Acer 5250-BZ853

[dani]

Hello

I have a bit of a problem! I purchased an Acer 5250-BZ853 last year, in Octobe
(I remember because it was my birthday), and it's been working fine aside fro

few minor mishaps. But then yesterday, it all wen to hell. I did a window
update, and I have no idea of what happened but a few hours later, I restarte
it because it was acting up and that usually fixes it. The first time,
panicked because when I came to the log in screen it said my password was wron
-- as if while I was gone for a few minutes (giving my laptop time to load up
because I had to take the dogs out), someone had changed it. Now, this isn'
possible. One, because no one knows my password. Two, my password has been th
same since the day I got it and put one on

I began panicking and kept restarting it (maybe once or twice), and then i
worked for a bit though the desktop was ALL wrong. It then restarted on it
own
and has ever since continually been just restarting over and over. I hav
important files on there and when I Google'd it, someone suggested I try t
install Ubuntu so I can get my files off (someone else had the same problem)
and so I tried to get into safe mode -- but it won't even let me get that fa
into, to where I can log in. It just restarts. I did the pressing F8 button an
disabled the restarting upon error, but it STILL restarts. It acts as if I a
about to log in, but then the blackness continues until it restarts all ove
again

I'm just at a loss. I'd really like to get my files off. My plan was tha
apparently the update did something, so I'd use Ubuntu to get my files off an
then reformat it to factory settings. Now I can't even get as far as loggin
in/installing Ubuntu

Help, please?

 

[Wolf K]

Hello,

I have a bit of a problem! I purchased an Acer 5250-BZ853 last year, in October
(I remember because it was my birthday), and it's been working fine aside from
a
few minor mishaps. But then yesterday, it all went to hell.

[snip tale of woe]

I'm just at a loss. I'd really like to get my files off. My plan was that
apparently the update did something, so I'd use Ubuntu to get my files off and
then reformat it to factory settings. Now I can't even get as far as logging
in/installing Ubuntu!

Help, please?

Acer has a recovery/repair partition on all its machines. I would try
using that first. See if you can find help on how to boot into that
partition. I'd tell you how if I knew, but I've converted our Acer
laptop to a Linux machine, which wiped out the recovery partition.

IMO most likely your machine is seriously infected, so I would try one
of these solutions first:

http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_run_an_antivirus_scan_if_i_cant_boot.html

Search on "running anti-malware for windows on linux" for more hits.

The "use Ubuntu" is OK advice, but IMO LinuxMint (available as Live CD
download) is easier to use. LinuxMint is Ubuntu with a more familiar
interface. But installing any flavour of Linux on a Windows machine
involves resizing partitions, etc, so I wouldn't advise that route. You
could lose the data you want to save. Instead, use a Live CD version:
you run it directly off the CD/DVD, and don't need to install it. NB
that when the live CD starts it will offer an Install option. Do _not_
choose it!

To run anything from the Live CD, you'll have to make sure the BIOS
boot-sequence is set to boot from CD/DVD first. Hold down / tap F2
repeatedly during boot, and you should get the BIOS screen. Go through
the menus until you find the boot sequence options. Set them all to boot
from CD/DVD first, and if available from USB second. Save and Exit.
Insert the Live CD and restart the machine. It should boot into Linux
from the Live CD. I would buy an external drive for backing up the
must-keep files. Get a big one, 500GV ones cost under $100 these days.

If you can't get to BIOS setting, or it won't boot from Live CD after
resetting the boot sequence, your machine is in very serious trouble,
and the only solution I can see is to take it to a really savvy tech and
ask him to extract the HDD and get what he can from it. That will cost
you. ;(

If and when you get back to a clean Windows, I strongly suggest you
create a repair CD/DVD. See:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Create-a-system-repair-disc

HTH,
Wolf K.

 

[Ken Blake]

I'm just at a loss. I'd really like to get my files off.

I can't help with your problem, but for the future...

Your need to get your files off suggests that you don't have a backup
of them on external media. If that's the case, you've been playing
with fire.

It is always possible that a hard drive crash, user error, nearby
lightning strike, virus attack, even theft of the computer, can cause
the loss of everything on your drive. As has often been said, it's not
a matter of whether you will have such a problem, but when.

