Acer Aspire 5 - which drivers?

Before installing any new drivers, what problems are you having that you think any of these drivers will fix? Jack E/NJ

Well, mainly, the touchpad is not working. It is not related to FN + F6 or F7 (if I remember correctly) touchpad lock.

The touch pad didn't work throughout the Windows Installation and still does not work after installing Windows.

I will need to use both Wi-Fi and occasionally ethernet RJ-45 connection.

And I will need something that will optimalize the fan speed usage. Currently the laptop seems to always use fan (desktop, not doing anything or even in BIOS). The fan sound is always there (louder or quiter), and I have not even tried launching a single general purpose application yet.

Open DeviceManager. Do you see any red or yellow warnings? If not, what devices are listed under the HID and Mice folders? A screenshot would help if possible. Jack E/NJ

Thanks for reply. Here are two screenshoots of full device manager's list.

Did you acquire this without a factory-installed Win10 operating system? Jack E/NJ

JackE said:

Did you acquire this without a factory-installed Win10 operating system? Jack E/NJ

Yes, got it two days ago with no Windows (factory settings?). I turned off Fast Boot, added my USB to an "exception" in a secure boot (because USB was NTFS due to windows .iso being large). Simply installed Windows like always. The touchpad did not work even through Windows installation.

If there's a mouse cursor in BIOS (I think not?), but if there is, then it didn't work even in BIOS.

I suggest we first try to uninstall ALL the software drivers in DeviceManager that have yellow warning symbols. Note which ones that you uninstall. Then exit DeviceManager without re-installing anything. Keep fast startup turned off. Then shutdown Windows. Then re-start to see if any of the yellow warnings disappear. If not, then we will next try to get your wlan or lan running if it isn't already so we can find compatible drivers for the generic Win10 version that you installed. Jack E/NJ

Thanks, so far so good, the WiFi and Touchpad are working. Touchpad started working after installing touchpad drivers.

I have one problem though, clicking the FN + Left/Right arrows seems it does not adjust the brightness of the screen. I can adjust the brightness manually though by going into Settings -> Display. Why FN + Left/Right is not working? I have installed GPU drivers and in device manager it says they're working properly.

>>>FN + Left/Right arrows seems it does not adjust the brightness of the screen. >>>

What happens when you press the arrows without the FN key? Check BIOS Main tab and change FN key behavior setting. Jack E/NJ

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/9h/n3pi88gdr1md.jpg

Had to jump in. Have the same computer and same question as ranolmz. I found this thread by googling "AX201 INT9462 INT9560." This is the only English-language hit from Google that contains all three part numbers. I regret that JackE drove the thread away from the original question. I'm trying to perform a clean install on a new 1TB SSD, hence my need for the correct drivers.

It appears that Acer sources components from different vendors which are installed in the same model. Rather than keeping a database of the vendors whose components are installed in a specific SNID, Acer has posted all the drivers for all components that might be installed. The user is left to figure out which parts are installed on his or her individual computer.

I reinstalled the factory SSD and have just completed an exhaustive review of the drivers found in device manager. I have confirmed that I have an Elantech touchpad driver, both Intel and Nvidia graphics drivers, an AX201 bluetooth driver, and Realtek audio. I cannot tell about the rest of the wireless and bluetooth drivers listed in Post #1. I have no Qualcomm Atheros components. Reports from System Information and third-party tools have not helped identify other specific drivers. This information does not help ranolmz who is starting from scratch. He might, however, consider my drivers as a possible starting point.

My strategy going forward will be to attempt to install all the drivers I cannot identify and see which ones are accepted and which are rejected, taking notes along the way. This strategy could easily result in a hot mess, in which case more clean installs will be necessary until I get it right. Brute force over elegant solutions, eh?

One "gotcha." The default BIOS setting for SATA mode is "RST with Optane." If the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver has not been installed, the SSD will not boot. The SATA mode must be changed to "AHCI." After the RST driver has been installed, the setting must be changed to "RST with Optane." Perhaps the driver takes care of this BIOS change as part of the installation. If not, it must be performed manually.

Good luck to ranolmz!

As of 12/21/2019, here are the most current zip files downloadable as drivers for the Acer A515-54G-53H6 (sorted alphabetically):

