Aspire S3 951 random freezes (But I'm not 100% if this is the exact model)

The model number details are illegible on the base adn I can't find any info anywhere as to what exact model it is... the Acer 'find your model' link doesn't work and only shows when it was registered.

Anyhoo. I think it's an S3-951, looking at the spec: i5, 4Gb RAM, 256Gb SSID. About 3 years old. If that's so I note that it isn't in the list of supported models.

Keeps freezing randomly. Not a crash, but becomes totally unresponsive and I have to force a restart.

Have tried the SFC /scannow (as recommended by MS) and also the DISM. Neither of which have found anything wrong.

I have done 2 clean installs as the first upgrade to 10 from Win7 was a total disaster.

Looking at the event viewer, there's this error: 'Session "ReadyBoot" stopped due to the following error: 0xC0000188'

Also getting 'The system watchdog timer was triggered.'

Onlly thing I noticed after install was that the card reader driver had not installed. So I had to download and install it manually.

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IronFly

you can check your model, running this little program and then use the SNID on the Acer support website:

http://global-download.acer.com/SupportFiles/Files/SNID/APP/SerialNumberDetectionTool.exe

or

just press F2 at boot to enter BIOS and read your model.

SanPedro

Thanks IronFly. Tried the F2 at start up and model shows as just 'Acer S3'. Not much help given the variety of S3 models out.

Managed to get my serial number/SNID using the link yesterday.

This is the information I get using this Acer system information page http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/system-information#_ga=1.155802483.913246518.1444832638

Description:
Country:	GB
Warranty Type:	1 Year On Site
Warranty End Date:	12/24/2012
Registered Owner:	Cxxxx Cxxxxxx

Not exactly helpful is it?

IronFly

http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/support

scroll down to drivers and manual then put your SNID on "search by serial number os SNID"

this will send you to drives support page with a picture of your laptop and model.

SanPedro

Thanks... it's definitely an S3-951

IronFly

good.

i don't think that readyboost is the main issue but 'The system watchdog timer was triggered' this is a classic on random freeze.

first of all:

http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/drivers/3966;-;Aspire%20S3-951

click on BIOS and check if your laptop BIOS has the latest available, please also check about SSD firmware update too.

if they need to be updated, do it.

SanPedro

Thanks,

Both done now. Let's see what happens...

SanPedro

Hmmm.... interestingly, Firefox just crashed/froze but I was able to open the Task Manager and stop the process. So that is a small improvement.

Anything else you think might be worth a try?

IronFly

having a single Firefox crash can't help much to narrow the issue.

by the way, you can have a windows memory check

windows key logo + s

type

memory

select Diagnose your computer'd memory problem

follow instructions

SanPedro

Thanks. Memory test run, no problems reported.

IronFly

Good, i hope you can narrow the freeze only on Firefox now. Smiley Happy

SanPedro

Well (fingers crossed, touches wood) it's been very stable since yesterday. Running just fine at the moment Man Happy

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