Acer Laptop Shuts Down Repeatedly

leachim · #1 November 19th, 2009, 07:50 PM

I have a Acer Aspire 5100 Laptop which doesnt get to windows screen running vista. Just turns itself off.

Tried a new power supply

Tried putting in a new HDD and installing XP from a disk - gets to starting to setup Windows - then shuts down.

Tried changing RAM

Changed BIOS to default

Doesnt start in safe mode

Tried Memtest and other Boot CD tools - shuts down

RUNS KNOPPIX THOUGH ??

How come ?

Just out of ideas at the moment

**Jintan** · #2 November 20th, 2009, 04:27 AM

Hi leachim,

You really need to not post the same request at different forums. Leads to duplications of folks; efforts, and possible conflicting steps and changes being made simultaneously. Might be the methods Knoppix uses to load to RAM, where those others are still reading from the disk, but some web searching shows quite a few people who found this was heat related. That the fan and CPU heatsink exhaust areas where clogged. One said it wasn't heat, but then right after admitted they could not get the heatsink separated from the cpu, so already possibly too late for that one.

leachim · #3 November 20th, 2009, 09:21 AM

I wasn't aware that the same people surfed different forums !

Any I am glad I did, as Cybertech was the one one with a reply !

If it was the CPU over heating, would it not also overheat with Knoppix ?

Anyone any idea if it accesses the memory or HDD differently

Thanks

**Jintan** · #4 November 20th, 2009, 11:20 PM

I had considered that. Knoppix loads to RAM, and runs from there. So you have BIOS access without issues, and that. Would seem to point to the drive.

leachim · #5 November 21st, 2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jintan

I had considered that. Knoppix loads to RAM, and runs from there. So you have BIOS access without issues, and that. Would seem to point to the drive.

When I tried to install XP on a new hard drive, it did the same - seeing I tried to replace the HDD, would it be the drive or connections on the MB concerning the drive....

**Jintan** · #6 November 21st, 2009, 01:19 PM

Knoppix may use unique methods as far as disk checks that Windows-based programs don't. May be a BIOS setting that needs changing. Just mentioning that as it reminds me of some Dells that have single drives, but generically include a RAID controller with BIOS settings, and these have unusual problems at times.

**Jintan** · #7 November 21st, 2009, 01:22 PM

May also be the DVD/CD drive itself, now that I look at all the info. Or the ribbon cable it uses. Usually plugs in at the back at the motherboard connection, so one other potential problem location.

leachim · #8 November 21st, 2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jintan

May also be the DVD/CD drive itself, now that I look at all the info. Or the ribbon cable it uses. Usually plugs in at the back at the motherboard connection, so one other potential problem location.

Thanks

I took out the DVD, but shuts down as soon as the vista bar comes on the bottom of the screen....

leachim · #9 November 21st, 2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jintan

Knoppix may use unique methods as far as disk checks that Windows-based programs don't. May be a BIOS setting that needs changing. Just mentioning that as it reminds me of some Dells that have single drives, but generically include a RAID controller with BIOS settings, and these have unusual problems at times.

There isn't much in the BIOS to change - all set to defaults - no mention of RAID....

**Jintan** · #10 November 21st, 2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Tried putting in a new HDD and installing XP from a disk - gets to starting to setup Windows - then shuts down.

Can you provide any more precise details on that? Showing files copied along the bottom of the display, crashes at the F8 agreement display etc.