Wierd Acer Notebook bootup

[River Valley Computer]

We have an Acer Aspire 7551 on the notebook bench that is tearing our hair out. Before anyone says anything (yes Saphirescales this means you- we know it's old) that upon boot up it goes through a screen test like where the various colors display alternately. When hooked up to an external monitor it makes the external monitor lite flash but nothing on the screen. Switched RAM, checked USB ports. Tried to load Linux. Stumped.

We know this unit is 8 years old but it belongs to a clients handicapped child. They tried to give him another one but he rebelled - he wanted his ACER back.

Any thoughts?????

 

[katz]

Just for giggles, I would replace the cmos battery and load default cmos setup. Disconnect power, remove battery and drain all juice from the system. From there....I don't know...following...

 

[Larry Sabo]

+1 to @katz's suggestions. I wonder if there is a bad keyboard, that's stuck on whatever the diagnostic Fn key is that brings up diagnostics? Or liquid damage in the Superio chip area?

 

[katz]

I wonder if there is a bad keyboard, that's stuck on whatever the diagnostic Fn key is that brings up diagnostics? Or liquid damage in the Superio chip area?

+1 to Larry! I usually jump ahead and overlook simple things like a stuck key or similar...if all else fails, tell them it is a recent windows update "feature" - "It's supposed to do that!'

 

[GTP]

Have you checked the monitor cable to make sure it's seated correctly?
Have you visually inspected the USB ports for bent pins/obstructions?
Also, I'd try the above suggestion by @katz of removing the CMOS battery and main battery etc.

 

[Markverhyden]

Given the symptoms I'd say the motherboard is toast. After doing the suggestions above I'd just hit eBay and search for a replacement. Being an Acer I'm sure one can be found that still works ok.

 

[River Valley Computer]

Just for giggles, I would replace the cmos battery and load default cmos setup. Disconnect power, remove battery and drain all juice from the system. From there....I don't know...following...

We didn't think of the CMOS - will try that. Did remove the KB and it still did it. It is just like doing a display test where it steps thru all the different colors etc.

 

[sapphirescales]

I'd just buy a replacement unit on eBay and charge $400 - $500 to fix whatever the issue is. That will make sure you're covered no matter what's wrong and that you're adequately compensated for your time. If they don't want to pay that much, then they'll get over it and get something else. You're under no obligation to fix it for cheap for them. They'll either pay or they won't.

With a spare you can swap out any parts you want until you get it fixed. Sounds like a motherboard to me, but it could be the screen itself. I dunno. I'd have to see it.