Dead Acer laptop

[Shaun]

I've got an Acer Travelmate 5624 that died on me on Friday night.

Shutting it down and the little swirly cirle on the screen stopped, the HDD light stopped flashing, and it ground to a halt.

Ever since it won't boot.

Power it on, and it brings up the BIOS details (with the option to press F2 for BIOS and F12 for Boot menu) - but blank screens and doesn't go any further.

Everything appears to power-up okay, but no disk activity.

Pressing F2 doesn't bring up the BIOS screen, and it won't boot from CD or USB devices.

Took it apart and removed and re-seated the processor, cleaned out dust from the fan fins, disconnected the CMOS battery for 30 seconds (it has reset the CMOS), and put it back together.

Any ideas anyone?

I'm stumped.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[rusky]

Try reseating the RAM?

 

[yenrod]

I recall taking my hard drive out (whilst showing a friend it) and the screen literally faded b4 my eyes, later on, once when using it and I freaked - but took it out again re-inserted and it worked, thank-god...I hope for the best, for you, Shaun !!!!!!!!

 

[rh100]

Try booting up with the hard disk disconnected, see if you can get into the BIOS then. Rusky's suggestion of reseating the RAM could be worth a try, if you have more than one piece of RAM, ditch one and then swap them around incase one is blown. A CPU problem, I would normally expect it not to start at all TBH, unless it's overheating quickly.

try putting a windows boot disk in the dvd drive, then hold the f12 whilst booting up and change to boot from cd/dvd, see if you can get something going.

 

[Shaun]

Thanks for the quick responses:

Try reseating the RAM?

Tried that, and also swapped out completely for other RAM - no good I'm afraid.

I recall taking my hard drive out (whilst showing a friend it) and the screen literally faded b4 my eyes, later on, once when using it and I freaked - but took it out again re-inserted and it worked, thank-god...I hope for the best, for you, Shaun !!!!!!!!

Yup, tried that too. Also tried it without any HDD and memory, but no beeps or warning notices, and still can't get at the BIOS.

HDD is okay though as I can access it fine when it's attached to a USB converter.

Try booting up with the hard disk disconnected, see if you can get into the BIOS then. Rusky's suggestion of reseating the RAM could be worth a try, if you have more than one piece of RAM, ditch one and then swap them around incase one is blown. A CPU problem, I would normally expect it not to start at all TBH, unless it's overheating quickly.

try putting a windows boot disk in the dvd drive, then hold the f12 whilst booting up and change to boot from cd/dvd, see if you can get something going.

Tried that too. Although the DVD light comes on at the start, it won't boot from it. It's just not interested.

Various combinations of holding the power button, F2, F12, Alt+F10, Ecs + Fn don't seem to work either.

Same with and without battery.

Very bloody annoying too, especailly as it cost over six hundred quid just two years ago.

Acer have quoted £52 to collect and inspect it, then they'd quote for the repair (if it can be repaired) and return carriage on top.

I'm beginning to suspect motherboard. That or the processor.

Might just have to take the plunge and order a new laptop.

 

[rh100]

This may seem daft, and it's probably dying too early in the boot sequence to take effect - but do you have a hot key to change from laptop screen to external monitor - also try the external monitor output incase the screen is defunct.

Also ditch ANYTHING elso connected to it, remember the pcmcia slot aswell.

Did you check the thermal compound on the CPU when you reseated it?

If it's gone a bit dry, you could try to respread it around or clean and replace the compound.

Have you tried it battery only? Or do you have a spare PSU to try it with? (make sure its the correct type though, voltage and amps etc)

Repair costs could run up - it may be worth replacing for what it will cost, shame though. You could whip out the drive and make a mini portable drive, flog or reuse the ram and sell the remains on ebay for spares/repairs.

 

[yenrod]

Ads - on a more optimistic stance if you do lay-out you can get some good'uns for about 3-4 ton ??????

 

[Crackle]

Not sounding good. Motherboard seems likely, it's always the motherboard on laptops or the screen.

What about sourcing your own motherboard and replacing it yourself? Sounds like you could do it, I've done it on a few Dells. You just have to remember where all the screws go, it's still Meccano but in miniature. Just be sure to get the precise part, otherwise your display driver might not work with your screen or be unstable.

 

[Shaun]

This may seem daft, and it's probably dying too early in the boot sequence to take effect - but do you have a hot key to change from laptop screen to external monitor - also try the external monitor output incase the screen is defunct.

Also ditch ANYTHING elso connected to it, remember the pcmcia slot aswell.

Did you check the thermal compound on the CPU when you reseated it?

If it's gone a bit dry, you could try to respread it around or clean and replace the compound.

Have you tried it battery only? Or do you have a spare PSU to try it with? (make sure its the correct type though, voltage and amps etc)

Repair costs could run up - it may be worth replacing for what it will cost, shame though. You could whip out the drive and make a mini portable drive, flog or reuse the ram and sell the remains on ebay for spares/repairs.

That's pretty much what I've decided to do ... (handy working in IT as I just pop to the store cupboard for a USB mini-drive enclosure ...)

Ads - on a more optimistic stance if you do lay-out you can get some good'uns for about 3-4 ton ??????

Yes, that's true. I pretty much rely on it and use it every day so I ordered one last night and it should be arriving sometime today. 4GB Compaq/HP for £360 with free next-day delivery - not bad at all eh!!!

Credit card + internet = happy bunny!!

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Downward]

Have you put a donk on it ?

 

[Shaun]

Have you put a donk on it ?

donk?

 

[Downward]

donk?

Urban slang
Put a Donk on it
"to improve or complete something using the minimum amount of effort"

 

[Shaun]

Urban slang
Put a Donk on it
"to improve or complete something using the minimum amount of effort"

Ah, okay ... thanks for that.