Guest richard Posted May 15, 2007 Posted May 15, 2007 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 Posted May 15, 2007 Posted May 15, 2007 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.
Guest richard Posted May 15, 2007 Posted May 15, 2007 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.
Guest richard Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 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
Guest richard Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 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 Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 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?
Guest richard Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 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 Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 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
Guest richard Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 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 Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 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?
Guest richard Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 In the mpast when I have run linux on a laptop it has seen the battery with no problem
mac_shinobi Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 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 ?
Guest richard Posted June 3, 2007 Posted June 3, 2007 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 Posted June 3, 2007 Posted June 3, 2007 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
Guest richard Posted June 3, 2007 Posted June 3, 2007 It has got me wondering if the battery was a Sony as Acer have issued a voluntary swap out on certain batteries but according to their site this one is not covered.
Guest richard Posted June 4, 2007 Posted June 4, 2007 Have just swapped the battery over with one from a friends Acer and it works just fine. I'm able to see all info regarding the battey in Acers power management software which before I was unable to do. Now just to track down a new battery and a replacement "2" key and this should thing should be sorted.
Skoggmeiger Posted June 4, 2007 Posted June 4, 2007 Was it a Sony battery then? I must say, I'm a big fan of Acer. Would have been sad to find they had a problem with a certain line of products.
Guest richard Posted June 4, 2007 Posted June 4, 2007 Was it a Sony battery then? I must say, I'm a big fan of Acer. Would have been sad to find they had a problem with a certain line of products. Theres no info on it saying that its a Sony and the Acer website doesn't list this model Aspire as being affected.
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