Acer Aspire 4740G EFI and Memory Bug

SOLVED:

Acer sent me a EFI/BIOS Version 1.07 which fixed the DEP issue however no ability to activate switch able graphics was provided and 256MB is still being mysteriously eaten up by Intel HD Graphics.
It is officially out now in Acer Support Site so download from there directly.
Found a bug in Acer Aspire 4740G EFI Bug
From Intel Spec Site
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=47663
The i3 330M Processor supports

Execute Disable Bit Yes

To verify this on your own Acer Aspire 4740/4740G
Download Securable here.
To access the Windows Advance Menu, Go to Control Panel >> System >> Advance System Settings >> Advance >> Performance Settings >> Data Execution Prevention.
Why is this vital?
Data Execution Prevention improves system security by flagging non executable code as non executable so malicious code cannot buffer overrun into execution hence if Acer really screwed this up Acer Aspire 4740G security could be potentially at risk.


I took a look into the EFI Firmware this is the feature which is not enabled:

Use XD Capability [Enable/Disable Processor XD Capability]

XD refers to Intel eXecute bit Disable Bit.

Add 1 more bug to the mix:

Acer if you are reading this and is sorry about the surprises you sprang please enable the Intel HD Switchable Graphics in the BIOS as an Apology to all AS4740 owners. I know it is there.
Either you remove Intel HD Graphics Memory reserve or you enable Switchable.
The Switchable Graphics Capability is as shown in the EFI firmware:

Set Display Mode Configure Type Integrated Graphics Discrete Graphcis Switchable Graphics

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Acer Aspire 4740G Optimal Drivers

If your EFI/BIOS version < 1.05 please update the firmware to enable DEP.
Because I am using AS4740G therefore I will be sharing my Driver Findings here.

1. Intel Chipset Driver (Acer)
2. Intel Rapid Storage Driver http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20raid.htm
3. Intel Management Engine http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20chipset.htm
4. Nvidia Graphics Driver http://www.nvidia.com/page/drivers.html
5. Nvidia High Definition Audio Driver (Included in the Display Driver)
6. Realtek High Definition Audio Driver http://aspiregemstone.blogspot.com/2010/08/audio-driver-matching.html (Why this driver is the best? The MSI Gaming Notebook using this driver uses the same AL888 Realtek High Def chip, it has excellent driver customisation better than Acer Drivers)
7. Acer Launch Manager (Get it from Acer Site Don't use the 4740G Launch Manager use the 4540G if you want to customise the Backup Manager Shortcut Key)
8. BroadCom Bluetooth Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much)
9. Finger Print Driver (Available from Windows Updates Optional Driver updates)
10. SuYin/Chicony WebCam Software
11. Conexant Modem Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much who the h*ll uses Modem nowadays anyway??)
12. Synaptics/ALP Touchpad Driver http://aspiregemstone.blogspot.com/2010/03/must-see.html
13. Intel Management Engine Controller (Acer)
14. BroadCom NetLink LAN Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much)
15. Atheros/Intel Wireless Driver http://www.station-drivers.com/page/atheros.htm http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20lan-wan.htm
16. Realtek Card Reader Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much)
17. Acer Smart Power Manager & Optical Driver Power Manager (Get it from Acer Site)
18. Turbo Boost (Only for Core i5/7) (Acer)

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Modified RAM Timing using Thaiphoon Burner

 used Thaiphoon Burner 6.6 to do this the new 6.8 feature locked full SPD Rewrite.
Original:

Final
(I reverted to this SPD after someone reminded me that Core i3 only has a 1066MHZ Memory Controller):

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How to upgrade Win7 From 32bit to 64bit using your original license key

The reason I am doing this post is because some OEM Vendors still install Windows 7 32bit on Retail Systems, however you can get more performance on your system if you used a 64bit OS instead, it is unfair to users to bear the system limitations.

What this guide is good for?

• You want a bloatware free Windows 7 Install at the same time you don't want to purchase another Windows 7 License.
• You want to upgrade your original 32bit Windows 7 to 64bit Windows 7
• You lost the original recovery partition and do not have the recovery cd and yet you don't want to buy the recovery cd or a new Windows 7 License.

NOTE: This will only work for Laptops or OEM Desktops preloaded with OEM Windows 7 as these Systems has a special SLIC 2.1 BIOS which enables OEM Activation.

Do not message me HERE on how to make this work on Systems that do not have OEM Windows 7 preloaded with it.

Lets take for example the Acer Aspire 4530 Laptop (Tested).

