need help with power-on issue - HELIOS 300 PH315-52-78VL just got it back from Acer!!!

So I am like, super livid right now, please excuse any mistakes caused

by my rage.

I had to send my laptop to Acer for repair - it would not power on. A battery reset did not help. (There is no pinhole on this model, only the "software reset" available.)

I just got it back this morning, after 9 days.

Repair notes: Reseated and secured keyboard cable, updated BIOS.

Guess what - IT STILL WILL NOT POWER ON!!!!

At first I plugged it in and the battery indicator light was orange. I waited for it to turn blue, then waited about an hour longer because I was busy. No dice.2

Tried the battery reset again. No dice.

Opened up the case, keyboard cable looks perfectly fine, well-secured etc.

Talked to Acer and they want me to send it back again.... 9 days without my beloved laptop just about killed me and now they want me to do it again!!!!

Is there anything further I can do to diagnose this myself? I'm an experienced techie and not afraid to poke around as long as I don't violate my warranty...

Accepted answers

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ColoradoJ

So, for the record, in case anyone runs into this problem.... I fixed it.

I opened up the case, unplugged the battery from the motherboard, waited a few seconds and plugged it back in. Then did the battery reset and this time it started right up.

ColoradoJ

So I think this laptop has some type of flaw. I am not sending it back to Acer but just wanted to get others' thoughts.

AGAIN today my laptop would NOT turn on. Again, the battery reset and all other tricks did not work. And again, I had to open it, unplug the battery, and plug it back in, and then it would turn on.

Forgive me, but this "software reset" for the battery is bullcrap.

Commodore_1995#

I saw your answer in the other topic and would like to know if the problem occurs after updating the bios?

ColoradoJ

The bios was updated by Acer when I sent it to them the first time it happened. So I would have to say that updating the bios did not make a difference to the problem.

Commodore_1995#

And what version of the bios is installed? is version 1.11?

ColoradoJ

It is showing 1.10

Commodore_1995#

Does the same problem occur when you upgrade to version 1.11? https://global-download.acer.com/GDFiles/BIOS/BIOS/BIOS_Acer_1.11_A_A.zip?acerid=637243399269426673&Step1=NOTEBOOK&Step2=PREDATOR&Step3=PREDATOR PH315-52&OS=ALL&LC=en&BC=ACER&SC=PA_6

ColoradoJ

It took some time to confirm, but I can advise that BIOS 1.11 did not fix this issue.

It seems to be related to running down the battery. I have noticed the problem so far 2 times after the following usage pattern:

- laptop is plugged in all day while I am using it
- I then unplug the laptop and move it to another room and use it without being plugged in for some time
- I then close the laptop (Without powering down or anything, just put the screen down/laptop into closed position) and set it aside
- Laptop goes unused for 8-12 hours overnight
- Next day I plug the laptop in - battery LED shows orange for awhile then goes blue
- Laptop won't power on however, and battery reset (by holding down power button) does not do anything.

Fixing it requires:

- open laptop case (with laptop unplugged of course)
- unplug the battery physically from the mainboard
- wait a few seconds
- plug it back in and close up the case
- plug laptop in
- press power button
- laptop screen flashes once then goes dark
- press power button again
- laptop turns on normally at this point and works fine again

So I guess the lesson here is to never let the battery run all the way out.... I guess I can live with that although I am not super happy about it.

Commodore_1995#

Maybe there is a problem between the dptf driver and the windows version?

mcd1993

Did you ever figure out a way that doesn't require unplugging the battery from the motherboard? I'm having this exact same problem now, I tried updating BIOS and that did nothing. The only thing that works is removing the battery from the motherboard, but then the issue seems to happen again after a few days.

ColoradoJ

Unfortunately not. I have left the screws out of my laptop because I got tired of unscrewing the bottom all the time...

ColoradoJ

I did find that the issue seems to happen if I let the battery run out. If I always leave the laptop plugged in it never does this.

mcd1993

Interesting, for me Windows is showing me that the battery is constantly "Fully Charged 100%". When I fire up games like FH4 or Witcher 3 with high/max settings, my laptop seems to crash too (when plugged in). How often do you have to perform the battery unplugging method?

Feremeir1

ColoradoJ said:

It took some time to confirm, but I can advise that BIOS 1.11 did not fix this issue.

It seems to be related to running down the battery. I have noticed the problem so far 2 times after the following usage pattern:

- laptop is plugged in all day while I am using it
- I then unplug the laptop and move it to another room and use it without being plugged in for some time
- I then close the laptop (Without powering down or anything, just put the screen down/laptop into closed position) and set it aside
- Laptop goes unused for 8-12 hours overnight
- Next day I plug the laptop in - battery LED shows orange for awhile then goes blue
- Laptop won't power on however, and battery reset (by holding down power button) does not do anything.

Fixing it requires:

- open laptop case (with laptop unplugged of course)
- unplug the battery physically from the mainboard
- wait a few seconds
- plug it back in and close up the case
- plug laptop in
- press power button
- laptop screen flashes once then goes dark
- press power button again
- laptop turns on normally at this point and works fine again

So I guess the lesson here is to never let the battery run all the way out.... I guess I can live with that although I am not super happy about it.

I have had this EXACT word for word problem happen to me several times, but did not have this fix. Previously had to take it in to get repaired and they charged me for unnecessary parts they claimed it needed. SO thankful my wife found this post so I can DM our groups Dungeons and Dragons session this week after all.

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