My Acer Swift 3 model N20C12 (SF314-43-R228) won't turn on

Hi,

I'm using an Acer Swift 3 model N20C12 and for a couple of days now I have not been able to turn it on. It has been used for about a year now.

Neither the screen nor the keyboard lights up/reacts on power button press. However, the battery indicator on the side of the laptop lights up blue when the charger is plugged in which indicates that the battery is fully charged. This LED is the only sign of life the laptop shows.

I have tried turning on the computer by first holding the power button down for a minute without any success. I have also tried resetting the battery by inserting a paperclip into the battery reset pinhole and then held it for 30 seconds and then waited for 30 minutes or so until pressing the power button.

Unfortunately, nothing seems to help. If anyone could give any kind of tips on what I should try it would be very much appreciated. :))

[Edited the thread to add model number to the title and to add issue detail]

Accepted answers

billsey

You can open it up, disconnect the battery and then inspect and reseat the keyboard cable. Sometimes you can build up corrosion on the cable connectors.

It's cable C on that diagram.

All comments

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/684078/my-acer-swift-3-wont-turn-on

The third method for a Power Drain (and IMO the best) is to unplug the power adapter, open the back of your latop (this won't void your warranty) disconnect the battery cable (from the MOBO) wait a minute and then press the Power Button key for 2 minutes consciously without releasing. Again wait a few minutes and put the cover back without screwing, Connect the power adapter to see if the laptop will start without battery. If no results unplug the adapter, connect the battery again; close the cover and try to power up with battery only, and then plug in the adapter. Don't give up; repeat the next day if no results😉

Chyrren

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1197122#Comment_1197122

Thanks a lot for this tip!

I've gone through this procedure now for a couple of days, unfortunately without any success.

Do you know something else I could try or should I just accept the fate of my laptop?

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1197583#Comment_1197583

That “the battery indicator on the side of the laptop lights up blue when the charger is plugged” is somewhat encouraging, that shows the PSU is still working on the MOBO. You could have a bad contact (battery cable connector, DDR4 slot(s), SSD pins, WIFI adapter, fan cable and possibly the power button is bad (that would need to be replaced by Acer Services). I have the same problem with my 4 year old a515-54G (that I will replace next year). Age certainly affects electronics and mechanical switches/connections, I always replace my laptop batteries, adapters every 5 years and low-end notebooks can last up to 10 years but will then be phased out by the platform OS/drivers/CPU. Do it all over again, include the CMOS (coin battery), take out the DDR4 modules, clean the pins with an eraser and firmly reseat. At the end I always try to power on with the battery first then plug in. After you did all that with zero results, "Bite the bullet" bring your laptop to Acer Services and if the MOBO needs to be replaced consider getting a new OLED laptop with a super cool 13th gen. i7 Intel CPU, even a 16" OLED is now under $1,000, less than a IPhone😉

billsey

Since you get no indication anything is starting when you press the power button, such as the keyboard backlight or a fan noise, it leads me to believe pressing the power button isn't telling the laptop to do anything. You state your Swift 3 is an N20C12 model, but unfortunately we don't have a cross reference between those 'model numbers' and the actual model number. Those are used internally to differentiate between sub models within a series. Your full model number is usually on the same sticker as your serial number, it should look something like SF3xx-xxx-xxxx. Once we know for sure what you have, we can look into how the power button is designed in your system and maybe come up with ideas on how to test, and potentially fix it. A lot of the newer Swift models have the power button integrated into the keyboard but some have an actual button on the side.

Chyrren

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1198443#Comment_1198443

Ah alright I see. My full model number is: SF314-43-R228, the power button is indeed integrated into the keyboard.

Is there any other way to try and turn on the computer?

billsey

You can open it up, disconnect the battery and then inspect and reseat the keyboard cable. Sometimes you can build up corrosion on the cable connectors.

It's cable C on that diagram.

Chyrren

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1198946#Comment_1198946

This actually solved the issue.:')

You're a lifesaver, thanks a lot!

billsey

Great to hear! Now you know something else you should be doing on a semi-regular basis. :)

Samspng

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1198946#Comment_1198946

Hi Billsey. Thanks, but I still don’t know What to do exactly. Do I only need to disconnect C or do I also have to disconnect a,b etc..

billsey

Just disconnect and reconnect C a few times. You can also gently clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol using a cotton swab, but if you try that make sure everything is fully dried before reconnecting.

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