Random shutdowns after Vista SP2 install

HELP!
I've just finished downloading and installing SP2 for vista home basic. I had to get support from Microsoft but THAT was all good! The problem now is that the system is shutting down with no notice. completely shuts down. I suspect a cooling issue now because the fan does not seem to increase in speed with the heat of the processor until it finally shuts down.

I did not have this issue before SP2.

Acer wouldn't help me because they say I need to revert to the original settings and they want tot charge me for help.

I can't use MBM it just tells me the temps. I placed a fan right next tot he computer and it is keeping it cool enough that it has not shut down. The fan is working because i can hear it on start-up but it never speeds up.

Any help out there.


ACER Aspire 5315 (Walmart Special)
2G Ram
Bios 1.19 InsydeH20 3.0

 

What was the microsoft support issue?
Are you using the latest BIOS for your system? Use a cool time/place/maximum cooling if trying to update !!!
What settings do you have under advanced power options for cooling ?
Please install SIW http://www.gtopala.com/download/siw-setup.exe or CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting
What temperatures are you seeing for CPU and GPU/graphics ?

 

The MS Support issue was that SP2 would not install for over a year. They sent me a new Vista Basic DVD and I installed. SP2 installed after that. I will try the software you suggested next.

 

Both programs are identified as infected with Trojans by MS Security Essentials and MalWareBytes. Are you yanking my chain?

 

Now this is interesting . .

NO I am not, and these are two very trusted apps (anyone agree ?!?)

They are both low level system utilities though and these do get reported as false positives from time to time . . unusual to get two reports like this . . .

You are right to query it . . can anyone else try a download and see what happens. Using a Mac just now

I downloaded SIW at the weekend and Norton was quite happy with it

 

I don't think there will be an issue. I will attempt to get around these security programs this evening. Probably was getting false positives as you say.

My BIOS shows it at 1.19. Could this be the reason for my shutdowns? I downloaded 1.45 from the ACER website but I almost bricked my computer last time i did a BIOS update and had to do the Funky BIOS recovery suggested in one of these posts.

 

BIOS updates are potentially tricky . . like everything on a PC they can go wrong . . many will say update under DOS, but this process is far from straightforward for non-geeks (making boot disks and figuring out which files to provide. Lenovo offer downloadable boot CD ISO's for BIOS flashing/recovery for which I give them max respect. Nothing so easy here .

My own approach is the "flash with great care under windows" approach, can't make that short so here goes :

• Do you Know any user/supervisor bios passwords.
• This is good time for the full HDD image and key files backups you have been meaning to do . .
• Download the correct Windows flash BIOS
• Ensure no other updates/windows updates are pending, clean out temporary files etc
• Ensure the Laptop is working correctly. As said; BIOS flashing has risks - flashing on a Laptop that is already not working properly is VERY RISKY
• Save the bios .exe file on desktop (the OS tends to regard that as a 'safe source')
• If possible set antivirus to off for 1 hour if that sort of option exists
• Shut down and remove AC and Battery supply and ALL USB /eSata/bluetooth type devices. Hold power switch down for 30 secs
• Put back battery and AC power, reboot, log in as an 'administrator' user and if Antivirus not already disabled do it now.
• Also shut down antispyware scanners and any other HP / MSN type stuff that normally loads etc
• Let system finish initial loading etc
• On Vista /W7 use right click 'run as administrator' to run the bios file onthe dektop. (on XP just click it)
• Leave the programme to do what it does, usually in 3 stages :
  
  [*]Compare old and new BIOS (sometimes saves old BIOS)
  [*]Validate new BIOS checksum etc and flash
  [*]Check BIOS wrote correctly​
• Reboot will then occur

It may be necessary or desirable to re-enter the BIOS and re-do /save any settings you made (e.g. BIOS returns to ACHI mode when IDE had been set, or power on password prompt occurs every boot when asked not to previously.

If it hangs there that is definitely a problem, try to work out if it completed the flashing stage, try to flash again while still in Windows. Turning off at this point is when bricking happens but it is not always so.

As I always say it works 95% of the time when you just grab the file and click whatever is going on or running. So someone will say yeah just do it.

I have flashed untold numbers of BIOSES and other things and using the above approach have never (touch wood) been in the 5% . . .

HTH

 

Finally got wife off of computer.
I removed and reseated the fan to ensure it was spinning and yes it is. but it doesn't seem to speed up with increased temps.
Can you see anything here?

Here is the SIW reading with the external fan off.

Sensor Value Min Max
CINDY-PC
Intel Celeron M 530
Temperatures
Core #0 47 °C (116 °F) 47 °C (116 °F) 51 °C (123 °F)
TOSHIBA MK1652GSX
Temperatures
Assembly 45 °C (112 °F) 45 °C (112 °F) 45 °C (112 °F)
Battery 1
Voltages
Current Voltage 12.31 V 12.31 V 12.31 V
Capacities
Designed Capacity 44400 mWh 44400 mWh 44400 mWh
Full Charge Capacity 28416 mWh 28416 mWh 28416 mWh
Current Capacity 27284 mWh 27284 mWh 27284 mWh
Level
Wear Level 36 % 36 % 36 %
Charge Level 96 % 96 % 96 %

Property Value
BIOS Vendor Acer
Serial Number LXALC0Y079741016A31601
BIOS Version V1.19
BIOS Date 10/15/2007
BIOS Size 1024 KB
DMI Version 2.4
Characteristics - supports PCI
- upgradeable (Flash) BIOS
- allows BIOS shadowing
- supports booting from CD-ROM
- supports selectable boot
- BIOS ROM is socketed
- supports Enhanced Disk Drive specification
- supports INT 13 for Japanese NEC 9800 1.2M floppy (3.5-inch, 1024-byte sectors, 360rpm)
- supports INT 13 for Japanese Toshiba 1.2M floppy (3.5-inch, 360rpm)
- supports INT 13 5.25-inch/360K floppy services
- supports INT 13 5.25-inch/1.2M floppy services
- supports INT 13 3.5-inch/720K floppy services
- supports INT 13 3.5-inch/2.88M floppy services
- supports INT 09 and 8042 keyboard services
- supports INT 10 CGA/Mono video services
- supports ACPI
- supports legacy USB
- Enable Targeted Content Distribution

 

The battery has had its day. Temperatures look normal though

 

The battery has been crap since we bought it. The most time we ever had was 45 minutes before we had to plug into wall. Temps were with no load. The system used let the fan spin up the hotter it got now it just spins like the system is in idle.

The Vista SP2 upgrade also removed the driver for the Touchpad and replaced it with its own. I've downloaded the drivers from ACERs website.

Any fixes for the fan not speeding up with the system under thermal load? The computer shut down yesterday while my wife was watching a training video and running Firefox.

If I try the Bios flash...
What version should i go to? I have downloaded 1.33 1.34 1.44 1.45.

If i brick the system when doing the BIOS flash, does shorting the battery bring back the original BIOS?

Chris

 

Always try the latest bios version unless there is a specific reason not to

Follow my suggestions above

If the flash goes wrong you need to recover the bios using a recovery disk specific to your system. . . . so try not to have it go wrong

 

BIOS update fixed the fan issue!

Thanks for the assist!

 

Glad it worked, Thanks for the update !

B