Acer Aspire AX1300 having crashing problems
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From: TheDeadWolf on 9 Jan 2010 12:40 Hey everyone. Firstly id like to say sorry for if i have posted in a wrong thread/newsboard. Secondly id like to thank anyone who reads and responds to this post as it is much appreciated. I got an Acer Aspire AX1300 for Christmas this year and it is a great computer, however i am experiencing some problems and it is getting annoying now. The problem is that the computer keeps crashing. It could be if im playing a game, it could be if im on the internet, it could be if music is playing. It just happens randomly with no warning. The monitor (Acer X193HQ) will just turn a random color, usually the color is the most color on the screen before it crashes, mainly black, blue or sometimes yellow. The keyboard lights will just stop working too, if capslock was on and the PC crashed the caps lock light would still be on but i cant turn it off or use the other lights such as numlock. The mouse light would still be on also, however moving it makes no difference to the screen. Also the speakers (Standard PCLine speakers plugged into the headphone/speakers slot) Would just cut out, i knew this because if i was playing music or game sounds it would just stop when the PC crashed. The wierd thing however is that the CPU main light is still on, and the fans are still working. Its as if the CPU just cuts out all its devices. Here are the main details of the PC. Hard Drive Size: 320GB Hard Drive Type: SATA Memory Type: DDR2 Ammount of memory: 3GB Processor: AMD Athlon� 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor Cache: 1MB Processor Model Number: 7450 Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz BIOS: )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG Operating System: Microsoft Windows� Vista� Home Premium (However i did install Windows 7 32Bit, then Windows 7 64Bit. Both legal and registered) Graphics Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8200 DAC Type: Intergrated RAMDAC Approx. Total Memory: 1394MB DirectX Version: 11 Optical Drive Type: DVD Re-Writer Number of USB Ports: 9 Product Depth: 35.2 cm Product Height: 26.5 cm Product Width: 10 cm Product Weight: 8kg Moniter: Acer X183HQ Moniter size: 19" Wired mouse and keyboard. Things i tried. I looked all around Google for help and got a few ideas however none worked. I installed the 64bit of windows 7 instead of the 32 bit and it did upgrade performance but still the same crash like it was in 32bit. I checked and updated all the drivers, both the windows ones and other drivers. Also i upgraded the graphics card driver, and for some reason it registered that my graphics card is a 9200 instead of a 8200, it said this on the nvidia control panel, and on dxdiag. However when i reformatted it said i had the 8200 one. As i said before i have reformatted the pc, iv done it about 3 times. One to install Windows 6 32bit then installed the latest graphics card driver which said i had a 9200, then again to Windows 7 32bit with the 8200 driver and hardly anything on the pc. Still kept crashing. I then formatted to Windows 7 64bit but it still crashes. Somebody said something about maybe the monitor cable wire isn't plugged properly, knowing it wouldn't be the solution because the other devices cut out too but i still checked the monitor cable. I also checked the CPU power cable and that is in a single plug and plugged in properly to the CPU. I had opened up the case and checked the fans they are all clean and functioning perfectly. Also i had moved the CPU to the middle of my table in case over heating was a problem. The computer is still crashing. I thought i would post here to see if you guys had any suggestions, if it fails then i might end up having to send the computer back to the manufacturer. I am currently having to use my 6yr old Medion laptop to do my GCSE school work and coursework because the Acer is too unreliable and has already lost a few of my files when i was working. Any ideas, even if your unsure would be a massive help for me. Also if you need any other details then feel free to ask.
From: Bug Dout on 9 Jan 2010 22:54 Sounds like intermittent bad memory. You need to test it with memtest86 (google for it, there are confusingly two versions now). If your laptop has a CD/DVD drive, download and put memtest on a bootable CD. If your laptop does not have a CD/DVD drive, download and put it on a bootable USB flash drive (google or ask a friend how to do this). Then boot into memtest86 directly and let it run overnight. If it finds an error, you need to replace the memory, presumably under warranty. If it doesn't find a problem post here again. -- Life's under no obligation to give us what we expect. ~ Margaret Mitchell
From: kony on 10 Jan 2010 01:42 On Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:54:23 -0800, Bug Dout <buggsy2(a)mailinator.com> wrote: >Sounds like intermittent bad memory. You need to test it with memtest86 >(google for it, there are confusingly two versions now). If your laptop >has a CD/DVD drive, download and put memtest on a bootable CD. If your >laptop does not have a CD/DVD drive, download and put it on a bootable >USB flash drive (google or ask a friend how to do this). > >Then boot into memtest86 directly and let it run overnight. If it finds >an error, you need to replace the memory, presumably under warranty. If >it doesn't find a problem post here again. Memtest86+ is the newer better version. http://www.memtest.org/ AX1300 seems to be a small desktop rather than laptop, though I agree a CD or USB flash drive especially would be ideal.
