I despise Acer...

First, they sell me a crappy laptop that breaks down within a month of purchase. Secondly, they sell it with a crappy extended warranty that does nothing. And then, they charge me £70 for repair when it was their crappy programme that destroyed my computer.

So basically Acer, here's £500 for this piece of garbage, and here have another £30 for a piece of paper that says 'you're covered' but 'you're actually not', and here's another £70 for destroyiong my computer from the inside and claiming nothing to do with it. I just love giving you money Acer, please, take it.

Reference

 

Hell yeah! I support you!
I hate ACER too. They're like retarded=.=!
A lot of people are complaining about the THROTTLING(almost all AS6920G basically) and they take no action. They're idiot in creating BIOS(which have stupid setting inside that can causes annoying stuffs).
I won't buy acer again LOL. Even their designs are cooler compared to some manufacturers(not all) but the function and reliablilty is incredible AWFUL.
Actually, many failures of Acer is their own faults. They created some high customer threshold BIOS which claim to be giving the computer longer lifespan(which throttle/slowdown GPU or CPU randomly especially on gaming to torture us or sometime burn the hardwares) and some stablility stuffs.
Moreover, the BIOS is locked, it claims to say that it is to avoid wrong setting or changing of BIOS by the users(wrong setting of BIOS can cause problem we KNOW of course).
Many BIOS setting has been locked especially those setting which caused the troubles. We can't change them DAMN! Actually, if you check a normal motherboard without any stupid locking stuffs, it is full with functions and settings. Acer reduced the setting about 50-70%. GOD!
In addition, BIOS locking is manufacturer great ideas in finding GOLDs. With BIOS locked up, we are not able to fully change or modify our laptop(overclock, change hardwares and so on) perfectly. So, our laptop would stay on its state since it can't be improve much further. So, in order to have a better performance laptop and the old laptop is freaking hard or unable to upgrade, we would buy a new laptop. HELL! Buying a new laptop = MONEY. They take our money again. Cheer!

Well, same to DELL, I won't buy DELL too.
I think I would buy a desktop or other brands of laptop next time.
ASUS is doing great^^! HP too.

 

I agree that Acer's service or warranty repair is awful.
At least, I've read several reports from UK that indicate as much.
That is why I am reluctant sending my laptop to them due to my lcd issue, because there's a possibility they will return it in exactly the same state, or in even worse state.

But, they are one of the most affordable laptop dealers and apart from my screen issue that pops out randomly and on rare occasions, I don't have other issues with the laptop.

What I personally recommend to virtually everyone is that they completely wipe the system when they initially get it and re-install everything on their own.
That way, you avoid pre-installed garbage and bloatware and have tight control on what you want installed ... and the ultimate result is that the system will be much more responsive.

I agree that locking the BIOS is stupid.
But from their perspective, it's a protection because they force people to actually upgrade as little as possible and then buy new laptops when the present ones become obsolete (not to mention the fact that laptop manufacturers love to reuse old technologies as much as possible before switching entirely to new systems).

 

Yeah! Agreed with all these points.
Acer is cheap(even high specifications) and affordable by everyone.
The bloatwares and sh!ts(except some important 1) in the OEM installation are really nothing but resources hogs.
BIOS locking = pure stupid especially for people who understand how do BIOS work and how to modify them. For those who do not understand BIOS setting, they just won't even touch it. WHY THE HELL THEY WANT TO LOCK IT!? It is obviously for MONEY.

 

Hi, Acer's bios is no different from many other manufacturers and they've always been the same. Acer's, so-called, bloatware cannot destroy a laptop, it is more than likely your index finger that has done that...
Chris

 

If you think Acer is bad with bloatware buy a Toshiba... Dell used to be horrible but they have toned it down a bit in the last couple of years and HP is bad at including their own branded bloatware. I have seen HP laptops come with 1gb of installed crap for their printers and other little tools.

 

DarkSilver, we've been over this already. Acer doesn't know that there's a problem, and they won't until people start telling their tech support en masse that the 6920G has a throttling issue.
And Chrisius, if they're not willing to assist you considering it was their software that should have fixed it, there's only one thing to do: go over their heads.
Tell the next Acer tech support fellow you speak to in a firm but calm voice that you WILL NOT pay for a repair caused by Acer's own software (not the choice of words: "will not pay" instead of "should not pay"). If they continue to be vacant, escalate to the supervisor on hand. If there is none, inform the representative that you'll be submitting the complaint via the Better Business Bureau (or the UK equivalent). That should make 'em jump a bit.

Acer may make great notebooks, but I agree that their customer service needs a buttload of improvement.

