ACER Problem

[robit]

Hi All! My daughter has a 3 yr old Acer T-180 - problems up until now..... When you push the start button the lights come on for moment & than nothing. I checked the PSU & it works fine, all connections appear to be good. I even checked the button its self & it works! Could the MoBo be @ fault  ? I'm @ wits end  .  Thanks in advance 

[mr-bisquit]

The cpu could be loose. Power cord connector to motherboard could be loose.
Are confident are you in maintaining your own repairs?

[robit]

Thanks for the responce mr-bisquit...... Checked all you had mentioned...... put a working PSU in NG...... Rechecked all connections, even pulled Start Button, again no luck. I've built & maintained a few PC's, but this kinda got me going  . I was thinking that it could be a short on the MoBo cause the fans will start for just a second or two than shut down! My daughter said it had happened to her a few months ago, but she rebooted & all went well. The Acer is going on three(3) yrs old, so who knows whats up. I've got an older Biostar MoBo that hasn't been used much. I'll replace that Acer with that if the MoBo is shorted. Only thing is how will that TF570 take her HDD with Vista & all her stuff  ?  Thanks again 

[Computer_Commando]

...I was thinking that it could be a short on the MoBo cause the fans will start for just a second or two than shut down! ...

Remove power from the CD-ROM, Hard Drive, any plug-in cards, etc., it may not be the mobo.  The psu is shutting down because it sees a short, somewhere.  Look for bulging capacitors on the mobo.

[robit]

Hi Computer_Commando..... Yes, went though the process as in your outline...... was thinking in that direction too...... No capacitor problems or burnt spots on the MoBo..... The PC is torn down now, sooooo the next step will be the install of the BioStar TF570 with hopes that it wont have a problem reading my daughters HDD. I know that she'll have to reactivate Win Vista..... I'd better get this PC going cause she's in "PC WITHDRALLS"  The only thing that errkkks me is not knowing what exactly went wrong!!!      Thanks for your interest & suggestions.        

[patio]

Just wondering how you tested the PSU...

[hejlik]

Said he put a working psu in

[patio]

Still not enough details...
I've seen 3 swapped PSU's in a row that weren't up to snuff and wound up being the underlying issue.

[robit]

Hi Patio! Pulled PSU out of my working PC..... I literally changed all hardware with good tested ones..... PSU, DVD even the CPU..... No luck..... I'm in the process of installing the BioStar TF570...... I'll let all know what happens.    Thanks to all for advise & support 

[robit]

OK All! It was the Acer MoBo!   I installed the BioStar TF570 & booted into the BIOS, no problem. However...... The HDD that my daughter has will not boot to Win-Vista.... Ya-know "WINDOWS HAS DETECTED A HARDWARE CHANGE" , Your computer was unable to start!!!!  do the repair thing (the repair thing never works anyway)...... Well it came from an ACER what does Windows Think!  Any Idea's on how I can get it to boot?    Thanks 

[Computer_Commando]

Does the Biostar TF570 have a bootable hard drive or could you create one with Vista or XP?  Then connect the Acer hard drive as a secondary drive and pull off all the data.  I think the Acer Vista is a gonner!

[robit]

Hi Comp_Com! The system is exactly the same as before except for the new BioStar MoBo. Yeah I think Vista doesn't see the ACER MoBo......sooooo It won't boot. I kinda figured this would happen. I have an old copy of Vista SP1 that I had upgraded to Win7 so I'll try to install (or repair) that and she'll have to buy the Vista Home basic after 3days or get Win7. At least I found the problem and daughter will get a new MoBo + case + CPU cooler out of the deal...... that's life, or that's what people say!(break into song!) OK I was gone but i"m back now......   Thanks for your input, this site is the best     

[robit]

An Update: As you know I pulled the ACER MoBo out, installed the BioStar TF570 SLI in an Apevia mid tower & added a Thermaltake Big Typhon CPU cooler. I put my daughters HDD in and POW, NO BOOT  to Windows Vista. Than I put in a clone I had made a month ago - same thing  ! Had ACER restore Disks, soooo I figured what the heck  ! The DVD's wiped the HDD clean(the clone), but restored Vista to original installation  ....... Didn"t see the non-acer MoBo at all  .  WA-LA System booted no problem  . Installed my daughters original HDD & moved her files over to the once clone(smaller cap). The only thing I have to do is replace her older HDD with a Higher Cap Drive & she'll be in business. I don't even have to contact Microsoft to reactivate for now.  Feel real good at this point, a happy ending that doesn't happen to often in the PC world. I hope my problem & resolution helps others!   Thanks all!