Acer Inc., a well-known company from Taiwan, is famous for making great laptops and monitors. The Acer Aspire Series 3 and 5 are popular laptop choices in their collection. These laptops are special because they offer good performance and reasonable prices.
However, electronics can sometimes have problems because of software issues, malware, or hardware glitches. Some Acer laptops from the Aspire 3 and 5 series could have trouble turning on.
If your Acer Aspire Series 3 and 5 laptop doesn’t turn on, try a Hard reset first. If there are no hardware problems, your laptop should start working again.
To do a Hard reset:
- Make sure your laptop is plugged in, and the battery is out.
- Hold down the Alt + F10 keys.
- While holding those keys, press the Power button once and hold Alt + F10 for 40 seconds.
- Your laptop will start up with a special menu.
- You’ll see options like Troubleshoot, Continue, or Turn off the PC.
- Choose Troubleshoot; then you’ll get another choice: Reset this PC or Advanced options.
- Pick Reset PC.
- Now you’ll see Keep files or Remove everything. I suggest removing everything; this puts the laptop back to how it was when you got it.
- It might ask if you want to remove files or do a deep clean. I recommend picking deep clean.
- Hopefully, after the reset, your Acer laptop will work like before.
If the hard reset doesn’t work, here are a few other reasons with solutions why your Acer laptop Aspire 3 and 5 might not turn on,
1. An issue with the Acer laptop’s boot sequence
If an Acer laptop identifies the presence of a bootable drive, it might initiate an attempt to boot from an external source.
To rule out this as a potential reason for any issues, disconnect all external storage devices, including external hard drives, optical drives, flash drives, and SD cards.
If the first thing didn’t work, here’s what to do next. Take off anything you’ve plugged into your Acer laptop, like docks, hubs, monitors, and other stuff.
Usually, these things don’t mess up starting the laptop, but sometimes Acer laptops can get confused.
Also, a problem might happen if something you plugged in, like a USB, uses too much power. This can make your Acer laptop not want to start up.
2. Battery Failure
Most of the time, when your Acer laptop doesn’t turn on, it’s because the battery might be worn out. Laptop batteries often start having issues after 1-2 years or around 300-400 times of charging.
To check if it’s a battery problem, take out the battery and plug your laptop directly into the power adapter. If your laptop starts up, you probably need a new battery.
Look at the sticker on your laptop battery for its model, power, and amps. When you swap the battery, go for an Acer original. Batteries from other places, like China, might work at first, but they often stop working within six months to a year.
3. AC Adopter failure
At times, your laptop might not turn on because its battery is totally drained. But it’s also possible that the issue is with your AC adapter, which didn’t charge the battery.
To figure it out, look at the adapter’s light. If it’s not on, the adapter might have a problem. You can even give it a sniff to check for any strange smells – that might give you a clue.
If you notice a burnt smell coming from the adapter, it usually means something inside it has broken.
To fix this, get a new, real AC adapter. Using a cheap one could harm your laptop’s battery.
4. Loose connections
If your Acer laptop doesn’t start, check the plugs. Make sure the power cord and the plugs on both ends are all pushed in snugly.
Look at the AC adapter cable for any damage. If it’s damaged, get a new one. Take off any extra stuff like USBs, memory cards, internet cables, and HDMI cables. Then, try unplugging and plugging in your laptop again – that might help start it up.
5. Power IC failure
The power management integrated circuit (IC) controls the flow of power within the laptop. If this IC fails, it can lead to power-related issues, including the laptop not turning on.
The most common causes of power IC failure include exposure to humidity and damage from water spills or splashes.
When water comes into contact with the power IC, it can conduct electricity and cause a short circuit, potentially damaging or burning the IC.
An experienced technician will first diagnose the issue by checking the laptop’s symptoms and assessing whether the power IC is the culprit using a multimeter.
If the power IC is confirmed to be faulty, the technician will proceed to remove the damaged power IC from the circuit board and solder a new one.
6. Loose Connection between LCD and Motherboard
Inside the laptop’s chassis, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) is responsible for supplying power to the LCD screen while being securely housed. Nevertheless, occasional mishaps can result in a weakening of the link between the FPC and the LCD.
