tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post8863853410363501414..comments2023-06-11T09:18:29.747-06:00Comments on The Technologically Inclined Theologian: Zenbook Prime and the Unexpected Shutdown ProblemMike Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17608757096556069037noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-15113792212626325222015-09-09T11:31:19.649-06:002015-09-09T11:31:19.649-06:00In case you are running Linux, the following guide...In case you are running Linux, the following guide helps to do away with shutdowns once and for all.<br /><br />=========================================================================================<br /><br />Finally, a reliable solution for unexpected shutdowns and hangs was discovered!<br /><br />This seems to be working with any Asus laptop suffering from unexpected shutdowns and / or hangs while running on battery:<br /><br />1. Add the following boot arguments _both_ to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT and GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX in /etc/default/grub.cfg:<br /><br />intel_pstate=disable pcie_aspm=force acpi_osi=’Windows 2009′ acpi_os_name=’Windows 2009′<br /><br />Don’t forget to execute sudo update-grub afterwards!<br /><br />2. Install the package tlp from ppa:linrunner/tlp an set at least the following values in /etc/default/tlp<br /><br />CPU_SCALING_GOVERNOR_ON_BAT=ondemand<br /><br />CPU_BOOST_ON_BAT=0<br /><br />PCIE_ASPM_ON_BAT=powersave<br /><br />RUNTIME_PM_ON_BAT=on<br /><br />3. Shut down the device, carefully remove the bottom cover and detach the big battery (not the tiny CMOS battery) from the motherboard for five minutes. There are plenty of youtube videos showing how to safely disassemble the various Asus laptops. With certain power management settings on the OS side, the EC (Embedded Controller) goes crazy and thus needs resetting. The only way to reset it is to detach the battery for a few minutes.<br /><br />4. From now on, shutdowns should be gone. Take care, however, not to _ever_ use any live USB stick or installation / recovery CDs based on Linux and using the intel_pstate driver and / or the default BIOS settings for ASPM. If you try to, you will merely reproduce the problem once again, and will subsequently have to disassemble your Zenbook once again. There are a few sad cases, like reinstalling Ubuntu itself, where you will _have_ to boot from a live USB utilizing the problematic intel_pstate driver. Only do so when running on AC, and please repeat Stage 3 (no matter how boring) of this manual once you are done.<br /><br />P.S. Intel_pstate and the default ASPM bios settings eventually make the mobo’s Embedded Controller go crazy and persist in this state until the battery is detached from the motherboard. That’s basically how this problem is born.<br />Simon Lemarchandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14818963895441451173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-16600913844782618352015-03-23T14:56:14.883-06:002015-03-23T14:56:14.883-06:00Guys,
Adding to Pim van Nierop's comment here ...Guys,<br />Adding to Pim van Nierop's comment here is a solution for those running windows 8.1. Install a program called ThrottleStop (google search and download from their website). Tinker with the settings to make your CPU run <100% when running on battery power (around 80% should be fine). You can actually create separate profiles for when a laptop is plugged in and for when its unplugged. Google the different option available in throttleStop. Im no expert and dont really know what all of them are. I used trial and error with the combination of Task Manager to see what the throttle was actually doing.<br /><br />Symptoms:<br />1: Laptop dies only when not plugged in<br />2. Battery is 50 percent or lower laptop is unstable and dies multiple times. Anything below 30% it would die as soon as I power it on.<br />3. Running windows 8/8.1<br /><br />Solution:<br />1: Set up a Throttle stop profile to limit your cpu power<br />2: Do the battery reset at boot by holding the power button when plugged in for 30 seconds.<br />3. If still shuts off go back and tinker with throttlestop some more.<br /><br />My Results:<br />Its been over a week with no unexpected shutoffs. Battery has gotten to 1% no problem. <br /><br />My throttlestop settings<br />clock modulation:81.3%<br />Chipset Clock Mod:75.0%<br />Set multiplier 25T<br />VID .9056 2.8W<br />power saver is checked<br />disable turbo unchecked<br />BD PROCHOT checked <br />SLFM unchecked<br />EIST checked<br />C1E checked<br />this is for a UX31A-BHI5T11 laptop<br />Good luckjohn smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00857889033381573438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-7214262053163651832015-03-04T21:11:11.923-07:002015-03-04T21:11:11.923-07:00I have a zenbook UX31E same problem occors ,but it...I have a zenbook UX31E same problem occors ,but it stops when the power is plugged in ,and as i see it happens when the battery is low as well.Silhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04966534696321438314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-80385930903295022512015-01-23T01:41:08.660-07:002015-01-23T01:41:08.660-07:00Hi all,
