PH317-52 BIOS recognizes USB HID devices as removable storage, softlocking the boot sequence

Ever since the BIOS got updated from the stock one by unknown means, having any USB HID device plugged in until the BIOS turns on the backlight will softlock the boot sequence until I either (before v1.22: unplug the USB HID device and hold down the power button to kill the BIOS; or at v1.22 BIOS: unplug the USB HID device and press CTRL-ALT-DELETE to reboot).

I tried plugging in other devices, but it seems like only my USB mouse and USB keyboard triggers this issue. USB serial, phones, and removable storage devices (obviously) don't trigger this issue, and it boots properly into the selected OS.

This is definitely a BIOS problem, because it softlocks right after the backlight turns on, but before the logo shows up, and the fans spin up like crazy after a few seconds.

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xapim

So i assume you are on bios 1.22 right acer implemented a battery saving feature for the keyboard backlit which seems to be an issue for some because it just switches it off after X time but that doesn't seem to be you issue here i would press the battery reset pinhole hold for 30s to complete drain all power then let it rest from 5 to 10 minutes boot up into bios load setup defaults and see how it goes it the issue persists and we can go from there hope it helps

SonoSooS

Thanks for the tip!

Pressing and holding the battery reset did make a difference, but only once.

Basically here are my results in time order:

- pre-v1.19: softlock before even the logo would show up, requires a hard cycle (holding down the power button) to get out of the frozen state

- v1.19: after a few seconds to a minute it would occasionally get to the logo, but it would still require a power cycle to unfreeze it

- v1.22 before battery reset: it would boot to the logo, but would softlock even after unplugging the mouse, but am able to reboot with CTRL-ALT-DELETE

- after battery reset (first boot): it does boot after one second delay while the mouse is plugged in

- after any reboot: the logo only shows up after unplugging the mouse, but requires CTRL-ALT-DELETE to get out of the frozen state

- after doing a BIOS "reset" (it didn't seem to reset anything, even the time stayed the same): it boots to the logo, but it only boots into the OS when I unplug the mouse

But there is one common thing in this bug: I know it's softlocked because the fans spin out like crazy. But that's just probably the poorly made BIOS, because it even spins out the fan when doing nothing in the setup screen.

I actually like the auto poweroff thingy, but I wish I could adjust the time it takes for it to turn off.

Also, I'm using it via the power adapter, so I kinda doubt it's a power saving measure.

</offtopic>

xapim

It might also be something to do with the mobo some fault somewhere in the usb ports it happens if you see you cannot troubleshoot it just contact acer support for a repair/replace

SonoSooS

I'm definitely sure this is a fault in the BIOS, because this only happens since Windows did an automatic BIOS update without my consent. This didn't happen with the stock BIOS when I unboxed it.

xapim

Oh so windows updated you bios that is a completely different issue i think no all models can have their bios via windows update but its a really bad idea not sure if that will be removed in future as microsoft updates tend to screw everything up i saw predators getting bricked because if windows updating the bios and the update failed and i record it was a predator 17 also this is the main reason i disabled windows updates completely on windows 10 because you cant even choose which updates to download/install it just downloads and install everything it want's to i think there is a thread here in the forum on how to fix this by downgrading/reflash the bios via a usb drive pretty sure i read that thread a few months ago i will try to find it and post it here

xapim

Give a read through this thread to see if it helps there are instructions on how to flash the bios via usb use the same version that u have now to see if it fixes it if not you can also try a previous version but all at your own risk as i said in previous threads messing up with bios it's risky so it's up to you if you want to give it a shot

if it works i would disable windows update permanently through regedit because disabling the service will not work on every restart it will re-enable itself again i'm also leaving the link to download the ready to import reg keys to enable and disable windows update.

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/533825/windows-update-stuck-on-please-wait-while-we-install-a-system-update-message

Windows update enable disable reg keys:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AkXXDz5knA1mmynwb-jIZl3Rsu-D

SonoSooS

Yeah, I'm afraid to downgrade the BIOS this way. And I can't even find an official 1.12 BIOS flasher download, so I'd rather avoid trying to downgrade the BIOS.

Also, I disabled updates a long time ago, but I was way too slow at figuring out how to disable most of it via the scheduled task manager, so I wasn't able to avoid that BIOS update.

I would've contacted Acer directly about this issue, but after digging up the whole house I can't find my proof of purchase, so I'm afraid to do anything with it until I'm able to find it.

Red-Sand

After BIOs updates it's always a good practice to default it.
Bootup F2 to enter BIOs > F9 to default it > F10 to save & exit.

Red-Sand

Also make sure in the boot tab of BIOs there isn't a rouge something in front of your Windows boot.

Lastly if the above don't work try pulling your CMOS for an hour to reset it .

SonoSooS

Red-Sand said:

After BIOs updates it's always a good practice to default it.
Bootup F2 to enter BIOs > F9 to default it > F10 to save & exit.

I did that after poking the battery pinhole, but it doesn't seem to do much on v1.22 BIOS. Not even the time was reset.

Red-Sand said:

Also make sure in the boot tab of BIOs there isn't a rouge something in front of your Windows boot.

Lastly if the above don't work try pulling your CMOS for an hour to reset it .

I have a bootloader before Windows, and I switch between that and Windows from the F12 menu.

Also, doesn't opening the laptop void the warranty? I'm afraid of voiding the warranty because this is my only laptop left, and I can't pay the repair if it were to break during transportation.

xapim

SonoSooS said:

Red-Sand said:

After BIOs updates it's always a good practice to default it.
Bootup F2 to enter BIOs > F9 to default it > F10 to save & exit.

