Acer Predator 17 Not Showing Acer Logo During Boot With New QHD 120Hz Screen

I just replaced my Full HD screen in my Acer Predator 17 (G9-793-79V5) with an AU Optronics B173QTN01.4 120Hz QHD, and the screen does not show the Acer Predator logo before booting into Windows 10 (and, as a result, I cannot access the BIOS). After a black screen for several seconds, during which time the Acer logo should be displayed, it boots right into the Windows 10 log-in screen, and after I type my password or PIN, Windows displays and functions completely normal. If I put my previous screen back in, an Innolux (or, Chi Mei) N173HHE-G32 Rev.C3 120Hz Full HD, the Acer logo displays as normal during boot, and I have no problems entering the BIOS. I'm reasonably certain my new screen is a genuine AU Optronics brand; at least, that's what the label on the back of the screen indicates.

Anyone have any ideas as to why my Acer logo isn't displaying during boot with my new screen (it actually appeared for about 1/2 second once during a boot up, but that was the ONLY time)?

When I first bought this laptop, it had an LG Full HD screen, with a 30-pin cable. I upgraded to the 40-pin cable and what I thought was an AU Optronics 4k UHD screen (but, the label didn't identify it as AU Optronics; it had no brand listed). That screen worked OK for a while, but then developed these red "splotches" on the screen, so I replaced it with another AU Optronics 4k UHD screen that someone was selling on eBay (he was a gamer who had replaced that screen, which was 60Hz, with a 120Hz Full-HD screen). I had to replace that 4k screen after a while, because it started occasionally not showing the Acer logo during boot (I'd say that happened 2 out of 10 boot ups) - hmmm, sounds familiar. Is the Acer logo not showing because of an incompatibility with my new screen, or could there be something wrong with my computer or BIOS?

Thanks!

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JackE

The BIOS screen shouldn't need to appear to enter the BIOS menu. The F2 key should be tapped ***immediately*** after turning the machine on. In fact, if your system is set to fast startup, the ACER boot logo is often very fleeting and if it appears at all it's usually too late to hit F2 to enter the BIOS because the BIOS has already handed off control to Windows. So it sounds to me like nothing's wrong with your computer or BIOS. Jack E/NJ

dmw_4814

JackE said:

The BIOS screen shouldn't need to appear to enter the BIOS menu. The F2 key should be tapped ***immediately*** after turning the machine on. In fact, if your system is set to fast startup, the ACER boot logo is often very fleeting and if it appears at all it's usually too late to hit F2 to enter the BIOS because the BIOS has already handed off control to Windows. So it sounds to me like nothing's wrong with your computer or BIOS. Jack E/NJ

I'll put my QHD screen back in and try hitting F2 IMMEDIATELY after pressing the power button (I waited about 1 second or so, yesterday), but when I was hitting F2, the computer screen just remained black the whole time (never displaying the Predator logo), and never booted into Windows. The only thing I could do was press the power button to get it to shut down, then turn it back on again. Also, I had the Predator boot animation and sound disabled in the BIOS (so as not to disturb my wife at night, if she's sleeping), so I tried re-enabling that while I had the QHD screen in - I could hear the boot sound playing when I turned the laptop on, but the entire screen remained black (again, meaning no Predator logo ever displaying), until the Windows 10 log-on screen appeared.

JackE

So are you saying the new screen booted if you did NOT try to F2 into the BIOS menu? And wouldn't boot if you did try? Jack E/NJ

dmw_4814

JackE said:

So are you saying the new screen booted if you did NOT try to F2 into the BIOS menu? And wouldn't boot if you did try? Jack E/NJ

Yes, that's correct - new screen boots into Windows just fine, but it never displays the Predator logo, thereby not giving me the opportunity to enter into the BIOS. If I hit F2 at the point when I think the Predator logo would first appear, then the screen just stays black, and nothing ever shows.

Don't know if this matters or not (don't know why it would), but I have a password set to enter the BIOS. However, as soon as I put my previous screen back in, everything works normally - Predator logo shows during boot, and F2 brings the BIOS password screen up, and then enters the BIOS after I type my password.

I'd really like to use that new QHD screen, but can't if it's going to prevent me from being able to access the BIOS.