In numerous instances, you may notice the screen exhibiting flickering behaviour. However, if the bond between the FPC and the LCD becomes excessively slack, it can lead to a complete absence of display, rendering your Acer laptop unable to power on.
To Verify the connection, remove the screws securing the frame. Subsequently, remove the cover using a card. It’s crucial to bear in mind that even a slight error or indentation could result in irreversible damage to the entire LCD screen.
Watch this video before you attempt to proceed,
7. Issues with the Display Drivers
Display drivers play a vital role in ensuring the seamless operation of your laptop. If these drivers become corrupted or inadvertently removed, your laptop will fail to power on.
You can assess the status of your graphics card drivers by linking your laptop to a secondary screen.
Afterwards, hold down the “Windows Key” on your keyboard and simultaneously tap the “P” key while continuing to press the “Windows Key.”
This action toggles between your laptop’s native display and the external monitor, allowing you to determine the driver’s functionality.
If the external monitor shows a display, it means there is a problem with the Drivers.
Now,
- Open Control Panel
- Select Display Adapters
- Select your Graphic Card
- Click on drivers
- Check if they are working fine and up to date
If not, you can automatically or manually update the graphic card drivers if you have pre-saved drivers on your laptop.
Sometimes Windows 10 automatically loses connectivity to the display due to a bug. In such cases, press the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B on your keyboard, and it will restart the video driver
8. Problem with the Graphic Card
The graphics card is like your laptop’s visual brain. If it fails or becomes loose, your laptop won’t work properly.
For laptops like Aspire Series 3 and 5, the graphics card is built-in and can’t be removed without a technician’s help.
A dusty graphics card can also cause problems. If you haven’t cleaned your laptop in a while, that might be why you’re not getting any video.
Cleaning the graphics card might fix the issue.
Below is a video that will help you clean a laptop.
9. Loose or Dusty RAM
If your Aspire laptop’s RAM is covered in dust, it can cause problems with the display. So, to fix the “Acer laptop Aspire 3 and 5 won’t turn on” issue, cleaning the RAM should be your first step.
Here’s how to clean the RAM:
- Prepare: Disconnect the power supply and remove the battery if possible.
- Access RAM: Unscrew and remove the back cover of the laptop (some laptops have a separate section for RAM).
- Locate RAM Slots: Find the slots for RAM, usually near the hard drive.
- Remove RAM: Unplug the RAM sticks by pressing the hinges and lifting them out.
- Dust Removal: Clear away dust using compressed air or a soft cloth. Then, carefully apply recommended Isopropyl alcohol (safe for electronics).
- Clean Contacts: Gently brush the gold contacts with a toothbrush.
- Wait: Allow about 10 minutes for the alcohol to evaporate completely.
- Reinstall RAM: Carefully insert the RAM sticks back into their designated slots. Follow the slot markings for guidance.
- Gentle Insertion: Make sure to insert the RAM sticks gently. They should slide in smoothly without the need for force.
Remember, pushing too hard can damage the slot, RAM, or motherboard.
10. Corrupted BIOS Setting
Issues such as viruses, software glitches, or a fresh Windows installation can disrupt your BIOS/UEFI settings, potentially causing your Acer laptop to refuse to turn on. This is why resetting the BIOS/UEFI to its default configuration becomes important.
To perform a BIOS reset on ACER laptops, you need to follow these steps:
- Reset Process:
- CMOS Battery: Locate the CMOS battery (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor battery) on your laptop’s motherboard.
- Battery Removal: Carefully remove the CMOS battery from its slot.
- Wait Five Minutes: Leave the battery out for about five minutes to ensure any residual power drains.
- Restore Battery:
- Replace Battery: After waiting, gently put the CMOS battery back into its slot, ensuring it’s properly seated.
- Restart Laptop:
- Power On: Turn on your Acer laptop.
By performing these steps, you’ll reset the BIOS to its default settings, which can help resolve the issue preventing your laptop from turning on.
Watch this video to get a complete insight into the process,
