Help needed. Laptop takes 20 attempt to start...

mrbob3 · 06-18-2009, 04:33 PM

Hiya,

I have an Acer Aspire 9303 WSI laptop i bought in 2007 so it fairly new. Im writing this on it at the moment. The problem i have is that it doesnt startup straight away. I press the ON button and the disc drive clicks twice, the HD light flashes once and sometimes, not always the fan kicks in and is immediatly blowing hot air. I dont know if that normal or........

Anyways, sometimes it take 3 attempts to start, tonight it took 20 and its time too seek advice from clever folks!

The battery doesnt work. About a year ago i left it to shut down (running off the battery) when i went out. When i came back it was off so just assumed it had shut down and everything was normal. When i came to start it from the battery, nothing happened so i assumed it had gone flat and used AC power. Then after a few hours tried the battery again and nothing, it just blinked and the battery power meter in windows says no battery detected. Ok i thought, i just buy a new one. Bunged that in, not detected, no power when turned on. So i just thought il use AC power instead.

I dont mind having no battery power but its starting to get annoying when it wont always start. It doesn boot into windows, the screen doesnt come on so its not a HD fault and pressing the caps key doesnt show the caps light on. The only sign of life is the power button is illuminated and the fan maybe on.

Does anyone know why this is happening, what if anything i can do personally or just take it to pc world?

Also, is there a pc hardware checking program i could use to test my laptops hardware for any power problems?

My initial guess is theres fluff in the fan and for some reason it wont allow the unit to start? strange as it does start, but takes a few goes so its quite confusing....

Ive undone all the screws but as usual, it wont prize apart so dont want to risk snapping/damaging the laptop.

Thanks for any advice guys.

killer · 06-18-2009, 05:03 PM

My sisters laptop, whilst a bit older, did exactly the same. I opened it and the thing was clogged with dust, particularly the fan. That's what i'd advise you do, but since you say you can't get it open, find a guide online, there should be a step by step guide for most laptop model dismantles.

mrbob3 · 06-18-2009, 05:11 PM

Thanks, i think it maybe the dust too. I had an older laptop that got hotter than a nun in leather hotpants. Opened it up to find enough fluff to knit a carpet! Il have a play tomorrow as if i turn it off now, it may be a while before i starts again and i need to have a play on here for a bit 1st lol

killer · 06-18-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbob3

Thanks, i think it maybe the dust too. I had an older laptop that got hotter than a nun in leather hotpants. Opened it up to find enough fluff to knit a carpet! Il have a play tomorrow as if i turn it off now, it may be a while before i starts again and i need to have a play on here for a bit 1st lol

Yeah my sisters was a circa 4 year old Packard Bell, and when i took it apart there was a thick piece of clogged up dust on the heatsink about 5mm thick.

I found this after a quick google, Repair4Laptop: How to Upgrade, Repair, Disassemble an ACER Laptop or Notebook, your model isn't specifically listed but i'm sure some of them are similar enough to get you started.

mrbob3 · 06-18-2009, 05:21 PM

Thanks, il check it out

Geek9 · 06-18-2009, 05:55 PM

I heard Acers are a bitch to open though

quickhacks · 06-26-2009, 02:52 AM

it could be ur heatsync as well my old compaq did the same as well..
it had something wrong with the fan and heatsync and it didnt work for a while also if there is heat god take it into a pc store

the heat will fuck ur harddrive up

it did mine and i lost 30gb music photos and programs

Skud_Bio · 06-26-2009, 01:05 PM

Can o' Air should be a big help

starlover4I · 06-26-2009, 02:03 PM

The heat can fry the components in laptops

mrbob3 · 06-26-2009, 06:25 PM

Thanks guys, i found out that my laptop was quite sluggish in vista and it was only displaying 1gb. I took out the ram and switched them around. Now it displays 2gb and starts on the 2nd attempt! lol

Geek9 · 06-26-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbob3

Thanks guys, i found out that my laptop was quite sluggish in vista and it was only displaying 1gb. I took out the ram and switched them around. Now it displays 2gb and starts on the 2nd attempt! lol

what more could you want?!