From: kony on 10 Jan 2010 02:02 On Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:40:44 +0000, TheDeadWolf <thedeadwolfx(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >Hey everyone. >Firstly id like to say sorry for if i have posted in a wrong >thread/newsboard. >Secondly id like to thank anyone who reads and responds to this post as >it is much appreciated. > >I got an Acer Aspire AX1300 for Christmas this year and it is a great >computer, however i am experiencing some problems and it is getting >annoying now. > > >The problem is that the computer keeps crashing. That doesn't seem great. ;) Did it do this right at the start or has the problem seemed to have gotten worse, more frequent? >It could be if im >playing a game, it could be if im on the internet, it could be if music >is playing. It just happens randomly with no warning. The monitor (Acer >X193HQ) will just turn a random color, usually the color is the most >color on the screen before it crashes, mainly black, blue or sometimes >yellow. The keyboard lights will just stop working too, if capslock was >on and the PC crashed the caps lock light would still be on but i cant >turn it off or use the other lights such as numlock. The mouse light >would still be on also, however moving it makes no difference to the >screen. Also the speakers (Standard PCLine speakers plugged into the >headphone/speakers slot) Would just cut out, i knew this because if i >was playing music or game sounds it would just stop when the PC crashed. >The wierd thing however is that the CPU main light is still on, and the >fans are still working. Its as if the CPU just cuts out all its devices. I suspect you have an overheating motherboard northbridge, which as described below has the integrated graphics on it. If there is a fan check that it is spinning. Check that the heatsink is on good. See if the system remains stable if you open the case and point a desk fan at it, and touch-test the heatsink after it's been running awhile to roughly gauge how hot it's getting. Something else to keep in mind is you should not have to deal with these problems, being a new OEM system they at least gave you enough of a warranty that it's still covered, yes? Although, if the problem is as simple as strapping a fan on the heatsink I can understand it being more convenient to not have to pack it up, ship it, and possibly pay for shipping... though it looks like a small system so it won't be as bad as some huge home-built systems would be if you don't have to ship a monitor with it. While you have the system open (check for a factory seal sticker, if it reads do not break open then don't open it yet since it is new under warranty), check that all fans are spinning. >Here are the main details of the PC. > >Hard Drive Size: 320GB >Hard Drive Type: SATA >Memory Type: DDR2 >Ammount of memory: 3GB >Processor: AMD Athlon� 64 X2 Dual-Core >Processor Cache: 1MB >Processor Model Number: 7450 >Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz >BIOS: )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG > >Operating System: Microsoft Windows� Vista� Home Premium (However >i did install Windows 7 32Bit, then Windows 7 64Bit. Both legal and >registered) > >Graphics Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8200 >DAC Type: Intergrated RAMDAC >Approx. Total Memory: 1394MB >DirectX Version: 11 > >Optical Drive Type: DVD Re-Writer >Number of USB Ports: 9 >Product Depth: 35.2 cm >Product Height: 26.5 cm >Product Width: 10 cm >Product Weight: 8kg > >Moniter: Acer X183HQ >Moniter size: 19" >Wired mouse and keyboard. > > > >Things i tried. >I looked all around Google for help and got a few ideas however none worked. >I installed the 64bit of windows 7 instead of the 32 bit and it did >upgrade performance but still the same crash like it was in 32bit. ? There should be very little to no performance difference, since the system doesn't have over 3.x GB of memory it doesn't need the address space of a 64bit OS. I'd switch it back if for no other reason that 32bit is more compatible with existing hardware, software. Check Windows' Event Viewer to see if any errors listed seem relevant and to coincide with the times it crashes. >I checked and updated all the drivers, both the windows ones and other >drivers. Also i upgraded the graphics card driver, and for some reason >it registered that my graphics card is a 9200 instead of a 8200, it said >this on the nvidia control panel, and on dxdiag. However when i >reformatted it said i had the 8200 one. >As i said before i have reformatted the pc, iv done it about 3 times. >One to install Windows 6 32bit then installed the latest graphics card >driver which said i had a 9200, then again to Windows 7 32bit with the >8200 driver and hardly anything on the pc. Still kept crashing. I then >formatted to Windows 7 64bit but it still crashes. Drivers