Type-C ports not working! in Nitro AN14-41 but other USB ports work

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  • kblyth
    kblyth Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    Appreciate the update - tried a few more things after getting in touch with Scan but no luck. I've asked will the above void my warranty but not sure I feel confident enough either. I don't suppose you know if the tiny hole on the front of the laptop is an EC reset or microphone? (before I go poking!) thanks

  • naknak1991
    naknak1991 Member Posts: 3 New User

    if you have warranty avoid touching anything inside as they could say its happened when yuou open it up either send back and get a refund under 30 day warranty or get acer to repair it, its not your job to repair there problem

  • JohnTheGamer86
    JohnTheGamer86 Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    ive just looked in the user manual available on this support site and it is in fact a microphone as you suspected.

  • kblyth
    kblyth Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    Thanks, I think it needs returning

  • O2by34
    O2by34 Member Posts: 2 New User

    I was experiencing the same issue with my Nitro 16 AN16-41 model device—the Type-C ports suddenly stopped working. I unplugged the charger and made sure the computer was completely shut down. Then I opened the device, removed the battery, and ensured that it wasn’t receiving any power. After that, I held down the power button for a while. Without reconnecting the battery, I plugged in the adapter and pressed the power button to test the device. I confirmed that the ports were working properly, and then reattached the battery to complete the process.

  • JohnTheGamer86
    JohnTheGamer86 Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    thanks, this appears to be a common fault as others and myself has said. But do we really need to open up the device everytime this happens? If only there was a way reset with a certain button press combo. Mine has stopped working again today 😡

  • JohnTheGamer86
    JohnTheGamer86 Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    update. I have done some trial and error with non-evasive repairs. I have unplugged the power cable whilst computer was turned on and held down the power button for about a minute until the computer was fully shutdown. Then powered on and plugged in my ipad with a usb-c to usb-cable and i can read the data on the ipad (photos etc) but it doesn’t provide power to the iPad. After a few restarts it reverts back to being totally dead. It would be great if anyone has any suggestions which can help with this without opening up the laptop.

  • Alex410
    Alex410 Member Posts: 5 New User

    Same issue

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 15,057 Trailblazer

    These things happen, as the USB-C is controlled by the EC chip program and that is what gets corrupted and needs to be reset with a hard reset, in extreme cases it need to be completely reprogrammed or even changed, but Acer does not change EC chips they change the mainboard. Its also happened to my old 2021 Nitro AN515-56 laptop when it was about 6 months old, so this is a common thing that happens, its nothing that will affect the laptop as I haven't had any more problems with my Nitro for 4 years since new and the laptop functions perfectly, so don't worry.

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  • JohnTheGamer86
    JohnTheGamer86 Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    Thank you for this, are you able to advise if it is possible to hard reset without taking the back cover off and removing the battery? or any way to reprogramme the chip? (i.e. driver download?) Thanks in advance

  • JohnTheGamer86
    JohnTheGamer86 Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    edited July 21

    Thanks, I have updated the chipset drivers and made no change to the ports, I have contacted ACER support who only done a hard reset and I was without my laptop for 11 days whilst they did this. I can probably do this myself but want to explore the actual problem as its indicated (see post above) that this is corrupted software on a chip which controls the usb port. surely there must be a way to reset the chip without removing the battery and replugging?

    [Edited to hide sensitive content]

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 15,057 Trailblazer

    No, a hard reset needs for the power key to be pressed for 15 seconds, to release all power out of the laptop, then the main battery to be disconnected and the bios battery to be disconnected also and the mainboard bios battery plug +&- pins shorted to reset CMOS and the laptop left like that for 30 min so all the chips will reset, as that is how you do a proper reset.

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  • JohnTheGamer86
    JohnTheGamer86 Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    thank you very much, not sure if I should try this but could it invalidate any warranty by doing this?

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 15,057 Trailblazer

    Just as an example, I did the hard reset on my Nitro after 6 months and while it was under warranty, but I was very careful in opening the back cover and not to damage the securing screws and/or any of the plastic components like the back lid and its clips, as user are allowed to upgrade the ram and and add an additional M.2 SSD drive.

    So a hard reset is virtually the same, as you need to open the back cover and take the back cover off, then disconnect the main battery and the bios battery and short its mainboard plugs +&- pins and then take the ram out, and leave it to reset for 30min and then put everything together. If your laptop doesn't have Acer warranty stickers that restruck you from doing all that then your can do a hard rest without the Acer warranty being voided, simple. Good luck.

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  • JohnTheGamer86
    JohnTheGamer86 Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    thank you very much for clarifying. I will probably try this today 😎

  • JohnTheGamer86
    JohnTheGamer86 Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    ive done this and the ports worked for a day then went back to not working again. Faulty chip do you think? Or something causing the CE chip to corrupt? No idea myself on what can cause this to happen.

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 15,057 Trailblazer
    edited July 24

    Yes, if after a hard rest the USB Type-C Port worked on the left/right sides of the laptop and then stopped working, there is an EC chip problem or its a hardware problem, which I don't think that this is the case, as these USB Type-C Ports are on the left/right sides of this laptop, that their solder connections are faulty, which would be very strange and your AN14-41 was built on a Friday late shift, which is ridiculous, as humans don't build these laptops boards🤣.

    If your AN14-41 is still under the Acer warranty then I would send your Nitro to Acer Tech Support and get them to change the mainboard as its EC chips controlling the USB Type-C Ports is faulty and what Acer will go is provide you with a new mainboard. Good luck.

    These are all the mainboards that Acer fitted to the Nitro AN14-41 model laptops.

    image.png

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  • JohnTheGamer86
    JohnTheGamer86 Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    thank you very much steven I really do appreciate all your help. Ive liked your contributions as its the least I can do 🙂. I go on holiday in a couple of weeks so I can send to them whilst im away so they can sort it as wont be needing it anyway.