Iconia S/N not found; support can't be contacted; machine worked for three months. == no, two.

donzo
donzo Member Posts: 8 New User
in 2014 Archives

Can anyone tell me please where I might find the S/N for the Iconia Windows tablet? Or some way to contact support. ANY way to contact support. The machine was a payment from a class-action lawsuit, and worked for two months, and now won't turn on. Knowledgebase tells me I can find it on a sticker (no sticker) or by turning it on. If I could turn it on, I wouldn't need support.

And Acer seems to provide me no way to contact them about this product. More frustrating than valuable: Here's your machine: it won't work in two months, and we'll not give you any way to contact us. Have a nice day.


Sorry all... Let me return to the first question: Any way to get a serial number off of this thing, or otherwise contact acer support?

 

[edited to comply with guidelines]

Best Answer

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,645 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓

    I think yours is likely either a W3 or W4. They both have a microSD slot, microHDMI and microUSB.

     

    I'm thinking there are three distinct possibilities. The battery may have become too discharged in storage to be able to charge, the charger may be bad, or the battery may be bad. I can't remember if those models will work directly off the charger or not, but it's worth searching on the possibility. If they'll run off the charger then we've narrowed it down to the charger (possibly the charge connector).

     

    If they won't run with just the charger then you need to test the charger output. You can use a wire wrapped around the test lead on you VOM to reach the center of the charger connector.

     

    I believe there are Youtube videos with info on jump starting an overly discharged battery, but I'd look seriously into your warranty situation before attempting it. No need to get your fingers inside if it's replacable within the warranty.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

Answers

  • laurent_14
    laurent_14 ACE Posts: 10,359 Trailblazer

    Hello donzo,

     

    See this support answer.

    France
  • gcsgupta
    gcsgupta Member Posts: 38 Troubleshooter

    Since this was a product from lawsuit, I don't think you will be eligible for warranty support, if I were you, I would have reviewed the lawsuit website to see contact info. I doubt there would be a sticker with the S/N.

     

    Get a look at the lawsuit website.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,645 Trailblazer

    Which model Iconia do you have? The sticker is in different locations on different models.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • donzo
    donzo Member Posts: 8 New User

    Hi All,

     

    Thanks for this. The model simply says "Iconia". It measures 8" viewable (although dark) screen. I did view that KB link before I posted, and it's a different machine than mine, and doesn't have a pop-open section; only a mini SD, and mini USB port.

     

    Maybe you can all help me with this question: I left it plugged in for a couple of weeks. Might I have blown either the battery or the charger? I would have assumed an overcharge switch to make this acceptable, but perhaps this is a technology that doesn't have that. And, how might I troubleshoot whether it's the internal battery or the charger? When I plug it in, I get no green light on the "on" button. But the charger is a little too small to put a multimeter on. I seem to read the voltage on the charger as 12v; 1.5a. Perhaps if I can find a similar voltage charger, I can substitute for troubleshooting?

    Thanks again, all.

     

  • padgett
    padgett ACE Posts: 4,532 Pathfinder

    A picture of the device might help, you mentioned a "pop open section" and I do not know of one like that - Is this a Windows or Android device please. I am just not placing a tablet like that.

     

    ps 12v 1.5A is an 18W charger which should be fine - a DVM should be able to test.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,645 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓

    I think yours is likely either a W3 or W4. They both have a microSD slot, microHDMI and microUSB.

     

    I'm thinking there are three distinct possibilities. The battery may have become too discharged in storage to be able to charge, the charger may be bad, or the battery may be bad. I can't remember if those models will work directly off the charger or not, but it's worth searching on the possibility. If they'll run off the charger then we've narrowed it down to the charger (possibly the charge connector).

     

    If they won't run with just the charger then you need to test the charger output. You can use a wire wrapped around the test lead on you VOM to reach the center of the charger connector.

     

    I believe there are Youtube videos with info on jump starting an overly discharged battery, but I'd look seriously into your warranty situation before attempting it. No need to get your fingers inside if it's replacable within the warranty.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • donzo
    donzo Member Posts: 8 New User

    Yes, thanks. From what I can search, it does seem to be the Iconia W3. It has those micro ports. And it is a Windows 8 machine -- which is why I was still trying to figure it all out. Smiley Wink

    Anyway, I read on a search of the boards somewhere that someone discussed that his would "only run off of charger" and then die when unplugged. That implies to me that (1) his issue was battery, and more importantly (2) that the charger may well be my issue -- which, I suppose is good news. The cheaper of the alternatives.