Airplane Mode_Acer_1.0.0.4_W10x64_A.zip
Audio Console_Realtek_1.3.179.0_W10x64_A.zip
Audio_Realtek_6.0.8699.1_W10x64_A.zip
Bluetooth_Atheros_10.0.0.910_W10x64_A.zip
Bluetooth_Intel_20.100.0.4_W10x64_A.zip
Bluetooth_Intel_21.10.1.1_W10x64_A.zip
Bluetooth_Intel_21.20.1.2_W10x64_A.zip
Chipset_Intel_10.1.14.5_W10x64_A.zip
Chipset_Intel_10.1.18019.8144_W10x64_A.zip
Fingerprint_ELANTECH_3.6.11001.10002_W10x64_A.zip
IO Drivers_Intel_30.100.1841.2_W10x64_A.zip
IO Drivers_Intel_30.100.1915.1_W10x64_A.zip
IRST Utility_Intel_17.0.0.1072_W10x64_A.zip
IRST_Intel_17.5.0.1017_W10x64_A.zip
Lan_Realtek_10.35.0510.2019_W10x64_A.zip
Storage_Intel_17.5.0.1017_W10x64_A.zip
TouchPad_ELANTECH_13.6.14.1_W10x64_A.zip
TouchPad_Synaptics_19.0.25.10_W10x64_A.zip
Turbo Boost_Intel_1919.14.0.1269_W10x64_A.zip
VGA_Intel_26.20.100.6911_W10x64_A.zip
VGA_NVIDIA_25.21.14.1735_W10x64_A.zip
Wireless LAN_Atheros_12.0.0.910_W10x64_A.zip
Wireless LAN_Intel_19.51.16.2_W10x64_A.zip
Wireless LAN_Intel_21.10.2.2_W10x64_A.zip

These file names are confusing. When unzipped, these files produce the following directories (sorted alphabetically):

Acer Airplane Mode Acer Airplane Mode Controller_v1.0.0.4
Atheros Bluetooth_M NFA344NFA344ANFA435NFA435A_v10.0.0.910
Atheros Wireless LAN_M NFA344NFA344ANFA435NFA435A_v12.0.0.910
Bluetooth_Intel_20.100.0.4_W10x64
Chipset_Intel_10.1.14.5_W10x64
ELANTech Finger Print_M Finger Print_v3.6.11001.10002
Elantech Touchpad_v13.6.14.1
Intel Bluetooth_M AX201_v21.20.1.2
Intel Bluetooth_M INT9560.NGWG and INT9462.NGWG BT5.0_v21.10.1.1
Intel NB_Chipset_M Comet Lake_v10.1.18019.8144
Intel Serial IO WinPERE Drivers_v30.100.1915.1
INTEL Storage Intel Optane AutoConfigured_v17.5.0.1017
Intel Storage WinPERE Drivers_v17.5.0.1017
Intel TurboBoost_Manageability Engine Code Manageability Engine Code_v1919.14.0.1269
Intel VGA Chip UMA_v26.20.100.6911
Intel Wireless LAN_M AX201_v21.10.2.2
IO Drivers_Intel_30.100.1841.2_W10x64
IRST Utility_Intel_17.0.0.1072_W10x64
Realtek Audio Codec_M ALC255_v6.0.8699.1
Realtek Audio Driver Utility Realtek Audio Console UWP_v1.3.179.0
Realtek LAN_M RTL8111H-CGT_v10.35.0510.2019
Synaptics Touchpad_v19.0.25.10
VGA_NVIDIA_25.21.14.1735_W10x64v2

Wireless LAN_Intel_19.51.16.2_W10x64

The usefulness of the Intel Optane driver is disputed by some, but I have no opinion. I cannot tell at present whether the 16MB M.2 card I purchased from Crucial supports Optane. For the time being, I am omitting the Optane driver leaving the UEFI BIOS setting on AHCI. I will follow this generic installation sequence:

Chipset Driver
Memory Card Reader Driver (if needed)
Ethernet
WiFi
Graphics Drivers
Bluetooth (if needed)
Audio or Sound driver
Touchpad (if needed)
Touchscreen Driver (if needed)
Webcam (if needed)
Airplane Mode Switch (if needed)
Fingerprint Sensor Driver (if needed)
Intel Storage Manager (if needed)
Wireless Mobile Broadband Driver (if any)
Proprietary system management software (if any)

I have had one failed clean install due to constant interruptions while working. I recommend that the installation process be undertaken when you can work steadily without interruption and focus on each driver and whether it is supported. During the first run-through, I discovered that both the Intel and the Qualcomm Atheros wi-fi drivers installed without error, but Atheros showed as the active driver in Device Manager. I did not attempt to test connectivity because I did not want to trigger Windows 10 updates. Not sure which driver is the correct one at this point.

Another discovery: DO NOT UPGRADE THE BIOS to version 1.12. Version 1.11 allows you to toggle ACHI/Optane with RST on and off. Version 1.12 removes that ability. If you are upgrading the RAM and SSD (as I am) you cannot boot the new SSD when Optane is enabled. Not knowing this, the first step I took was upgrading to BIOS v1.12. When I could no longer toggle to AHCI, the computer would no longer boot. I had to learn how to revert the BIOS to v1.11. It is a simple process detailed here that involves running the v1.11 update, capturing the temporary files created, and then editing 'platform.ini' to change each instance of "flag=1" to "flag=0". That edit permits flashing of an older version of the BIOS over a newer version. Otherwise, the flashing software will prevent you from reverting to an older BIOS.

The process of discovery continues ...

Here is a copy of the driver installation checksheet I am using to track the process. I am about to start on Bluetooth.

