Blinking monitor issue Acer Aspire A715-72G-72ZR

RilmeyWadley123
RilmeyWadley123 Member Posts: 17

Tinkerer

edited December 2020 in Aspire Laptops
Well, *****..
It's been 2 months already of my struggling with this cursed laptop. I bought Acer Aspire A715-72G-72ZR this September. Everything was fine. Then later after Windows 10 October update my BIOS automatically updated from 1.19 version to 1.28 (the latest on the website here is 1.26). My monitor started blinking. It's weird that sometimes it could take 2-3 hours up and worked properly and then started blinking again. Tried downloading manufactuter drivers, reset a hundred billion times my laptop, performed a clean installation of Windows, performed again, trying to integrate drivers to the image (interesting fact that every driver has been installed except for Integrated Intel graphics, where I've got the issue). I also tried downgrading BIOS to initial 1.19 step by step, also upgraded to the latest 1.26 available here. Nothing has helped. First month of use I used another cabel for charging it. It was 10A whereas in the box I had 7A another cabel. After this issue came up, I tried to use 7A since then. I've also got the second NVIDIA graphics. Tried to plug in another monitor which was working from dedicated graphics via HDMI. It works perfectly. After lots of clean installation my laptop now is called "desktop-..." everywhere instead of "laptop-...". Windows and Intel support directed me to Acer support, where I was told that if nothing has helped, then the problem is with hardware. Lots of service centres told me there's no issue with hardware, like I have to ask manufacturer to provide me a brand new driver. I remember initially I had a 4939 driver version (the oldest) available on the website. Tried this and also a new 5018 one. No success. Before I was asking a new driver, the support was reading my letters. Now they even don't answer me anymore for weeks. Will never ever buy anything from Acer products. Such a shame!!

Best Answer

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,871 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    Please don't post multiple threads and PMs on the same issue. It only tends to unnecessarily confuse, delay and create repeat responses.  If you have a backup of the original factory-installed HDD  setup, then use it to return the system to a factory fresh state. If you don't have it then contact an ACER regional service center directly to see if a USB factory recovery pendrive is available.  The BIOS version you claimed was factory installed was 1.26, NOT 1.28 as suggested in your PM. Jack E/NJ  

    Jack E/NJ

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Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,871 Trailblazer
    >>>I also tried downgrading BIOS to initial 1.19 step by step>>>

    Tried? Did you actually get v1.19 re-installed and Windows to boot from it? Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • RilmeyWadley123
    RilmeyWadley123 Member Posts: 17

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    >>>I also tried downgrading BIOS to initial 1.19 step by step>>>

    Tried? Did you actually get v1.19 re-installed and Windows to boot from it? Jack E/NJ
    Well, I just changed in "platform.ini" file the caption "Flag=2" to "Flag=0", so BIOS wasn't checked to make a downgrade. Also noticed that flickering disappears when I use a 100% brightness. If less, then appers again. Before this issue I could adjust any brightness, but for now only 100% 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,871 Trailblazer
    >>>My monitor started blinking. It's weird that sometimes it could take 2-3 hours up and worked properly and then started blinking again. >>>>>>I could adjust any brightness, but for now only 100%>>>

    How often do you guesstimate that the lid was opened & closed each day in the first few months you had the thing? Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • RilmeyWadley123
    RilmeyWadley123 Member Posts: 17

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    >>>My monitor started blinking. It's weird that sometimes it could take 2-3 hours up and worked properly and then started blinking again. >>>>>>I could adjust any brightness, but for now only 100%>>>

    How often do you guesstimate that the lid was opened & closed each day in the first few months you had the thing? Jack E/NJ

    Not that much. Like idk how it's related to the issue. The thing also is that I use a socket without groundings. Not even a socket. It's an electric tee being plugged in a such socket, the tee hasn't got groundings as well. So I doubt there's been a direct current while charching my laptop every time
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,871 Trailblazer
    The video ribbon that threads thru the hinge area can develop conductor trace breaks than can cause these issues due to  wear and tear of open/closing the lid too much. However, the more likely cause in your situation is that the video ribbon cable connectors at the mainboard and backlight inverter board at the base of the LCD need to be re-seated a half dozen or so times to clean their contacts. The fact that you get little or no flickering at the 100% brightness level suggests the backlight connections are either dirty or slightly oxidized. I don't think the flickering is caused by driver or update issues. Jack E/NJ  