You might want to read this article on backup I've written: "Back Up
Your Computer Regularly and Reliably" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=314

 

[pjp]

Sorry the top post but want to insure you

1st - vacuum it out insuring the heat sinks are cleared and check cables
are secure at same time. Rebooting when overheated easily happens and
it's something people don't think about (including myself once).

 

[Ken Blake]

Sorry the top post but want to insure you

1st - vacuum it out insuring the heat sinks are cleared

You should *never* use a vacuum cleaner inside a computer. If you do
so, you run the risk of a static electricity discharge frying the
motherboard.

Instead, blow out the dust with a can of compressed air.

 

[Char Jackson]

You should *never* use a vacuum cleaner inside a computer. If you do
so, you run the risk of a static electricity discharge frying the
motherboard.

I agree in theory, but in practice I'm not nearly so strict. I've used
a vacuum cleaner well over a thousand times over the years and never
had a problem. Like registry cleaners, though, there is always a risk.
I minimize or eliminate that risk by leaving the PC plugged into the
AC outlet and periodically touching the wand to the PC's case during
the cleaning operation. That's how they taught it in my Air Force tech
school some 40 years ago and it works well.

Much more effective, however, is using compressed air instead of a
vacuum. It's a lot messier, blowing dust bunnies everywhere and best
done outdoors, but it's much more effective.

Instead, blow out the dust with a can of compressed air.

Cans of compressed air have less than a tenth of the pressure and
volume that I need, so I use an air compressor. I limit the output to
about 30-40 PSI and I'm done in no time.

I have some cans of compressed air here that I've probably had since
the mid 1990's. I would never attempt to clean the inside of a
computer case with them, but they seem to work fairly well to spot
cool a hard drive or a heat sink for testing purposes.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Hello,

I have a bit of a problem! I purchased an Acer 5250-BZ853 last year,
in October
(I remember because it was my birthday), and it's been working fine
aside from
a
few minor mishaps. But then yesterday, it all went to hell.

[snip tale of woe]

I'm just at a loss. I'd really like to get my files off. My plan was that
apparently the update did something, so I'd use Ubuntu to get my files
off and
then reformat it to factory settings. Now I can't even get as far as
logging
in/installing Ubuntu!

Help, please?

Acer has a recovery/repair partition on all its machines. I would try
using that first. See if you can find help on how to boot into that
partition. I'd tell you how if I knew, but I've converted our Acer
laptop to a Linux machine, which wiped out the recovery partition.

The problem with using the recovery partition is that it will reset the
boot partition back to factory fresh reinstall, meaning all of the
user's data will be erased.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Yousuf Khan]

I'm just at a loss. I'd really like to get my files off. My plan was that
apparently the update did something, so I'd use Ubuntu to get my files off and
then reformat it to factory settings. Now I can't even get as far as logging
in/installing Ubuntu!

Help, please?

As Alias said, don't install Ubuntu to the hard disk until you get all
of your important files off. If you have an external hard disk that's
large enough to hold the contents of your internal hard disk, then plug
it in. Put the Ubuntu disk into the DVD drive, and boot off of the
Ubuntu disk. Ubuntu may or may not be able to see your wireless internet
connection on that laptop, so it would be useful to have an Ethernet
cable available to plug into the router or modem so you can get Internet
connectivity while fixing stuff. You can look up useful info through
Ubuntu's default Firefox web browser, as necessary.

After you've copied all of your important files off. Then reinstall the
OS from the reinstall partition. You can then copy the saved files off
of the external hard drive. After that if you have enough space left,
I'd suggest installing Ubuntu to hard drive to act as a dual-boot option
to your Windows. So if Windows fries itself again, you can always go to
Ubuntu and fix it without requiring the Ubuntu DVD next time.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Ken Blake]

I agree in theory, but in practice I'm not nearly so strict. I've used
a vacuum cleaner well over a thousand times over the years and never
had a problem. Like registry cleaners, though, there is always a risk.
I minimize or eliminate that risk by leaving the PC plugged into the
AC outlet and periodically touching the wand to the PC's case during
the cleaning operation. That's how they taught it in my Air Force tech
school some 40 years ago and it works well.

My view is to avoid risk whenever you can. But we are obviously
different in this regard.

Much more effective, however, is using compressed air instead of a
vacuum. It's a lot messier, blowing dust bunnies everywhere and best
done outdoors, but it's much more effective.


Cans of compressed air have less than a tenth of the pressure and
volume that I need, so I use an air compressor. I limit the output to
about 30-40 PSI and I'm done in no time.

