IT Help Required.. My laptop died

[Cibby]

Just to add another 2c into the mix . . . when I had the laptop the other day (with the old memory), it was a definate hardware problem. The thing would power off even when in the BIOS setup. So Wasp was on the right track, but I'd already gone back one step futher, and removed any chance of a prob with the HDD. Also note that the BIOS is already running the latest release for that laptop.

IF the symptoms are still the same with the new memory, then I doubt that it is software that is causing this trouble. I'm not saying that there isnt any virus or spyware in there (as the laptop wouldnt run long enough to check this), I'm just saying that its not responsible for these shutdowns.

I also doubt its overheating, the fans working fine and the laptop would shut off at random times, at least once when it had been off for a while it still only ran for a few seconds (and note that the fan turns on as part of the POST so its not going to be overheating in that time).

My gut feeling is that if the symptoms are still the same, that its mb or something to do with the internal charging circuits, tending towards the mb option.

If the symptoms have changed, the obviously all bets are off as I havent seen the laptop since having the new memory installed. Also note that if it is hardware, and we have already ruled out memory (assuming that the replacement memory was good), then any further diagnosis is going to require parts replacement which will only be able to be done by an specialist laptop repair center. In which case, DM's recommendation of Portables Plus is a good one, I have dealt with them quite a bit in the past and they have always come across as professional and thorough.

Either way tho Cibby, if there's anything else I can do to help with it just sing out.

i have your memtest disk by the way.

would you like to have anoth erlook at it?? i'll have james bring it in tomorrow again if there is anything else you can do.

Portables plus i think could be the plan, after all this..

The new ram did help as i had it running for about an hour and a half, and then i started it up again enough to post another message and then again to check if i had any unnecessary processes..

curiouser and curiouser!!

[WRT]

Depends, was it the same problem? Just sudden power off? Only thing is I wont really have change to test it for an hour and a half at work, as the boss sits just across from me . . . hate sharing offices!!

As for the memtest disk, can just chuck it if you like. Just burnt it off for testing your laptop.

[Madmax]

hardware fault
about when it gets to that bit in bios
its trying to enable the A20 GATE this lets other programs
put stuff in memory,
used to see this a lot on AST computers
you could try changing the ram but its most likly the CPU/motherboard
(Buy the way say hi to sam at portables plus if he still there)

[imdying]

How healthy is the battery in this laptop. Our laptop repair division reports that some laptops malfunction when the battery isn't able to hold any charge. Is it 'must be on the power socket all the time' (because the battery is screwed, not by design) sort of laptop. If it requires power all the time, stuff a meter up the DC output of the adaptor, and wiggle the wires to ensure it isn't an intermittent break in those.

Your sisters advice about a trojan is incorrect if it's doing it in the BIOS screen also.

The overheating is well worth a look, desktops will typically lockup, some (older) laptops will simply reset.

Startup is hard on the machine, but certainly not the biggest workout it will be under.

Keep the memtest disc, it's a good tool.

Sometimes they also fail to function correctly when the internal battery charging circuit fails. That would be unfortunate as it's expensive to fix, and requires either an Acer tech, or someone quite clued up to diagnose.

[Drunken Monkey]

>... but certainly not the biggest workout it will be under...

True for a lot of cases, but I don't think she's playing 3D games or relinking databases on it. Most low requirement users (i.e. mostly Internet access, Email, maybe some word processing or image viewing) don't hit high loads for any more than a few seconds at a time. We've seen form her reports that it isn't running ok most of the time and only falling over when she's ripping MP3s or pirating DVDs with DVD Shrink...

[Karma]

What about streaming strip shows to her absent boyfriend?

[Sniper]

I like playing with System restore, that will fix the laptop

[imdying]

We've seen form her reports that it isn't running ok most of the time and only falling over when she's ripping MP3s or pirating DVDs with DVD Shrink...

Ahh, haven't followed it too closely. That indeed points towards either RAM, heat, or power supply problem. You've eliminated the RAM, only two more things to go! Whip the panels off, and use some compressed air (don't go hardcore, high pressure air can cause little electrical bits to be ripped of the boards) to clean out the cooling fan ducts, and any other dust n crap out. Also ensure that the cooling fan is actually spinning. After that, you're really only left with post (or something obscure, like a dodgy cpu, but kiss).