    Jack E/NJ

  • RilmeyWadley123
    RilmeyWadley123 Member Posts: 17

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    The video ribbon that threads thru the hinge area can develop conductor trace breaks than can cause these issues due to  wear and tear of open/closing the lid too much. However, the more likely cause in your situation is that the video ribbon cable connectors at the mainboard and backlight inverter board at the base of the LCD need to be re-seated a half dozen or so times to clean their contacts. The fact that you get little or no flickering at the 100% brightness level suggests the backlight connections are either dirty or slightly oxidized. I don't think the flickering is caused by driver or update issues. Jack E/NJ  
    Oh, thanks! Like, you know. First month of use I could adjust any brightness, and now only 100% gives almost perfect performance (once or twice in a day there's still very thin strips being popped up, especially when integrated GPU is above 30% of performance). 
  • RilmeyWadley123
    RilmeyWadley123 Member Posts: 17

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    The video ribbon that threads thru the hinge area can develop conductor trace breaks than can cause these issues due to  wear and tear of open/closing the lid too much. However, the more likely cause in your situation is that the video ribbon cable connectors at the mainboard and backlight inverter board at the base of the LCD need to be re-seated a half dozen or so times to clean their contacts. The fact that you get little or no flickering at the 100% brightness level suggests the backlight connections are either dirty or slightly oxidized. I don't think the flickering is caused by driver or update issues. Jack E/NJ  
    Also noticed that sometimes if I increase the force of how I push the buttons on my keyboard, the flickering appears (during the low brightness). Maybe the problem is really with backlight contacts..
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,871 Trailblazer
    >>>Maybe the problem is really with backlight contacts.. >>>

    Yes, the connectors at the mainboard and backlight inverter board at the base of the LCD need to be re-seated a half dozen or so times to clean their contacts. The mainboard video connector is directly under the keyboard and usually held in place with only a sliding wedge. The wedge might not be fully pushed into the  connector to make good contact. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • RilmeyWadley123
    RilmeyWadley123 Member Posts: 17

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    >>>Maybe the problem is really with backlight contacts.. >>>

    Yes, the connectors at the mainboard and backlight inverter board at the base of the LCD need to be re-seated a half dozen or so times to clean their contacts. The mainboard video connector is directly under the keyboard and usually held in place with only a sliding wedge. The wedge might not be fully pushed into the  connector to make good contact. Jack E/NJ

    UPDATE: I tried to change hotkeys via BIOS. now I have to press Fn+any of F1-F12 to make it work. Plus I turned my battery to a high performance mode. No flickering. Just got twice a bit for a long time. Now I removed manufacturer's drivers and installed the latest from Intel.com. No issues at the moment but anyways need to take some more time to check this out ultimately. 'Cause I had got some times that it popped up again. Will be waiting.. 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,871 Trailblazer
    OK. Thanks for report. Keep us posted on if the problem returns. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • RilmeyWadley123
    RilmeyWadley123 Member Posts: 17

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    OK. Thanks for report. Keep us posted on if the problem returns. Jack E/NJ
    hey! the issue remained! like.. I also asked a technician to check my hardware. there's no issue with any hardware. they said the problem is that Acer couldn't teach my laptop to work properly. and there's no any way to solve this problem except for buying another laptop. so frustrated and exhausted! 2 months of battling with this one. more than 1 thousand dollars being spent for this "machine" and this kind of bullsh*t! 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,871 Trailblazer
    >>> I also asked a technician to check my hardware. >>>said the problem is that Acer couldn't teach my laptop to work properly.>>>

    What exactly did the technican do? And did you see the technician do it?  His explanation doesn't make any sense. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • RilmeyWadley123
    RilmeyWadley123 Member Posts: 17

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    >>> I also asked a technician to check my hardware. >>>said the problem is that Acer couldn't teach my laptop to work properly.>>>

    What exactly did the technican do? And did you see the technician do it?  His explanation doesn't make any sense. Jack E/NJ

    They checked out all the connections and all hardware in general to find the issue but everything works properly and there's no issue with hardware. 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,871 Trailblazer
    >>>technician>>>said>>>Acer couldn't teach my laptop to work properly>>>

