ACER Aspire S3 laptop boot problem.

This Windows 8.1 laptop would not boot yesterday (after working perfectly for over a year). The system displayed a message just after POST saying that an automatic repair was being initiated, but, then did nothing. No additional info. Is it Windows, or, is it the system? Since Windows never gets a chance to load, I suppose it has to be a system message.

I Googled and found that tons of other people have had the same problem with this computer as well as other brands running Windows 8. A thread on the Microsoft Community website devoted to this problem has had 161 posts and NO SOLUTION !! Here's a link: http://tinyurl.com/au2er9v.

ACER support is telling me that I need to buy their $45.00 USB system recovery thumb drive. However, I have a full backup made with Macrium Reflect just three days before the problem and want to restore it (the ACER solution would take me all the way back to factory defaults and 8.0).

This laptop has no CDROM so I purchased an external USB optical drive when I bought the computer just over a year ago. I want to use the Macrium Recovery CD to initiate my restore operation, but, the UEFI mode of the BIOS won't recognize USB ports and, so, I went to the BIOS and switched it from UEFI to Legacy mode. Bad news, however, since doing that, POST refuses to recognize either F2 (for opening the BIOS), or, F12 (for opening the Boot Order Menu). In fact, it does nothing after showing the ACER flash screen for a short time...then, nothing.

As you can see, without F2/F12 capability, I'm in a catastrophic double bind that even their $45.00 solution won't solve because there is no way to run it.

I've been considering taking the laptop apart and removing the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS. Good idea??????

Any advice is welcome, please.

 

Is there any number after Acer Aspire S3(example Acer Aspire S3-391).

 

Don't go by that. There are MANY causes that result in that very same symptom. Three people complain about a "headache ". One has a sinus infection, the other is stressed over bills, and the 3rd has an arrow sticking in it.

If me, I would remove the notebook's drive and copy any personal data file you don't want to lose (because extracting them from an "image file" may not be possible).

You can try pulling the CMOS battery but extreme care to ensure no ESD damage must be taken. Ensure the computer is unplugged from the wall and the main (and any secondary, if any) power battery is removed before starting. Ensure all static in your body is discharged by touching something grounded, then touching bare metal of the notebook interior (as far away from the CPU and RAM as possible).

That said, if you set a BIOS password, this attempt to reset the BIOS will likely fail. You may have no choice but to take it to a shop. But even then, that may result in a full wipe and factory restore.

 

Thanx, lj50. Yes, and it's just as your example...391.

 

Good points, Bill!

I'll dig around in my "hell" closet for my trusty grounding strap before I start.

There is no BIOS password, so, that's at least a plus...sort of .

I will report further progress/action as I dig into the case.

 

Not much to ground to when working just taking out the HD from a laptop. I have pulled at least a couple of hundred out and never a problem.

 

Any time you dig around inside a computer you risk damage from ESD. Certainly HDs are much less susceptible to ESD damage than high density ICs - especially since an HD's outer housing is grounded - not to mention grounds in both the data and power cables. But care is still needed, if not for the HDs, but nearby ESD sensitive components. The fact you have never had a problem does not mean the potential does not exist. It merely suggests you are careful - a good thing.

I would not worry about a ground strap - but I would keep a finger planted on some bare metal in the interior.

 

Most laptops, the HD slides out of the side. That is what I was referring to. Wouldn't really be digging around in it. That is unless you have a small shovel.

 

That may be true, but let's not forget I mentioned ESD precautions in reference to pulling the CMOS battery - which involves much deeper digging than sliding out a drive.

 

This little 14" laptop is classified as an "ultra-thin" and, as such, there appears to have been no room for an externally-accessible hd bay. Same for the battery...everything is inside. A dozen screws keep kooks (?such as I?) from getting in there with their tiny shovels.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO9YXLW7FdA

 

Whoa, Nellie!!! LJ, great video! And, great demo of the disassembly of the S3. Many thanks!!!

Must say, I hope I find the CMOS battery on the exposed side of the mb so I don't have to pull the latter just to get at it.

 

You are most welcome. Just take your time and you will do fine. I think the CMOS battery is on the exposed side of the mb.

 

Thanx for the encouragement, LJ, and, thanx for the tip regarding the placement of the CMOS battery. I surely do hope you are right about it being exposed with the back of the computer off. After I do this operation (perhaps as soon as tomorrow), I'll report back here with pertinent details.

 

Sounds good.

 

ACER S-3 Post Update.

Well, well, some progress, but, still not "there ". Here's the current situation:

Before removing the back cover, I had found an almost invisible pinhole on the back (underside) of the computer. With a magnifier, I saw a symbol of a battery beside it. Ah, ha! this most surely was the CMOS reset button! However, nowhere had I seen a reference to what it was for. A small paperclip was too large for the hole so i used the tip of a half-millimeter mechanical pencil (barely fit) and pushed gently into the hole. Nothing happened differently on a reboot attempt, so, proceeded with disassembly.

The back cover comes off dandily after the twelve screws are removed. Close inspection of the area of the mb under the pinhole revealed a tiny push-switch, but, again, no indication what the heck it was for. I couldn't imagine any other purpose other than CMOS reset.

Further Googling and I found and downloaded the full service manual for this computer...a great manual full of photos of every step of disassembly. I found a page with the pinhole explained, and, sure enough, it was for CMOS. I also learned that the switch must be held down for four seconds to reset the BIOS. Viola! I am now able to get the machine to talk to me...somewhat. Please read on for my current problems.

Now, when I simply turn on the computer and wait, I rather quickly am presented with a black screen bearing the single line at the top, "No bootable device --- insert boot disk and press any key ". This is without the external optical drive attached to a USB port. With the external drive attached, it spins up for about thirty seconds and then, everything is dead and blank screen. No message re no bootable device.

I know that this suggests either of two things: a dead internal hd, or, an optical drive w/o a bootable disk inserted. I have tried both the Macrium Rescue Disk AND an UBUNTU distro disk...same negative result. I don't believe it's either!

When I boot with F2 pressed (for opening the BIOS), I get a small window in the middle of the screen asking "Enter Current Password: ". That's new, never before seen. Never set a password, so, don't have any idea what to do. Further Googling has not yielded a "backdoor" password for ACER computers.

Does any of this suggest a course of action to you guys? I think I'm getting close, but, that could be false optimism????

 

The fact it is getting to the point it is asking for a boot disk tells me it is making it through POST.

Look in that service manual for the default password - if there is one. I find it odd it should now be asking for one, if one was never set. Did you try just hitting Enter?

 

Yeah, Bill, I did check the manual. There is plenty of info on setting passwords, but, nothing on a default one.

And, yes, I did try "Enter ". Also, guessed at possible, obvious, passwords. I'm locked out after three tries and have to reboot. Nothing is working, so far.

 

Well, I am at a loss as to more suggestions. Sorry.

 

Read this:

This information comes from Acer Community Expert Vince53:

It is usually impossible to get into a computer that has a lost BIOS password.

SOMETIMES, this method works. Reboot your laptop, and when prompted for a password, guess three times. A screen will appear telling you that your system is disabled, and it will give you a code. Write down the code and go to http://bios-pw.com/ . This site will give you a BIOS password that MIGHT work. Reboot and enter the new password.

Many thanks Vince53 - I hope you don't mind me passing on this gem of information!

Nandu2u2u - hope this helps