AN515-44-R4C8: UEFI settings are unacessible. Acer logo freezes after pressing F2 or Del

I've tried multiple suggestions that i've read on this forum, I opened the laptop and removed the CMOS then plugged it in again but no settings were reverted nor was the BIOS accessible again. If I press F2 or Del the notebook just freezes on the Acer logo, not accepting any other prompts like F12. If I don't press F2 or Del, I can use F12 to choose the boot device or just boot without pressing anything. But I can't in any way get into the bios to change the boot order and other settings. I can't update or reinstall the BIOS because the installer won't let me install the same version or an older version. I also tried Alt+F10 as some suggested but that also makes the Acer logo freeze.

I have read multiple accounts of similar behaviour on the Acer bios, since the Aspire series, is it possible that Acer has been ignoring a BIOS bug for so long?

If someone has a solution or workaround I'd appreciate a lot, thank you!

Accepted answers

Zetein

Yes, I could get to the login screen, only couldn't get to the bios. Unfortunately, none of the procedures suggested here and on other posts recovered my access to the BIOS, so I decided to try downgrading the BIOS, and that fixed it. I had InsydeBios version 1.04 and downgraded to 1.02, after that the settings were accessible again.

The InsydeBios installer would not let me install neither the same version (1.04) nor any previous version. There are other versions after 1.04 but they are not officially supported by this notebook according to the support page, and I wouldn't take the risk of installing one from another model. So I found a way to bypass the version check on the BIOS installer, I will share it here the procedure that I took:

1. Run the InsydeBios installer, it will hang on the version check error. Do not close the installer, leave it at the error message.

2. Open the file manager and on the address bar type "%temp%" without quotes.

3. There should be a folder created in the last minute, when the installer ran. Starts with "7z", then a random string of letters and numbers, and ends in ".tmp". For me it was "7zS8EB0.tmp". Copy it somewhere else and close the InsydeBios installer.

4. Go to where you copied the folder, and open the file "platform.ini" in a text editor.

4. Locate the line "[Bios_Version_Check]" with Ctrl+F, and below it, change the value of Flag from 2 to 0. Save the file.

5. Right click the *.inf file (H2OFFT.inf for me - other versions may differ) and select the option "install".

6. Now, open the executable file (H2OFFT_Wx64.exe for me - again it may differ for other versions), let the installer work until the computer reboots. It should boot into the UEFI update. After a few minutes, the computer will reboot again with the downgraded BIOS.

Hope these steps may help anyone who bumps into this problem.

All comments

StevenGen

Zetein said:

I've tried multiple suggestions that i've read on this forum, I opened the laptop and removed the CMOS then plugged it in again but no settings were reverted nor was the BIOS accessible again. If I press F2 or Del the notebook just freezes on the Acer logo, not accepting any other prompts like F12. If I don't press F2 or Del, I can use F12 to choose the boot device or just boot without pressing anything. But I can't in any way get into the bios to change the boot order and other settings. I can't update or reinstall the BIOS because the installer won't let me install the same version or an older version. I also tried Alt+F10 as some suggested but that also makes the Acer logo freeze.
I have read multiple accounts of similar behaviour on the Acer bios, since the Aspire series, is it possible that Acer has been ignoring a BIOS bug for so long?

If someone has a solution or workaround I'd appreciate a lot, thank you!

You have a frozen bios that needs to be revived by doing the "Crisis Utility Disk" process that needs a crisis usb, to do the crisis usb have a look here "How to Extract bios fd file from acer bios download from site” (don’t attempt any bios mods if you don’t know what you are doing as you will do more damage and I will not take any responsibility for what you do!) as this process needs to be done by an experienced consumer or tech.

I include the Acer "Crisis Utility Disk" process user guide from Acer for the AN515-44 SG for your info. Also and another cause could be that your bios chip is “damaged” and needs replacing. Look on the web for a new and latest bios chip that has the v1.04 flashed bios as the AN515-54 is a fairly new laptop and a bios chips should be available and its important that you get an experienced tech with the proper micro soldering tools to replace the chip for your laptop, don't attempt this yourself.

Using the Crisis Utility Disk.pdf

William_mk2

@Zetein

Try to turn on the computer. Don't tap or hold any keys while turning on the computer.

Is it going to login in screen .. Do you see the date and time login screen ?

Please check and let us know where it stops..

I am really sorry for the inconvenience.. Let us do the basic steps first..

Doing the power drain and bios defaults will really help. Kindly follow the steps given below:

Turn off the laptop. Disconnect or unplug the charger cable, devices or any other cables connected to your laptop. Close your laptop. Turn it upside down. On the bottom of the laptop, you can find a pin hole. It is a tiny hole. You can a find a battery symbol indicator next to the hole. It is like a + and – sign symbol as though somebody is trying to shift the battery out. Insert the pin on to the hole for 30 seconds. Remove the pin. Flip the laptop. Connect the charger cable, turn on the computer. Only on laptops where the battery is inbuilt you can find the battery reset hole on the back of laptop.

If you don’t find a pin hole on the back of laptop then you might be using removable battery. There is no need to unscrew anything to remove the battery. Turn off the laptop. Disconnect or unplug the charger cable, devices and any other cables connected to your laptop. Close your laptop. Turn it upside down. On the bottom of the laptop, please look at the top or bottom depending on the way you look at it. You can find a long door. It is a battery removable door. Just below that you can find a latch. If you move the latch you can remove the battery door. Once the battery is removed, flip the laptop. Open the top cover, press and hold the power button for 1 minute. Connect the battery back on the back of computer. Connect the charger cable back and then turn on the computer.

If you don’t see a reset pin hole on the back of laptop or if you are not able to remove the battery (if it is inbuilt) then please unplug all the cables and devices out of laptop. Hold the power button for 1 minute. After releasing the button you should wait a while before plugging in power. Just because the button has been pressed doesn’t bleed off all the residual electricity on the motherboard. Wait 15-30 minutes before plugging in power. Then once power is connected wait for a full battery indication before turning the system on. That allows the battery to fully reset it’s internal statistics.

Connect all the cables back and restart the computer.

Now check whether it goes to Bios setup screen..

While turning on the computer, tap f2. It will go to bios. Press f9 once. It will show load bios defaults with a yes or no popup. Press enter. Popup screen will disappear. Press f10 once. It will show save changes popup with yes or no. Press enter. Computer will restart and it will load into windows.

It might also be the issue with battery, charger or power outlet. Try to use the charger in a different room on a different power outlet. Try to bypass the surge protector and connect it directly to power outlet. Try to use an alternative charger if possible. Try to turn on the computer without the charger and check it ( as long as the battery is not drained out )

Try windows x

go to device manager

expand Battery

right click on all the items below battery – uninstall

Restart the computer

It should work fine..

Now turn on the computer. Please check and let us know where it stops..