Comments on: Taking apart Acer Aspire 5100 laptop

By: Roy Dickinson

Roy Dickinson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:46:06 +0000

I have been given a 5100 (neighbour was gonna heave it out the window) told me of a problem on the left mouse-button and keyboard. I checked the laptop for damage, and then confirmed the ribbon-cable on the keyboard was seated properly – zero response from the keyboard on boot (neighbour kept his SATA HD) – is there a way to confirm it’s the keyboard that’s in need of replacement? dont wanna start throwing money at this if the keyboard isnt the problem.

By: Chris F

Chris F — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:41:10 +0000

Hey

I have a Acer Aspire 5100 running on Windows XP Home Edition. Left my laptop on for a few days ( i know this not a good idea). Came back to it and when I moved the mouse to get it off the screensaver, the whole thing froze. Resorted to switching it off by the on/off button. On reboot, it got as far as the windows xp loading icon and then screen went blank. Noticed that the edges of the keyboard was extremely hot, felt like I’d burnt my finger it was so hot. Anyway, checked the hdd in another computer and it seems to be fine, however on loading the computer again after checking the hdd, there was nothing, just a blank screen. I think it could be the motherboard that has gone. If so, could you tell me whether or not it is worth getting it repaired or simply to get another laptop

cheers

By: kevin harte

kevin harte — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:45:17 +0000

hi i have an acer 5680 and when i turn it on the screens white with colored lines on it cant see anything else have had the screen tested and changed the inverter but still the problems the same

do i need to change the whole of the motherboard or can i just change the graphics card as i have been told that would sort it many thanks in advance

By: Doja

Doja — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:19:38 +0000

I HAVE A ACER ASPIRE 5100 LAPTOP WHEN SWITCH ON THE SCREEN IS BLACK . I HAVE IT OVER 2 YEARS, NO PROBLEMS UNTIL 2 DAYS AGO. THE MAINS LIGHT IS ON & FANS SEEMS TO BE WORKING, APART FROM THAT IT WILL NOT BOOT UP. PLEASE HELP ME

By: icttech

icttech — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:01:48 +0000

Re: media test failure
In my experience, if you have confirmed there are no loose connections, the cause is usually due to a faulty HDD.
You might want to try these other tests first, before comfirming the worst…
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000229.htm

Hope this helps.

By: matt kowalski

matt kowalski — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:13:42 +0000

I’ve got exactly same problem Jeff…

“intel undi, pxe-2.0 (build 082)
copyright (c) 1997-2000 intel corporation

for realtek tyl8139(x)/8130/810x pci fast ethernet controller v2.13(020326)

then it blinks

pxe-e61: media test failure, check cable
pxe-m0f: exiting pxe rom.”

But I can’t find solution to it… I took my laptop apart to llok for some loose connectors or liquid damage of some kind but i couldn’t find anything. There’s something wrong with connections from hdd to motherboard definitely.

By: Petr K

Petr K — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:58:50 +0000

CONTINUATION OF PREVIOUS POSTS:

After lots of research and dismantling, days, I have found that ATI IXP 460 must have gotten hot at some point – the clear plastic above it is partially melted/glued to it and there is even a small melted dent at the bottom edge of the keyboard, to the left of the touchpad.

So, the chip is the culprit.

I spent all my money on this laptop… is it really GONE?? is there any way how to make it work?? If not – can I make the laptop work partially at least? (with some very old system, or external keyboard, etc…)

THanks a lot
Petr

And, Thank You guys for having such a wonderful forum – I have found here info I never dreamt existed.

By: Jeffrey Kurzyniec

Jeffrey Kurzyniec — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:25:50 +0000

Hello i have had my aspire 5100 for a few years now i bought it brand new from circuit city after i graduated high school and its worked fine but lately it has had a problem with starting up when i power it up it shows the aser loading screen then goes to a black screen that says

for realtek tyl8139(x)/8130/810x pci fast ethernet controller v2.13(020326)

then it blinks

pxe-e61: media test failure, check cable
pxe-m0f: exiting pxe rom.

Was just curious if anyone had a clue what was wrong with it or how i could fix it. i had my brother in law look at it and he said one of the soter points was broke on the board and there was probably no fixing it but i was just curious if anyone had experienced this before and if they were able to fix it or if im outta luck and am going to be in search of a new laptop. thanks for the help.

By: Petr K

Petr K — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:29:53 +0000

If it can help… SuSE version was 7.1, and it froze when installing glibc, The Shared Libraries. Petr

By: Petr K

Petr K — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:56:41 +0000

THank You SO MUCH for the reply! Unfortunately, I did not look here, I though I’d get a notification email… Stupid me. So, I did by the laptop, and indeed I am lost now.

Again, it is Acer Aspire 5100. When I got it, it booted XP SP2, but froze fully after about 20 seconds after displaying desktop. DUring that time, I could move the mouse, open programs etc – everything looks perfect… but after that, nothing, freeze. It did this every single time, even in safe mode.
I tried to install new windows. First XP SP3, then SP2. In both cases, it started loading things from CD, and froze exactly at the moment when it showed a message: starting windows now… (so it was installing for about 2 minutes). Then, it froze completely again.

THen, I tried to install perhaps 8 years old linux (SuSe 7). It formatted the disk… and froze later during the installation. I tried to boot – it shows a nice picture of a penquin, starts booting, checks the disk… and freezes later on again.

Now with the formatted disk I tried to install windows again – and it freezes in 2 minutes again. Exactly at “starting windows”.

Help! THank You, Petr