I have a zenbook prime UX31A and I run Ub...Hi all,<br /><br />I have a zenbook prime UX31A and I run Ubuntu.<br /><br />I also experienced the shutdown problem a lot and I have found a workaround after having analyzed the problem over a prolonged period of time.<br /><br />I noticed that the shutdowns only occurred when NOT plugged in to external power supply, when the battery was half empty, and when the CPU was working at full load (100% of its frequency).<br /><br />I installed a CPU throttling manager (indicator-cpufreq) for Linux that does not allow for the CPU to reach max frequency when the power cord is not connected ('powersave' policy). This prevents any unexpected shutdown issues for me; the laptop keeps running until the battery is empty.<br /><br />My take is that there is a problem with peak strain on the electrical system that causes the unexpected shutdowns.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13047582156373210467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-47524464480038015142015-01-22T18:09:47.402-07:002015-01-22T18:09:47.402-07:00So I am having the same problems described in this...So I am having the same problems described in this post, with a twist. My UX31A was geekSquad repaired twice under accidental warranty (sticky keyboard, cracked screen). During one of the repairs they put on this black adhesive on all removable connectors inside the laptop, including the battery to motherboard connection. I am no longer able to disconnect the battery so I am hoping this "hold power for 30 sec" does the same thing. If anyone has any more information please keep this thread going. Love the laptop, hate this power off problem.john smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00857889033381573438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-50964859111937051972015-01-14T06:13:18.359-07:002015-01-14T06:13:18.359-07:00Thanks for all these comments. I have been sweari...Thanks for all these comments. I have been swearing at my otherwise good UX31A for the last few months, since this random shut-down problem appeared. <br /><br />For me, crashes only occur when power cord is not connected (ok - not much of a solution). I will try the "Battery reset" option above. Failing that, it seems like the best solution is to open the case and reattach the battery cable.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18280309717884303194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-41231790652686454912015-01-06T09:52:13.676-07:002015-01-06T09:52:13.676-07:00Close to a year ago, I disconnected the battery on...Close to a year ago, I disconnected the battery on my UX21E and did not see any shutdown issues until now. It seems in my case the solution is not permanent, but despite that it is a good quick fix that will last for months.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13301220952798846821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-14739625627051611792014-11-12T07:19:09.367-07:002014-11-12T07:19:09.367-07:00Some guy at asus tech upport suggested i disconnec...Some guy at asus tech upport suggested i disconnect the power cord and press the power button for 30 secondsfor a battery reset. the plug in the cord and fully charge it<br /><br />no shut-downs since...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14805116172336301858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-16090246772093358002014-11-10T13:40:02.303-07:002014-11-10T13:40:02.303-07:00HI! took me a very long time to found out why I ha...HI! took me a very long time to found out why I had BSOD after resuming from sleep; My PC is a zenbook UX21E and with this machine you absolutely need (win7,8 or 8.1) InstantOn, Power4Gear and PowerWiz. You won't get InstantOn and PowerWiz for win8-8.1 so use the ones for win7 with compatibility mode. I'm still wondering why Asus support guys don't talk about this issue they must be sleeping or vaporized all the time ;-)<br />Hopefully this handling will help someone and give a better reputation to Asus because a zenbook is really a very very nice machine.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15289787348851205694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-29360912596121794802014-09-08T23:21:29.193-06:002014-09-08T23:21:29.193-06:00I had the same issue, but noticed that I would get...I had the same issue, but noticed that I would get a crash/shutdown when I was viewing images as well.<br /><br />I rolled back the video driver to the previous version and the shutdowns stopped while viewing images at least.<br /><br />Then I got the official video driver from the ASUS support site and installed it again. <br /><br />I haven't had a crash/shutdown, even with laptop lid set to Sleep when closed and after waiting for more than five minutes after I open the lid and wake up Windows.<br /><br />So far so good.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17862506072561834575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-57176010253366154462014-07-07T18:21:42.908-06:002014-07-07T18:21:42.908-06:00I have the same trouble with my desktop PC powered...I have the same trouble with my desktop PC powered by ASUS P8Z77 motherboard and Windows 7 installed. So it is neither the OS-related bug nor ZenBook-specific!!! My desktop PC suddenly powered off after resuming from sleep state (S3). It happened within about 2 minutes of waking up. Then PC restarted automatically. But 2 minutes later it powered off again. I have decided that it is hardware issue and disconnected PC from the outlet. After connecting PC to the outlet and booting up it works normally.<br /><br />There are no BSOD-related messages in the event log / no mini-dump files. All temperatures are OK. I think it is the MB micro-code software problem. It loads some kind of micro-OS after connecting notebook battery / AC power plug. Presumably it changes chipset configuration before starting up and allows waking from USB devices and WOL commands. Entering S3 power mode makes this software go crazy. That is why disconnecting the battery is the best solution for ASUS notebooks to avoid this trouble.