Ultra-Thin

[ikamador]

I was JUST about to send my computer in to get this fixed and if this works that will save me a lot of time and money!!! Thank you! Also can any of you help  me with another problem? I rebooted trying to fix this problem and when I did, the internet was being spotty so I downloaded the atheros driver and it works not BUT now my FN volume keys don't...How do I fix that? THANK YOU!!!

[apbitten]

Just tigthen the center screw and have entire battery life without any shut down. Brilliant !, tks a lot!

[Kennorthen]

Thanks everyone for there effort and concern!

[chronos00]

I am absolutely surprised to confirm that even slightly loosening the middle screw prevents the laptop from using the battery entirely. Thus, I tightned  this screw and I'll try the results in the upcomming days. I must say that I DID test the tightness of the screw, before adjusting it, and it was indeed looser than the rest. Just slightly more loose, but the all rest were tighter for sure.

I am VERY curious about how can this screw cause this kind of behavior. I was very tempted in taking apart the rest of the case, just to find out. But since I'm travelling abroad tomorrow, I'll leave my curiosity alone, until I'm back.

Many thanks again to Dunkx for his effort, and for sharing your results.

[Dunkx]

From what I have found out from acer, There is an earth plate on the bottom cover and this makes connection when this screw is tight. The laptop by design will not turn on with the base cover/ screw removed while it is running on battery power.

Use or poor assembly can cause this screw to become loose and not ground this cover, thus the laptop not turning on.

I am not sure about your concern in regards to the longer screw. Design spec says there are 3 longer screws in the base of this laptop one in each of the rubber feet of the laptop and one in the screw hole between the rubber feet.

Regards,

Dunkx

[jonstatt]

Dunkx, I think there was a slight misunderstanding. I thought you meant there was a short screw there and should be replaced with a longer one. The long screws should already be there.

I suspected, as you confirmed, that there was an earth plate on the bottom cover. So you may have just found what Acer has failed to find after numerous trips for repair. I am glad it appears to be something so simple, but frustrated that Acer couldn't have found this themselves. Afterall a quick turn of a screw is so painless!

[Dunkx]

Jonstatt, On our fleet, We have found 2 laptops, (less than 1.5%) With shorter screws in this middle hole. But we were seeing this issue on a larger percentage of the fleet. At first we thought this might have had somthing to do with it, but as it turns out there were just loose screws in these laptops and at acer

[jonstatt]

Many thanks again Dunkx. I am always full of admiration for determined and methodical problem solving! I am curious if the screws were not tightened sufficiently at the factory or whether they all gradually work their way loose over time. It will be interesting if the fault re-appears for some of those that you have tightened. While it should never happen, tighening a screw every few months is not the end of the world.

If I may ask, and a bit OT, as you have a fleet of this Ultrabooks...what is the general reliability in other aspects? Is this the only pervasive issue you have come across?

[disco_stu]

I took mine into the repair facility.  I got it back yesterday.  They said they "repaired the main board".  It seems to be ok for now.

[matevam]

Hi,

When i look at my laptop, i dont see the middle screw. It seems to be hidden under a label. I just want to confirm that you guys removed the label to get to it?