Acer W4 820 Micro USB not functioning properly.

When I plug my charger into my Acer Iconia, it charges but makes no indication that it is charging. No lights come on. No pop ups come up on the screen to say that it is charging, nothing. The only way you can tell that it is charging, is by plugging it in for awhile, then unplugging to see the batter meter go up. I recently bought a Micro USB keyboard off ebay, but when I plug it into my Acer, nothing happens. No lights come on, no nothing indicating that my tablet even detected it. The tablet seems fine. No errors in device manager, or anything like that. I dont have any other Micro USB micro devices to plug into it to see if it works, so I was wondering if anybody else has had this same problem. Is my USB port messed up, or is there an update or setting I can use to fix this?

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SuperMenace

I also just tried hooking it up to my PC using USB, and neither my PC or the Tablet recognized anything being plugged in.

zoeff50

That is funny, because I had the same experience. See seperate thread a few days ago.

I bought a demo Iconia W4 recently, but was supplied with a wrong charger; Asus 5V 1.3A. Too low power rating, but it worked/ charged (red and green light visible). Became a bit warm though...Charger replaced.

Bought a 2nd charger with 2 USB outlet connectors; 1A for smartphones and 2.5A for phablets/ tablets. 1A port charges (lights visible) but using the 2.5A port no lights visible. Reading your note, charging would still take place. Will test this out. Came accross a 4 USB port charger from a friend; 1A and 3A ports. But again no lights visible on the Iconia, also not sure yet if it actually charges. Will also test this out.

No idea what the cause could be, but read the next "story".

I have also a Garmin Zumo390 navigator for use on my motorbike. Was planning to use the 2 USB port charger for charging the Zumo and Iconia W4 at the same time. This 390 has also one (mini) USB connector for data transmission with the PC and for charging. Apparently there are data cables and charging cables; never heard before. Cables with the same end connectors, can you believe it. Mini and micro USB connectors have 5 pins (std USB 4 pins) and pin 4 and 5 of the mini and micro USB connectors have to be short circuited yes or no for data transfer or charging. That would be the reason for different cables. Tried the Acer charger with the Zumo390 and the Zumo went into communication mode, no navigation use possible. Not sure if the Zumo would still charge; possibly it will. Will also test this out. Using the other 2 USB port charger with the same cable, the Zumo went into charging/ navigation mode on both ports as it should be. Any differences should then be in the charger, because the same cable was used.

This is a live topic on the Garmin User Forum; more users have this problem.

A rather strange story I feel, but it seems to be true.

Not clear yet if these two stories are related to each other.

Will report back if I know more. Not too concerned if the red and green lights would not come up, proper charging is more important.

zoeff50

Received this web link from the Garmin User Forum on how the behaviour of the Garmin GPS unit can change depending on the hookup of the (5 pin mini) USB connector; it has all to do if pin 4 and 5 are connected yes or no).

http://pinoutsguide.com/GPS/garmin_nuvi_power_pinout.shtml

Very usefull website by the way.

May be this has something to do also with the behaviour of the Iconia W4 by using different (universal) USB chargers.

Tested last night if the "wrong" USB charger would still charge mij Iconia W4 and it did. This morning the battery was 100% charged, but the LED lights and battery indicator still did not show anything of a charger connected.

If different cables can cause a different behaviour of the GPS unit, this does not explain why my GPS unit shows different behaviour when using the SAME cable with two different universal USB chargers; that would mean the difference would be in the universal chargers, which I do not believe. Still discussing this on the Garmin forum.

Bit of a mess I think, if manufacturers are using a std mini/ micro 5 pin USB connector and adjust/ modify it to suit their purpose. The 5 pin micro USB will most likley become the single EUR std connector for all smartphone chargers from 2017 onwards; not for Apple of course, they will/ have to supply an adapter cable to suit the micro USB charger.

I am still in the dark of the different behaviour of the W4 and will report back if I hear more from the Garmin forum.