    If you didn't actually see the technician do it with your own eyes, I'd recommend that you at least re-seat the mainboard & inverter ends of the ribbon cable yourself to make sure it was done correctly. The technician's diagnosis should leave you with serious doubts that he actually did anything other than turn the machine on. If it was connected & working properly, flickering shouldn't  occur unless screen resolution tried to be set higher than its 1080p specification limits. Jack E/NJ 

    Jack E/NJ

  • RilmeyWadley123
    RilmeyWadley123 Member Posts: 17

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    >>>technician>>>said>>>Acer couldn't teach my laptop to work properly>>>

    If you didn't actually see the technician do it with your own eyes, I'd recommend that you at least re-seat the mainboard & inverter ends of the ribbon cable yourself to make sure it was done correctly. The technician's diagnosis should leave you with serious doubts that he actually did anything other than turn the machine on. If it was connected & working properly, flickering shouldn't  occur unless screen resolution tried to be set higher than its 1080p specification limits. Jack E/NJ 

    The technician tried everything you described above. I've seen myself. There's no any other way to check out my hardware. We tried everything possible. And the resolution is okay, I didn't change anything. The flickering remains anyway... And there's no anything possible to do with hardware. Acer all again trying to hoax their customers! Such a shame. Plus, drivers being up to date back since 2018, whereas it's almost 2021...
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,871 Trailblazer
    Sorry. I don't know what hoax you're implying. The flickering should NOT occur unless there's a hardware failure or outdated driver. I suggest that you download and install iobit's DriverBooster freeware if you haven't done so already. If it can't find a driver online that works, then you should do a full erase everything ALT+F10 cold boot factory re-set to rule in or rule out a hardware failure and immediately turn System Protection on in Control Panel's restore point app in case it's a Win10 update that's causing the issue.  Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • RilmeyWadley123
    RilmeyWadley123 Member Posts: 17

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    Sorry. I don't know what hoax you're implying. The flickering should NOT occur unless there's a hardware failure or outdated driver. I suggest that you download and install iobit's DriverBooster freeware if you haven't done so already. If it can't find a driver online that works, then you should do a full erase everything ALT+F10 cold boot factory re-set to rule in or rule out a hardware failure and immediately turn System Protection on in Control Panel's restore point app in case it's a Win10 update that's causing the issue.  Jack E/NJ
    what's the point of pressing Alt F10? I already performed a bunch of clean installations of Windows. no success
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,871 Trailblazer
    The ALT+F10 cold boot D2D method resets the machine from a hidden ACER recovery partition to the original ACER-specific Win10 version that was shipped from the factory. The ACER-specific version including the original graphic/display drivers is NOT the same system as the generic Microsoft Win10.version or the ACER driver updates on the ACER download page.  If you clean installed from a USB using either Microsoft's media creation tool or a generic Microsoft iso with Rufus, the hidden recovery partition may no longer be accessible anyway. Sorry. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • RilmeyWadley123
    RilmeyWadley123 Member Posts: 17

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    The ALT+F10 cold boot D2D method resets the machine from a hidden ACER recovery partition to the original ACER-specific Win10 version that was shipped from the factory. The ACER-specific version including the original graphic/display drivers is NOT the same system as the generic Microsoft Win10.version or the ACER driver updates on the ACER download page.  If you clean installed from a USB using either Microsoft's media creation tool or a generic Microsoft iso with Rufus, the hidden recovery partition may no longer be accessible anyway. Sorry. Jack E/NJ
    okay. also tried iobit boost driver. didn't help me. and yeah i can't do alt f10 thing 'causr manufacturer's data have been deleted already. and there's no hardware issue with it
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,871 Trailblazer
    The hidden recovery partition is probably still there. If you open diskmgmt.msc you will probably see two recovery partitions. One is for the original ACER partition. The other is for the generic version you installed. If you only see one recovery partition, then the generic Win10 installations have likely overwritten the original ACER partition. Despite what your technician friend seems to claim about there being no hardware issue, probably the best and quickest way to rule out a hardware issue is with the original ACER version of the Win10 system files along with the drivers that are supposed to work with this ACER version.  Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