usually cause bluescreen crashes not the type you are seeing. Is it possible your AC power is flaky due to storms or who-knows-what recently? I still suspect the chipset is overheating, but do check the memory with memtest86+ as the prior poster already suggested. >Somebody said something about maybe the monitor cable wire isn't plugged >properly, knowing it wouldn't be the solution because the other devices >cut out too but i still checked the monitor cable. >I also checked the CPU power cable and that is in a single plug and >plugged in properly to the CPU. >I had opened up the case and checked the fans they are all clean and >functioning perfectly. >Also i had moved the CPU to the middle of my table in case over heating >was a problem. >The computer is still crashing. >I thought i would post here to see if you guys had any suggestions, if >it fails then i might end up having to send the computer back to the >manufacturer. > >I am currently having to use my 6yr old Medion laptop to do my GCSE >school work and coursework because the Acer is too unreliable and has >already lost a few of my files when i was working. > > >Any ideas, even if your unsure would be a massive help for me. Also if >you need any other details then feel free to ask. Does it's BIOS have a hardware/health monitor page? If so, enter the bios and leave it sitting at that screen watching temperatures and voltages. If not, a multimeter could check PSU voltage (and would be more accurate anyway). If it were out of warranty I'd suggest pulling the northbridge heatsink off, cleaning off the factory thermal pad or goop and putting a fresh thin coat of high quality synthetic thermal grease on... and as mentioned above it may need a fan pointed at it for best results. There are a lot of creative ways to mount fans where there aren't any mounts on the heatsink for one, but one of the easiest is probably to use some thin nylon wire ties. It could be a lot of different things though, even component level factory defects that can't be solved without replacing a part. I'd try to find an Acer forum and whether anyone else owning same or similar model with nVidia integrated video is having overheating problems or any others.
From: In400metreskeepright on 10 Jan 2010 03:56
"kony" <spam(a)spam.com> wrote in message news:rotik5ll7029p5p76pcpgahfunbqq46od8(a)4ax.com... > On Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:40:44 +0000, TheDeadWolf > <thedeadwolfx(a)hotmail.com> wrote: > >>Hey everyone. >>Firstly id like to say sorry for if i have posted in a wrong >>thread/newsboard. >>Secondly id like to thank anyone who reads and responds to this post as >>it is much appreciated. >> >>I got an Acer Aspire AX1300 for Christmas this year and it is a great >>computer, however i am experiencing some problems and it is getting >>annoying now. >> >> >>The problem is that the computer keeps crashing. > > > That doesn't seem great. ;) > > Did it do this right at the start or has the problem seemed > to have gotten worse, more frequent? > > > >>It could be if im >>playing a game, it could be if im on the internet, it could be if music >>is playing. It just happens randomly with no warning. The monitor (Acer >>X193HQ) will just turn a random color, usually the color is the most >>color on the screen before it crashes, mainly black, blue or sometimes >>yellow. The keyboard lights will just stop working too, if capslock was >>on and the PC crashed the caps lock light would still be on but i cant >>turn it off or use the other lights such as numlock. The mouse light >>would still be on also, however moving it makes no difference to the >>screen. Also the speakers (Standard PCLine speakers plugged into the >>headphone/speakers slot) Would just cut out, i knew this because if i >>was playing music or game sounds it would just stop when the PC crashed. >>The wierd thing however is that the CPU main light is still on, and the >>fans are still working. Its as if the CPU just cuts out all its devices. > > I suspect you have an overheating motherboard northbridge, > which as described below has the integrated graphics on it. > If there is a fan check that it is spinning. Check that the > heatsink is on good. See if the system remains stable if > you open the case and point a desk fan at it, and touch-test > the heatsink after it's been running awhile to roughly gauge > how hot it's getting. > > Something else to keep in mind is you should not have to > deal with these problems, being a new OEM system they at > least gave you enough of a warranty that it's still covered, > yes? Although, if the problem is as simple as strapping a > fan on the heatsink I can understand it being more > convenient to not have to pack it up, ship it, and possibly > pay for shipping... though it looks like a small system so > it won't be as bad as some huge home-built systems would be > if you