Acer Aspire 5 15 stuck on fTPM screen on start.

PoorAspirations

I have had my Acer Aspire 5 15 for over a year, but today for the first time, when I open it I am presented with a screen asking me about fTPM (the same screen as in the image below):

When I press any button, roughly half a second later the laptop screen just goes to black and it turns off. When I turn it on again I am presented with the same screen again, and pressing either Y or N has had no effect. In addition, when on the screen shown above, I can hear the fan going at what sounds like full (I don't know if that is relevant).

I don't know what to do as I believe the laptop is no longer under warranty, please help!

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

Puraw

Hi PoorAspirations

Thanks for sharing the image—this is the standard fTPM prompt triggered by a CPU change or BIOS reset. The system is asking whether to reinitialize the TPM module, which stores encryption keys for BitLocker and other security features.

• If BitLocker was enabled and the TPM is reset, the system will require a recovery key to boot. If the user doesn’t have that key, they should press N to preserve the TPM record.
• However, in this case, pressing either Y or N causes the system to shut down immediately. That suggests the issue isn’t TPM-related alone—it may be a deeper POST failure or firmware hang.
• Fan spinning at full speed with a black screen often points to a failed handoff between firmware and OS, possibly due to corrupted bootloader, unsupported CPU, or unstable BIOS state.

Suggested steps:

• Disconnect AC power, remove the battery, and hold the power button for 30 seconds to drain residual charge.
• Reconnect and try booting again—press F2 or Del repeatedly to enter BIOS setup before the TPM screen appears.
• If BIOS access fails, consider a CMOS reset via jumper or the method described below.
• If BIOS loads, check if the CPU is correctly recognized and TPM settings are stable. Disable Secure Boot temporarily to test boot behavior.
• If the system still shuts down instantly, the safest option is to bring the laptop to an Acer Service Center in your country for a full system reset and TPM recovery. They can verify CPU compatibility and restore firmware integrity without risking data loss.

Let’s confirm the exact CPU model and BIOS version next—some Aspire 5 variants have strict compatibility limits.

CMOS reset: Open the back of the laptop and disconnect the battery cable from the motherboard. Locate the CMOS module (with 2 twisted wires Red and Black under the battery) and remove the coin battery. Shorten the +/- terminals inside the CMOS capsule for 2 seconds with a bended paperclip and put the coin battery back with the + sign facing up, close the CMOS capsule. Next, press the Power Button on the keyboard for 10-15 seconds after that reconnect the battery cable to the motherboard. Close the laptop, plug-in the adapter and try to boot.