An air compressor is fine, but very few of us have one. So for all
practical purposes, canned air is what's best.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <[email protected]>, Wolf K

If you can't get to BIOS setting, or it won't boot from Live CD after
resetting the boot sequence, your machine is in very serious trouble,
and the only solution I can see is to take it to a really savvy tech
and ask him to extract the HDD and get what he can from it. That will
cost you. ;(

[]
Well, extracting the HD and taking files off yourself (via cable or
enclosure - the cable is cheaper and more versatile) shouldn't cost
much. I assume the OP has a second computer since he's still posting.

 

[Paul]

Hello,

I have a bit of a problem! I purchased an Acer 5250-BZ853 last year, in October
(I remember because it was my birthday), and it's been working fine aside from
a
few minor mishaps. But then yesterday, it all wen to hell. I did a windows
update, and I have no idea of what happened but a few hours later, I restarted
it because it was acting up and that usually fixes it. The first time, I
panicked because when I came to the log in screen it said my password was wrong
-- as if while I was gone for a few minutes (giving my laptop time to load up,
because I had to take the dogs out), someone had changed it. Now, this isn't
possible. One, because no one knows my password. Two, my password has been the
same since the day I got it and put one on.

I began panicking and kept restarting it (maybe once or twice), and then it
worked for a bit though the desktop was ALL wrong. It then restarted on its
own,
and has ever since continually been just restarting over and over. I have
important files on there and when I Google'd it, someone suggested I try to
install Ubuntu so I can get my files off (someone else had the same problem),
and so I tried to get into safe mode -- but it won't even let me get that far
into, to where I can log in. It just restarts. I did the pressing F8 button and
disabled the restarting upon error, but it STILL restarts. It acts as if I am
about to log in, but then the blackness continues until it restarts all over
again.

I'm just at a loss. I'd really like to get my files off. My plan was that
apparently the update did something, so I'd use Ubuntu to get my files off and
then reformat it to factory settings. Now I can't even get as far as logging
in/installing Ubuntu!

Help, please?

This is the procedure I use on my laptop.

1) Unplug cables, remove battery from bay.
2) Turn laptop over, and lay the laptop on a soft cloth, so the bottom of the laptop is exposed.
3) Remove two screws over the hard drive bay. Remove the plate, which covers several components.
4) Remove the one screw securing the hard drive sled. There could be one screw, near the connector end.
5) Grasp the plastic pull tab, and gently move the tray back in its slides.
That pulls the 2.5" SATA drive, out of the motherboard SATA connector. The drive is
held into a tray with screws.
6) Pull the drive tray upwards out of the bay, being careful not to break any connectors.
You could remove the drive from the tray, if you thought it might overheat
(but I doubt that is absolutely necessary). Drive dissipates 2 watts while running.

7) Plug the drive into a desktop computer, using a 7 pin (usually red colored) SATA
data cable, and a 15 pin SATA power cable.

8) Use backup software, as you see fit, or copy files off laptop C: to desktop data
partition.

9) For bonus points, you could run a diagnostic on the laptop drive, see if the
SMART stats are bad, or whatever. You can use HDTune to read the SMART.
http://www.hdtune.com/files/hdtune_255.exe Or, you can use a diagnostic
downloaded from the disk manufacturer site, which will do some quick tests.

*******

For the alternative (ubuntu) method, you will need

a) Broadband modem (it's not practical to get 700MB over the internet with dialup at 56K)
b) Trip to Ubuntu to get 700MB download - 10.04 LTS version recommended.
10.04 has a more conventional menu and interface, for "less of a learning experience".
I have trouble finding the Terminal application, using the newest version.
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download
c) Blank CD to hold the Ubuntu files.
d) Burner software, to convert the 10.04 LTS ISO9660 download file, into a boot CD.
Nero (pay) or Imgburn (free from imgburn.com) can do that.
e) An external USB backup drive. This will hold the laptop files, when done.

