VBIOS "Not Av"ailable?!

Hi,
I apologize if this is the wrong place to post this, but I am not sure where else to post this other than in software, so here it is. My G73SW has been having problems with what seems to be the graphics card and I noticed in BIOS that it says the VBIOS Version number and then to the right it says "Not Av". I am attaching a photo of it.

Now, my computer has been restarting by itself, but not overheating, it's also been giving me this green screen with horizontal stripes. It sometimes does this right after booting, sometimes during gameplay and sometimes when I'm just surfing the web. An image of my green screen of death issue is attached as well, since I believe it may be related to the VBIOS (a software issue, hopefully).

My question is whether or not this could be related to the VBIOS "Not Av". If so, how can I fix this problem?

Thank you in advance,
M

 

I can't say definitively whether the problem is traceable to the vBIOS, but I'm pretty sure your GPU is failing from a hardware level, not a software level (which could explain vBIOS errors being reported). I'm guessing that second image with the green and white striping is not the video cable; does it come and go if you pivot the screen?

 

Thank you for taking the time to look over my thread and post a reply.

When I move the screen forward/backwards, and twist it, nothing happens when it shows this screen. I suppected a bad cable at first as well. I am afraid it is the GPU that is going bad as well.

My only other question at this point in time is how do I fix the VBIOS? I have flashed and reinstalled the G73SW205 BIOS, but it still shows "Not Av" (as seen in the attached photo) after the VBIOS version number where a properly functioning G73SW shows .N41G73


For Example: "VBIOS: 70.06.25.00.09.N41G73" - Without the quotes, of course

I am sincerely hoping that this is not a hardware problem and that I only need to fix the VBIOS.

Thanks again, I sincerely appreciate your effort to help in this matter.

M.

 

If you are under warranty I would send it in. If out of warranty try to flash the stock VBIOS (NOTE if not done properly this could brick your computer) http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...lting-vbios-gtx460m-g73sw-41.html#post9051708

I asked one of the SW Vbios experts to look at your issue also.

 

If it's stock vBIOS and you never attempted to mod it, then it's extremely rare - almost to the point of impossible, even - for you to have accidentally damaged it. Flashing the system BIOS generally does not [directly] affect the vBIOS - but since you brought that up, let me ask: did you see this issue with the vBIOS shortly after flashing your system BIOS? And to build upon that (especially if the answer is no): what were you doing last/most recent to this problem?

 

I did not touch the BIOS or anything before having this problem. I only flashed the BIOS in an attempt to fix this problem. Also, this computer now freezes sometimes while in BIOS, though I have never gotten the black or green screen while in BIOS. Could this possibly be a software problem? Has anyone ever seen or heard of this problem happening? I am not making this stuff up and I am telling you exactly how it happened. I am returning it to the seller now for either an exchange or a refund, but I still want to know what happened.

I did absolutely nothing to the BIOS before having this problem. I did buy this computer used though. My problems started gradually with temporary freezes, then hard lockups, then black screens where I could still hear background sounds (I plugged in a device or whatever), then one day it gave me the green screen after the black screen. I contacted the person I bought it from and he sent me some kind of repair disk, not a normal windows repair. I popped it in and let it do its thing and immediately after it was done it went to the green striped screen. The screen looks exactly the same every time, except sometimes the stripes are black and sometimes white.

Also, this is the 460m 1GB version GPU.

Thank you for your time and effort in helping me figure this out.

 

It sounds like hardware problem as it freezes even in BIOS. And about that "Not av" thing, haven't seen that before but I'm guessing the vbios on your card is probably the one for 1.5gb version as G73SW's vbios comes with the bios and the seller probably downloaded the bios from Asus site and flashed it. If you look into the BIOS for G73/74/75 you'll discover that every one of their BIOS contains a VBIOS (2 VBIOS for G75). Was the "Not av" there in the BIOS menu when you first got your G73SW?

 

I don't remember if the VBIOS problem was there or not when I first got it. It wasn't until I started having problems with the computer that I considered it was potentially a BIOS problem. That is when I noticed the "Not Av" after the VBIOS version number. The reason I tried flashing it was because I though it might fix that. I am not very knowledgeable about computers other than a little programming and software experience.

 

Let me rephrase that; I did not notice whether or not the VBIOS problem was there when I first got it the PC. When I first got it, I ran just about every hardware diagnostic program needed to make sure everything was fine and it all came up clean. The tests I ran include: Memtest86 (on each RAM module), OCCT (with error check on), the intel diagnostics, and windows diagnostics (sfc /scannow through the cmd prompt).

However, once it started having problems, it would crash while running OCCT after about 35 minutes, with the GPU temp at 76C-78C. I have never attempted to overclock this device. It would also crash during the one game I play, Starcraft II, but the temps would never get above 79C.

How can I possibly fix the VBIOS and where can I find the proper VBIOS for this computer with the 1GB version of the 460m?

Thank you again for your time and help!

M.

