Acer Laptop, constant freezing. Please Help!

AJRoworth · 04-25-2009, 10:34 PM

Hello everybody!
I've been snooping all over the Internet, trying to find a possible solution to my problem, and I've been unsuccessful in my search.
I'm really hoping that you Guys can help me, so, here goes -

Basically, I ordered a brand new laptop and within 2 days it started to lock up.
It becomes completely unresponsive and needs to be restarted.
I've narrowed it down to a few issues, and please bear with me as I'm not very technically minded. (Typical Woman, eek!

)

It locks up under the following circumstances -

A) If the Laptop is running via Battery and the Microsoft ACPI - Compliant Control Method Battery is turned on.
B) If the Laptop is running via Battery, and the Microsoft ACPI - Compliant Control Method Battery is turned off.
C) If the Laptop Battery has been removed, but the Microsoft ACPI - Compliant Control Method Battery is turned on.

When my Laptop is running on the mains charger and the ACPI is turned off, there's no freezing at all. Obviously though, this limits my movement and sort of defeats the whole point of having a portable device!

I'm not certain what information any of you may need to help me, but my Laptop is an Acer Aspire 5753, and is running using Windows Vista Home Basic, with Service pack 1. I'm certain that there were no malicious "Things" hiding within my laptop at the time of the original lock ups, as it was fresh out of the box and hadn't had anything installed on it. However all my software, is entirely up to date, to the best of my knowledge and ability.

Yes, I also know I'm still under warranty, but Acer have been really unhelpful about all this, and seeing as they took 2 months to actually provide me with my laptop, I'm very reluctant to send it away for repair as I need it for work.

Please, please, please, help me!

**TriggerFinger** · 04-26-2009, 03:20 AM

Since this is new and still under warranty, I recommend sending it back to ACER and have them repair it. On the other hand, the most that you can without having to void the warranty is to reinstall the operating system.

Try doing system recovery using the recovery partition of the laptop (ALT + F10) or by using a recovery disc.

AJRoworth · 04-26-2009, 10:33 AM

I really don't want to send it to them as they're very slow and I don't really have a back up to use.
I'm also pretty sure a System Restore/OS reinstallation isn't going to do anything as my first lock up was within hours of turning it on and no changes had been made to the system.

Thanks anyway though!

**TriggerFinger** · 04-26-2009, 12:00 PM

If it locks up... it could be caused by anything from a corrupt Windows file to a faulty motherboard. Easiest to do is a system restore. If that does not help, run HDD (use Hitachi DFT or diagnostic tool of the HDD that is installed) and RAM diagnostics (use Memtest86+). If the tests show any errors in either HDD or RAM, replace the part as needed.

Lock ups can also be caused by overheating. Therefore, it is best to open the laptop up and see if dust is present and may be obstructing air flow. You should also reapply thermal paste.

And yes, it could also be a faulty motherboard. This one your best option is to get/buy a working spare so you can swap and see if they behave the same.

AJRoworth · 04-26-2009, 12:30 PM

*Bangs head on wall*
I was so hoping it might just be a simple software confliction with this Acer Empowering Technology nonsense! But, alas, I've disabled it to no avail.

I'll do some tinkering using your suggestions, and see what I can come up with. Thank you.

Other suggestions are still welcome!

AJRoworth · 04-30-2009, 09:09 AM

In the event that somebody stumbles across this thread looking for help with this matter, please be aware that Acer will screw you.

They will screw you absolutely relentlessly and without mercy.

I decided to cave and send my Laptop in for repair, but they've refused to take it! (It's only two months old!)

They're refusing to take it on the following grounds -

Firstly, they accused me of giving them a fraudulent Serial Number, and apparently, the one I've given them is registered to somebody else!
Despite the fact that I've checked it several times (and asked other people to check it) they still won't take my word for it.

Secondly, they've insisted that if it is my laptop, it must be second hand and as such, they are not obligated to offer me support as I hold no warranty.

IT CAME IN A SEALED BOX, DIRECTLY FROM THEM, ON REQUEST FROM MY RETAILER!

Why did I buy an Acer Laptop... WHY!?!?

Weanuts · 04-30-2009, 09:14 PM

This is probably off track but, like TriggerFinger suggested to me, memory can cause your problem. If you have two sticks try one and see if it still craps out. My motherboard or memory socket is faulty on my 5100

As far as Acer is concerned I can't say enough good about them . My Atom crapped out just out of warranty new motherboard and hard drive 3 weeks wait no charge.

AJRoworth · 05-01-2009, 02:04 AM

You sound like you got one of the Technicians while they were in a good mood!

If they ever decide to help me, I'll post the cause/fix on here for other people with the same problem.

Tbh though, with things as they are, I really just want to tell them to shove it and buy a new one.