Steps:

1) Download 10.04LTS ISO9660 file. Since your laptop is "crash and burn city",
you won't be doing the download on it.
2) (Download Imgburn, if you don't have burner software. It runs under Windows)
3) Your burner software, will convert the ISO9660 file into a bootable CD with
multiple files on it. Do not "drag and drop" the 700MB file onto the CD.
That won't work.
4) Set boot order so the CD tray boots before the laptop hard drive tries to.
That is typically the default on the laptop anyway.
5) Boot into Ubuntu.
6) If the laptop reboots, before you even have the chance to select "Try it"
and not "Install", then you know you have a problem like bad RAM, bad CPU,
overheating CPU, bad power circuits etc.
7) Select the "Try it" option, as that is not supposed to install anything.
*Do not* select Install!
8) Now that the OS is up, and appears stable, plug in your external USB hard
drive, which will accept the copied files.
9) Go to the Places menu. A confusing list of partitions will be shown. If your
Windows partitions have labels, it helps a bit. Clicking a disk icon in the
"Computer" entry, should mount it so Linux can R/W to it. You'll also want to
click and mount the single partition on the new USB external drive.
10) You can drag and drop files, from one file manager window there, to the other.
Or, you can use the Terminal application from the left-most menu, first sub-menu.

In Terminal, with two disk partitions mounted, you'd do commands like this.
The # marks my comment section, which you do not copy into terminal...
Just the stuff on the left is the command. This is the command line equivalent
of dragging and dropping all the files on C:, to the USB external drive.
Linux can handle NTFS or FAT32, and the only reason to care about which is
which, is if any of the files to be transferred are 4GB or later. FAT32 can
handle files up to 4GB in size without a problem. If your source was NTFS
and had a DVD dual layer sized file on it, a FAT32 destination might not accept it.

df # This reports the names of the partitions
cd /mount/yoursourcepartition # Use the available info to figure out the name
# This could even be a string of numbers, like a GUID.
cp -Rp * /mount/externalusbpartition # That would copy the files. * means "match any name"
# from the current directory (cd set that). R means
# "recursive descent", while p means "preserve permissions".
du /mount/yoursourcepartition # Last number on screen, is size of source files.
# It's a way to get size info, for a sub-tree of files.
du /mount/externalusbpartition # Last number on screen, is size of destination files.
# There should be a rough size match. You can also use
# the "df" disk free command, to get much the same info.
# If the sizes are close to one another, you probably got
# everything.

Now, right click on the USB disk icon on the desktop and select "eject", to
do a Safely Remove on it. That would be, if you wanted to unplug the USB drive
before shutting down. (In Linux, an unmount should be done, before
unplugging something.) This is optional if you just plan to do a "shutdown"
from the menu.

If you use the menu in the upper right hand corner to do "shutdown", then the
OS will unmount all partitions, so you won't need to unmount or eject anything.
On a "shutdown" request with a LiveCD, the disc tray will be ejected. Remove
the disc from the tray, close the drawer, then hit the Enter key once to
tell the OS it's safe to power off.

Slaving the laptop drive to a desktop, as in the first (eight step) procedure,
is less work than using the Ubuntu you haven't downloaded yet

Note - the Acer can be a bit annoying, to see the BIOS options.
The CD is probably already in the boot order. If you press "F2" at power up,
that might get you into the laptop BIOS. If you press "F12", you might see
the popup boot menu, as an alternative. If the machine uses Insyde BIOS, it
might boot rather rapidly, not giving an opportunity to read the startup
options printed at the bottom of the screen. On my Acer, I can't open the tray,
until the laptop is powered, and by then, it's too late to boot the CD. Which means,
selecting shutdown from Windows, and booting the CD on the second try.

Slaving the hard drive, is so much easier. Slave to a working desktop,
and grab files as you wish. The desktop cabling for the job, would look
like this (7 pin data, 15 pin power). Of course, the desktop needs a SATA
interface, for this to work. Old desktops, don't have SATA. And old laptops,
would have an IDE drive in them. If the hard drive is 2.5" IDE, you'll need
a 40 to 44 pin adapter, plus a spare location on the desktop ribbon cable.

http://community.wdc.com/t5/image/s...9758FD7BFE/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1

Paul

 

[Gene Wirchenko]

You should *never* use a vacuum cleaner inside a computer. If you do
so, you run the risk of a static electricity discharge frying the
motherboard.

There are vacuum cleaners for use inside electronics cases.

Instead, blow out the dust with a can of compressed air.

I wrecked a floppy drive once doing that. The dust got blown
into just the wrong spot. Sucking is more controlled than blowing.