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18146773550156839227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-29967325824875783782014-06-03T17:56:02.786-06:002014-06-03T17:56:02.786-06:00Thanks for review, it was excellent and very infor...Thanks for review, it was excellent and very informative..click here <a href="http://www.acetecsupport.com/asua_support.html" rel="nofollow">Asus Support</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14955090487963536663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-10206718318981615752014-05-31T17:29:47.528-06:002014-05-31T17:29:47.528-06:00I almost forgot about this issue as my UX32A was w...I almost forgot about this issue as my UX32A was working properly for a couple of months! Not a single power off after sleep.<br /><br />Well, luck seems to left me, as today my ultrabook switched off after a few minutes after sleep.<br /><br />I saw on Asus support that they have a new firmware available (216). Flashed OK, let's see will this help. I still think this is just some stupid software issue, as the laptop acts like long press on the power button. Or, as if the battery is removed. It cannot be physical fault, as i can turn on the laptop again, no issues with this. If it would be a battery cable problem, i would not be able to power it on immediately. <br />So, in short, let's see if the bios will help. Fingers firmly crossed! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10676170102976421116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-38451754345130577162014-05-23T17:18:17.092-06:002014-05-23T17:18:17.092-06:00I bought my UX31A 2 years ago, from a recommendati...I bought my UX31A 2 years ago, from a recommendation by Jeff Atwood (http://blog.codinghorror.com/the-last-pc-laptop/), and I've just begun to experience this frequent sudden shutdown issue this year too. I find it very disappointing that this is a common issue, and yet Asus hasn't done anything definitive to help consumers who experience this problem.<br /><br />I'm definitely going to be very cautious about buying Asus laptops again in the future. What makes this problem even worse is that the SSD that comes with this particular model is a non-standard, custom SSD, so it's not like I can just take the SSD out and stick it into another computer to recover my data, I'll need to keep **very good** backups on an external drive.That Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06545195263825044517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-60084964853141720072014-05-21T14:22:16.274-06:002014-05-21T14:22:16.274-06:00Yes Lee this fix the problem on my UX31 too.Yes Lee this fix the problem on my UX31 too.Rumen Georgievhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03421065299863517942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-60175326070074850252014-04-12T14:57:21.249-06:002014-04-12T14:57:21.249-06:00Thanks Lee.Thanks Lee.Mike Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17608757096556069037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-18200110341214347382014-04-12T01:58:54.079-06:002014-04-12T01:58:54.079-06:00I tried many of the proposed fixes listed here and...I tried many of the proposed fixes listed here and elsewhere for this fault on my UX31E. One of those read was disconnecting the internal battery, but I was reluctant, especially while my laptop was within it's warranty period. However, I got so fed up with failed attempts to fix this; bios & driver updates, power management settings, restores and clean installs, etc. that I mustered the courage. <br />I followed a tear-down guide and youtube video instructions (which included battery removal) and removed (for a few minutes) and reconnected the battery connection (that's the multi-coloured cable terminal connection (not a ribbon type) on the UX31E, which is best teased up from the board with a fine plastic tool). So far, I have not had this problem reoccur (on Windows 8.1). I have even tested it after maxing out the CPU on a game to get the system nice and hot which seems to be one of the driving causes of this fault - i.e. a fail-safe shutdown of the CPU when changing power profiles. So, in my experience this resolves the fault - for now at least! <br /><br />NB: I have all the latest ASUS drivers installed (except the Power4Gear Hybrid Software) and have set the system cooling policy to active (from passive) for battery mode.Breadmonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12659348714187525013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-11443673993672281882014-04-05T10:15:16.948-06:002014-04-05T10:15:16.948-06:00Hi! I wish I had read this before I spontaneously ...Hi! I wish I had read this before I spontaneously bought a zenbook for urgent work needs! 24 hours later it crashed. Fixes like safe mode are not an option as I can only get into setup - where nothing seems to make any difference. I looked up where to get service in Israel, as there is a 3 year guarantee, and it said on the website "look in another country". Can this be serious or is it a global candid camera or something?<br /><br />I saw a post about opening it up and unplugging the internal battery - but then losing all guarantee. Kind of desparate!<br />Georgihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15610620236333398863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-22215423129858243242014-03-25T16:02:57.465-06:002014-03-25T16:02:57.465-06:002 months without shutdown after Instant On removal...2 months without shutdown after Instant On removal. I'm about to think that the problem could really be ASUS Instant On software ...giopxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03521326954155813408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-41652721984625078262014-03-13T18:56:57.864-06:002014-03-13T18:56:57.864-06:00Hey, guys!
