Notebooks & Netbooks

[cgreg]

I installed windows 8.1 on my 8.9 inch AOA150.  It works, but I need Win 8 drivers for touchpad.

After a little fiddling to set the DownScaling on, it all worked well except the touchpad.  It installed with a generic PS2 mouse which meant a slightest touch sent the curser flying.  I installed drivers from Synaptics, which work except it keeps hanging up.  The computer keeps working and a USB mouse still works until the touch pad wakes up.

Anyone know where to get a driver for the touchpad, fix this, or other ideas.

Thanks, Clark

[Thedeathofxp]

Nice to see you still have your AOA 150 still running (I have one too) As for the driver - if version is 11.1.4.0 that is the old xp driver and will not work well with W8. Go to Synaptics com and download version 17.0.19

[cgreg]

Much appreciate the reply.

That is the driver I have.  The XP driver at ACER did not install.  The one at Synaptics com (Windows 8/7/XP/Vista 64/32-bit Edition v17.0.19) is the one that keeps locking up.  Is anyone using that driver with WIN 8.1 without trouble?

And yes, I use the AOA150 all the time.  It is actually slightly smaller (Length & width) than an IPAD, much lighter than an IPAD w/ keyboard.  It has a full real keyboard, 160G storage (Ipad is 32 most?) built in case, 3 USB, 2 SDs, monitor connection, Ethernet and a full windows OS, and runs a lot that IPAD won’t touch @ 1/2 price.  OK, it is not Cool, “in thing” or whatever the latest jargon is, but I couldn't care less about being "cool"! 

I use Power Point, and just connect it to overhead at work w/ wireless USB mouse/lazer pointer.

I did upgrade to 240G SSD from Amazon for $100 and 1.5G memory for $5.

Thanks,

Clark

[Thedeathofxp]

Yes AOA150 is well made,but you SSD is why you can run W8. The touchpad buttons may have dust -use eye glass paper to clean the fine space between pad and buttons -if one of the buttons are on angle this maybe why the pad is slow to respond .   Im surprized you didn't add Broadcom crystal HD decoder BCM70015 -PCI Express mini card . Very simple to do on AOA 150,underside door .

[cgreg]

Appreciate the tip.  Did not know about that.

Is that a plug in install?  I saw where the screen plugs into the mother board top left.  I haven’t taken the screen apart so I would have to guess the video card is there?

I don't use it for movies, but did notice a couple u-tube clips seemed to have a lot of dropped frames.

Thanks,

Clark

[Thedeathofxp · Accepted solution]

No ,the door is on under side of the computer body -flip it over ,it will be on you left side near the battery- remove the 2 very small screws - the door will open - you will be able watch HD video with out chop - deeper colours too

[cgreg · Accepted solution]

So, the cable from the screen doesn’t need to connect to it.  For $25, its worth trying.  Very much appreciate the tip.

Also, (back on topic) I solved the touchpad problem.

In one of the Microsoft forums, it said to use the AOD150 drivers.  They were talking about win7, but it appear to work with Win 8. 

See notes here (You may need a Microsoft account)   (You need to page down past the guy that can’t think out of the box and insists on going back to XP!):

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/need-3g-and-webcam-device-driver...

Bottom line:

On acer.com: go to Support / Search by product / Drivers and manuals

Select: Netbook, Chromebook / Aspire One:   see list of products

Under AOA150, go to AOD150  then download, install:

        TouchPad - Synaptics - Touchpad Driver - 14.0.4.0 - 29.1 MB - 2012/03/28.

I downloaded, then uninstalled old, then  reboot, then installed new.

(I had a USB mouse attached, but did not need it.)

Have not had a problem yet today.

Windows 8.1 seams to work well.  You do need to set Downscalling on.

Thanks,

Clark

[Thedeathofxp]

Glad you fixed it. Your running W8 ,are you still using OEM battery (Sanyo) or have you up graded to a 6 cell ?

[cgreg]

Actually, I bought the larger (9cell?) some time ago, but it doubles (seems to) the weight, and defeats the advantage of having the small netbook, so I rarely use it.  I like the size of the 8.9”, yet far more functional than a tablet.

The original battery doesn’t seem to last as long, but due to age – not the upgrade.  The SSD will require less power than the spinning hard drive in any case. I bought the netbook when they first came out, how many years ago?  I do have an inverter that I use if in the car for any length of time.