Either way you do it, take care.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

I agree in theory, but in practice I'm not nearly so strict. I've used
a vacuum cleaner well over a thousand times over the years and never

I think I have seen vacs specially designed for use with computers.
Expensive (overly so, I think), but presumably static-dissipative. I'm
talking about mains (US: line) powered ones, not the USB-powered mini
ones that are really just for cleaning the keyboard.

had a problem. Like registry cleaners, though, there is always a risk.
I minimize or eliminate that risk by leaving the PC plugged into the
AC outlet and periodically touching the wand to the PC's case during
the cleaning operation. That's how they taught it in my Air Force tech
school some 40 years ago and it works well.

Much more effective, however, is using compressed air instead of a
vacuum. It's a lot messier, blowing dust bunnies everywhere and best
done outdoors, but it's much more effective.

ISTR the vac. I saw could be used in suck or blow mode.
[]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Radio 4 is one of the reasons being British is good. It's not a subset of
Britain - it's almost as if Britain is a subset of Radio 4. - Stephen Fry, in
Radio Times, 7-13 June, 2003.

 

[Char Jackson]

My view is to avoid risk whenever you can. But we are obviously
different in this regard.

There are different levels of risk.

An air compressor is fine, but very few of us have one. So for all
practical purposes, canned air is what's best.

That would be fine if canned air worked, but in my view it doesn't. It
only dislodges a tiny fraction of what needs to be removed. Still, if
it's all you have, you don't have much choice.

 

[pjp]

You should *never* use a vacuum cleaner inside a computer. If you do
so, you run the risk of a static electricity discharge frying the
motherboard.

Instead, blow out the dust with a can of compressed air.

A use the "plastic tube thingie" add-on comes with every vacumn cleaner
and I put on it's output nozzle (rather than suck) and if she's really
dusty take it outside cause it'll make a mess

I often wonder if I over-rev the fan(s) sometimes but I've never had one
fail after doing so. I also uplug it from AC.

 

[Ken Blake]

There are different levels of risk.

Certainly true. And I recommend avoiding all levels that you can
readily avoid.

That would be fine if canned air worked, but in my view it doesn't. It
only dislodges a tiny fraction of what needs to be removed.

That's not my experience at all. Does it remove everything? No,
nothing will remove everything. But it removes the great majority of
what's there.

 

[Ken Blake]

I think I have seen vacs specially designed for use with computers.
Expensive (overly so, I think), but presumably static-dissipative. I'm
talking about mains (US: line) powered ones, not the USB-powered mini
ones that are really just for cleaning the keyboard.

Yes, I've seen those too. How effective they are at eliminating
static, I don't know. But if you, or anyone else, could point me to a
web site that discusses their effectiveness, I'd like to read more
about it.

If they are effective, and not *too* expensive, I would consider
buying one. Do you remember what prices you saw?

 

[Char Jackson]

Certainly true. And I recommend avoiding all levels that you can
readily avoid.

That's ridiculous, considering the amount of risk we're talking about
here, which is about as close to zero as you can get. There's risk
with canned air, as well. Do you avoid that, too? Probably not.

That's not my experience at all. Does it remove everything? No,
nothing will remove everything. But it removes the great majority of
what's there.

If that's your experience, you'd probably be shocked at what it
DOESN'T remove. The loose dust bunnies are easily removed, but they
aren't the problem.

I routinely see systems where the CPU heat sink fins are packed
tightly with a combo of dust, cat hair, and who knows what else. That
stuff laughs at me when I reach for canned air. When it comes out,
it's in small chunks, almost cement-like.

 

[Andy]

My solution for packed hair ect is a small air nozzle on my air compressor.
done properly it does no damage and gets rid of the build up.

 

[Allen Drake]

Yes, I've seen those too. How effective they are at eliminating
static, I don't know. But if you, or anyone else, could point me to a
web site that discusses their effectiveness, I'd like to read more
about it.

If they are effective, and not *too* expensive, I would consider
buying one. Do you remember what prices you saw?

Try typing computer vacuum cleaners into Google. There are plenty and
plenty of reviews. The number things that can be most effective are
preventative. SHCS is the number one cause of congestive computer
buildup. Second hand cigarette smoke will cause that dust to stick.
Keep the air in the room as dust free by adding cheap solutions.

http://www.americanallergysupply.com/box-fan-air-cleaner.htm

I use several of these that I made myself. Fan,filter,tape. I have
four running at all times in my computer room and can say they work
better then any commercial filter on the market.