 

Agreed. Every laptop manufacturers locked their BIOS setting. It is fine if the BIOS setting they have locked do not produce any problem. But, if the problems are due to the BIOS setting set wrongly by the manufacturer and eventually locked, it would be a nightmare.
Example:
AS 6920G comes with a faulty Thermal Monitor 1(TM1) value in the BIOS setting.
TM1 caused much troubles for AS 6920G users which when the CPU reached certain temperature(basically 55C-60C and these temperature are considered safe and only appears while playing games), it would downclock itself to cooldown its temperature. It's suck! Such a low temperature and it considered overheated =.=! STUPID TM1.
A lot of people were headache of this problem. Finally, they came out to a semi-fix solution only.
I have a permanent fix for this problem but only works for certain users. I just disabled TM1 value(EIST turned off) using RMclock registry tweak(Normal setting in RMclock couldn't change it and BIOS has been locked so I can't turn it off using BIOS).
After that, I tried some intense gaming like GRID and Left 4 Dead as well as orthos test for a few hours and the maximum temperature I got is 57-60C. The CPU did not throttle and the temperature did not go above 60C.
Which mean the TM1 value that ACER set is a failure. The CPU won't goes above 60C(or even if 70C also considered safe) and WHY THE HELL they set the TM 1 value so low(55C-60C)? Slowdown the CPU because the CPU is performing well?

@tehsuigi, I don't care they know or not know. As a manufacturer, they should be more careful and think twice on doing BIOS stuffs. You said you did go to the Acer Canada HQ and did they believe that almost all AS 6920G have similar problems or you did not tell them? If you're the Acer manufacturer, have some clients or users complaint about the laptop model have some problems. Would you take a closer look on it and do some experiments for it(not 1 machine but a few or maybe deep investigation) Well, I know you are Acer Lover(sorry on too crazy of blaming acer). I am Acer user too. We have same model and we share same pain.

 

It's obviously Acers fault . Acer purposely design their lappies with bloatware that renders their machines useless within the warranty period.

And then they want to charge to fix the useless machine. Shocking.

Oh well, they must be doing something right to sell as many lappies as they do. Unless their millions of satisfied customers know something that the OP doesn't?

 

I like this approach.

 

How the hell would software physically damage your hardware unless it was overvolting it?

 

Hi, I had over a hundred Acer laptops pass through my fingers as a school technician and I've just setup 10 5920g's for teachers to use. I have found that even a novice has been unable to break their laptop using the Acer supplied software.

Darksilver, I think you'll find that Acer do not program the bios, that will be left to the company that supplies them with the laptops in the first place. Acer do not necessarily have any service or R and D within their organisation.
That's why all servicing is contracted out...
Chris

 

It hasn't physically damaged the hardware, but it has rendered his system unusable - see here.
Chrisius, I thought you would like it. I used to work in the sales support department of a notebook manufacturer (hint: the company's name starts with "L"), and we were told that as soon as a customer lawyered up or mentioned the BBB, we got them to people who would bend over backwards to save the sale and placate the customer.

 

This is why the first thing you do with a new computer (any brand) is to clean install the OS.

/thread

 

I give up. Shrug.

I was not being serious

That's why I prefer to let you folks do your thing. As a newly appointed Moderator on this Forum once told me.... I am wasting my time.

Burn your fingers. And find out the hard way.

Nothing I will ever do will help change the way people are. Unless they want to listen to people that have been there and have failed before.

Thats life Acer people. Find out for yourselves.

 

Break it no but cause software conflicts yes!

I have had an 8930G for 2 months now which came with vista 32. It worked fine but wouldn't play some newer blu ray films so updated arcade deluxe and now won't play any blu ray. Also cyberlink don't support arcade deluxe so laptop sold with no functioning blu ray software.

Also another annoying problem when it restarts the screen stays black and no HDD activity. The only way of getting working is removing ac adapter switching off for a few seconds and it will then restart. I have dual booted with Win 7 64 RC1 and it restarts fine in this. Both of these issues have been reported by other users but no solutions.

 

No worry. I support you.
Actually, they must aware on the BIOS they have set.
BIOS is the key on manipulate every hardware in the laptop.
A noob BIOS can cause:
a.)hardware malfunction/spoil/burn
b.)hardware conflict with hardware
c.)random voltage
d.)random fan speed
e.)random throttle
f.)hardware detection error/no detection/random detection

Moreover, the BIOS is LOCK! Even we know which part or which setting of the BIOS is causing the problem. However, we can't fix it due to the LOCK.
If you ask laptop manufacturer of LOCKING BIOS.
They would said for SAFETY stuffs(avoid blah blah customer wrong setting kind of stuffs). Actually, they are finding money with it. With a failure or locked BIOS, we can't perfectly upgrade or change some hardware in our laptop. This may lead to us to buy a new laptop since the old laptop is unchangable/cant be upgrade.

