Okay, thanks. The issue has to deal with where the operating system is saving the 'hibernation file" and how much free space you have on the C drive.
Can you check on the amount of free space on C or do you need instructions?
Worldvet
Comments:
Jun 01, 2008
- Wow, that's a lot of free space so this is not the area.
Then, there could be an errant problem on drive c:
Double Click My Computer, right click the C drive, choose Properties and select tools. Use the Scan Disk tool or Check drive for errors.
It should report that the Volume has open handles and can't be locked do you want to check it on the next restart. Select yes and when prompted to reboot choose no.
You will want to shut down as this seems to work best. So shut down then when power is off, turn power on and you'll see the system checking for errors, it may also display the errors found but will not give you a continue screen it will just keep rebooting.
Then, you will need to clear out by turning off the hibernation files and mode. This is found under Control Panel, Display, Screen Saver, Power Options... disable hibernation. Shut down and restart. Once in your desktop close the lid until the fan stops and the screen goes dark. Reopen the lid and see if it doesn't resume Windows ok and let me know.
Regards,
Worldvet
Jun 01, 2008
- Okay. Let me know how far you get. Are you running Vista?
Worldvet
Jun 01, 2008
- Did this start after the RAM switch out or the new Hard Drive install? Or both?
Worldvet
Jun 01, 2008
- Okay. This one could take a while to solve because of the variables.
With an OEM machine, there is likely to be a hidden restore/repair partition.
When you switched out the hard drive did you clone it or do a new install on your new hard drive.
Worldvet
Jun 01, 2008
- I think your bios or boot sector is confused as it power's on okay, but on restart or reboot it gives you this problem. So it's hard to say which is wrong,.. the bios or the Windows boot sector. Have you updated the bios too in an attempt to solve this?
Have you used the repair console or rebooted into Safe Mode and used a DOS windows to run utilities like FixMBR, etc.
Take a look at your boot.ini file from My Computer, Properties, Advanced, etc. I think you know this from our conversation so far.
Worldvet
Jun 01, 2008
- Okay, hang loose for a little while, while I take care of something here at home. Will be back shortly.
Worldvet
Jun 01, 2008
- First, check the version of bios you are running. It should display on the first page of your bios setup screen or a subsequent screen. It will also display on the bootup screen when it shows your display adapter.
I'll check to see if there is a newer version available. When you boot up and here a beep immediately, immediately press F8, this will give you the option to run in Safe Mode, etc. etc. Choose Safe Mode and a subsequent screen will ask you what partition to boot. There should be only one option. If there is more than one let me know, but at this point just power off and then power up. The point is to find out if there is more than one entry in the boot.ini which instructs Windows where to find the boot partition.
So do those two things and let me know.
Worldvet
Jun 01, 2008
- Alright, I'll check for a new version. Meanwhile go into your bios setup screens and tell the power system to do nothing when the lid is closed and then boot into Windows and do the same there. Shut down and then power on and get you desktop. I'll get back to you.
When you get to a desktop again let me know if you have ever flashed a bios before and if Acer has an onboard Windows utility to do this.
I do laptops nearly exclusively these days and I work on so many it is hard to keep track of one from another anymore. Still, when I am consulted I put people in Acer machines unless the need extreme power for gaming and then I build an Asus Whitebox Laptop for them.
Anyway, its getting late and I'll check the bios available but we may have to pick this up tomorrow. What time zone are you in?
Worldvet
Jun 01, 2008
- Okay.
Go to:
this linkFind and download this file
Acer ePowerManagement v2.0.2016a
Windows XP
AS31-51-511-AcerEPM_v2.0.2016a.zipDownload to an unique folder, unzip and click to run.. This will install a new version of ePower Management for your laptop and XP
Create a new restore point befre doing this and any install for that matter.
As you look at the list where the file is located you will see just how many patches are available. We may need to get more than one to fix your system completely.
Regards and I'll send you a comment tomorrow morning to pick up. Meanwhile, just power down for now, when not using your laptop,
Worldvet
Jun 01, 2008
- Your boot.ini is incredibly odd. Fortunately you can email this to me tomorrow.
I'll teach you about flashing etc. tomorrow.
See you then.
Worldvet
Jun 01, 2008
- This was after installing the updated power management software?
Did you create a restore point? even though the install should have done this itself, it can't be relied upon.
Let me know if you back at a regular desktop now.
Worldvet
Jun 01, 2008
- Does the fan settle down after you've reached a desktop and been there for a few minutes.
WV
Jun 01, 2008
- quote: "the system will not restore"
Huh? I know this happens. You may have more than a simple problem that updating the Bios and drivers on your machine can fix.
I realize you must be at your wits end, but It's beginning to look like the behavior of a virus.
Can you see the power management install in Control Panel Add/Remove?
If not, CCleaner has a pretty good utility for uninstalling things that do not show in Add/Remove.
WV
Jun 01, 2008
- You may also want to go into your bios setup screens and look over the hardware and power management settings and see what looks a bit out of place or can be toned down a bit.
WV
Jun 03, 2008
- Hi,
Sorry I missed your comment of June 1, I don't know how I missed it but this does happen when I'm pretty busy with client computers in my business.
Rather than a boot sector virus it sounds like you have a virus in your system bios, which is not so bad as a boot sector zero virus.
Do you still have this problem and need assistance since I failed you by not getting back to you sooner?
A bios virus can be cleared up rather easily but requires you accessing the battery that maintains your time/date and setup options.
Do you feel willing to remove your keyboard and palm rest cover to access your board battery? It is not that hard actually. When the tabs that hold these parts in place as opposed to the screws involved. The tabs make a loud cracking sound as if something plastic just broke. It unnerves many; including me when ever I do it.
I'll be glad to talk you through it. When you disconnect the battery the ram section of the bios drains off and if there is a virus there it will be lost too. Also, there is a good, free anti virus program that will scan your PC on a bootup before any portion of the Windows environment is active. I use it all the time when I actually need a good thorough anti virus program that does these things that most other programs fail at.
Again, sorry for not getting back to you sooner.
Regards,
Worldvet
Expert
