Acer Aspire 300 Locking up!!!

Have you made any recent changes to your machine - new RAM, program updates, installs/uninstalls, etc? If so, try reversing the change, or give System Restore a shot.

If you haven't already, run an AV scan and run your antispyware apps.

Try safe mode, press F8 before xp logo boot thingy and see if it locks up again. If not then it sounds like you have a spyware/malware infection. Run Ad-Aware.

Lots of things can cause freezes. If you've already reinstalled your OS, there shouldn't be a malware issue. Are you still working with a fresh install? Have you tried checking your Event Viewer to get a hint at what's going on? Running MemTest might be a good idea - or at least try pulling RAM sticks out one at a time to see if memory is the issue. If only one stick is in your machine, try a different slot. You're not hearing any weird clicking noises, are you? If so, you may have an hdd problem.

I'm starting to think it might be a heat issue. Check the inside part of the cpu heat sink, the side with the fan, actually take the fan out. There might be lint and stuff built up on the inside.

Someone else on here said theirs acted shitty until they installed their video drivers. The GPU was getting worked too much I guess, it didn't know how to work properly without the drivers.

Damn, your situation is a stumper!
Let us know!

Hello I have the same problem and looking for a longer term solution. I currently fix the issue by leaving the AC Adaptor plugged in and removing the battery. I know it sounds ridiculous but the keyboard and touchpad start working again, once the battery is disconnected. If anyone has a REAL solution please let me know.

- Thanks Fed.

I am having this same issue only mine IS under warranty, I bought the extension! I was searching the WEB tonight for people with similar problems when I found this forum.

I've sent mine to ACER twice. The first time they replaced the hard drive, RAM and mother board. The second time just the hard drive. It worked fine one time after each repair. Then goes back to the same problem. I just tried the "remove the battery" trick, and it worked!!! Then re-install the battery and it quits working. Take it back out, again it works.......Hmmmmm

I will call ACER first thing in the morning to tell them of the battery thing then post the results of that conversation tomorrow.

Thanks for the ideas and help!

Big Fat Richie

hmm.. sounds like a bug in the motherboard design if multiple people have the same problem. Way to go crApCER!!! Better get rid of that thing. Sell it as is!

I just tried the "remove the battery" trick, and it worked!!! Then re-install the battery and it quits working. Take it back out, again it works.

Any solution to this problem? I am in the same boat after a reinstall.

did you review the computer properties in the device manager (ACPI...)?

cheers ...

Acer Aspire 1 locking up

*** Here is the FIX!!!!***

My Acer Apire 1 would lock up. It would not close Windows all the way. F8 would boot LKG but boot normal would stop with a blank screen. I could NOT update windows...it would lock on MS site.

*** REMOVE THE SD to MICRO SD ADAPTER FROM THE CARD READER **** The micro SD adapter is being seen by the USB card reader...but there is no card so it does not know what to do.

I removed the adapter and everything works perfectly

I've got an aspire 3000 too.No card reader for sd cards,don't know what that's about.Same issue with battery installed,locks up in windows,no keyboard,no touch pad.Started doing this 1 month out of warrantee.Acer won't even talk to me,sends me bot mail requesting $89 service fee,and latest quote of $199 when all I wanted to know is if I could disable ACPI without harming laptop.Their well aware of the problem,and ignoring it,and making a fortune off people paying them to fix their junk.I've been trying to get help for three years from them,they stole $500 from me for junk,refuse to give them another dime,to fix their junk.Mine,and everybody else who was unfortunate enough to buy an aspire 3000,and from what I've found over the 3 years,5000 series as well,is to go to ftc.gov,federal trade commission,click on consumer protection button,and file a complaint.They won't resolve individual complaints,but if enough of us file complaints,they'll open an investigation,and force acer to do a recall,when they prove to be defective.

If you can boot into safe mode and it works OK, it is unlikely to be a hardware issue.. However, thats not to say it won't be, just unlikely... When you get a lockup at desktop like this with no pixelation or screen lock, sound lock etc, it generally points to a conflict with the motherboard chipset... I carry a copy of linux on a disc and pendrive, and if this problem arises, I run the live CD or Live pendrive... 99% of the time the laptop will load up and run perfectly with linux (Damn Small Linux or Ubuntu).. This then points to a driver conflict on windows... Win7 has been a pain for this as it loads up generic older drivers on new hardware (the same happened with XP when that first appeared, esp with nVidia and Soundblaster drivers)... First thing I do on any laptop I restore or sell, is remove the crapware, i.e. the 'free' trial for Mcafee and M$ office 2007, do a full windows update and install the latest drivers from NOT the laptop manufacturers website, but from the chip maker, ie Intel for intel chipsets, nVidia or ATI...

This generally stops a laptop being returned with 'an issue', because I have no idea what the customer is going to install on it, and if you read the small print, software is NEVER covered by warranty....

Once all is updated, esp with ACER's and SONY's, I create or tell the customer to create backup DVD's and keep them safe, don't throw them away (or allow the other half to)...

From that, very few laptops are returned with hardware issues, mostly user error...

Also from past experience, very few laptops turn up DOA or have issues... Acer are cheap, and too me are by far one of the best cheap brands... The buggiest are Gateways, which when they work, work well, but I have two here, that won't charge the battery, but work fine off mains and that does seem a prevalent issue with them..

Another point, is if you cannot do these things yourself, read up and take it to a shop and if they say 'new hard drive' or 'RAMs faulty' get them to test it in front of you 0 if they are reputable they will do just that....

You know, with all these folks saying it works when the battery is out, it almost sounds as though there is a short in one of the battery cells. With it happening in such numbers Acers battery manufacturer might have sent out a bad batch of batteries that were not within spec. I had this kind of problem on my old dell 800. New battery solved the issue.