04-25-2009, 10:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
AJRoworth Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lincolnshire. UK. Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista Home Basic, Service Pack 1	Acer Laptop, constant freezing. Please Help! Hello everybody! I've been snooping all over the Internet, trying to find a possible solution to my problem, and I've been unsuccessful in my search. I'm really hoping that you Guys can help me, so, here goes - Basically, I ordered a brand new laptop and within 2 days it started to lock up. It becomes completely unresponsive and needs to be restarted. I've narrowed it down to a few issues, and please bear with me as I'm not very technically minded. (Typical Woman, eek! ) It locks up under the following circumstances - A) If the Laptop is running via Battery and the Microsoft ACPI - Compliant Control Method Battery is turned on. B) If the Laptop is running via Battery, and the Microsoft ACPI - Compliant Control Method Battery is turned off. C) If the Laptop Battery has been removed, but the Microsoft ACPI - Compliant Control Method Battery is turned on. When my Laptop is running on the mains charger and the ACPI is turned off, there's no freezing at all. Obviously though, this limits my movement and sort of defeats the whole point of having a portable device! I'm not certain what information any of you may need to help me, but my Laptop is an Acer Aspire 5753, and is running using Windows Vista Home Basic, with Service pack 1. I'm certain that there were no malicious "Things" hiding within my laptop at the time of the original lock ups, as it was fresh out of the box and hadn't had anything installed on it. However all my software, is entirely up to date, to the best of my knowledge and ability. Yes, I also know I'm still under warranty, but Acer have been really unhelpful about all this, and seeing as they took 2 months to actually provide me with my laptop, I'm very reluctant to send it away for repair as I need it for work. Please, please, please, help me! Last edited by AJRoworth; 04-25-2009 at 10:36 PM.

04-26-2009, 03:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,851 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Acer Laptop, constant freezing. Please Help! Since this is new and still under warranty, I recommend sending it back to ACER and have them repair it. On the other hand, the most that you can without having to void the warranty is to reinstall the operating system. Try doing system recovery using the recovery partition of the laptop (ALT + F10) or by using a recovery disc. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-26-2009, 10:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
AJRoworth Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lincolnshire. UK. Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista Home Basic, Service Pack 1	Re: Acer Laptop, constant freezing. Please Help! I really don't want to send it to them as they're very slow and I don't really have a back up to use. I'm also pretty sure a System Restore/OS reinstallation isn't going to do anything as my first lock up was within hours of turning it on and no changes had been made to the system. Thanks anyway though! __________________ "It was like that when I got here....." Last edited by AJRoworth; 04-26-2009 at 10:36 AM.

04-26-2009, 12:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,851 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Acer Laptop, constant freezing. Please Help! If it locks up... it could be caused by anything from a corrupt Windows file to a faulty motherboard. Easiest to do is a system restore. If that does not help, run HDD (use Hitachi DFT or diagnostic tool of the HDD that is installed) and RAM diagnostics (use Memtest86+). If the tests show any errors in either HDD or RAM, replace the part as needed. Lock ups can also be caused by overheating. Therefore, it is best to open the laptop up and see if dust is present and may be obstructing air flow. You should also reapply thermal paste. And yes, it could also be a faulty motherboard. This one your best option is to get/buy a working spare so you can swap and see if they behave the same. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-26-2009, 12:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
AJRoworth Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lincolnshire. UK. Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista Home Basic, Service Pack 1	Re: Acer Laptop, constant freezing. Please Help! Bangs head on wall I was so hoping it might just be a simple software confliction with this Acer Empowering Technology nonsense! But, alas, I've disabled it to no avail. I'll do some tinkering using your suggestions, and see what I can come up with. Thank you. Other suggestions are still welcome! __________________ "It was like that when I got here....."

04-30-2009, 09:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
AJRoworth Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lincolnshire. UK. Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista Home Basic, Service Pack 1	Re: Acer Laptop, constant freezing. Please Help! In the event that somebody stumbles across this thread looking for help with this matter, please be aware that Acer will screw you. They will screw you absolutely relentlessly and without mercy. I decided to cave and send my Laptop in for repair, but they've refused to take it! (It's only two months old!) They're refusing to take it on the following grounds - Firstly, they accused me of giving them a fraudulent Serial Number, and apparently, the one I've given them is registered to somebody else! Despite the fact that I've checked it several times (and asked other people to check it) they still won't take my word for it. Secondly, they've insisted that if it is my laptop, it must be second hand and as such, they are not obligated to offer me support as I hold no warranty. IT CAME IN A SEALED BOX, DIRECTLY FROM THEM, ON REQUEST FROM MY RETAILER! Why did I buy an Acer Laptop... WHY!?!? __________________ "It was like that when I got here....." Last edited by AJRoworth; 04-30-2009 at 09:10 AM.

04-30-2009, 09:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
Weanuts Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14 OS: xp-2	Re: Acer Laptop, constant freezing. Please Help! This is probably off track but, like TriggerFinger suggested to me, memory can cause your problem. If you have two sticks try one and see if it still craps out. My motherboard or memory socket is faulty on my 5100 As far as Acer is concerned I can't say enough good about them . My Atom crapped out just out of warranty new motherboard and hard drive 3 weeks wait no charge.

05-01-2009, 02:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
AJRoworth Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lincolnshire. UK. Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista Home Basic, Service Pack 1	Re: Acer Laptop, constant freezing. Please Help! You sound like you got one of the Technicians while they were in a good mood! If they ever decide to help me, I'll post the cause/fix on here for other people with the same problem. Tbh though, with things as they are, I really just want to tell them to shove it and buy a new one. __________________ "It was like that when I got here....."