Computers & Networking

[Lively]

I wanted to post this here as I have learned this Laptop was only available from Best Buy and servicable by them.

Here is a copy of posts on ASUS' forum:

Posted:4/4/2010 7:19:00 AM # 1

What, where, how do I find out what our K60IJ Notebook has for a wireless adapter?????? I am trying to find out why this wireless connection is dropping 100's of times in a day. We have two separate wireless routers in the home with N and G capability. It does not matter which router we connect this notebook to and the connections constantly drop. We also have an Acer and a Toshiba notebooks connecting without any problems at all. It also does not matter if we have all 5 bars of connection strength or less. The Asus notebook fails to stay connected. I service PC's, Laptops, networks and much more for over 15 years now and I for the life of me have never been so confused trying to resolve this problem or even documentation on the hardware. In the device manager is listed "Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter" with a driver version of 8.0.0.238 dated 10/5/2009 When looking for an updated driver for the wireless I see it has "6" files listed under it and not one matching the above AR9285:  Version V3.0.14       Description     ASUS Wireless Switch (Wireless Console3) Utility ASUS Wireless Switch (Wireless Console3) Utility for XP32 VISTA WIN7 File Size     1.21 (MBytes)     2009/12/23 update Download from     Global (DLM) Global China P2P                 Version V8.0.0.238       Description     AW-NE771 Wireless Lan Driver and Application AW-NE771 Wireless Lan Driver and Application for Win7 64 bit File Size     664.11 (KBytes)     2009/12/23 update Download from     Global (DLM) Global China P2P                  Version V3.0.7.1       Description     Azurewave NE762 Wireless LAN Driver Azurewave NE762 Wireless LAN Driver for WIN7 64 bit File Size     633.68 (KBytes)     2009/12/23 update Download from     Global (DLM) Global China P2P                  Version V8.0.0.238       Description     Azurewave Wireless Lan Driver and Application Azurewave Wireless Lan Driver and Application for Win7 64 bit (Please first install the Wireless Console Utility before this driver installation) File Size     664.1 (KBytes)     2009/10/23 update Download from     Global (DLM) Global China P2P              Version V8.0.0.144       Description     AW-NE771 Wireless Lan Driver and Application AW-NE771 Wireless Lan Driver and Application for Win7 (Please first install the Wireless Console Utility before this driver installation) File Size     21.15 (MBytes)     2009/09/02 update Download from     Global (DLM) Global China P2P                Version V8.0.0.144       Description     AW-NE785 Wireless Lan Driver and Application AW-NE785 Wireless Lan Driver and Application for Win7 (Please first install the Wireless Console Utility before this driver installation) File Size     21.15 (MBytes)     2009/09/02 update Download from     Global (DLM) Global China P2P So where do I begin? Posted:4/7/2010 10:01:00 PM # 2 I opened a case 4/4/2010 about the above issue and on 4/7/2010 I got this reply (I am not sure if this is a quick or slow time to respond - in my eyes EXTREMELY SLOW) [Product Information] *Product Type : Notebook *Product Model : K60IJ *Product S/N : xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Place of Purchase : Best Buy *Date of Purchase : 2010/2/10 *Operating System : Windows 7 64bit                 [Problem Description] Wireless connection constantly dropping. We have tried this on multiple wireless routers and have another laptop in the same location at the same time that never drops the connection. "Dear Valued Customer, Thank you for contacting ASUS Customer Service. For your problem, please click Device Manager-->Network adapters-->wireless card-->Advanced-->802.11n channel, then choose Auto and enable the 802.11n mode here. On you router, please make sure to enable the 802.11N and set the bandwidth to 40mhz. Please also keep the environment around the WLAN Card away from microwave ovens and large metal objects. Such as microwaves, cordless phones, refrigerators, etc. try to change the wireless channel, for example if your neighbour use channel 1, please try channel 6 or 11." Checking the above recommended K60IJ settings: (one thing I have learned helping novice to experienced people with computer problems. NEVER assume the can maneuver through the computer without the directions stating EXACTLY what the screens will look like and the words they will see, or better still, give screen shots, or you WILL be getting another call for help.) Clicking (Windows 7 - information was given as OS to ASUS) Device Manager-->Network Adapters-->Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter-->Advanced (tab)--> The following properties are available for this network adapter. Click the property you want to change on the left, and then select its value on the right. Property:                                    Value: 802.11b Preamble                   Long and Short or Long only AdHoc 11n                                  Disable or Enable Network Address                    Not Present or (select radio button and input value) Receive Buffers                        256 or increase or decrease vale with arrows Scan Valid Interval                  60 or increase or decrease vale with arrows Transmit Buffers                      512 or increase or decrease vale with arrows Wep TKIP 11n                            Enable or Disable Wireless Mode Selection     Auto or 802.11b/g (is this possibly where ASUS wanted me to go) If this is where ASUS wanted me to make sure it was set to "AUTO", which it is by default, then what? So what do you think I should do from here based on the directions sent from ASUS?????? So now based on the above fruitless effort I WILL be sending off ANOTHER submission to further clarify what EXACTLY ASUS means by the above. Just to help others reading We are using a D-Link DGL-4500 Xtreme N Gaming Router (with no special setup) Wireless Network SettingsEnable Wireless : Always Wireless Network Name : XXXXX (Also called the SSID) 802.11 Band :  2.4GHz 802.11 Mode : Mixed 802.11n and 802.11g Enable Auto Channel Scan : Checked (yes) Wireless Channel : (grayed out because of next setting) Transmission Rate : Best (automatic) (Mbit/s) Channel Width : Auto 20/40 MHz Visibility Status : Visible Security Mode : WPA-Personal WPA Mode : Auto (WPA or WPA2) Cipher Type : TKIP and AES Group Key Update Interval : 3600 (seconds) We are also using a Linksys by Cisco WRT110 Wireless Router (with no special setup) for visiting guests. This Router is behind the above router in the network using it as the default gateway and DNS Wireless Network Settings Security Mode: WPA-Personal Encryption: TKIP Key Renewal: 3600 seconds Mode: Mixed Network Name: XXXXXX Radio Band: Auto - 20/40MHz Channel Wide Channel: Auto Standard Channel: Auto SSID Broadcast: Enabled All below are default settings: AP Isolation: Disabled Frame Burst: Enabled Authentication Type: Auto Basic Rate: Default N Transmission Rate: Auto CTS Protection Mode: Aut Beacon Interval: 100 Milliseconds DTIM Interval: 1 Fragmentation Threshold: 2346 RTS Threshold: 2347 Just for clarification the ASUS K60IJ drops the wireless connection on both of the above routers frequently yet other laptops connected do not.We bought all of our laptops to be able to remote into our server and PC so we are not pinned to a stationary desk or PC or even within the office they reside. Posted:4/8/2010 8:51:00 PM # 3 Does ANYONE at ASUS or otherwise monitor this forum???? I would like to return this Notebook for a refund and use the money for one that works completely and has a support service that is timely and helpful Posted:4/28/2010 2:34:00 AM # 4 AGAIN!!!! Does ANYONE at ASUS or otherwise monitor this forum???? I would like to return this Notebook for a refund and use the money for one that works completely and has a support service that is timely and helpful! I think I have been more than patient here. NOTE: After just plain giving up this happened! Posted:6/21/2010 8:48:00 PM # 5 Just to update everyone. I think this problem will finally be resolved! I started up the laptop a couple of weeks ago and had strange multi-colored bands similar to the Matrix Code. This is also after having multiple random "Windows has just recovered from a serious problem" re-starts. This weekend when I went to start my K60i this is what I get: SATA Port0 ST9500325AS 0002SDM!                        S.M.A.R.T. Capable and Status BAD SATA Port1 Optic DVD RW AD-7580S FX Auto-detecting USB Mass Storage Devices .. 00 USB mass storage devices found and configured. AHCI Port0 Device Error Press F2 to Resume Pressing F2 (or any other key) does not do anything. No re-start, no re-activation, no attempt to try device search or even a beep. Looks the hard drive is DEAD! Phone support informed me to return it to Best Buy. I will do this tomorrow. FYI: Support also noted whaen I asked about the Wifi problem that they have know issues with certian Anti-Virus softwares not allowing the Wifi to connect and are working on it. I do not have that issue...thankfully I could connect and re-connect and re-connect many times.