At least the W4 is charged with the universal USB chargers.

zoeff50

Tried the 2nd universal USB charger with 2 USB outlet ports whereby the red and green charging lights and battery symbol in the system tray also gave no indication of a charger connected. After a couple of hours checked the battery status and indeed it was fully charged also.

Charging "problem" thus not existing. Issue with the charging lights and battery symbol not solved yet, working on.

SuperMenace

Im really just trying to figure out why it wont recognize any USB devices that I plug into it. I got a Micro USB keyboard, and a micro usb hub that I want to use with the tablet, but the Port wont recognize that anything is being plugged into it.

zoeff50

My W4-820 does recognize USB memory sticks. Tried different ones, all w/o problems. After connecting, the icon for safe removal shows up in the system tray. Ordered a micro USB hub with additional micro USB connector for external power supply with DX-Extreme; waiting for delivery. Found out later that external power supply via this hub will not charge the W4 but will supply power only for the USB devices connected.

Nothing further heard from the Garmin user forum on the charger issue; few people are using a (universal) charger. The Zumo GPS is normally charged via the USB port of the PC. Expect no further reply from the Garmin forum on this issue.

Hope you can find out what is causing the problem; I am still in the dark. Charging goes ok w/o lights. Plug it in before going to sleep and the next morning the W4 is fully charged.

SuperMenace

Im pretty sure that the micro usb port on my tablet is messed up. Think the whole port needs replaced

zoeff50

Can you see the 5 contacts inside the micro USB port on your W4 with a small flash light? I checked mine also using a magnifying-glass and could clearly see the contacts. Mechanically nothing wrong with it and it is almost impossible to mess it up when it is used in a normal way. But it could also be faulty electrical contacts. You said earlier that your W4 did charge w/o lights visible. Possibly not easy and not cheap to replace the micro USB port by an Acer servcie centre?

zoeff50

May be worth trying running the program USBDeview from Nirsoft Utilities.

USBDeview is a small utility that lists all USB devices that currently connected to your computer, as well as all USB devices that you previously used. If there is a list shown of USB devices then the micro USB port should be ok. Worth trying to delete the entries, with any USB device disconnected, and next to plugin again the USB device. Windows will then reinstall the relevant driver for that device. You cannot do anything wrong with this program.

http://nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html

SuperMenace

I started the program, and it didnt have a single thing listed. At the bottom it said usb.ids is not loaded. I went to the file menu, and the only option it would let me click was "disconnect all devices." Clicked it, and nothing happened.

zoeff50

usb.ids file not loaded is not important; this is a seperate file you can download to show additional info.

It seems you have a USB port driver problem the W4 not recognizing the micro USB port for data communication. Check the Acer support web site to check for the available drivers. I know, and possibly you know, there is a driver pack available for Win8.1 32 bit. Download this driver pack, check for the relevant driver and install it. I have the same driver pack running and except for the two camera's and the auto orientation of the display everything is working ok with Win10. There is no driver pack for Win10 32 bit for the W4, and possibly this will not become available. If your W4 functioned ok with Win8.1, possibly revert back to Win8.1.

It could also be a mechanical problem with the connector with one of the inner contacts pins not making contact. I had such a problem with the micro USB x USB std OTG adapter cable which came with thw W4. Fixed it myself with the aid of a needle and a magnifier glass...

But may be you have tried all this already.

zoeff50

Only for my interest, but have you made any progress in resolving the issue with the micro USB port not working?

I purchased a Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard, the best I have read from different reviews. Build in rechargeable battery. The thing works fine with a USB charger connected, very good typing experience, but stopped working with the charger disconnected. Kept it connected for 2 days charging, but no success, as there would be no battery inside. Back to the shop and replaced by a different new one. One night charging and the thing does not work either w/o charger connected. Will leave it for one week connected with the charger and then try again. The shop had 4 in store, plenty to try out...Can you believe it.

padgett

Why I really prefer wired devices (archeologists may be able to date my house very closely by the RJ-45 wiring) but then I tend to deal in decades rather than years.

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