Laptop taking long to post ACER SPIN 5 SP515-51GN,

DantonJ
DantonJ Member Posts: 7

Tinkerer

edited June 2021 in Swift and Spin Series
Hello everyone, i own an ACER SPIN 5 SP515-51GN, an i5-8250U with a GTX1050,

I have fallen into the disgraced ideia to update my BIOS, the result was a bricked laptop, i took the laptop to a repair station to reflash the BIOS using an EPROM tool, the laptop lit up again, however, its taking forever to go to the post screen, and the bios doesnt retain the configurations, i frequently get BSODs if the laptop goes into hibernation mode, and everytime i turn on the computer i have to reinstall the graphics card driver, or otherwise if i use programs that require the power of the GTX1050 i get a BSOD .

So i than tried to solve the problem by using a fresh install of windows and replacing the BIOS Chip with a new one.

Replacing the BIOS chip worked for a little while, but it looks like the laptop self updated in its first restart and the problem returned.

Once the computer pass the post and boots up windows and i reinstall the graphics card driver, the system is as it should be.

So im going to try to replace the CMOS battery, even though its new, my laptop is from 2018.

Anyone has any ideias that might help? I would appreciate every help i get!

Thread was edited to add model name to the title


Answers

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,246 Trailblazer
    Boy, that's a nice computer still, though it's got to be a pain that the EEPROM is somewhat hosed... Do you think the repair technician was qualified to correctly flash the chip, or replace the chip? It is not unknown that someone will damage other nearby components when doing that type of surgery. When the BIOS doesn't retain the configuration after a power cycle it's a sign there is something nasty going on, signalwise, likely during the power down and power up process. That could be damaged resistors or capacitors near the EEPROM that holds the BIOS Code.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • DantonJ
    DantonJ Member Posts: 7

    Tinkerer

    edited June 2021
    Firstly, thank you!

    I did thought about that possibility, and thats why i took the laptop to a second repair station to replace the chip, maybe the first technician did something wrong that corrupt the chip.
    But i havent thought about the possibility of damage components, thats a good tip there, ill try to find another repair station nearby, however i dont have any ideia to what may be damaged.
  • William_mk2
    William_mk2 ACE Posts: 4,198 Pathfinder
    DantonJ

    I am really sorry for what have happened.   I recommend you not to update the bios on your own on any other computer ( in the future ) without the proper guidance of a qualified technician.    I also read that you are going to replace the cmos battery.    

    Please read the info on the link given below:

    https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000239.htm

    If none of the options are working, replacing the entire motherboard will be the best option. 

    Hit 'Like' if you find the answer helpful! 
    Click on 'Yes' if the comment answers your question!

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful 

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    Please click YES if I answered your question

    I am not an ACER employee
    B  Thank you and have a BLESSED AND HAPPY DAY  B


                                         ★★ WILLIAM - MRK ★★

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,174 Trailblazer
    edited June 2021
    DantonJ said:
    Hello everyone, i own an ACER SPIN 5 SP515-51GN, an i5-8250U with a GTX1050,

    I have fallen into the disgraced ideia to update my BIOS, the result was a bricked laptop, i took the laptop to a repair station to reflash the BIOS using an EPROM tool, the laptop lit up again, however, its taking forever to go to the post screen, and the bios doesnt retain the configurations, i frequently get BSODs if the laptop goes into hibernation mode, and everytime i turn on the computer i have to reinstall the graphics card driver, or otherwise if i use programs that require the power of the GTX1050 i get a BSOD .

    So i than tried to solve the problem by using a fresh install of windows and replacing the BIOS Chip with a new one.

    Replacing the BIOS chip worked for a little while, but it looks like the laptop self updated in its first restart and the problem returned.

    Once the computer pass the post and boots up windows and i reinstall the graphics card driver, the system is as it should be.

    So im going to try to replace the CMOS battery, even though its new, my laptop is from 2018.

    Anyone has any ideias that might help? I would appreciate every help i get!

    Thread was edited to add model name to the title



    DantonJ how could you brick your SPIN 5 SP515-51GN when the BIOS flash within windows is such an easy process and so easy and straightforward to do? Its unfortunate as what I think happened is that your mobo has been either destroyed by and as billsey is saying...“It is not unknown that someone will damage other nearby components when doing that type of surgery” by that tech guy.

    Anyway, if you have completely changed and altered your laptop by changing its BIOS chip, first, do you know the chip that the technician changed it to? What is your BIOS version that is installed on your laptop with the new chip? Is it an Acer BIOS flash version (as it has to be the Acer BIOS flash and not anything else) and is it the version 1.14 dated 2019/01/22 and titled “Updates UNDI driver for USB-to-LAN adapter” or oneofAcer's BIOS flashes? As using any other Insyde BIOS versions and not an Acer BIOS will not work and could be where your problem(s) are?

    Also, an EPROM tool can damage a BIOS version flash and/or this technician could have programed the chip wrongly as it could be reflashed, also, a BIOS chip has to be replaced with the same type of BIOS chip that Acer used not with anything else or similar. As replacing the chip has to be done by an experienced technician that has extensive experience in doing micro soldering and diagnosis and has all the appropriate tools to do a BIOS chip replacement, you can’t just use normal tools for this job. 

    My advice to you is this, if you want to spend the money and its worth it? As replacing the mobo could be a better and cheaper option for you? As you can send your mobo to a guy I use called Alex at NorthbridgeFix he’s got a youtube channel so have a look at his work but, he won’t spend allot of time on your mainboard if its beyond repair and mucked up, he will analyse your board and see if it can be sorted out and/or its repairable and if its beyond repair or sorting he won’t go any further and advise you accordingly. 

    All in all it seems that your Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN mobo has been messed up and you must have spent allot of dollars on it and it needs a thorough going through and/or a mobo replacement (look on the web for a new one) which probably would have been your cheaper option. Best is to do what I’ve advised you above and if that is too expensive replace the mobo as that could be the best and cheaper option at this stage! Good luck and hope this helps you out? 

    This is the basic specs of the SPIN 5 SP515-51GN BIOS as per its service manual, the BIOS starts at v1.01 to the last update of the v1.14.