Samsung Series 7 Chronos and Series 9 laptops: We Are "Paying Beta Testers" Thread

[John Ratsey]

So I've now basically got a naffed up machine as I.... formatted the hard drive.

You even reformatted the recovery partition before creating recovery media? You can try pressing F4 (I think, but may be wrong) at the BIOS screen to see if Samsung Recovery Solution can help.

John

[yknyong1]

I collected a Series 9 from PC World yesterday and.... it hasn't gone well.

Anytime upgrade to Pro failed for some random 'this version cannot be updated' reason. I can't find the model on the Samsung UK web page, the US wifi drivers don't work (Intel/broadcom), the hardware id doesn't present anything nice and the full software suite isn't even available. Aggggggggghhhhhhhhhh.

So I've now basically got a naffed up machine as I.... formatted the hard drive.

Do you have a copy of the recovery CD? Samsung did include that on the Series 7, but I'm not sure about the S9.

[excalibur1814]

I do.... BUT... I simply need the drivers and I'll be on my way. The wi-fi being the one that I desperately need. I needed to wipe the recovery partition due to space requirements etc

The recovery DVD (Just like the 7 slate) will only return it to the default install WITHOUT drivers which is pretty much useless. (But I'll try that anyway just in case it's different on this machine)

I've been doing this for a LooOoooongg time and this is the first time that all the drivers are not available. I've always been able to clean format and move along.

SOlution:
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mo...01UK-downloads

Phew. Thanks all.

[yknyong1]

I do.... BUT... I simply need the drivers and I'll be on my way. The wi-fi being the one that I desperately need. I needed to wipe the recovery partition due to space requirements etc

The recovery DVD (Just like the 7 slate) will only return it to the default install WITHOUT drivers which is pretty much useless. (But I'll try that anyway just in case it's different on this machine)

I've been doing this for a LooOoooongg time and this is the first time that all the drivers are not available. I've always been able to clean format and move along.

Download the Wlan driver to a USB stick using another PC, then install on your S9. Next time you must remember to download the Wlan driver before reinstalling, because Win 7 does not have default Wlan drivers for most manufacturers.

EDIT: I do not know which wifi card your S9 has, so you have to find the correct manufacturer's driver. But I'm guessing it's Intel 6230N or 6300.
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/do...NP900X3A-A05US

[yknyong1]

4th DOA: RAM problem, BSOD, and AMD GPU dead (totally does not kick in). Verified by Samsung support. What a bummer.

[o0timbo0o]

I'm gonna lend my weight behind this thread , I'm on my second , the first went straight back with a screen issue. I've got a few too many issues with my current machine .. too many to be just annoyances. Yes the machines inability to render full screen HD content without dropping the res to 1200 beforehand is a big pain but schoolboy stuff like the spacebar not picking up inputs if you hit the spacebar a few degrees off center smacks of very little QC testing.

Just over a week in and now the right click needs pressing quite firmly to register and the major annoyance of losing my Fn + F keys for the second time without being able to get them back without reformatting is the final straw.

I noticed that John Lewis in the UK had a big push on the Chronos advertising it as a flagship model and offering 3 year warranties on it. Now it has totally disappeared from the site , stores and everywhere else. That speaks volumes in my mind.

Another thing i discovered while trying to fix the effin Fn+F issue was that it seems as if my NP700Z5A-S01uk had been upgraded !!
I enabled the devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices in device manager and discovered that it had previously a core i5 processor with a lower spec'd graphics card !!

Anyway , I'm about to call JL for a refund on this machine. It had great potential for being a fantastic machine but just too many flaws issues and non support. I don't hold out much hope but in for a penny and all that.

[yknyong1]

I'm gonna lend my weight behind this thread , I'm on my second , the first went straight back with a screen issue. I've got a few too many issues with my current machine .. too many to be just annoyances. Yes the machines inability to render full screen HD content without dropping the res to 1200 beforehand is a big pain but schoolboy stuff like the spacebar not picking up inputs if you hit the spacebar a few degrees off center smacks of very little QC testing.

Just over a week in and now the right click needs pressing quite firmly to register and the major annoyance of losing my Fn + F keys for the second time without being able to get them back without reformatting is the final straw.

I noticed that John Lewis in the UK had a big push on the Chronos advertising it as a flagship model and offering 3 year warranties on it. Now it has totally disappeared from the site , stores and everywhere else. That speaks volumes in my mind.

Another thing i discovered while trying to fix the effin Fn+F issue was that it seems as if my NP700Z5A-S01uk had been upgraded !!
I enabled the devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices in device manager and discovered that it had previously a core i5 processor with a lower spec'd graphics card !!

