Member Avatar for Satchmo05

I have had my Aspire notebook for about two weeks now and it is malfunctioning in a way I have never seen before (and I had a Dell before this, so I know lots of problems).

At startup, I open up the Windows screen after entering my password to get into my account. Now, picture the sound of the fan on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being nearly inaudible. Upon the appearance of my Windows account, the fan is at a 1 (as expected). As more and more programs load, the fan starts increasing to a 2 (no worries), a 3 (hmmm), a 4 (ok, not going through much stress here), and then as it hits a 5, where the fans are maxing the RPMs, my computer locks up and the only way to get any response is by holding the power button.

Hopefully, my explanation made sense. I came to Acer thinking that they would have a better product without paying for the Dell name and I am seriously questioning my thinking. Hopefully someone can put some reason into this issue. Thanks in advance for all help!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by benmar

Dani AI

Generated

Short, practical diagnostic plan to narrow the cause before swapping parts. The symptom you described — a quiet fan at login that ramps to max as startup finishes and then a hard lock — can come from several places: a firmware/fan-control problem, a driver or startup process pushing the CPU, or a failing component that only shows up under a full user session. posted a clear timeline; and suspected hardware. The steps below show how to gather evidence so the true root cause is clear.

  1. Reproduce once and note the exact time of the freeze. Check Windows Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer for errors at that timestamp. Enable/write small memory dumps (System > Advanced > Startup and Recovery) so crashes leave analyzable files.
  2. Capture sensor data while booting. Run a sensor/logging utility (HWMonitor, HWiNFO, etc.) and log CPU temps, package power and fan RPM from boot through the freeze. Correlate spikes with Event Viewer entries.
  3. Isolate software: do a Clean Boot (msconfig) or boot into Safe Mode. Disable all non-Microsoft startup items and reboot. If the freeze disappears, re-enable groups of services/apps to find the culprit.
  4. Test outside Windows: boot a Linux live USB and leave the system idle. If it still locks, the issue is very likely firmware/hardware rather than Windows drivers.
  5. Reset non-invasive firmware state: power down, remove AC and battery (if removable) and hold the power button 20-30 seconds to clear the embedded controller. Then boot and retest. If comfortable and confident, check the vendor site for a model-specific BIOS/EC update (follow vendor instructions exactly).
  6. If logs show hardware errors or the problem reproduces outside any OS, collect the logs/screenshots and consult an authorized service provider rather than replacing components blindly.

Cautions: avoid prolonged stress testing on a machine that locks and runs fans at max — that can cause damage. Keep a record of timestamps, dumps and sensor logs; they make troubleshooting and any warranty/service claim far faster.

Recommended Answers

All 6 Replies

Member Avatar for Rik_

I suspect it's overheating. There is a pad between the CPU and the heatsink. It might be worth putting some heat transfer paste between the 2 to aid thermal conductivity. Also, make sure you give it a good dust out too!

Member Avatar for Satchmo05

Well that is the thing - it is a brand new computer, so I wouldn't suspect that there is any dust in there. Do you suggest I open it up and check it out to see if there are any obtrusions?

Member Avatar for Rik_

If it's brand new, take it back to where you got it from and complain!

Member Avatar for Satchmo05

Well I have, but I upgraded from Win 7 Home to Win 7 Ultimate and Acer wont help me out any longer - BS, I know! So much for trying to get better customer service from switching from Dell! GAH!

Member Avatar for Rik_

It's a hardware problem that you seem to be having, so they HAVE to sort it!

Member Avatar for benmar

try to go to a technician to check your laptop it needs to replace the fan, have a free check up their so that they can help you more to that problem...

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