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#1
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Acer 5250-BZ853
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? |
#2
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Acer 5250-BZ853
On 4/17/2012 2:40 PM, dani wrote:
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? Don't install Ubuntu. Use the Live CD to move your files. You will have to boot from the DVD drive to do this. On my Acer laptop, F12 needs to be pressed when it starts booting to be able to choose what to boot to. Once you're done moving your files, remember that back up is a computer user's best friend and reinstall Windows which should fix it if it's a software -- not a hardware -- problem. If reinstalling Windows does not work, call Acer as you're still under warranty. My experience has been very positive with Acer warranty work. -- Alias |
#3
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Acer 5250-BZ853
On 17/04/2012 8:40 AM, dani wrote:
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_a...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/w...em-repair-disc HTH, Wolf K. |
#4
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Acer 5250-BZ853
On 17/04/2012 9:45 AM, Wolf K wrote:
On 17/04/2012 8:40 AM, dani wrote: 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 |
#5
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Acer 5250-BZ853
In message , Wolf K
writes: [] 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. -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf Actors are fairly modest...A lot of us have quite a lot to be modest about. - Simon Greenall (voice of Aleksandr the "Simples!" Meerkat), RT 11-17 Dec 2010 |
#6
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Acer 5250-BZ853
On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:40:23 -0500, dani
wrote: 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 |
#7
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Acer 5250-BZ853
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). |
#8
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Acer 5250-BZ853
On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:15:55 -0300, pjp
wrote: 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. |
#9
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Acer 5250-BZ853
On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:46:17 -0700, Ken Blake
wrote: On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:15:55 -0300, pjp wrote: 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. 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. -- Char Jackson |
#10
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Acer 5250-BZ853
On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:43:36 -0500, Char Jackson
wrote: On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:46:17 -0700, Ken Blake wrote: On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:15:55 -0300, pjp wrote: 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. 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. 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. An air compressor is fine, but very few of us have one. So for all practical purposes, canned air is what's best. |
#11
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Acer 5250-BZ853
On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:19:28 -0700, Ken Blake
wrote: On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:43:36 -0500, Char Jackson wrote: On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:46:17 -0700, Ken Blake wrote: On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:15:55 -0300, pjp wrote: 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. 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. There are different levels of risk. 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. 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. -- Char Jackson |
#12
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Acer 5250-BZ853
In message , Char Jackson
writes: On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:46:17 -0700, Ken Blake wrote: On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:15:55 -0300, pjp wrote: 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. 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. |
#13
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Acer 5250-BZ853
On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:47:14 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
wrote: In message , Char Jackson writes: On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:46:17 -0700, Ken Blake wrote: On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:15:55 -0300, pjp wrote: 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. 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. 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? |
#14
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Acer 5250-BZ853
On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:46:17 -0700, Ken Blake
wrote: On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:15:55 -0300, pjp wrote: 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. 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 |
#15
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Acer 5250-BZ853
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