don't have to ship a monitor with it. > > While you have the system open (check for a factory seal > sticker, if it reads do not break open then don't open it > yet since it is new under warranty), check that all fans are > spinning. > >>Here are the main details of the PC. >> >>Hard Drive Size: 320GB >>Hard Drive Type: SATA >>Memory Type: DDR2 >>Ammount of memory: 3GB >>Processor: AMD AthlonT 64 X2 Dual-Core >>Processor Cache: 1MB >>Processor Model Number: 7450 >>Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz >>BIOS: )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG >> >>Operating System: Microsoft Windows� VistaT Home Premium (However >>i did install Windows 7 32Bit, then Windows 7 64Bit. Both legal and >>registered) >> >>Graphics Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8200 >>DAC Type: Intergrated RAMDAC >>Approx. Total Memory: 1394MB >>DirectX Version: 11 >> >>Optical Drive Type: DVD Re-Writer >>Number of USB Ports: 9 >>Product Depth: 35.2 cm >>Product Height: 26.5 cm >>Product Width: 10 cm >>Product Weight: 8kg >> >>Moniter: Acer X183HQ >>Moniter size: 19" >>Wired mouse and keyboard. >> >> >> >>Things i tried. >>I looked all around Google for help and got a few ideas however none >>worked. >>I installed the 64bit of windows 7 instead of the 32 bit and it did >>upgrade performance but still the same crash like it was in 32bit. > > ? There should be very little to no performance difference, > since the system doesn't have over 3.x GB of memory it > doesn't need the address space of a 64bit OS. I'd switch it > back if for no other reason that 32bit is more compatible > with existing hardware, software. > > Check Windows' Event Viewer to see if any errors listed seem > relevant and to coincide with the times it crashes. > > > >>I checked and updated all the drivers, both the windows ones and other >>drivers. Also i upgraded the graphics card driver, and for some reason >>it registered that my graphics card is a 9200 instead of a 8200, it said >>this on the nvidia control panel, and on dxdiag. However when i >>reformatted it said i had the 8200 one. >>As i said before i have reformatted the pc, iv done it about 3 times. >>One to install Windows 6 32bit then installed the latest graphics card >>driver which said i had a 9200, then again to Windows 7 32bit with the >>8200 driver and hardly anything on the pc. Still kept crashing. I then >>formatted to Windows 7 64bit but it still crashes. > > Drivers usually cause bluescreen crashes not the type you > are seeing. Is it possible your AC power is flaky due to > storms or who-knows-what recently? > > I still suspect the chipset is overheating, but do check the > memory with memtest86+ as the prior poster already > suggested. > > >>Somebody said something about maybe the monitor cable wire isn't plugged >>properly, knowing it wouldn't be the solution because the other devices >>cut out too but i still checked the monitor cable. >>I also checked the CPU power cable and that is in a single plug and >>plugged in properly to the CPU. >>I had opened up the case and checked the fans they are all clean and >>functioning perfectly. >>Also i had moved the CPU to the middle of my table in case over heating >>was a problem. >>The computer is still crashing. >>I thought i would post here to see if you guys had any suggestions, if >>it fails then i might end up having to send the computer back to the >>manufacturer. >> >>I am currently having to use my 6yr old Medion laptop to do my GCSE >>school work and coursework because the Acer is too unreliable and has >>already lost a few of my files when i was working. >> >> >>Any ideas, even if your unsure would be a massive help for me. Also if >>you need any other details then feel free to ask. > > Does it's BIOS have a hardware/health monitor page? If so, > enter the bios and leave it sitting at that screen watching > temperatures and voltages. If not, a multimeter could check > PSU voltage (and would be more accurate anyway). > > If it were out of warranty I'd suggest pulling the > northbridge heatsink off, cleaning off the factory thermal > pad or goop and putting a fresh thin coat of high quality > synthetic thermal grease on... and as mentioned above it may > need a fan pointed at it for best results. There are a lot > of creative ways to mount fans where there aren't any mounts > on the heatsink for one, but one of the easiest is probably > to use some thin nylon wire ties. > > It could be a lot of different things though, even component > level factory defects that can't be solved without replacing > a part. I'd try to find an Acer forum and whether anyone > else owning same or similar model with nVidia integrated > video is having overheating problems or any others. but first make sure there are no warranty tabs covering the case openings...otherwise you are stuffed now for a warranty repair. |