     

    I'm going to try and get some pictures up; but I think we've narrowed it down to the model -- and again, I'm grateful for all your helps.


    Question: I've just plugged in the micro usb that I use to charge my mouse. Might this also charge this unit? Or is this simply way too little power. So far, nothing lights up.

     

  • donzo
    donzo Member Posts: 8 New User

    here are the pics. And does the charger look like the Acer charger -- with the adaptable plug end? I'm wondering if I didn't mix up the chargers.

     

    P1000574.png

     

    P1000575.png

     

    P1000576.png

     

    P1000578.png

     

    P1000579.png

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,645 Trailblazer

    Those certainly look like the stock charger it should be 12VDC center positive and about 2A IIRC. I did a factory reset on one for a friend a year or so ago, but haven't played with one much otherwise. I don't believe there is a charging circuit hooked up to the USB port, that was a feature added with the W4 model (which created other issues when you wanted to charge and use a USB device at the same time). I'm leaning toward the charger or charger port being the culprit. Can you see inside the port? Is the center pin there and straight? Is it full of lint or ear wax? Smiley Tongue

     

    This is the best price I could find for a replacement charger with a very quick search... No endorsement etc.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • donzo
    donzo Member Posts: 8 New User

    Thanks, BIllsey,

     

    The charger is testing 12v and the pin was pretty much centered. I straightened it a bit, but I'm confident that the charger plug was going in correctly without problem. --Which all implies to me now, something internal from this. Battery, being most likely, in my mind.

     

    I was able to get a contact to Apps support, although not yet anyone from tablet customer support or warranty, and he's going to try and put me in touch with them. So maybe I'll get some relief or direction from them -- IF I get there.

     

    I tried a YouTube search to see about battery replacement. I couldn't find anything specific to the W3 -- which I did finally see on the back of the label: W3-810. --Ah the print is so small these days. Smiley Wink  And if it is a battery--and this is a bit of a crapshoot--it's still looking like some $60. This, plus the unknown factor, plus the failure, is starting to bounce me in the direction of (if it's not a nasty word here) the Apple store.

     

    Thanks for your help with this. As far as you know, any serial number sticker would have been a second, besides-model-number sticker? And I seem to lack that?

  • padgett
    padgett ACE Posts: 4,532 Pathfinder

    Agree looks like a W3 and the SNID should be on the bottom edge. My charger also looks like that and has a 12v 1.5A capacity. It charges only through the barrel connector.

     

    There is one case where a device will not power up when connected to the charger and that is if there is an internal short (e.g. bad battery) overlaoding the charger. In that case the voltage may not be high enough to run the tab. A good sign of this is if the charger starts getting hot.

  • donzo
    donzo Member Posts: 8 New User

    Ouch, I'm beginning to remember (or maybe my mind is playing tricks), that I may have peeled off that number, thinking "what do I need one more barcode on here for?" Well now I know.

     

    My charger is not hot, and neither is the machine. But I'm suspecting bad battery at this point.

     

    Does anyone here know how to get this unit open to potentially replace the battery?

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,645 Trailblazer

    One trick I've used to read the tiny print on those labels is to take a picture of it with my phone then blow up the picture. Smiley Happy

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • donzo
    donzo Member Posts: 8 New User

    OK, figured it out. For anyone searching this thread, to open it, put a small object (I used a small key-chain pen knife blade) down INTO the body, not across the width, as I had been trying.

     

    IMG_0367.JPG

  • donzo
    donzo Member Posts: 8 New User

    That's a GREAT idea!

     

    I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of the s/n that I now believe I removed. <grin> Would have come in useful, right now.

     

    At this point, I have the tablet open, and the battery exposed. I also have a (sort of) message in to the warranty people. So, I may wait to hear from them, or I may spring for a battery. It seems even Sears has them, although I'm not sure if that's mail-order only, in which case, any mail order will do, cheaper the better.

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