that many have higher numbers.

So maybe these will get the NP940X3G working better with Windows 8.1.

It is also possible some of the drivers / software (eg touchpad and Settings) will work better with 8.1 on other models as well.

John

 

On my Samsung 700Z5A (i5 2450M with HD6750M) everything was working correctly except the AMD graphics card. I installed driver from W8, but the card didnt work. Later I found it only works with OpenGL games, everytime I tried to run a DirectX game, core usage on radeon was at 0 % and game crashed, even dxdiag crashed. Everything is working fine with the Intel HD3000 card. So they either make a dirver update or I'll have to stick with Windows 8. Hopefuly I still have W7 installed, but W8 is so better.

 

As many of you have already reported i too have issues with my samsung 9 series NP900X3D-A01SE after updating to 8.1

My screen resolution is completely messed up! Even though it states that its currently running on 1600x900 my desktop icons are LARGE and the general resoltion reminds me of something from 1990's.

I have downloaded the latest SW Update, but there are absolutely no usefull updates (only some crapware from Samsung). I have also checked for updates for my Intel HD4000, but this is also completely up to date.

I have read through this thread but i have not registered any with the same issues?

Im really really sick of Samsung not doing anything about this (and the well known WIFI issues). I feel stupid for paying $1700 for non existing customer service and useless updates.

I really hope someone can help me. Thank you.