JackE

Don't know if this matters >>>I have a password set to enter the BIOS.>>>

It shouldn't but might. Firmware controls very basic, very low level hardware processes. It's not too sophisticated. Your particular machine's firmware version was certified/tested to work properly ***only*** with the original hardware including tolerating passwords. So it might be worth the ***risk*** of clearing the password to see what happens. I mention risk because, like a BIOS update, merely setting & deleting passwords can result in undesireable side effects or worse (bricking) especially when the hardware has changed. So if you want to try it, I'd clear ALL passwords with the original setup and LCD. Then install the new LCD to see what happens. If still no joy and you're adventuresome, there is a firmware update that seems to address G-sync for new panels at this link https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/support-product/6965?b=1 but it's much riskier IMO. Jack E/NJ

dmw_4814

So, I removed my BIOS password. I reflashed my BIOS (actually, DOWNGRADED it, from 1.14 to 1.13, just in case). Installed new screen, again - still nothing, until the Windows log-in screen. Reflashed the BIOS (1.13, again) with the new screen - everything is normal, right up until the point that the BIOS flashing reboots the PC. Then, black screen. However, as the BIOS flashing is automatic at that point, it completed and the laptop rebooted. Screen remained black until the Windows log-in screen appeared.

So, for whatever reason, the backlight or whatever just isn't turning on until Windows loads (I used the flashlight feature on my cell phone to look at the screen before the Windows log-in screen appears, and I can't see anything. I'm at a loss as to what to do now (other than exchanging the screen for another, and trying that one).

I've actually left the new screen installed; it works flawlessly with Windows.

xapim

Really weird indeed

JackE

>>>I'm reasonably certain my new screen is a genuine AU Optronics brand; at least, that's what the label on the back of the screen indicates.>>>I've actually left the new screen installed; it works flawlessly with Windows>>>

Well then, if it was mine, I'd stop messing with the firmware due to the brick risk. The only other thing I'd do is turn off fast start up in ControlPanel's 'change what the power buttons do' app. Then live with it.

This particular machine was certified to work correctly with the original LCD. And it apparently does. So if for some reason I really need to get into the BIOS menu, I know I'm gonna have suffer the inconvenience of putting the old screen back in there.

Jack E/NJ

dmw_4814

Does anyone know which graphics processor controls the screen during boot, specifically, when the Predator logo is being displayed? Is it the Intel integrated graphics, or the Nvidia dedicated GPU?

I'm asking because I read in another forum someone had problems with their Nvidia dedicated GPU refusing their new screen (which JUST happened to be the exact screen I'M having trouble with!) when they updated their drivers, but worked when they used the drivers that came with their notebook (might've been MSI). I've updated my Nvidia drivers a number of times, via GeForce Experience, but I'm wanting to try the original Acer drivers. The problem is I can't get the updated Nvidia drivers to uninstall, because my GeForce Experience won't open (actually, it opens, but just displays a blank, black window, with no text). I tried to use DDU, a program to uninstall completely display drivers, but when I double-click on the executable, it doesn't do anything at all (I have other executables that I downloaded which also won't run). I think my Windows 10 installation is just "borked", and I'm going to try a clean install. Thanks.

sri369

dmw_4814 said:

Does anyone know which graphics processor controls the screen during boot, specifically, when the Predator logo is being displayed? Is it the Intel integrated graphics, or the Nvidia dedicated GPU?

I'm asking because I read in another forum someone had problems with their Nvidia dedicated GPU refusing their new screen (which JUST happened to be the exact screen I'M having trouble with!) when they updated their drivers, but worked when they used the drivers that came with their notebook (might've been MSI). I've updated my Nvidia drivers a number of times, via GeForce Experience, but I'm wanting to try the original Acer drivers. The problem is I can't get the updated Nvidia drivers to uninstall, because my GeForce Experience won't open (actually, it opens, but just displays a blank, black window, with no text). I tried to use DDU, a program to uninstall completely display drivers, but when I double-click on the executable, it doesn't do anything at all (I have other executables that I downloaded which also won't run). I think my Windows 10 installation is just "borked", and I'm going to try a clean install. Thanks.

My laptop is always connected to external monitor - the logo always comes only on laptop screen - never ever came up on my external monitor.

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