Notebooks & Netbooks

[Bertje]

Hi All, bought myself an Acer V3-772G-747a321.26TBDWakk laptop and I have the following issue: sometimes it resets completely after unexpected powerdown. When I reported the issue I got a brand new laptop and it has exactly the same problem! So it must be a software problem I guess. 

Configuration: original Windows 8 x64 from factory AND brand new Windows 8.1 x64, laptop connected to power supply, battery full, all UEFI based.

Windows events:

Error: The previous system shutdown at 10:04:52 PM on ‎9/‎25/‎2013 was unexpected.

Followed by 

Critical: The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.

No events before that.

I have an unusual suspect: it seems like it happens when running java in chrome browser, but not sure yet (i'm not familiar with java)

Chrome version 29.0.1547.76 m

Java jdk-7u40-windows-x64

I'll run some more tests.

[Bertje]

OK guys, follow up: suspect no1 = Adobe Flash! It so happened thatpowerdowns took place during using a browser (IE, Chrome,FF) and during flash activity.So I switched it off now. Let's see whathappens.

Steve Jobs right after all?

I'll keep you infomed

[Vince53]

Bert, we're talking about a quad-core with 32 gigs of RAM, if I understand your model number correctly. If Java were messing up your rig, it would have shown up in test models. But you can try installing Opera, a bare-bones browser to see if that helps.

I would recommend contacting Acer and asking them why they didn't fix the old one. Perhaps they can tell you what the problem is. I would also recommend a deep scan with your anti-virus program.

I wonder if you haven't accidentally installed a program that is clashing with another program? You can install the free Win Patrol to find out what starts up when you run your rig. Disable (but don't Delete) programs you don't want. Later, if everything is running well, you can go back and delete them.

[Bertje]

Hi Vince, thanks,

yes it is the quad core 32 gig beast. It is not java and it's not flash either as I suspected earlier. And it also happens on a clean factory installation AND a clean genuine windows 8.1 installation without any additional software installed but chrome. Chance of happening is highest when browsing and using flash, but I think it very rarely also happens without browsing, not sure about that now. So I'm still trying to figure out the root  cause.

I am on BIOS level 1.08 still, maybe I should upgrade to 1.11 but there are some posts about problems with 1.11 so I first need to be sure I can find the 1.08 software so I can revert if necessary.

I'll keep you posted.

[Bertje]

STAY AWAY FROM BIOS 1.11!!!!

After I updated my BIOS from 1.08 to 1.11 the laptop just powers off almost continuously. A managed to get to the loing window, but as soon as I press enter after entering my password the power shuts down.

I managd to get into a command prompt and tried to start the bios 1.08 installer (after setting check bios version flag to 0 in platform.ini) but it needs a subsystem, most probably WOW64.

Now reinstalling windows 8.1, but the power shuts down almost immediately after booting.

I think I need to bring it back to the shop.

[Bertje]

I notice that Acer withdrew BIOS 1.11. This proves that the power interrupts are caused by BIOS errors. 1.08 has the same issue but it is more or less manageable. Hope they fix the BIOS soon with 1.12 version. But I don't want to be the first person to try a new BIOS. Any heroes here?

BTW: I have a new laptop, same type, I don't give up easily.

[Bertje]

I brought back my third laptop having the same power interrupt issue after calling Acer and I got a refund from the store where I bought it (I can really recommend buying your stuff at this store if you're Dutch). I opened a case at Acer and got an answer containing the following text (translation follows):

Momenteel zijn wij  in samenwerking met het hoofdkantoor aan het zoeken naar een oplossing voor dit probleem

Wij hopen hier spoedig een antwoord op te hebben.
Vermoedelijk zal hiervoor inderdaad een nieuwe BIOS beschikbaar gesteld worden.

Met vriendelijke groet

Translation:

Currently we are working together with our main office to find a solution for this problem.

Hopefully we'll have a solution soon.

Probably there wil be a new BIOS indeed.

Regards.

/Translation

I'll wait a few weeks before trying again.

[Bertje]

Update: I bought the same type of laptop at another shop hoping it was a batch problem. They had a 14% return on this type (3 out of 25) but it was not clear what the issues were. I received the laptop yesterday and after some positive preliminary tests I decided to go for the real thing: I installed windows 8.1 plus the drivers from the Acer site. It seems that the order of installation matters for the stability of the system. My first attempts resulted in blue screens with the DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE error which is mentioned on some forums. Finally after several fresh installs I seem to have a stabile system. I wish I had saved the order of driver installation but I didn't. I know however how I checked the 'stability' after each new driver installation: I opened the device manager and tried a Scan for hardware changes. I noted that instability resulted in the scan hanging (not finishing). Before each new driver I created a new restore point so I could roll back if necessary.

I also started with the Intel Display (4600) driver, followed by the NVidia one because I had problems with the intel driver in previous fresh installs.

Result: a stabile system

Next step was checking my original problem: immediate powerinterrupts. Interrupts appeared to happen most often when browsing sites using flash. So I started two sites using flash and had the laptop run all night. Next morning: system was still running smoothly.

My conclusion:

1 - I had very bad luck with 3 laptops from a bad batch.

2 - Order of driver installation on Windows 8.1 seems to matter: start with Intel display driver, then NVidia and then the rest. Create a restore point before each new driver installation and check Scan for new hardware runs ok after each driver.

[sri23]

Isnt Windows 8.1 still in test / preview state ? The release date is Oct-18th.... What did you mean by brand new 8.1 ?? 

I recently bought the same model. I am happy that Acer withdrew BIOS 1.11. I had severe issues after I upgraded to 1.11 and so downgraded back to 1.08. I am on windows 8. With BIOS 1.08, Windows 8, there are no issues whatsoever with the order of driver installation. More than 1 month now and no blue screens so far.

The issue might be due to Windows 8.1. Its in its early stages..

[Vince53]

SRI, Windows 8.1 is a complete, new operating system designed to replace Windows 8. For tax purposes, Microsoft labels it as an upgrade, but it is not. You can get it free if you have a legal copy of 8. Should you do this, however, you will lose your Acer drivers. Fortunately, 8.1 is so similar to 8 that you can PROBABLY install the Windows 8 drivers without a problem.

Some companies are already releasing new computers with 8.1 installed, and it appears to work fine.

I intend to install 8.1 on my desktop, but NOT on my laptop.