Strange Acer Laptop Problem

[richard]

Got a bit of a strange one here. I've recently obtained an Acer Aspire 1642WLMi laptop from someone who was about to throw it out as the keyboard and touch pad have a habit of locking up rendering the machine inoperable. Most times a reboot cures the problem but some times you have to reboot it 2 or 3 times. I have tried reinstalling windows as I though that it was a driver issue but i still kept getting the problem. However if I install Linux then everything works as it should. Has anyone ever encounter anything like this before?

[Geoff]

ACPI is buggy on the machine, no doubt the SP2 power management improvements upset it. Linux ignores the Bios once it's booted and uses it's own ACPI handler (+ any fixes for specifc mobos). Try a Bios update.

[richard]

Thanks for that Geoff I had thought updating the BIOS but its something I don't like as rule but will give it a go when i get home.

[richard]

Just an update on this I have tried to update the bios but to no avail. Sometimes the machinme works and sometimes it doesn't. Even under linux now I'm starting to get random freezes

[bishopsgarthstockton]

heat problem?

[richard]

thats what i'm now thinking there is no temp reading in the bios so i'm in the process of reinstalling linux so I can get some readings

[bishopsgarthstockton]

It may be the case of checking the vents on back, side and bottom are fluff and dust free. Does it freeze while installing linux?

[richard]

It may be the case of checking the vents on back, side and bottom are fluff and dust free. Does it freeze while installing linux?

It has started too in the last day or so. I just nanaged to get a temp reading and its pushing 49 degrees c at the cpu so it looks like a heat problem though the fan does seem to be working

[bishopsgarthstockton]

ooow you could fry an egg on it

If you have any compressed air, give it a good clean out once the laptop has been switched off and cooled down

[richard]

I was going to do that anyway. One thing I have noticed is that I'm meesgaes stating that Ubuntu cannot access the HAL and that the battery meter is showing no battery.

[bishopsgarthstockton]

I was going to do that anyway.

What fry an egg :?:

back to what Geoff said about linux using its own ACPI handler, am i right in thinking it wouldnt be able to see the battery life any how?

[richard]

In the mpast when I have run linux on a laptop it has seen the battery with no problem

[mac_shinobi]

It has started too in the last day or so. I just nanaged to get a temp reading and its pushing 49 degrees c at the cpu so it looks like a heat problem though the fan does seem to be working

Sounds like maybe the heatsink isnt making contact properly that or thermal paste or something along those lines ?

[richard]

UPDATE:

I'm not sure but I think the problem is related to the battery. In the past couple of days I have found that if I use the laptop without the battery it works with no problems what so ever but if I plug in the battery it starts to lock up. I have even had XP and Vista running on it with no problems.

[Oops_my_bad]

i have got the same problem with 3 yes 3 acer's - they all came in at the same time. I havent had chance to look at them properly yet but it is baffling me. Maybe the battery is giving off too much heat?

I will try running mine without the batteries next week and see if that gives me any inspiration