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Acer 8204 - Nic Issue?

post #1 of 16
2/9/06 at 12:31pm
Thread Starter 
I rec'd my 8204 yesterday and noticed some strange behavior.

I have a network setup at home with a Buffalo lan station attached and I use it for backup purposes. I had copied the entire contents ( no os stuff) to the lan station from my Thinkpad in preparation for copying this to the Acer. However, the Acer seem to have a problem with the NIC because not only would it periodically lock up when copying from the lan station, it would also do the same thing when trying to access web pages.

For example, I could never get it to log into my Yahoo email account. Just kept loading and loading ... I'm using the new beta of Yahoo's email and it does have to download some AJAX stuff before it can run the email client.

Since both of these activities go through the NIC card, it appears there may be a problem with it. I saw where someone else was having a similar problem. Any resolution or ideas. Haven't tried reinstalling the NIC driver or checking for a later version, but that may be my next approach.
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post #2 of 16
2/9/06 at 12:45pm
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=39488

There is a thread on this topic at Notebookreview.com
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post #3 of 16
2/9/06 at 4:02pm
Thread Starter 
Yes, this is a real issue. If I run on the wireless only, everything is very fast. I just switched over to the wired connection, and nothing seems to work properly.

I've booted with the wired connection and this makes no difference - still doesn't work.
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post #4 of 16
2/9/06 at 4:46pm
I agree. I had some unexplanable things going on with wired-LAN like slow internet, USB keyboard freezing, and USB mouse freezing. So far I've been using the LAN by turning off the wireless via Power Profile. I've also seen some strange things like I am unable to see a USB Flash Drive under My Computer but it shows up under Disk Management.
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post #5 of 16
2/9/06 at 5:06pm
Thread Starter 
I'm very concerned after talking to ACER support.

I talked to a lady named Crystal and she tried to tell me it was a configuration issue with my ISP. Yea, right. I explained to her that I only have 4 other laptops that are using the same cable, same router, and same ISP and they all work fine. I didn't configure this thing any which way.

She was very sarcastic and tried to imply that the issue was with configuration. So I told her that I can go to a webpage with the wireless connection just fine. If I turn off the wireless, then try to use the wired connection to go to the same page, it just loads, and loads, and loads.

I'm more concerned about the lockups that I experienced while trying to copy from my lan station hard drive. I also experienced the same problems when trying to copy from one of my other laptops while using the wired connection.

Anyhow, I finally got a SRN (service request number) and Cost Central will take it back for replacement or a full refund.

I also found out that the NIC card is on the motherboard, so if there is a problem, you can't just replace the card, you've got to replace the motherboard. That really sucks!
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post #6 of 16
2/9/06 at 5:06pm
check the other thread on this. I posted a link to an earlier driver that does NOT have this issue.
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post #7 of 16
2/9/06 at 6:04pm
Thread Starter 
Mark

Not sure how I missed this, but I'll try it and see if fixes the problem. I hope that's all there is too it.
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post #8 of 16
2/10/06 at 12:46am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Feuer
check the other thread on this. I posted a link to an earlier driver that does NOT have this issue.
Mark

I finally got the driver downloaded and installed. All I did to install was to run the autorun.exe file. Seemed to go ok. Rebooted with network cable plugged in and it continuously locksup after booting.

If I boot without the network cable plugged in, it works fine.

Still think there is something wrong with the NIC card and in my case, it may not be resolved by the driver.

I'm going to do a complete uninstall of the driver and re-install the driver again.
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post #9 of 16
2/10/06 at 4:16pm
An official EEPROM update fix will be release soon so you might want to hang onto your laptop for a few more days beofer you RMA it.
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post #10 of 16
2/10/06 at 4:27pm
well kudos for acer actully seeing this as an issue... and so much for my patience hehehe

DOH!!!
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post #11 of 16
2/10/06 at 5:47pm
Was there an offical statement about this EEPROM release? How do you know? Is there a link?
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post #12 of 16
2/10/06 at 5:58pm
There appears to be a new intel_eeprom.zip file posted at the Acer Euro FTP site dated with today's, 02/10/2006, date. ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/note...e_8200/driver/

Anyone know what this is or has given it a try?
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post #13 of 16
2/10/06 at 6:11pm
Thread Starter 
I don't think we can pass on the kudos to ACER until their support acknowledges that there is a problem. See my thread on their "support" repsonse.
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post #14 of 16
2/10/06 at 7:34pm
My support call with them was nothing but good...they were helpful...had me try a few things and guided me as to the best course of action...It would be unfair to judge an entire support org based on one call... nor can i based on my one call...but overall from what ive seen here they have been very good.

Just my .02
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post #15 of 16
2/10/06 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 
I disagree whole heartedly. What is good support is when you call with a relatively simple problem for them to try to make a determination if, in fact, the problem is real or perceived. The woman I talked to, Crystal, was anything but that. She simply listened to what I had to say and assumed that the problem was ISP or configuration related.

Not ONCE, did she ask to me to perform one thing on my laptop to assess the "reality" of my problem.

In addition, when I asked to talk to a supervisor, she stated she had already been in touch with him and would not pass me through to him.

This alone is enough to make everyone leary of their support policies. Not to mention the "early release" of a laptop that has not been thoroughly tested.

I'm hearing about more and more people having this issue and have yet to hear of any of them who have resolved the problem based on the help they received from ACER. If it wasn't for this forum, there would be a lot more people really upset!
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post #16 of 16
2/10/06 at 8:28pm
Thread Starter 
Does anyone know the install procedures for the "new" eprom. Since my is going back, I've got nothing to lose by trying to install it if someone comes up with a procedure to follow.
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