Predator 791 - screen went black and now won't turn on again

mrqasq
mrqasq Member Posts: 7

Tinkerer
edited November 2023 in 2019 Archives
Hi,

I was using my laptop normally, playing mostly BF1 on it. It has 980M. I sometimes encountered an issue where after hiting ON button it wouldnt boot into windows (no predator logo) and I would have to turn it off and on again. Not this time though. I left it with youtube opened, and when i got back from the toilet it was in a state :

1. All backlit on (as usual, ok)
2. Screen black (i don't use energy saving or anything so , not ok)
3. Cable mouse logo off, so looks like no power over USB
4. Power cable and LAN cable connected

Resetting battery does nothing, so does unplugging RAM or SSD's. Battery is in good condition, it was almost full when I went to piss :)
I now visited acer webpage just to find out that there in fact is a BIOS update avalible, description says :Fixes abnormal display issue if system resumes from Sleep mode..Data :

2017/11/13

So it's quite fresh.

But is this the issue here? How can I check it and how can I solve the issue. Will I be able to flash BIOS in a state when I can't even access BIOS in the first place?
I can hear loud noise from fans spinning up, and than they just slow down and almost stop. I will tommorow try to plug HDMI and get a TV to see if this is a screen issue but than again,

screen issue from doing nothing... c'mon give me a break will ya.


Best Answers

  • msmith123
    msmith123 Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer
    Answer ✓
    Hi, you can try to do a BIOS recovery.

    Here's the procedure for a Predator G9-791:

    First of all, download the following file (BIOS 1.11 with the correct recovery name): drive.google.com/file/d/1zsz6F6HonvnlDbOJMHi6OzpncW4GkwFX/view
    Then, do the following steps:

    1. Copy the BIOS file to an empty and with FAT16/32 formatted usb stick.
    2. Unplug the AC adapter.
    3. Plug in the USB flash disk.
    4. Press and hold <Fn> and <Esc>, and then plug in the AC adapter while still holding <Fn> and <Esc>.
    5. Press the Power button. You can now stop holding <Fn> and <Esc>.
    6. The BIOS flash should now begin, the fan will spin up and the power led should change its state.
    7. After everything is done, the notebook will shut down.

    In case you have another model, please post your model here, so I can have a look.
  • msmith123
    msmith123 Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer
    Answer ✓
    My post was targeted at those who still have this problem.

    Little addition to my previous post:
    In case you can't get this working with BIOS 1.11, try this file (BIOS 1.10): drive.google.com/open?id=1Psa_y4OoVr665G3zsndypF9QGSeH4Vq7
«13

Answers

  • beststevie
    beststevie ACE Posts: 506 Pioneer
    Hello, sounds not good. Try to do as the following: after you klick power on button you click it twice immediately and hold it untill it turns off. If it does not start correctly after that procedure you might aks Acer for repair.
  • mrqasq
    mrqasq Member Posts: 7

    Tinkerer
    Ok so now fun things happen.
    I left it switched off for 7h.
    Now I took it from the table, turn ON, it turned off ok....
    Predator logo shown, windows circle shown.
    I went online for the BIOS update immidietly only to acknowledge that it already is version 1.11...
    How is it possible ?? I am 101% sure that I didn't update it manually in like a year maybe..
    Data on the website is fresh, from couple of days ago.
    Is it possible it auto-updated without me knowing it?
    This is crazy.
    Also as an IT guy - I hate situations where something breaks and then repairs itself on its own.
    I have to know what went wrong. Is there some diagnostic I could check? Despite Windows 10 own?

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer
    had a BIOS/Firmware update too on my G9-791 and it was pushed from Windows update.
    i was lucky that nothing went wrong but not the best behaviour from Microsoft for sure; since you can't bypass the update and it flashed without any warning on having the AC charger connected (standard way to flash Acer's BIOS).
    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • TheSwede
    TheSwede Member Posts: 7

    Tinkerer
    I have same thing happening to me, just that the bios update froze, I left laptop on for over 5 hour hoping it was just a slow update still same sign update in progress but no activity. Was not possible to turn off PC, had to unplug cord and wait until battery went dead. And now only a black screen no f2 for bios or anything works.