[Drunken Monkey]

...Whip the panels off, and use some compressed air (don't go hardcore, high pressure air can cause little electrical bits to be ripped of the boards) to clean out the cooling fan ducts, and any other dust n crap out. Also ensure that the cooling fan is actually spinning...

I would suggest that, while it is a simple enough task for the technically able, is probably just a little out of her scope and comfort zone.

[Cibby]

I would suggest that, while it is a simple enough task for the technically able, is probably just a little out of her scope and comfort zone.

you are mostly right.. i had a go at pulling the panels of last night to have a look at the fans but i didnt have a little enough phillips screw driver,

i have an actual computer techie from teh site picking it up tonight so we may all have a verdict before the weeks out!!!

Exciting stuff eh???

haha

[The Stranger:Me]

you are mostly right.. i had a go at pulling the panels of last night to have a look at the fans but i didnt have a little enough phillips screw driver,

i have an actual computer techie from teh site picking it up tonight so we may all have a verdict before the weeks out!!!

Exciting stuff eh???

haha

This laptop is exactly why I hate computers.

I picked up the laptop and first thing i noted is that the fan runs all the time, now we have little to do with Acer, but that didn't ring right.

Started checking for adware just to give it a bit of exercise but machine died under load. In short it will run for a long period (say a couple of hours) on very light load but will die in say 15 minutes at heavy load. This is repeatable.

Again, not having much to do with Acer, but the air from the fan feels very hot.

So me thinks, overheating. The symptom is like a disconnection of power, except the CPU fan still runs. No errors are logged.

So whip the unit apart. 2 things strike me as odd. 2 screws which should have ben securing the video heatsink are floating around inside the case. Next thing is the amount of thermal transfer compound is huge and oozed out all over the socket etc, plus if is dry and powdery.

So clean the bastard up properly and apply some Arctic Silver and re-assemble. Ok, fan does not run for a while, me thinks yes, but alas no.

I am able to load it up more for longer, but it still fails.

It is as though more heat is being generated than the heatsink can disipate, This is one flash copper heatsink/fan. Hard to imagine you could get a bigger or better design in there. The heat sink gets bloody hot, hot enough to burn the skin, and that is on the top of the heatsink, the core must be way hotter, too hot.

The question is why?

Only things I can come up with are over voltage to the CPU causing the CPU to run too hot or perhaps faulty CPU.

Any other bright ideas?
Anyone know if the voltage on an Acer extensa 2000 can be varied?

[Drunken Monkey]

What spec is the CPU? I would expect the heatsink to be hot enough to burn to be normal for anything made in the last half dozen or so years, it's not just there for looks.
You could try replacing the CPU with a new one, but unless you have a spare sitting around it's unlikely to be a cheap test. On top of this, the CPU may only be overheating becuase of another fault, although there's no way to be sure that the CPU now isn't damaged, especially after multiple failures.
If you're getting to the point you want to check voltages all over the board with a multimeter, your time must be too cheap.
I still say unless you want to throw money at getting it checked properly, just chuck it in the bin and get a new one.

[Sniper]

I have a spare CPU.

[WRT]

Its a fairly recent laptop, so would expect the CPU heatsink to get too hot to touch, but is the CPU or the GPU cooler you are talking about? The CPU will handle overheating a lot more than the GPU would (thermal throttling and all that, not like the old days), but would expect video corruption from a naffed video card.

Also, the fan was going off and on quite happily during the time I had the laptop, might pay to double check that the cooler doesnt have one of the old school sensors attached to it? If so just make sure that's not been knocked or disconnected in any way. Sounds a bit iffy if there are loose screws in there, they dont normally come undone by themselves.

One other thing, I know the RAM has been swapped, but my understanding is that it was second hand RAM that was used? As the change in RAM had a definate impact on the frequency of the problem, would it pay to try more conservative memory timings in the BIOS incase the RAM's not all that it could be?

[The Stranger:Me]

Ok, proof that it is heat related i feel.

If I leave the panel off of the laptop over the heatsink I can run it quite hard and it hasn't faultered (yet)

This may actually suffice for a fix.
The processor is a Celeron 266

Doh!, that should have read 2.66 as in 2.66GHz

Yeah, my rate is way too cheap. I don't charge friends for my time.