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Acer Travelmate 2200 Dead After Bios Flash!!

post #1 of 33
6/4/06 at 8:35am
Thread Starter 
I hope someone can shed some light on the situation I find myself in.

I wanted to upgrade the memory on my laptop so I did. I didn't believe it was fully compatible so I decided to flash the bios to the latest version.

I downloaded 'bios1.12' from the Acer website. In there, there is instructions of how to use the flash utility.

After completing the simple instructions, I could see thew progress of the flash happening. It then said, something like update successful, your machine will now shut down automatically in 10 seconds.

I then left it and it shut its self down. Upon powering it back up again, all I get is 3 beeps! I can't even get into the bios or any post screen!!

Has anyone had the same problem with this update? I have read else where on the net on 1 website that some guy did the same thing and killed his laptop too using the same update!!

Please please please, can anyone help me out on this! If so, please post your suggestions - I would really appreciate them!!

Thanks....
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post #2 of 33
6/4/06 at 7:11pm
The good news is that it can be repaired.

If still under warranty I would log a support with Acer (maybe they can sort it out over the phone). They probably collect it open it, pull out a jumper wiat for an hour or so to let de capacitors discarge after whihc the CMOS isn't powered anymore, put back the jumper and restart with the 'mother CMOS', flash it and send it back to you. (I guess about 50$ to 75$).
In the wost case they have to solder out the battery to get the same result.

Unless you know perfectly what you are doing (and have the service manual for finding the right jumper) I wouldn't do this myself.

HTH

Drio

Flashing is still a bit tricky (especially from within Windows), so unless it really corrects something crucial for my machine I try to stay away from it. There is no need to flash if the new BIOS only adds suport for something you don't have in your machine anyway.
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post #3 of 33
6/4/06 at 9:59pm
Thread Starter 
Ok thanks for the reply.

I guess I will have to wait for a reply from ACER now then. It isn't under warranty any more so I guess I may have to pay to get it fixed.

So removing the battery for an hour or so resets the bios, or does it have to be re-flashed by ACER??
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post #4 of 33
6/4/06 at 10:08pm
If it's no longer under warranty you could also ask a local laptop repair shop? probably cheaper and faster

Cheers

Drio
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post #5 of 33
6/5/06 at 4:39am
Thread Starter 
Have called a shop, they recommended I contact ACER before anyone else.

I have written them an email and I have also written to Pheonix, the bios peeps.

So would you say it is safe to say that I dont now have a big plastic, expensive paperweight, and that it can be repaired....?
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post #6 of 33
6/5/06 at 5:52am
Just about everything broken can be repaired, it's just the cost-benefit that may make you decide otherwise. Compare the quote for the repair with the price of a new one with similar capabilities.

If the model is still reasonably 'current' Acer should be capable of doing it and so should your local shop.
I can imagine for your local shop to be a bit more worried especially if they don't really know the brand or model (would you sue them if they fail while trying?)
I have the luck that my local is also an Acer Partner (don't know what it actually implies and probably mainly for their server/desktops) so they know a bit more about it (at least they have easier access to Acer technicians if they need advice).


Cheers

Drio
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post #7 of 33
6/5/06 at 5:30pm
Thread Starter 
Nice 1, thanks for your input

Anyone else have any suggestions please??
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post #8 of 33
6/26/06 at 11:12am
Did you resolve your problem with your Acer Travelmate 2200.
If so how did you sort it because I have a customer with exactly the same problem
cheers
andy@ifixpc.co.uk
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post #9 of 33
6/26/06 at 7:53pm
Thread Starter 
No, still not sorted. Emailed ACER but they just want me to send it for repair. This company really angers me - they just want to know!!

Sorry....

If you find a better of solving the problem, let me know, cheers!
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post #10 of 33
6/26/06 at 11:36pm
Hi

Don't try this if you don't have the right tools!

inside the machine there is a small battery that feeds the CMOS (the BIOS). This battery needs to be temporarily disabled.

There may be 3 ways of doing this:
1. get the machines service manual (NOT the user manual) and find the jumpers for this battery. If available and found pull them and wait for the capaciters to discharge. this may take atleast 20 minutes, but please take longer.

2. solder the battery out for the same effect (again wait sufficient time) and solder it in again

3. shortcut the CMOS chip on the right connectors to reset it. )I haven't a clue whihc pins so don't ask)

After this the CMOS should be reset and you can reflash the BIOS.

hth (but WH ANY Warranty)

So now you know why Acer wants the machine back: they cannot do anything about this from a distance wh getting into litigation problems if you mess up on their advice.


Drio
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post #11 of 33
6/27/06 at 2:28am
Thanks for that....
cheers
andy
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post #12 of 33
6/27/06 at 11:30am
Thread Starter 
Good advice, thanks.

Just one small minor problem.....how the hell do you get inside it? I have removed all the screws but still I have no way of actually opening it fully open. It seems that there is a centre screw or 2 that are within the inside areas and I cannot either see nor reach them. Does anyone knnow where there is a dismantling guide on the net for this Laptop? I have already downloaded a service manual but that just shows the replacement parts. It doesn't actually show how to dismantle the bloody thing - any ideas?

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post #13 of 33
6/28/06 at 12:25am
Yes, it's all a bit tight fitted with laptops.

Again the service manual (at least for my model) has explode pictures which show which screws you need to unscrew.

You can find manuals in threads here or in a sticky in the Acer froum at www.notebookreview.com.

Also search for "disassemble" on the forums. Some people explain quite well how they "gently" took their notebook apart.

I don't know your specific model/series, so that's all ...

hth

Drio
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post #14 of 33
6/28/06 at 4:52pm
try one memory stick and power on the laptop then the other stick
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post #15 of 33
6/28/06 at 5:30pm
Thread Starter 
There is only one memory stick in the laptop in the internal slot...
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post #16 of 33
6/29/06 at 3:21am
You can get a full manual from this guy on ebay for £2.00.
It is instantly sent to you when you pay via PayPal.
Here's his link:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Acer-Laptop-Ma...QQcmdZViewItem
Cheers
Andy
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post #17 of 33
6/29/06 at 5:00pm
Thread Starter 
Its ok now dude, I managed to open it at last....
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post #18 of 33
6/29/06 at 5:03pm
did you fix it?
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post #19 of 33
6/29/06 at 5:31pm
Thread Starter 
nOpe, I removed the battery for one hour (Soldered) and built it back up. Still the same old 1 long beep, 2 short! Will let you know if anything else comes up.....

Any luck on your behalf?
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post #20 of 33
6/29/06 at 5:50pm
1 long + 2 short beeps means you have a display adapter problem.

See http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml

HTH,

1E-9
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