[Entropy]

Welcome to the wonderful world of wireless, where a wireless adapter (looks like Azurewave NE-771) contains no identifying information about its chipset.  The only way to identify the chipset is by plugging it into a PC.

It looks like you have the most recent released drivers for the Azurewave card, however you MAY (not guaranteed) be able to find newer "generic" Atheros drivers, depending on how much customization Azurewave did when designing the card compared to Atheros' reference design.  This is often difficult, as most chipset manufacturers tell you to go to the card vendor. 

So the manufacturing chain is something like:

Atheros (chip) -> Azurewave (card) -> Asus (system)

The most recent "generic" AR9285 driver I have been able to find so far is unfortunately a 7.7.x revision.  (Although in the chipset -> card vendor process, Azurewave may have used their own revisioning system.)

[Lively]

Here is the update for today.

I took the ASUS K60IJ Laptop back to our local Best Buy today and learned a few things as I tried to return it for service:

     1. They asked me if I had "CREATED" a restore disk? I said, "No I had not, Why?" Because it lloks like your hard drive is bad and if they replace it you will only get you laptop back with a new hard drive and nothing on it. It seems it is the customers responsiblity to create a restore disk so that it can be reloaded.

     2. "I" will have to contact ASUS personally to get them to send me a restore disk so I can have the laptop work as it did when I purchased it.

     3. The agent at Best Buy called a manager over to ask if they could replace the hard drive in the store. The manager then said, "Are you sure it is a bad hard drive?" the other agent said, "Yes, it has the same error message as the other ASUS just like it had they replaced the hard drive in. Hmmmm...sounds like a pattern developing here maybe? They discussed it a little more and wondered what size hard drive it had. I said, "If you boot the laptop up it will give you the model number of the failed drive on the error message". They then said if it is a 250 GB hard drive they may be able to replace it without sending it to who knows where.The clerk then entered all of the information into their system and said "It does have to be sent out".

     4. I informed the clerk that I was not happy with ASUS support, the wireless issue and the now failed hard drive in less than 6 months. I told her that if I could return it I would gladly upgrade to an HP Laptop. She tried to return the laptop in the system and it would not accept it.

     5. I am now without the $600.00 investment, which also does not include the frustrating times I just put it away as it would not stay connected to do my remote work.

     6. I will have to contact ASUS for a restore disk that I was unaware I could create one (nice if you know what that means for future reference) and spend the extra time away from work and/or family resolving this issue and I sure it will COST ME to get this disk either delivered and/or for the actual disk.

Stay tuned my friends.

     4.

[Lively]

Hey thanks for the informative reply.

IF I had a laptop with a working hard drive and a restore disk I would try your suggestions.

I have an ACER I took Vista off of and then installed Windows 7 64-Bit Beta, which did resolve the driver issues. One being the wireless driver. When it had Vista I had a similar problem and was able to do just as you suggested and find a generic Artheos driver for it and it worked great. Which the ACER is still running like a top three years later.

Again thank you for the reply

[Entropy]

Since Asus and HP (and everyone else) source their hard drives from the same manufacturers (WD, Seagate, Hitachi, Fujitsu are about all that's left - the rest got bought out by the previous four), there's no difference between any of them in hard drive failure rates.  (Unless you get a workstation or server-class system that has the drive manufacturers' "business-grade" drives with extra testing and QC, such as Western Digital's Caviar RE series - not even sure if laptop variants of these exist.)

Given a choice between Asus and HP in terms of build quality, I'd pick Asus over HP any day (I own two Asus systems and they're great).  HP is a mere shadow of their former selves in the post-Fiorina era.

All manufacturers have stopped providing restore disks as a cost cutting measure, so the user has to create them nowadays.

If you want warranty coverage, then yes, any machine has to be sent in to the manufacturer for repair.  You can get the machine fixed faster by buying a new hard drive and installing it, but that won't be paid for by the warranty.