    Grateful for any tips
  • jameske
    jameske Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer
    I experienced this issue for the first time tonight. I think the computer must have been idle for several hours and had gone to sleep. But when I woke it up the keyboard lit up and the screen remained blank. I held down the power button, and tried clicking it multiple times but nothing happened. I then closed the lid and opened it. Nothing changed. Had to completely switch off and restart the computer before the screen lit up. I was very relieved, but concerned this problem could resurface as I am not sure the cause. I am not aware of any bios update. g5-793.
  • marcelinotrejo
    marcelinotrejo Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Same thing update on  G9-791 saturday morning 11/18/17 push it by windows 10 update now my computer is dead. no bios boot screen, keyboard lights on, charging battery ok, the rest completly dead. 
    Already try every trick about reseting. 
    =(

    Now I contact tech support and they said they will call me, I dont belive it but who knows. if not, I am really willing to drive to San Jose HQ and see what can they tell me before go legal. 
    last time that I buy Acer really.  
  • TheHikingViking
    TheHikingViking Member Posts: 3 New User
    Multiple threads on this now. Many people are experiencing this problem. Seems a BIOS update was pushed automatically and without confirmation from the user (absolutely insane)!

    $2,000 laptop bricked. Great job Acer.
  • marcelinotrejo
    marcelinotrejo Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    I try to call tech support and the chat on their website, basically they told me they will not repair or give any kind of support to equipment out of warranty, the guy that call me even ask me to take it to a best buy for a diagnose, I was like really? worst support ever, I think I am driving to san jose HQ is not far from home, at least I can trow this piece of garbage in their parking lot.
  • marcelinotrejo
    marcelinotrejo Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    OK here is the ***** tech support from acer, they going to charge me 399 dollars  case 4947403U plus shipping to send it to their repair center in 
    Acer Repair Center
    1394 Eberhardt Rd
    Temple, TX 76504
    because my warranty according to their system shows I am out of warranty Dec 31 2015  but the manufacturing date printed on my laptop is 11/21/2015 mmm kind of  strange, I run out of warranty 1 month after manufacturing nice..... 
    I buy it from amazon a year ago and I understand is out of warranty after 1 year, but this is BS is not like I trow my computer out the window or in to the pool and now I am going crazy about a warranty that does not exist, this is just BS from Acer to not give any kind of support, is this windows BS? I dont think so either some one screw up the update and now we are stock with a 2000 dollars bricks. 

  • mrqasq
    mrqasq Member Posts: 7

    Tinkerer
    your input is great here, but it doesn't explain why it worked next day? should I expect this thing to happen again? what the hell ppl!
  • msmith123
    msmith123 Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer
    Answer ✓
    Hi, you can try to do a BIOS recovery.

    Here's the procedure for a Predator G9-791:

    First of all, download the following file (BIOS 1.11 with the correct recovery name): drive.google.com/file/d/1zsz6F6HonvnlDbOJMHi6OzpncW4GkwFX/view
    Then, do the following steps:

    1. Copy the BIOS file to an empty and with FAT16/32 formatted usb stick.
    2. Unplug the AC adapter.
    3. Plug in the USB flash disk.
    4. Press and hold <Fn> and <Esc>, and then plug in the AC adapter while still holding <Fn> and <Esc>.
    5. Press the Power button. You can now stop holding <Fn> and <Esc>.
    6. The BIOS flash should now begin, the fan will spin up and the power led should change its state.
    7. After everything is done, the notebook will shut down.

    In case you have another model, please post your model here, so I can have a look.
  • mrqasq
    mrqasq Member Posts: 7

    Tinkerer
    as i said - my predator was dead, but after a night on the shelf it repaired itself on its own and now works like w charm.
    I would post a photo but apparently "You have to be around for a little while longer before you can post links." lol

    Update name is Insyde Software - Firmware - 10/16/2017 - 12:00:00 AM - 5.5.1.10 what ever that means...



