Aspire A515-51 No Boot

ClineTech
ClineTech Member Posts: 3 New User
I'm working on this Aspire A515-51, Model No. N17C4. I seems to be either stuck at the Acer splash screen or just after at a black screen. I can't seem to get it to boot to a USB drive despite trying Legacy and UEFI. I've disabled secure boot. Also have try new ram, hard drive, removed the battery and CMOS battery for several minutes. The most I've been able to get out of this thing is a brief Windows logo when it tried to boot to USB. Any suggestions on how to proceed troubleshooting this or is it a lost cause?

Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    Must stay in UEFI mode. Legacy mode risks losing everything hard drive.

    First try this.

    (1) Press and hold power button till laptop shuts off
    (2) Unplug charger. No LEDs should be lit.
    (3) Press reset button on bottom for about a minute. Use paperclip or ballpoint pen if need be.
    (4) Plug charger back in but wait till battery charge LED turns from steady orange to steady blue
    (5) Only after battery charge LED turns steady blue, turn laptop back on and immediately press the F2 key to enter the BIOS menu
    (6) Press F9 in the BIOS menu to load defaults.
    (7) In the BIOS Main tab make sure F12 boot option and D2D recovery are enabled.
    (8) Press F10 to save settings and exit the BIOS menu
    (7) Laptop should start Windows login normally

    If not, to boot from bootable USB stick, the stick must be prepared using Microsoft's USB media creation tool, or prepared from an installation iso image on a GPT partition scheme FAT32 format USB stick using Rufus. Insert stick in USB port, turn machine on and immediately start tapping the F12 key that brings up a menu to boot from the stick.

    Jack E/NJ

  • ClineTech
    ClineTech Member Posts: 3 New User
    JackE said:
    Must stay in UEFI mode. Legacy mode risks losing everything hard drive.

    First try this.

    (1) Press and hold power button till laptop shuts off
    (2) Unplug charger. No LEDs should be lit.
    (3) Press reset button on bottom for about a minute. Use paperclip or ballpoint pen if need be.
    (4) Plug charger back in but wait till battery charge LED turns from steady orange to steady blue
    (5) Only after battery charge LED turns steady blue, turn laptop back on and immediately press the F2 key to enter the BIOS menu
    (6) Press F9 in the BIOS menu to load defaults.
    (7) In the BIOS Main tab make sure F12 boot option and D2D recovery are enabled.
    (8) Press F10 to save settings and exit the BIOS menu
    (7) Laptop should start Windows login normally

    If not, to boot from bootable USB stick, the stick must be prepared using Microsoft's USB media creation tool, or prepared from an installation iso image on a GPT partition scheme FAT32 format USB stick using Rufus. Insert stick in USB port, turn machine on and immediately start tapping the F12 key that brings up a menu to boot from the stick.


    JackE said:
    Must stay in UEFI mode. Legacy mode risks losing everything hard drive.

    First try this.

    (1) Press and hold power button till laptop shuts off
    (2) Unplug charger. No LEDs should be lit.
    (3) Press reset button on bottom for about a minute. Use paperclip or ballpoint pen if need be.
    (4) Plug charger back in but wait till battery charge LED turns from steady orange to steady blue
    (5) Only after battery charge LED turns steady blue, turn laptop back on and immediately press the F2 key to enter the BIOS menu
    (6) Press F9 in the BIOS menu to load defaults.
    (7) In the BIOS Main tab make sure F12 boot option and D2D recovery are enabled.
    (8) Press F10 to save settings and exit the BIOS menu
    (7) Laptop should start Windows login normally

    If not, to boot from bootable USB stick, the stick must be prepared using Microsoft's USB media creation tool, or prepared from an installation iso image on a GPT partition scheme FAT32 format USB stick using Rufus. Insert stick in USB port, turn machine on and immediately start tapping the F12 key that brings up a menu to boot from the stick.


    No luck with your suggestions. However, Rufus will only allow NTFS format for my Windows 10 image. I have confirmed that the drive does boot on another PC.
  • Easwar
    Easwar Member Posts: 6,727 Guru
    Hi @ClineTech,

    Reset this PC and keep my files
    1. Shutdown the unit. Press and hold alt+F10 key. Then turn ON the unit.
    2. You will get a blue screen. Choose the option troubleshoot. 

    3 Ways to Reset Acer Laptop to Factory Settings without Password​​

    3. Select Keep my files to refresh your PC and reinstall your operating system without removing your personal files. Click Next to continue. Important If you have apps installed on your PC, they will be removed. 
    4. Resetting the PC will reinstall Windows, change settings back to their factory defaults and remove all preinstalled apps and programs without removing your personal files. Click Reset to continue.
    5. You will be shown the reset progress on the screen. The screen will turn off during the reset process.
    6. The screen will turn back on when it is installing Windows. Your PC will restart several times during the reset process.
    7. Follow the process until it completes.
    8. When your PC has completed the reset process, Windows will have been reset back to its factory default settings without removing your personal files.​

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    >>>Rufus will only allow NTFS format for my Windows 10 image>>>

    Something's wrong with the way Rufus is being used. NTFS format USB won't boot.

    Must be FAT32. GPT partition. Re-do the iso with RUFUS.with setting shown below.


    Jack E/NJ

  • ClineTech
    ClineTech Member Posts: 3 New User
    No luck with the Alt + F10 either. Got the please wait with the loading circle on the Acer splash screen. Then black screen, left it for 2 hours. No change.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    Re-do the USB iso with Rufus. Make sure it's GPT partition and FAT32 formatted. Use the Rufus advanced format dropdown to change the format from NTFS to FAT32 if you have to. Or use Microsoft's Win10 installation USB media creation tool from another Windows computer.

    Jack E/NJ

  • Easwar
    Easwar Member Posts: 6,727 Guru
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    Re-do the USB iso with Rufus. Make sure it's GPT partition and FAT32 formatted. Use the Rufus advanced format dropdown to change the format from NTFS to FAT32 if you have to. Or use Microsoft's Win10 installation USB media creation tool from another Windows computer.

    Jack E/NJ