Special Treat for Acer Aspire 4530 owners only update to my custom BIOS containing SLIC2.1 here to get the upgrade at no cost.

If you want to get the DOS Bootable Thumbdrive Creator package to flash the BIOS from DOS here it is.

For laptops preloaded with Windows 7 you don't need to do any of the above.

On a Windows 7 Client 32bit OS it can only utilise up to 2.8GB of RAM regardless of the Total RAM available.

(Maximium usable RAM is 3GB in all 32bit Windows 7 Editions)

However on a Windows 7 Client 64bit OS it can support up to 3.8GB of RAM

(Assuming you have the maximum 4GB installed)

The performance difference is significant 1.0GB difference.(the missing 0.2 is due to 9100MG Integrated Graphics).

Start Here for Windows 7 Preloaded Laptop

Backup All Your Important Data Before Proceding !

1. Firstly google and prepare all the 64bit Windows 7 Drivers you need.
2. Next take any retail copy of Windows 7 64bit (or download an uncracked version from Bittorrent. There is no need to get a retail CD-Key as we will be using OEM CD-Key) and install the type you own.

Example if you have a Windows 7 Home Premium License Sticker, install the Windows 7 Home Premium Version.

• Uncheck Automatically Activate When Online, and Do Not type in any Product Key.

After installing and setting up the OS, download the Acer 2.1 OEM Certificate and put it inside :

C:\Windows\system32\OEM

If you don't have the folder, create it.

Then open up a Command Windows with Windows 7 Administrative Permission and Enter the Commands below(Make sure the filename of the xrm-ms is correct).

slmgr.vbs -ilc C:\Windows\System32\OEM\Acer.xrm-ms

Next, choose one of the Acer OEM Keys shown below the version you have installed in your system:

Note the OEM Keys are NOT UNIQUE meaning EVERY Acer Laptop which has Windows 7 Preloaded is using one of the following CD-Keys, depending on the version of Windows 7.

Then Activate

Then install the 64bit drivers (Very Important, No computer is usable without the correct drivers!).

You are done.

Note: The Activation is done offline, you do not need any internet connection to do this.

Use this keyfinder to check your current OEM License Key and match it to the appropriate OEM Certificate, for Acer you will find that it is one of the keys I listed above.

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The Correct Way to install Wireless Adapter Drivers

The question is how do you actually install a Wireless Adapter Driver with the maximum feature possible?

This blog entry will show you the way to install Wireless Adapter Driver in Windows to utilise the maximum feature possible.

1)After you reformated the Harddisk and clean installed Windows, do not be in a hurry to install the Wireless Adapter Driver's "Setup.exe". If you execute Setup.exe immediately before Windows has the chance to detect it and install the Windows Driver from Microsoft Updates, the virtual miniport adapter will not be pushed into the system.

By defaults Windows will autodetect the Wireless Adapter just go into Device Manager and Click "Detect Hardware"

Why do we do this?
This is because if you follow this method Windows will create a Virtual Device WiFi Miniport Adapter.
It is a new Windows 7 feature that allows your laptop to act as a Wireless Access Point (AP).
It will create a New Virtual Adapter Connection as shown below.

If you get a extra "2 or 3" behind your default Wireless Network Connection (which means your Virtual Miniport Adapter shows up as 3 or 4), that means the last time you removed the Wireless Adapter Driver it wasn't cleaned up properly, resulting in  "Wireless Network Connection 1" occupied by a Non-Existent Device in the Windows Registry.
Do a search in Regedit.exe and remove it if you find it irritating.

After that to update the Device Driver to the latest version do the following:

Extract the Latest Wireless Adapter Driver to a location.

Make sure the inf file exist.

Update the driver through device manager.

Point the update location to the driver location.

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Dissemble Acer Aspire 4740G

I have dissembled the Acer Aspire 4740G and clean up the internal crap from Acer.
Here is the preview of the temperature improvements
Dissembled Picture:

Look at the shody application of thermal paste it is a total mess

Close up view of the mess Acer Made (Too much thermal gunk inhibits thermal transfer)

After I cleaned up all the thermal crap.The chip surface is mirror shine.

I used Brasso to remove the tarnish Copper Stain on the heatsink and made it mirror shine as well.
(After using Brasso I used Isopropyl Alcohol to clear up all traces of Brasso)

Temperatures Before Clean Up

Temperatures After Clean Up:

The famous MSI Kombuster Temperature Graph 

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Configuring Synaptics Touchpad For Multi-Touch Drivers

After getting the Synaptic Drivers that add new features to legacy driver below are some settings you might want to configure to improve the usability of your TouchPad.

 

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