Acer Aspire A515-56G - Beware of new BIOS Upgrade !

just let the bootloop for 3-4 times, then do what i told it will just go away

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The Heading should be :- ( typo )

ACER A515-56G - Beware of new BIOS

>>>>I own a Acer Aspire A515-56G and recently experience a nasty experience upgrading BIOS from ACER driver download>>>

>>> The Windows 11 upgrade will try to install Insyde Softare - Firmware ( esp. Win 11 Home edition user do not have choice to stop this ) during regular OS updates. >>>>

These two statements seem conflicting??? Did you install the v1.20 from the ACER downloads? Or do you claim WinUpdate installed v1.20?

Sorry the title should be

ACER A515-56G - Beware of new BIOS Upgrade ! typo !

Moderator - can you fix this title here please.

JackE said:

>>>>I own a Acer Aspire A515-56G and recently experience a nasty experience upgrading BIOS from ACER driver download>>>

>>> The Windows 11 upgrade will try to install Insyde Softare - Firmware ( esp. Win 11 Home edition user do not have choice to stop this ) during regular OS updates. >>>>

These two statements seem conflicting??? Did you install the v1.20 from the ACER downloads? Or do you claim WinUpdate installed v1.20?

Hello Jack, I am reporting 2 issues here :

1. The Acer BIOS upgrade v1.20 which is showing for this laptop model on Acer support sites :
screenshot here :- https://ufile.io/6uma0xhf
When installed, put the cooling fan on the MB run at high speed (fan noisier and always way above v1.30 before). So there seems to be some issue with CPU/MB temperature and fan RPM correlation with this new BIOS. The problem I am reporting here is that customer do not have an option to downgrade to v1.30. My attempt to manually ( force ) downgrade resulted in a WinBoot corruption and Inaccessible boot device error.

2. The second issue is with the Microsoft update suggesting Insyde Software - Firmware - 5.42.1.20 upgrade for this laptop model.
screenshot here : https://ufile.io/6sschalz
Installing this - results in Windows Inaccessible boot device error.

In both cases, the rescue boot Startup fixes and even a command line MBR rebuild does not help. The MBR/UEFI is corrupted beyond repairs and the OS & applications has to be re-installed again.

My intention of posting this is to inform Acer tech team to look into this and advice - and meanwhile warn online users here using this same Acer Aspire model to hold on from upgrading to above Insyde BIOS version.

I own A514-54G. The Bios update is same, i've got it too. ITS TRASH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfhgnxUJoZo&list=FLVBqwtBw09_Z9tXo1Injakw&index=16

>>>In both cases, the rescue boot Startup fixes and even a command line MBR rebuild does not help. The MBR/UEFI is corrupted beyond repairs and the OS & applications has to be re-installed again.>>>

You cannot repair a GPT partitioned boot disk from a UEFI bootstrap machine by applying commands that are intended for an MBR partitioned boot disk from a legacy BIOS machine. If you tried doing that, you have likely corrupted the GPT partitioned boot HDD or SSD. Accordingly, if Windows will no longer boot, then it will likely have to be re-installed in UEFI mode on a GPT partitioned boot disk from a USB installation stick using Microsoft's media creation tool. I can walk you thru what needs to be done including reversing the BIOS version if you find there's still an issue with a fresh Window installation.

Commodore_1995#

About the heating issue, sometimes some bugs can occur during bios update. I advise accessing the bios and then pressing the f9 and f10 keys. I also advise resetting the battery later:

" I can walk you thru what needs to be done including reversing the BIOS version if you find there's still an issue with a fresh Window installation. "

Hi Jack, it would be helpful if you can share a method here to rollback the Insyde Softare - Firmware, these Acer laptop uses. The provided utility simply does not allow to install a lower version BIOS. Some online guide suggests to tweak the utility config to bypass the version check. In despair, I tried this hack, but this caused the above boot issue for me after downgrade. Anyways my Acer BIOS is back to v1.13 ( after above step ) and also my laptop heating/fan noise is back to normal now.

Nevertheless, the 2 issue for Acer tech support to investigate, remains :

1. Is below BIOS v1.20 on Acer support site buggy as it causes noisy fans?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/rk/op8q2jtd5p3i.png

2. Why MS is pushing this Insyde Software - Firmware - 5.42.1.20 for this laptop model ? => installing this DEFINETELY results in a Inaccessibel Boot device error ( certain because, I tried 2 times and same outcome )

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/ev/9di6kcd0f9lz.png

>>>Anyways my Acer BIOS is back to v1.13 ( after above step ) and also my laptop heating/fan noise is back to normal now.>>>

I don't think Microsoft is pushing firmware upgrades. Upgrades are only meant for ACER mainboards that show USB bus problems due to a new communications controller that is sometimes used on mainboards. If you don't have a problem with devices that rely on the USB system (for example, bluetooth connectivity, camera), then you should not be upgrading due to risk of adverse side effects.

I agree with thomas @JackE. The 1.13 had faster bootups and heating issue didnt exist. I realllllllllllly want to go back

Backdating the BIOS version carries more risk for bricking and side effects than updating. Do you want to take that risk?

I've already did, got inaccesible device bsod bootloop, solved by going to advanced startup options>uefi and firmware settings>then reset bios settings by f9 and then saving by f10😎😎🤣

thomas, bro you can downgrade, just when you get the bootloop, let it go until you get an error that it can't solve the problem, then go to advanced startup options>uefi and firmware settings>then restart pc, you'll enter in bios. Now click f10 and use arrow keys to click yes, similarly then save changes in the last tab or clcik f10 and you'll boot up

you know how to downgrade @Thomas_blr ? that flag 0 stuff?

Well, yes I tried the flag = 0 to ignore the BIOS ver check. Ref :

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/305412/aspire-v3-772g-bios-downgrade#U305412

It helped flash the BIOS with the lower version, however gave an error afterwards and resulted in unrecognisable boot device on rebooThen I had no option than to reinstall Win11 again.Do this is not a recommended method to downgrade Phoenix BIOS used on these laptops.

Insyde not Phoenix bios above..

i got same problem but i've solved it and now im on 1.13

just let the bootloop for 3-4 times, then do what i told it will just go away