A common reason why Acer laptops won’t turn on is because of battery problems. This can often be resolved by resetting the battery.
Look on the case near the battery for a pinhole reset button. You can use a paperclip to insert into the pinhole and press the button to reset the battery.
If you don’t see a reset button, you will have to remove the battery and clean it. Carefully clean the contacts using rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or Q-tip. Once it dries, reinstall the battery and charge it for at least 12 hours.
Top Reason Why Your Acer Laptop Won’t Turn On
Many of us consider our laptops the most convenient electronic device we own. We use our laptops every day and take them on the go. That is why we may get frustrated when our laptops don’t turn on. What can you do to fix it?
The laptop will not turn on when there is an interruption in the power supply. This could be due to a dead or faulty battery or power is not available at the receptacle.
It would be convenient if we could devise a simple solution to every problem. As we know, that is not the case, and many issues with a laptop could leave it unable to start.
There are some warnings to consider before you start working on the laptop.
1. Work Safely
When you work on any electronic device, you must do so safely. Safety is especially true when it comes to electricity.
Admittedly, your computer may not be starting because of a lack of power, but it could still have enough power inside to shock you.
If you aren’t familiar with how to work on electronics safely, you should have someone else do it. Otherwise, unplug the laptop, remove the battery, and wait at least one hour before working on it.
2. Avoid Static
Even if the issue not allowing your laptop to turn on is easy to fix, it can be complicated due to static discharge. If you have a static discharge, you could fry the electronics and render your laptop useless.
A few things can be done to reduce the possibility of static discharge. Remove any static before working on the electronics by touching something grounded.
You should also invest in a static mat. These mats keep you from building up a static charge that could discharge into your laptop.
3. Consider the Warranty
One other piece of advice I have for you is to consider the warranty. If your laptop is under warranty, doing any work on it or even opening the case could void it altogether.
That is why I would always recommend that you call the laptop manufacturer before doing any work. When I work on someone else’s laptop, that is the first step I always take.
After discerning if there is a warranty or not, you can decide to do the work. You might be surprised that, at times, speaking to the right person and speaking in the right way could get the job done for free.
Troubleshooting a Acer Laptop That Won’t Turn On
These are listed in order of likelihood and importance. It would still be a good idea to scan the list before getting started, as you may find one more likely to be a problem than another.
Check The Power Supply
The first and most obvious possibility of why a laptop will not turn on is a lack of power. Checking the power supply is important and a step that should not be overlooked.
Several different points between the breaker and your laptop could be a problem. Some of them are more likely to be a problem than others.
Power Cord
Carefully inspect the power cord for any damage. If it is bent, kinked, ripped, or cut, it should be replaced.
PRO TIP: Not all power cord damage is apparent, and some are internal. On more than one occasion, I have had clients with cats or other animals that chewed on the power cord. There were only a few puncture spots that were not easily noticed, but they were enough to interrupt the power.
Receptacle
The next place to check is the receptacle. The easiest way to confirm that you have power to the receptacle is to unplug the laptop and plug in a lamp or another appliance.
Breaker Box
If a breaker trips, it will not send power to the laptop. A breaker sometimes trips because we use a lot of electronics on the same circuit where we are using our laptops.
Open the breaker box and look at the row of breakers. If one is slightly out of line and you may see some red next to it, it is tripped.
You can reset the breaker by turning it entirely to the off position and then quickly flipping it to the on position.
If the breaker continually trips, there is likely an electrical problem, or you are overloading the circuit. Contact an electrician for assistance.
If the breaker is operating and the receptacle is not working, you will have to replace the receptacle.
Point of Entry
The point where the plug enters the laptop is the weakest on most tablets. There is a very small bond of solder inside, and if too much pressure is put on the plug, it could break the solder.
This problem usually occurs for a week or two before it stops working. You may have to wiggle the cord or adjust the plug for it to work.
After checking the warranty to ensure you aren’t opening a laptop still covered under warranty, you should open the case. If you see that the solder was broken, you can re-solder that piece again.
When doing this, it will be weaker the second time. If you are very careful, however, the laptop could last for months or even years before it becomes a problem again.
The Screen Needs Fixed/Replaced
We rely on our laptop screen to be the window to the world. Without the screen, the laptop would be rendered useless but did you realize it may not start if the screen needs fixed or replaced?
There is a difference between a laptop starting and getting stuck on a black or blue screen and a laptop not starting because the screen is broken.
If the laptop is starting and you get to a blue screen, the problem is not likely the monitor. It is actually a problem with the software. In most cases, it is likely your operating system.
If the screen is black when you try to start the computer, but it sounds like it is starting up, it may not be a problem with the laptop.