So I've been the owner of the ASUS...Hey, guys!<br /><br />So I've been the owner of the ASUS Zenbook UX31E (that's 1st gen) since April 2012, so that's almost 2 years now. The first few months were OK, then the laptop just started shutting down abruptly and sporadically. This made me curious at first, but as time went by it made me hate the computer I bought with (a lot of) my hard-earned money, and hate ASUS as well.<br /><br />The problem appeared to have worsened when I upgraded to Windows 8, but it was still present under Windows 7 and made regular work very frustrating and scary (Ctrl+S every 5 seconds to make sure you don't lose anything after a sudden death).<br /><br />I tried almost every solution proposed here and in other forums/blogs on the Internet, but nothing seemed to work. I traced it down to the battery, because it never shut down with AC. i also traced it to the graphics (Intel) drivers, since it never shutdown in safe mode or when the Basic Windows Driver was used.<br /><br />As a last resort, and while compromising my Zenbook's warranty, I tried disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. I bought a simple Torx T5 screwdriver, and the whole operation took no more than 10 minutes (most of the time was spent on opening and closing the bottom lid). It's been 3 days now and it seems the problem is solved. I hope it doesn't come back in a few days or weeks, but if it does, I'm going to try reconnecting the battery again. I recommend everyone who were desperate like me, and have a little DIY knowledge, to give it a try.<br /><br />Here's to a PC that doesn't shut down randomly.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05571901874263154952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-18709653760550928382014-03-13T17:26:19.853-06:002014-03-13T17:26:19.853-06:00HI Mike,
Thanks for posting this as I am also havi...HI Mike,<br />Thanks for posting this as I am also having this problem with my ASUS Vivobook I bought on Amazon. I just left a review on Amazon suggesting that anyone thinking of purchasing this unit first Google "ASUS Random Shut Downs". I contacted ASUS and they wanted me to return for repair. I think I'll try the Hosselompan solution. - Thanks for posting.. BruceAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05865378169545321623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-38274973468900325602014-02-06T01:39:02.794-07:002014-02-06T01:39:02.794-07:00I have a UX21E.
I installed all the Asus software ...I have a UX21E.<br />I installed all the Asus software updates and the BIOS update (214), which solved the problem for me in Windows 7. <br /><br />But I still had the problem in Crunchbang (built on Debian). It would shut down somewhere between 60-65% battery power when ac is unplugged. I couldn't find a solution for this. The Ubuntu forums solutions (VT-D and semaphores) didn't work. <br /><br />Today I installed Linux Mint 16 Petra XFCE. Running this distro the problem seems to be solved. Mint is built on Ubuntu so perhaps the problem has been solved in Ubuntu also? <br />So may be worth trying Mint.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15303509534474162673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-26053448786010107382014-02-05T05:00:34.886-07:002014-02-05T05:00:34.886-07:00UX21E -Had problem initially of unplugging ac-powe...UX21E -Had problem initially of unplugging ac-power causing shutdown, then after some Asus updates battery worked but random shutdowns as described above. <br />Now have replaced the battery under warranty, and after a number of Asus software updates and a bios update (to 214) the problem seems to be gone in Windows 7. <br />However it persists with Linux (Crunchbang and Archbang). Working on finding a solution, some ideas from Ubuntu community.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15303509534474162673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-79657756565474250592014-01-31T08:10:07.987-07:002014-01-31T08:10:07.987-07:00"Unknown": Vt-D was a suggestion because..."Unknown": Vt-D was a suggestion because it by some was noted that instability occurred with this enabled. Also, I ask that you speak courteously and respectfully. I will just delete any more elitist comments about 'real' programming. I am a professional software engineer, and I have no time for a superiority complex among my devs. And I have no reason to tolerate it on my blog, either.Mike Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17608757096556069037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606951343595836866.post-13065191438413980562014-01-31T02:55:54.659-07:002014-01-31T02:55:54.659-07:00The Shutdown randomly issue append 3-5 minutes aft...The Shutdown randomly issue append 3-5 minutes after the Asus came out from the sleep mode (open the screen)<br />Never append when the Asus came from the hibernate mode. I guess is a SSD Driver bug.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17922655556674678319noreply@blogger.com