I did that after poking the battery pinhole, but it doesn't seem to do much on v1.22 BIOS. Not even the time was reset.

Red-Sand said:

Also make sure in the boot tab of BIOs there isn't a rouge something in front of your Windows boot.

Lastly if the above don't work try pulling your CMOS for an hour to reset it .

I have a bootloader before Windows, and I switch between that and Windows from the F12 menu.

Also, doesn't opening the laptop void the warranty? I'm afraid of voiding the warranty because this is my only laptop left, and I can't pay the repair if it were to break during transportation.

Depending on which country you are in and if you have any seals in the bottom of the laptop covering some screws it might void or not for ex to upgrade the m.2 ssd you would have to open it and as i said if you don't have any seals and you are able to you can upgrade it yourself without voiding warranty (again depends on which country)

SonoSooS

xapim said:

Depending on which country you are in and if you have any seals in the bottom of the laptop covering some screws it might void or not for ex to upgrade the m.2 ssd you would have to open it and as i said if you don't have any seals and you are able to you can upgrade it yourself without voiding warranty (again depends on which country)

I don't have any seals, but the purchase page said something about voiding the warranty if I want to replace anything other than the HDD.

I bought my laptop in Austria (AT, not AUS).

xapim

SonoSooS said:

xapim said:

Depending on which country you are in and if you have any seals in the bottom of the laptop covering some screws it might void or not for ex to upgrade the m.2 ssd you would have to open it and as i said if you don't have any seals and you are able to you can upgrade it yourself without voiding warranty (again depends on which country)

I don't have any seals, but the purchase page said something about voiding the warranty if I want to replace anything other than the HDD.

I bought my laptop in Austria (AT, not AUS).

Contact whoever you bought it from and make sure they explain to you exactly what you can do and can't regarding voiding the warranty if they say you can't open it to replace for ex the m.2 ssd just let them know your issues and send it to them for them to sort them out as they will have to i am guessing you bought in a store right if so they will have to provide you the service if they refuse contact acer directly and explain what is happening to them

Deejay_tech

reset the cmos. it is a 2 wire connector on the mainboard near the main battery.
just pull the connector out for 5 minutes and then reconnect.
it will not void your warranty.

you may also reflash the latest bios. its a simple step of editing the platform.ini file.
to disable the version check flag.

xapim

Deejay_tech said:

reset the cmos. it is a 2 wire connector on the mainboard near the main battery.
just pull the connector out for 5 minutes and then reconnect.
it will not void your warranty.

you may also reflash the latest bios. its a simple step of editing the platform.ini file.
to disable the version check flag.

He might not be able to open it even to replace the m.2 as it might void his warranty by opening it i'm not sure of the warranty policies in Austria but i know in fact that in Switzerland (i lived there before) the electronics/pc shops are really strict if you open anything so as i said i would contact the seller first just to make sure and be certain that opening it would not void warranty in their view the question here it's not the acer warranty itself its the shop warranty as as every seller has their own internal policies and may refuse warranty even if acer grant's it i saw this happening before with other brands and devices i had an issue over a iomega external hdd that i got from a shop just stopped being recognized and i even thought it was the adapter in the enclosure i opened it to test another hdd and it was working fine it was the hdd itself but when i claimed warranty they refused to give it i went straight to iomega and they replaced it for me but of course i had to spend my own money to send it back to them and took ages

its just an ex of how the shops have their own internal policies

Deejay_tech

xapim said:

Deejay_tech said:

reset the cmos. it is a 2 wire connector on the mainboard near the main battery.
just pull the connector out for 5 minutes and then reconnect.
it will not void your warranty.

you may also reflash the latest bios. its a simple step of editing the platform.ini file.
to disable the version check flag.

He might not be able to open it even to replace the m.2 as it might void his warranty by opening it i'm not sure of the warranty policies in Austria but i know in fact that in Switzerland (i lived there before) the electronics/pc shops are really strict if you open anything so as i said i would contact the seller first just to make sure and be certain that opening it would not void warranty in their view the question here it's not the acer warranty itself its the shop warranty as as every seller has their own internal policies and may refuse warranty even if acer grant's it i saw this happening before with other brands and devices i had an issue over a iomega external hdd that i got from a shop just stopped being recognized and i even thought it was the adapter in the enclosure i opened it to test another hdd and it was working fine it was the hdd itself but when i claimed warranty they refused to give it i went straight to iomega and they replaced it for me but of course i had to spend my own money to send it back to them and took ages its just an ex of how the shops have their own internal policies

yeah, every shop has its own policies, user should first confirm with the place of purchase.

SonoSooS

It took me a few days of hesitation to get some courage to open it up, but I did it.

Afer resetting the battery the logo shows up almost instantly instead of taking 1-2 seconds just for the logo to show up.
I'm also not able to log into Windows using the PIN code I set a long time ago, so anyone reading this should be aware of that. Luckily I bruteforced my password in a few tries.

As for the original issue, it still persists. If I have my mouse plugged in, the BIOS just softlocks until I force reboot by spamming CTRL-ALT-DELETE after unplugging it.

<offtopic>
It turns out that I misread the part about voiding warranty. Because they used a font not good for my bad eyes, I misread "nur" as "nicht", so instead of "you can't open the case to replace the battery, any modifications done will void the warranty" the page actually says "the battery is service-able only by opening the whole case, any unfortunate damages done while modifying will result in a loss of warranty". So I guess I can open it safely. I also stiffened the touchpad, because it was too wobbily and bendy for me.
</offtopic>

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