Where to find BIOS Download for Aspire 5715Z, Model ICL50, looking for BIOS upgrade

alpage2
alpage2 Member Posts: 2 New User
edited December 2023 in Aspire Laptops

An Aspire 5715 Model ICL50 has come to me, and to run a linux operating system, I need a BIOS upgrade. I can't seem to find the most recent BIOS on the Acer website - hoping for a link to it.

Thanks in anticipation.

[Edited the thread to add issue detail]

Answers

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 12,849 Trailblazer

    This 2006 Windows XP/Vista notebook is no longer supported by Acer and Microsoft, you need to use the BIOS version you have. IMO to install Linux on an Acer motherboard you need at least a 2010 W7 laptop.

  • alpage2
    alpage2 Member Posts: 2 New User

    I have had previous experience of a similar Acer laptop, which relied on a Windows feature to operate the cooling fan, which was then unable to cool when run with a linux operating system. I just need the last BIOS version to be issued for the Aspire 5715Z, in the expectation that it will fix the cooling fan problem and be independent of the operating system. Perhaps someone who had this model still has the final BIOS download?

  • JonTrv
    JonTrv Member Posts: 3 New User

    I have one of these devices, and I have successfully installed Linux Mint 21.3 on it. The basic assumption in (probably most) Linux installations these days is that the disk (in my case an SSD) will have a GPT partition table. This machine is too old to understand GPT, I kept getting ¨No bootable device" even after an apparently successful installation. What worked was to override the default disk formatting and force it to use an MBR partition. The install complained about a lack of an EFI system partition, but I ignored the error and continued with the installation. It now boots and runs nicely, albeit (very) slowly compared to modern machines.

  • JonTrv
    JonTrv Member Posts: 3 New User

    OK, strictly speaking mine is an Aspire 5720, with a core 2 duo cpu, but the base model is still ICL50, and is using BIOS 1.45 from 11/10/2008 (not certain if this is 11/Oct or Nov/10 date format, but at this late stage it does not really matter).

  • JonTrv
    JonTrv Member Posts: 3 New User

    Should anybody wish to look, the link is https://termbin.com/0h3p

    Note the Drives: scheme: MBR « essential to get this ancient laptop to boot.