2-yo Acer Desktop suddenly crashing Home 64

[adw]

I have a 2-year-old Acer Aspire desktop (M3802) running Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bits that suddenly started crashing last week. It will work fine for a while and then the screen goes blank (no signal) and it is completely unresponsive. It sounds like the hard disk is not spinning and the speakers make a humming sound. The computer power light is still on though, and the fans on the CPU and graphics card are still spinning. The only way out of this is to do a hard reboot.

I replaced the hard disk yesterday (added a second new WD drive and made that C with Windows), but it didn't help. During the installation of the new drive I did a clone using Acronis and had to do 3 tries before it finished without crashing. During the second try I got a BSOD, but have not seen the blue screen any other time.

Does anyone have any ideas what this could be? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Updated:

- Windows 7 Home Premium 64
- OEM
- is the original OS
- OS was never re-installed
- age of system + OS install is 1 year 5 months

 

[Maguscreed]

Since you had at least one bsod could try following the instructions at this link?
http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html
It would give us a lot more information than you can.

 

[mjf]

You could also check the powersupply. Look at the rail voltages SIW (portable) will give you a readout
SIW | System Information for Windows by Gabriel Topala

Add: Given the age of your PC you'd be unlucky if the power supply was playing up
Generally SIW is good to have to access system parameters.

 

[adw]

Thank you ... I have updated my original post with the reports.

 

[adw]

Have you had a chance to look at my reports?

The computer crashed only once yesterday being on all day long.

Thank you.

 

[rlhd]

Similar issue

Hi adw -

I was curious if you found a solution to your issue? I've come across the same thing lately, on the same machine (Acer M3802-U9062, Windows 7 Home Premium) mainly when streaming video/audio. One time when I was steaming online video for about 10mins, without doing anything else (I had to force reboot and then it happened a second time after about 10 mins again) and another time when streaming music and accessing a photo album folder (again had to force reboot and it happened a 2nd time).

Any info would be really helpful!

Thanks.

 

[Maguscreed]

Hi adw -

I was curious if you found a solution to your issue? I've come across the same thing lately, on the same machine (Acer M3802-U9062, Windows 7 Home Premium) mainly when streaming video/audio. One time when I was steaming online video for about 10mins, without doing anything else (I had to force reboot and then it happened a second time after about 10 mins again) and another time when streaming music and accessing a photo album folder (again had to force reboot and it happened a 2nd time).

Any info would be really helpful!

Thanks.

We never got to look at a minidump to try and trace possible software issues in this case, if you can provide one we'd be happy to have a look at it.
The posting instructions for blue screens can be found here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

 

[gregrocker]

After you post up your minidump using the tool given above, run through these basic Win7 troubleshooting steps.

 

[adw]

I was curious if you found a solution to your issue? I've come across the same thing lately, on the same machine (Acer M3802-U9062, Windows 7 Home Premium)

The machine has crashed only a few times in the last month, but I've noticed that it is always when it is hot in the room. It basically crashes when the temperature next to the computer gets 78 degrees. I brought it to Geek Squad today to install house fan, clean out dust and check heat sink.

We never got to look at a minidump to try and trace possible software issues in this case, if you can provide one we'd be happy to have a look at it. The posting instructions for blue screens can be found here:

I followed these instructions and posted all the files back in April, but I never got an answer so I removed the files again.

Arthur

 

[Maguscreed]

Sorry I missed you for reasons beyond my control I wasn't around for about a month.
May soon be in the same situation again. Sorry I missed you on this as it seems a common problem.

 

[mjf]

Again Adw,
If you haven't already I suggest you try SIW to monitor key system parameters
eg. CPU, HDD temps, rail voltages.

The clean & cooling added may do the job.

Acer tend to use (too) small enclosures which can get hot and difficult to add an extra fan.
What is the "house fan" you refer to?

 

[Moreno1993]

I am having the same problem now. The problem occurred to me before, leaving me with a lot of searching as well.
After all the research, I found out that most of these problems were (indeed) caused by overheating. Noticing this desktop doesn't have a lot of space to add other hardware such as cooling fans, I tried to fire up the fan speed itself in the hope that it would prevent the computer from giving the 'no signal' error. After rebooting, I opened up the Menu pressing Esc at the first starting screen. At this menu you could adjust the fan speed by disabling the 'Smart Fan'. Save and leave the menu. As the computer rebooted, the sound coming of the fan (or wherever) at least tripled, leaving me with a fairly hard sound..

Nevertheless, when I tried playing my game (Shaiya), it didn't freeze up anymore. After a while, I stopped playing online games and switched over to simple, low-graphic games. I decided to put the Smart Fan back on giving it the normal speed and sound. After doing so, the computer haven't crashed once again.

ALTHOUGH, today... I installed Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. After playing for about 6 minutes, the horror started all over again. Me being a smart ass, I immediately turned off the Smart Fan again in the hope it would erase the problem. Frankly, it didn't.. It didn't for about 6 times now. So I searched again, leaving me here with the same problem as you guys. If anyone found a solution, please post it, cause it's getting a real pain..

 

[Maguscreed]

Cooling pads and removing the battery when you aren't using it, can both help dissipate heat in laptops and flat desktop model computer. (with the desktop you have to get creative to attach the pad to it though)

Sadly these systems just really aren't made for gaming, their compact nature makes it very hard for them to dissipate heat the way gpu's need to.

 

[mjf]

After all the research, I found out that most of these problems were (indeed) caused by overheating. Noticing this desktop doesn't have a lot of space to add other hardware such as cooling fans, I tried to fire up the fan speed itself in the hope that it would prevent the computer from giving the 'no signal' error.

I would leave the smart fan over the CPU alone.
Your PC is one of ACER's little vertical desktops - right?

I suggest you leave the side off and use a small portable fan on hot days/heavy load conditions if not in air conditioning. This will lower temperatures significantly. Monitor your CPU and HDD temperatures. The HDD on ACER desktops can be crammed in.

 

[gregrocker]

I can often drop the temp by 3-5C just by taking the side off, but have never seen a discussion on the risks involved in running it this way. What are other's experiences?

 

[zigzag3143]

Pro's and Con's of course. If you have pets or kids dont. Besides the obvious burn/shock potential I have found all manner of things stuffed into the side of a desktop that was open.

Pro's of course cooler but dirtier. Usually if there is a heat problem is can be substantially reduced by the usual things. Thermal paste, location, cleaning, power, etc.

 

[mjf]

Here is an example of a small Acer Aspire I own.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300, 1GB Nvidia card right up the top (no lower slots), HDD sandwiched between the case and a DVD rewriter.
Great thermodynamic engineering isn't it!
So
- side off + small extra fan when needed
- no small children or pets nearby of course
- enclosed power supply (safer than a toaster)
- quick clean with compressed air every now and again (easy access!).

With small fan GPU and HDD (heavy load access) drops temperature ~10 Celsius.
I can run 4 CPU cores 100% hours on end and stay under 50 Celcius (rated 74C)

You'd never build your own system like this!
View attachment 159075

Edit: The post was intended as an option (which I use) for other ACER case type owners.

 

[Maguscreed]

In the long run dust build up may occur a little faster, but barring you spraying water or something caustic into the side of the case it really shouldn't harm life span or anything at all.