  • msmith123
    msmith123 Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer
    Answer ✓
    My post was targeted at those who still have this problem.

    Little addition to my previous post:
    In case you can't get this working with BIOS 1.11, try this file (BIOS 1.10): drive.google.com/open?id=1Psa_y4OoVr665G3zsndypF9QGSeH4Vq7
  • marcelinotrejo
    marcelinotrejo Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Thanks msmith123 you save me 400 dollars scam, the procedure works at the first attempt, and by the way ,what do I found onces it start again?, yes a nice and beautifull windows ***** installing window, nice going Acer 64gb of ram, 2 tb of ssd and 4 of regular HD of garbage, really this is like the worst possible screw up, hope somebody get fire, and definetly this will be my last Acer machine ever, I dont even going to  use this piece of ***** any more for real work, I just going to give it to my 6 year old for school use. 
  • chrisk
    chrisk Member Posts: 1 New User
    Having had the same issue with my wife's G9 (came back from dinner out to the frozen update screen), I want to also confirm that this fix WORKS! Thank you thank you msmith123! The first thing I did when I logged back in was disable the Windows Update service. Who in their right mind pushes a BIOS update out via an automatic update like that. Hopefully everybody having this same issue finds this thread and the above fix. I was able to successfully use the 1.11 BIOS. 
  • Harvey-Acer_Retired
    Harvey-Acer_Retired Member Posts: 330 Seasoned Practitioner WiFi Icon
    Please visit the below link to get details on this issue.

    Acer-Harvey
    Smile :)
  • Pmarschall
    Pmarschall Member Posts: 2 New User
    msmith123 said:
    Hi, you can try to do a BIOS recovery.

    Here's the procedure for a Predator G9-791:

    First of all, download the following file (BIOS 1.11 with the correct recovery name): drive.google.com/file/d/1zsz6F6HonvnlDbOJMHi6OzpncW4GkwFX/view
    Then, do the following steps:

    1. Copy the BIOS file to an empty and with FAT16/32 formatted usb stick.
    2. Unplug the AC adapter.
    3. Plug in the USB flash disk.
    4. Press and hold <Fn> and <Esc>, and then plug in the AC adapter while still holding <Fn> and <Esc>.
    5. Press the Power button. You can now stop holding <Fn> and <Esc>.
    6. The BIOS flash should now begin, the fan will spin up and the power led should change its state.
    7. After everything is done, the notebook will shut down.

    In case you have another model, please post your model here, so I can have a look.
    msmith123 you are my HERO.
    Thank you, thank you, thank you :)


  • Fireheyzk
    Fireheyzk Member Posts: 6 New User
    It did not work for me, is there any other way do this ?
  • marcelinotrejo
    marcelinotrejo Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Fireheyzk said:
    It did not work for me, is there any other way do this ?
    I think you need to use the exact file, check msmith123 files they work fine for me in 2 different predators 17, format at FAT32 and make sure the usb is not bigger than 4gb, I help a friend to fix his predator and he try the same procedure on a 32gb usb and it didnt work, also apparently there is some issues with the ram if you upgrade any of the components is better to remove them and try it, since I still have the original ram I just install the old ones and it works, not sure if without any other components will work, but I dont see why not. 

  • Fireheyzk
    Fireheyzk Member Posts: 6 New User
    marcelinotrejo said:
    Fireheyzk said:
    It did not work for me, is there any other way do this ?
    I think you need to use the exact file, check msmith123 files they work fine for me in 2 different predators 17, format at FAT32 and make sure the usb is not bigger than 4gb, I help a friend to fix his predator and he try the same procedure on a 32gb usb and it didnt work, also apparently there is some issues with the ram if you upgrade any of the components is better to remove them and try it, since I still have the original ram I just install the old ones and it works, not sure if without any other components will work, but I dont see why not.




    Thanks for the information, I was using a usb that was over 4gb so then I might need to buy a usb of 4gb.

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