 

Let me rephrase that; I did not notice whether or not the VBIOS problem was there when I first got it the PC. When I first got it, I ran just about every hardware diagnostic program needed to make sure everything was fine and it all came up clean. The tests I ran include: Memtest86 (on each RAM module), OCCT (with error check on), the intel diagnostics, and windows diagnostics (sfc /scannow through the cmd prompt).

However, once it started having problems, it would crash while running OCCT after about 35 minutes, with the GPU temp at 76C-78C. I have never attempted to overclock this device. It would also crash during the one game I play, Starcraft II, but the temps would never get above 79C.

-_-_-_-_-_-_- My biggest question that I would like help with at this point is as follows -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

How can I possibly fix the VBIOS and where can I find the proper VBIOS for this computer with the 1GB version of the 460m?

Voltage fluctations...
Also, I feel like my GPU is possibly either not getting enough power or getting too much power. Just now after the 5th fresh install of windows, I have my laptop running (though it is freezing every 20 minutes requiring a hard reboot) and ran OCCT again and it locked up at 1,396 seconds while at 16.75 volts and the "TMPINO" was at 79C while all four of the cpu cores were 65C and below. When the test began, it was at 16.30 volts. This makes me feel like this is a voltage issue, nothing more.
Is it normal for the voltage to fluctuate like that during this test?

Thank you again for your time and help!

M.

 

How often do you run OCCT? Too much stress testing could kill a GPU sometimes. And shouldn't the voltage be at 0.9125v (0.92v) and idles at 0.8125v if you didn't overvolt it or anything? I'm pretty sure that's the stock 3D voltage for an Asus GTX 460M unless the OCCT is reading it wrong. What does GPU-Z report the voltage as?

And for that 1GB 460M VBIOS, you might need to find someone that bought the Bestbuy version of the G73SW with the 1gb 460M and see if they can dump their vbios for you, but it seems pretty rare.

 

I only ran OCCT five times and never for more than 45 minutes at a time. The temps also never got above 79C for the GPU and 64C for the CPU, so I don't think it would have done any damage. I only ran OCCT as a way to check for GPU errors when the computer started acting up. As rare or near impossible as it may be, I feel that the VBIOS somehow got messed up, perhaps it's because of a faulty GPU, I really don't know, but I never messed with the VBIOS, I don't even know how. I also never did anything majorly stressful to this computer and I treated it nicely. I bought it used and I'm guessing the original owner beat it up pretty good and then dumped it, I got a suspiciously good deal on it. I bought it off Ebay ( I know, probably a mistake), but at least I'm getting my money back for it.

I should probably open a new thred for the following, but, my final questions are:

Are G73's too old to waste my time with now?

Is $700 enough to buy a descent used or refurb laptop or should I save up?

 

Congrats on getting a refund.. If you are not running the lastest high spec games at full HD resolution the G73 line is certainly useable. As you have found not everyone babies theirs, personally I would only buy new unless you are good at or "enjoy" disassembly, and troubleshooting software issues.
If you are willing to go down to 15" screen this seems to be a good deal Gaming Laptops - GenTech PC - Gaming Notebooks - Custom Laptops - Custom Notebooks - Sager NP9130 (Clevo P151EM1) w/nVidia GTX670M
I know I would never buy another ASUS (battery gives 30 minutes life, and display needs to be replaced after 2 years) and for me Clevo seems to provide the best value in gaming laptops.

 

Thank you again to everyone who has help with this, even though I am returning it, it's still driving me nuts and I sincerely appreciate all of the time and thought you have given to this matter.

JOSEA: Thanks for the link and for the info, that's a great deal indeed! I only wish I could afford it. I'm looking for something around $650-$700, that's why I am considering a used machine. Perhaps I should save up, but I need this computer asap for the photo/video edit work I do. My desktop is super outdated and just does not cut it anymore. I thought I was done with this, but....

I decided to run GPU-Z, and it froze a second after I opened it, so I took a photo of the screen since I couldnt do a screen capture (photo attached). Also, for whatever reason, the computer seems to run best when it hasn't been used for a day or so. What is weird to me though is that temps would be the first assumption, yet the temps never get high enough to cause any need for alarm. Another thing I find interesting is how much thermal paste was used (photo attached), it's kinda crazy to me actually... Is this normal? I'm starting to think this model was poorly refurbished rather than simply "used, but in perfect condition" as I bought it.

What can you make of this, if anything? I'm referring mostly to the GPU-Z results. The VBIOS does not seem right compared to others, and why is there a question mark to the right of the Bus interface reading?​

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That's really for you to decide, regarding the G73. Since from what I've seen, they only use Nehalem or Sandy Bridge CPUs, you are anywhere from one to two generations outdated currently - and with Haswell on the way, you're looking to be further outdated (but certainly no antiquated).

As for the $700 price point, you could get something good - and brand new - for just under or right around that in a Clevo or MSI machine. But naturally, you could get something used or refurbished that may have better specs for up to that price as well, and then it's not as relevant as to which brand you go with.