Anyway , I'm about to call JL for a refund on this machine. It had great potential for being a fantastic machine but just too many flaws issues and non support. I don't hold out much hope but in for a penny and all that.

The stock also ran out for Singapore's Distributor. Hmm big conspiracy? New models?

EDIT: How to enable devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices in device manager?

[yknyong1]

Dear Samsung... | Facebook

Dear Samsung Singapore

Open letter to Samsung

I am writing to inform you that my Samsung Series 7 Chronos NP700Z5A-S02SG, serial no HKY993NBA00007P is DOA again.

I brought the S7 down to your service centre at Toh Guan and your tech verified the issues. I am frustrated to to learn that my AMD GPU is dead and the RAM is faulty on my new set purchased on 10 Jan 2011 at Digtal Asia Funan unit 7. My previous three sets all had issues; DOA due to mainboard failure, DOA due to HDD not detected, and DOA due to comestic issues.

Please work with the distributor, SiS Technology, to obtain a replacement set for me ASAP, as the distro says that they have run out of stock and I will have to wait until after Chinese New Year for a replacement.

The serial number of the previous three, as the shop would have recorded are as follows:
HKY993NBA00001
HKY993NBB00031
HKY993NBB00070

Other users have reported similar issues on this line of Series 7 Chronos
Hello Samsung. I... | Facebook

Also noted are issues with OpenGL support.
Samsung Series 7 Chronos Np700z Campaign for 'fixed' BIOS From Samsung - Info | Facebook

It is detailed in the following forum post:
Series 7 Chronos All Models: Push for SAMSUNG to implement "FIXED MODE" in BIOS

"The Samsung Series 7 Chronos (NP700Z5A) uses AMD Dynamic Graphics automatic switching method.

However, due to this specific graphics switching method, OpenGL games and benchmarks cannot work. One example would be RAGE by ID who has always used openGL to make their games. OpenGL however is much more common in productivity software such as photoshop, solidworks, etc. So the lack of OpenGL support due to AMD Dynamic graphics switching pretty much cripples the Samsung Series 7 Chronos.

I am still a current owner of the HP ENVY 14 laptop. When it first launched, it also utilised the AMD Dynamic automatic switching method, which resulted in users complaining the lack of OpenGL support. The issue was resolved by HP releasing a new BIOS that added a new option for manual switching. The manual switching is the old type of switchable graphics where the screen would go blank for a few seconds while switching.

Since the manual switchable graphics is a fix for OpenGL support, we would like Samsung to work on and implement the manual switching option in the BIOS like HP did.

Some links from HP that would educate you further on the fix:
Official HP statement on Switchable Graphics and Open GL Fun... - HP Support Forum
HP Communities - On OpenGL and Switchable Graphics - HP Communities
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2055821"

Also, other users have complained of the same OpenGL issue.
Wall Photos | Facebook

"This is the 15.6" Samsung Series 7 Chronos NP700Z5A-S02SG that's sold in Singapore.

However all these NP700Z series models have an inherent defect - that is, no manual switchable graphics option. These models employ the AMD automatic switching which fails to switch to the correct AMD discrete card in many situations - OpenGL games, programmes like Adobe After Effects.

It is noteworthy that 65 owners in the NBR community alone have already polled for SAMSUNG to implement a fix, and of the 65, 34 have indicated that they will consider a refund if SAMSUNG chooses to ignore them.
If Samsung would take note and start an investigation on fixing this issue, many more like me would gladly purchase one.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/630666-series-7-chronos-all-models-push-samsung-implement-fixed-mode-bios.html"

Please also forward this email to Samsung for the OpenGL issue to be recorded and for investigation to start. I will accept only one more replacement and if it is DOA again, Digital Asia with Samsung will have to bear the cost of refund for my unit.

Thank you.

Regards
Yong

[alexyfoot]

What issues would a user with Intel HD graphics likely experience? Obviously the OpenGL is AMD/Intel interface so that goes away. Is the Flash issue down to AMD drivers too? I mean, are there any other serious recurring issues that an Intel HD-only user would experience? You mention WiFi, but what exactly is the issue? Trackpad?

Thanks.

[o0timbo0o]

How to enable devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices in device manager?

2 ways
way 1) Start>run > set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 , then go to dev manager and view>show hidden devices ( i think that just stays till you reboot ( i could be wrong)

Way 2 , definitely permanent untill you delete the key) Start>Control panel > system >advanced settings settings > environmental variables> In 'user variables' click 'new' .
'Variable name' devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices
'Variable Value' 1

then close and open device manager and select view>show hidden devices