Aspire 2012 questions

I've had my 2012wlmi for about a year now. Ive upgraded it with 1 gig of RAM and an Audigy 2 ZS which sort of solved the startup problem. I'm planning on putting a new 7200 RPM drive in it. I had a few questions.

How do you access the processor of the laptop and how fast of a Pentium M could be put put in it? Does it have the same cooling system as an Aspire 2025?

Where could I get rubber feet for the bottom of the laptop?

Thanks

 

What startup problem did you have? I have a standard 2012wlmi an an unsolvable startup problem (AC'97 audio disappears, and 100% cpu issues)...
Why did you upgrade the RAM and changed audio to Audigy? TIA

 

I had the same startup problem, I think everyone with a 2012 has the same problem. I upgraded to a gig of ram because I use the flight simulator X-Plane and switching between the flight sim program and the poane building program takes a bit with 512 mb of ram. I got an Audigy for it because I have really nice Cambridge Soundworks speakers I use with the laptop and wanted a better soundcard to use with them. The biggest differences between the AC'97 and the Audigy is it has much much less background noise and gets much much deeper bass. I havn't hooked it up to my speakers or a really nice set of headphones yet but the sound quality is also much much better.

 

Can you post the specs for the RAM upgrade?
Back to the startup problem, you wrote the Audigy "sort of" solved the startup problem. So, do you still have it? I want to understand the details of your startup issue, as I'm determined to fix mine.
In my case the startup issue is actually 2 problems together; no sound and apparently random 100% CPU consumption - which makes the laptop useless unless you reboot. Same for you?
I discovered that the 100% cpu always occurs when the AC'97 sound effects manager icon isn't displayed in windows control panel. In this case going into standby mode and coming back restores the sounds effect manager and prevents the 100% cpu issue - but it doesn't also restore sound.
So, I use the missing icon in control panel as a sort of announcer for 100% cpu trouble, and curb the problem by going in/out of standby. It sucks but at least I don't have to go through a full reboot each time.

 

Thats the same startup problem I had. There are a few threads about it at this forum and at notebookforums.com. As far as I know nobodies been able to fix it. I know a few people have talked to Acer about it but didn't get much help. If it's a software issue it would be nice of Acer to fix it up... I reformatted my hard drive a few months ago and installed an authentic non-acer copy of Windows XP Pro. It starts up right more often now but still goes crazy somtimes.

With the Audigy, now the sound works every time I start the computer up but occationally svchost.exe eats up 100% of the cpu and I cant end that process. I may be upgradingto a faster hard drive soon, so we'll see if a whole new hard drive and another fresh windows installation does.

 

I haven't fixed it, but at least I tamed it to a point that it doesn't bite me. The absence of the windows startup sound when I reboot/resume the laptop is indicative that very soon the laptop will go into 100% cpu mode. Also the absence of the AC'97 sound effect manager icon in control panel is indicative of the same situation. When that happens, I immediately put the laptop into *standby* mode (either by closing the lid or by pressing the special Z blue key a couple of times). After standby I resume the laptop and invariable -in my case- sound is back and no 100% cpu issue occurs. Notice *standby*, not hybernation.