DriverInstallationCheckSheet.pdf

I'm frustrated because I cannot find any control to edit prior posts. My post at 2:17 pm should be deleted and replaced by this one. I installed 14 drivers in the sequence below. Device Manager shows all devices installed and running correctly. I have not connected to the Internet yet. I am going to image the clean installation and then turn Windows update loose. I have attached a detailed check sheet -- that replaces the prior one -- identifying the ten drivers I did not install and explaining why. I have intentionally omitted any Optane-related drivers until I can better understand that technology, how it is implemented on my computer, and whether I can use it with the new NVMe RAM and SSD. Three of the folders did not contain an .EXE .CMD or .BAT file, so I was not able to install those drivers. I cannot tell why those files were posted on Acer's website. As mentioned, Device Manager shows clear so there is no reason to do more detective work.

Chipset_Intel_10.1.14.5_W10x64
Intel Serial IO WinPERE Drivers_v30.100.1915.1
Intel NB_Chipset_M Comet Lake_v10.1.18019.8144
Intel TurboBoost_Manageability Engine Code Manageability Engine Code_v1919.14.0.1269
Realtek LAN_M RTL8111H-CGT_v10.35.0510.2019
Intel Wireless LAN_M AX201_v21.10.2.2
Intel VGA Chip UMA_v26.20.100.6911
VGA_NVIDIA_25.21.14.1735_W10x64v2
Bluetooth_Intel_20.100.0.4_W10x64
Intel Bluetooth_M AX201_v21.20.1.2
Realtek Audio Codec_M ALC255_v6.0.8699.1
Elantech Touchpad_v13.6.14.1
Acer Airplane Mode Acer Airplane Mode Controller_v1.0.0.4
ELANTech Finger Print_M Finger Print_v3.6.11001.10002

DriverInstallationCheckSheet.pdf

I've imaged the drive and allowed Windows update to run. Device manager shows no changes and is still clean. Here is the list of installed software:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/ky/zmxwsx9dcr6t.jpg

Visual C++ was installed by Windows update. The jury is still out on Optane. The computer seems to run fine without. I will proceed to install the rest of my software and report back if there are any hiccups. The factory hardware gave me 4GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD. I now have 20MB of RAM and 1TB of SSD. Everything appears to be working fine. I hope this information will help ranolmz get his system up and running.

ranolmz>>>Thanks, so far so good, the WiFi and Touchpad are working. Touchpad started working after installing touchpad drivers. I have one problem though, clicking the FN + Left/Right arrows seems it does not adjust the brightness of the screen. I can adjust the brightness manually though by going into Settings -> Display. Why FN + Left/Right is not working? I have installed GPU drivers and in device manager it says they're working properly. >>>

So as to avoid confusion in this thread, please respond to https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/757320/#Comment_757320 . The brightness control up to that time seems to have been the only remaining issue that you have reported for your machine. Jack E/NJ

A final note and then I'll log off. I think JackE and I are working at cross purposes and ranolmz is caught in the middle. As I interpreted ranolmz's initial question, he was performing a clean install of Win10 and the touchpad did not work. I had the same problem. The easy answer is to plug in a USB mouse until you have installed the touchpad driver. There is apparently no generic touchpad driver bundled with Win10 that will work with the Acer touchpad on this model. Acer offers two touchpad drivers for download (Synaptics and Elantech), so the second part of ranolmz's question was how to determine which driver to use. JackE probably has an answer but declined to opine and began playing whack-a-mole with drivers.

I suppose I've been guilty of whack-a-mole, too. My motivation was to perform a clean install on a new SSD replacing the factory model. I refuse to run the factory installation because I don't know or understand the function of all the software (bloatware?) installed at the factory. I prefer to install the latest download from Microsoft followed by the necessary drivers and no more. Acer has left users in a confusing position by (1) failing to provide downloads of all factory-installed software, and (2) offering multiple drivers from different vendors for the same component. Their documentation is weak.

To illustrate, here is a list of the installed software from the factory image:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/ar/0ygxb1ks9e38.jpg

Nowhere on Acer's website will you find "DriverSetupUtility" or "Acer Configuration Manager." I have found numerous questions in this forum asking what those two "apps" do and where to download them, but no answers. I'll bet JackE knows.

I have no clue about "App Explorer" or "Care Center Service," but they do not sound like software I want on my computer. The same goes for "Quick Access Service" and "User Experience Improvement Program Service." Those could be anything, including spyware. I do not use Symantec products.

When all these items are removed from the list, all that remains are the drivers shown in my earlier post above. Interestingly, I have found that Optane runs fine when I restore the factory image to my new hard drive, but getting the Optane drivers to work on a clean install has thus far been problematic. I have plenty of speed with my new SSD. My (limited) understanding of Optane is that it is intended to improve the performance of traditional mechanical hard drives either used alone or in combination with a solid state drive. There does not seem to be much reason to use Optane when the SSD is the only drive in the system. Since that is how the Model A515-54G comes from the factory, I suspect there is some underlying licensing or promotional scheme with Intel to force Optane on users whether they need it or not.

This has been an interesting exercise. I admit to having borrowed this thread to document my own process and hope that my findings are useful to ranolmz and anyone else who stumbles across this information. I've got my system up and running the way I want (without Optane). Best wishes to all.