Replacing the screen on the laptop is a costly option. It will likely be less expensive to get a good, used laptop or replace it if it is older.
Another option to try is plugging in a second monitor. Use the HDMI port on your laptop to connect the monitor, and on starting, it should work.
You may need to hit the Windows Key and the P key simultaneously. Doing so gives you multiple monitor options, so you can select the second monitor as the primary.
Problem With Incompatible Hardware
One of the issues we sometimes face with laptops is plugging in hardware. This could be anything from connecting directly to a Wi-Fi network to a USB device or even a printer.
Most modern laptops have drivers that are continually updated. The firmware on the peripheral device may also be updated occasionally.
Occasionally, you may find that one of the connected devices is stopping the laptop from starting. This can be frustrating, but it is also relatively easy to fix.
The first thing to do is unplug everything from the laptop. You should then try starting the computer by pressing and holding the power button for five seconds, releasing the power button, and pressing the power button again.
Holding the power button forces the laptop to shut down completely. It would give you a fresh start if it was stuck in between and not starting.
You should see the computer restart when you push the power button for the second time. Since you forced it to shut down by holding the power button, it will likely give you a warning.
You can bypass the warning screen and continue to start the laptop.
Now that you know it is external hardware; you should plug in one external device at a time and restart the computer. When the computer doesn’t restart, you have found the offending device.
Problem With Incompatible Software
Software is what really makes our laptops so convenient. We have a wide variety of programs and apps that could be used to power our daily lives.
There may be times when software causes problems, interfering with the laptop’s ability to start. This can be frustrating, especially when it comes time to track the problem down.
PRO TIP: Don’t assume it is always the last program you installed. Many programs update in the background. More than likely, it is an older program that has recently been updated.
The first step in the process is to get the computer to boot up so you can start removing software. This will be done by booting into safe mode.
When you press the power button, continually press the F4 button until the options screen comes up. Select ‘Boot in Safe Mode,’ which will help you start the laptop.
While in Safe Mode, you have loaded a minimal amount of drivers, and the software will not be running in the background.
Start removing software until you find the one that is causing the problem. You can then either load an outdated version or live without the software until a new update is available.
If you decide to roll back the software to an older version, turn off the automatic update, or you will end up with the same problem again.
The Battery Needs Replaced
Some laptops will operate without any battery installed. Others will not start if there is a battery problem.
That is why it is essential to check the battery and verify it is in working order if your laptop won’t start.
First of all, try charging the battery. Plug the laptop into the wall receptacle and look for the charge light to turn on. If it doesn’t turn on, verify the power is working.
Next, wait at least 12 hours for the battery to charge fully. You should then try starting the laptop while it is still plugged in and the battery is charged.
Replacement batteries are available online. Make sure you get one that is compatible with your laptop.
Problem With The CMOS Battery
When most people think about a laptop battery, the first thing that comes to mind is the large battery that allows us to use our laptops on the go.
There is actually another battery in the computer, regardless of whether it is a desktop or laptop, and if it dies, the computer dies.
I’m talking about the CMOS battery. This little battery is attached to the motherboard, providing enough power for the bios to remember information about your laptop.
For example, information about the last time you shut down your computer will be stored in the bios, and the CMOS battery ensures that you don’t lose that information. Unfortunately, if the CMOS battery dies, then you won’t be able to start your computer.
The good news is if you have a screwdriver and a new CMOS battery, you can often fix this on your own. It may save you an expensive trip to the repair center.
Before opening your laptop, contact the manufacturer to ensure you do not have an active warranty. Otherwise, they might fix your laptop for free.
If you do open your laptop, you can remove the old CMOS battery with a screwdriver and replace it with the new CMOS battery. After giving it some time to charge, you can restart your laptop.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on May 24, 2023.
‘No Bootable Media’ Error
Certain files are necessary for any computer to boot. If the computer can’t find those files, it will not start.
This is sometimes a problem with a laptop when Windows is corrupted. It may have been corrupted due to a virus or, perhaps, because of another program running in the background.
In any case, you need to have the boot files before you can boot into Windows. In some cases, you can even boot into Windows using a secondary source for the boot files and fix things at that point.
You can use an old boot disk if you have an older laptop or a CD drive. Otherwise, you can make a USB drive a boot drive and plug it in.
You may need to boot into bios to choose what the computer looks for when it starts. Otherwise, it could ignore the USB drive or even the CD drive.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on May 24, 2023.
Once you have bio set up correctly, restart the computer with the boot drive inserted. The laptop should read the boot files and start the computer normally.
It may take some work to repair the Windows files on the hard drive. Otherwise, you will need to continue to use the boot drive.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on May 24, 2023.