ACER ASPIRE will not boot

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w7zr

Reputable
Feb 16, 2014
10
1
4,510
Problem is with an Acer Aspire M3985. 3.1G Intel I5 with 10G memory.

The problem does not happen all of the time but maybe 80% of the time.

Pressing the power on. Power supply, fans, and HDD light come on. I get 3 short beeps 2 times before the HDD light goes off. At this point the only thing to do is to hold the power button in and turn system off. Doing this repeated times will eventually turn the system on. Goes through POST and boots to Windows 7. Once the system is on there is never a problem. If however it needs to restart it virtually never comes back on without repeated attempts.

What I have done.
1. Tried booting with minimum (keyboard and mouse) attached.
2. Tried a video card and bypassing the onboard video.
3. Replaced the power supply.
4. Removed and reseated all memory cards (3).
5. Tried with various combinations of memory cards.
6. Checked BIOS settings
7. Put the HD (SATA) on a different SATA port

 
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Solution
M
Hi

A PC motherboard will boot up and show POST or a picture of some sort without any hard drive connected
There may be a longer than normal POST while the attempt to find the hard disk times out

If you can't boot up regularly from a bootable CD, DVD or USB it is not a Windows or Hard Disk problem

Assuming the Hard disk can be removed it can be connected to a PC SATA & power connectors or a USB to SATA adapter or tray.
Then tested with chkdsk or Western Digital Data Life Guard software (works on most brands of hard disk)

Laptop motherboards seem to die far more often than desktop motherboards.
CPU's are generally very reliable

One last thing find out if there is any way to reset the CMOS or disconnect the CMOS button cell battery...
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w7zr

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Feb 16, 2014
10
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Mike,
Sorry I did not answer sooner. Just saw your message. I did not get notification of your response. I will try as you suggested. What seems to work is unplugging the usb keyboard and then plugging it back in before the second round of 3 beeps. Not always but sometimes. Will let you know of your suggestion.
 
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w7zr

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Feb 16, 2014
10
1
4,510
It would not boot from a Win7 repair disk. Another clue: the hard disk activity light goes out after the second series of beeps. What I did not try is disconnecting the HD and then using the repair disk. Does the HD need to be disconnected for that test?
 
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w7zr

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Feb 16, 2014
10
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w7zr

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Feb 16, 2014
10
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I unplugged the HD and the same problem. Took one hour of on and off today to get it to start. Acer wants $249 to service it but that includes anything that is wrong. It could be the mother board. I can get an original MB for $149 from Acer but my concern is that maybe it is the CPU or who knows something else.
 
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mbarnes86

Splendid
Sep 16, 2010
3,839
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26,965
Hi

A PC motherboard will boot up and show POST or a picture of some sort without any hard drive connected
There may be a longer than normal POST while the attempt to find the hard disk times out

If you can't boot up regularly from a bootable CD, DVD or USB it is not a Windows or Hard Disk problem

Assuming the Hard disk can be removed it can be connected to a PC SATA & power connectors or a USB to SATA adapter or tray.
Then tested with chkdsk or Western Digital Data Life Guard software (works on most brands of hard disk)

Laptop motherboards seem to die far more often than desktop motherboards.
CPU's are generally very reliable

One last thing find out if there is any way to reset the CMOS or disconnect the CMOS button cell battery
This occasionally cures problems with corrupt CMOS

regards

Mike Barnes
 
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Solution
W

w7zr

Reputable
Feb 16, 2014
10
1
4,510


 
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W

w7zr

Reputable
Feb 16, 2014
10
1
4,510
Once again thanks for your reply. I had already removed and replaced the CMOS battery. This is NOT a laptop but a tower. I have scheduled chkdsk on the next boot to see if any errors on the drive.
When I turn power on there is nothing on the monitor IF I get the 3x2 beeps. The HD access then stops. The only thing to do at this point is turn power off and try again. If after doing that I hear a click like the HD is seeking and reading (not sure about what the sound means) then it will boot up normally without a hitch.
I have tried a different SATA port on the MB and that did no good. \
Will advise after CHKDSK.
 
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