Acer Aspire V15 crashes when plugged in, also the boot manager doesn’t recognize the SSD

MotivatedWeeb

so I’ve got this laptop for years now and it was running just fine until recently. Not too long ago it started crashing when it’s plugged in and the even more peculiar thing is, that after the crash the boot manager doesn’t recognise the SSD that runs windows for a few minutes no matter if plugged in or not. I installed windows on the HDD too to see if the problem persists but it doesn’t. My guess is that somethings wrong with the SSD but no amount of diagnostics bring up anything. At first I thought it was a windows problem since that’s what most forums said. I wiped the SSD and HDD clean and reinstalled windows which fixed the problem for some time. Now it’s back and even after another wipe the problem persists.

[Edited the thread to add issue detail]

sri369

Did you try a different SSD/HDD?

Axxo

Experiencing crashes only when the laptop is plugged in could indicate several potential issues. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the problem:

1. Power Adapter and Charging Port:

Ensure that the power adapter is functioning correctly. Sometimes a faulty power adapter or charging port could cause instability when the laptop is plugged in. Try using a different power adapter or test the laptop with a known working one.
Check the charging port on the laptop for any physical damage or debris that could be causing connection issues.
2. Overheating and Power Settings:

Verify if the laptop is overheating when it's plugged in. Overheating due to inadequate cooling can lead to system crashes. Clean the laptop's vents and ensure proper airflow.
Check the power settings to see if the laptop is running different settings when it's on battery versus when it's plugged in. Adjust power settings to a balanced or power-saving mode when connected to power to check if that makes a difference.
3. Hardware Diagnostics:

Run hardware diagnostics. Most laptops have built-in diagnostics accessed by pressing a specific key during boot (usually F2, F10, or Del). Check for any hardware failures, particularly related to power supply or components.
4. Battery Issues:

Although it might seem counterintuitive, faulty or failing batteries can sometimes cause issues when a laptop is plugged in. Try using the laptop without the battery installed and connected only to the power supply to see if the problem persists.
5. Windows Updates and System Files:

Ensure your operating system is up to date with the latest Windows updates. Sometimes, system files or outdated drivers can cause instability. Update or reinstall the drivers, especially those related to power management.
6. System Restore or Reset:

If the problem started recently, consider performing a system restore to a point before the issue began. If that doesn’t work, a system reset might help, but remember to back up your important data before doing so.
7. Professional Repair or Manufacturer Support:

If the issue persists after trying these steps, it might be a more complex hardware issue. Seek professional help or contact Acer support to diagnose and potentially repair the laptop.
Important Note: As you've already sought help from repair shops, it might be beneficial to provide them with the specific information that the issue occurs only when the laptop is plugged in. This might help them focus on power-related components during their troubleshooting.

Troubleshooting laptop issues can be complex, and sometimes it requires a process of elimination. If none of the above steps resolve the problem, seeking further professional assistance might be necessary.

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MotivatedWeeb

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1305451#Comment_1305451

as I explained in the post itself, I basically dual booted the pc with one OS running on the SSD and one running on the HDD. The SSD vanishes from the BIOS when plugged in, although not always as I noticed after the pc ran fine after like 6 crashes after formatting and reinstalling windows and it even ran the few games I installed. The HDD Works completely fine and has no issues whatsoever but is incredibly slow and not fit for longterm use. I just kept the dual boot to still be able to use the laptop as it was the only other pc I have and would not have been able to create a bootable USB drive. If your question is meant as if I tried swapping the SSD for a new one, then no. I don’t think any physical repairs are worth it on such an old machine and I am also not very confident I could seeing as how inaccessible the aspire series can be at times.

MotivatedWeeb

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1305475#Comment_1305475

the charger itself seems to be ok after checking for fluctuations in voltage etc, the port seems to be clean and undamaged. I ran multiple system diagnostics and also ran diagnostics specifically on the SSD with nothing coming up. Overheating might the cause since after further testing without crashing it ran games just fine and didn’t overheat with proper fan function, so it could be that it does not cool properly and heating up causes some kind of connective issue. The problem with that is that I can’t really check that cause the pc either crashes before I can check fan functionality or temperature or it runs fine without crashing at all. I wiped, formatted and reinstalled windows before asking here and it only helped for a short while. Professional support is probably out of the question since I’d rather safe that money towards a new pc than trying to fix this one. My guess is that it’s either a drive based problem that isn’t detected by diagnostics or that it’s a physical connection problem which I might be able to fix with proper guidance. Due to the problem not always happening It’s really hard to eliminate any possibilities.