 

If you are looking for a Upgradable laptop look at Clevo systems.
Acer is value for money and great IMO.
I never had any problems with Acer.
Of Course I do clean installs with Vista optimization.
Most slowdown are to do with how Vista operates and people install crappy addons and toolbars.
I guess people are cheap sl*ts.
When you pay more for something it has issues you won't blame the Vendor because it is "expensive" when it comes cheap people complain and claims it sucks.
If you do not know how to remove crap read the forum or google instead of complaining.
Of Course you can also buy other brands and pay more in the process.
For people who know how vista work no problem per se.
Even if they unlock the BIOS are you sure you can fix it?
And they didn't lock the BIOS on purpose hence some models are MXM upgradeable.
If you are really good instead of complaining you would have modded the phoenix bios instead with PBE.
And BIOS is not really an issue.
After the System completes POST BIOS hands full control over to OS and do nothing.
BIOS is a legacy system in the past it is important controlling a lot of hardware but now it is just a legacy backward compatibility system to handle booting.
Know your stuff before pointing fingers.

 

Guys, can we PLEASE stop hijacking this thread?
Chrisius, let us know how your continued negotiations with Acer UK go.

 

Actually a clean Vista install ought to fix it.
(I do agree Acer likes to include crapware on their system maybe that is why they can sell it cheap but reinstalling it fixes it)
But people just enjoying blowing matters out of proportion.

 

Hi, on both my 5920G and my 8930G it is working fine, on my 10 5920G's that I've just setup for my school's use, with either Vista or XP depending on network needs, Acrade is still working ok.
Now instead of taking a cheap pop at Acer perhaps we can help you with some technical support...
Chris

 

Thank you TehSuigi, you seem to be on of the few in this thread that realise where I'm coming from, and speaking on a level which I can understand. I'm phoning Acer again on monday. The first time all this silly woman would say is that "software is not covered by the warranty", "software is not covered by acer advantage aswell, so you bought it for nothing" Blah blah blah.

Theres no way i'm paying that silly amount of money for what I bet is inexpensive to fix. Bearing in mind that I've only had the machine for a month. Chriscatt said he recieved a similar error here, and he managed to fix it, though I don't know how much trouble he went through to do so. Care to elaborate chris?

I'll let you know how the "formalities" go with Acer UK.

 

They're going to send it back UN-REPAIRED.

I HATE ACER!!! with a passion!! I'm so aggravated right now...

 

I read it on the warranty handout and it said SOFTWARE is not covered by warranty. THIS IS CRAZY. LOL! But it is also logic/acceptable, if it is cover then we would simply download and do not use any AVs. Because we can have repair for free. XD! I plan for ASUS or a desktop next time. Say bye to Acer.

 

Now why on earth would they do a thing like that?
We need to diagnose exactly why your system has gone bits-up. Download the Ultimate Boot CD or Knoppix Live CD and see if your hard drive has failed.
Then, see if you can run a disk recovery again. DOCUMENT EVERY ERROR.

 

I agree. Acers support sucks When I had my 8930g, they couldn't fix my overheating-problem.

I swapped the 8930 to a 6930 and I haven't experienced any problems so far , but I will never buy Acer again.

 

Hi, it was no trouble at all, being a IT techie I had this one fixed in a jiffy. As I said I booted to a win2k cd, as a XP one couldn't perform the operation, and just removed the 'c' partition, then used my recovery dvd's to make good the Acer install. I'd been messing around with the install of another HD and win7 and I guess I corrupted or overwrote Acer's boot sector somehow..
Chris

 

Ha, funny how they say software isn't covered by the warranty, but it was THEIR OWN software that rendered my computer useless! ha! its humourous when you think about it. I could 'accidently' drop my computer in say, a fish tank, and according to Acer Advantage, they would send me a temporary replacement and repair the damages for FREE. And as far as im concerned, if the computer is broken, or the harddrive has failed, it wouldn't even matter about the software on there.

Well I'm done ranting, for now, and I'm gonna do what I should have done from the beginning, get a friend of mine to fix it for free. Never calling Acer again, and never buying Acer again. I might sell this piece of junk, or maybe I should have asked for a full refund. hmmm....

 

Anyway, what's your AS6930G problem?
If it is normal problem that can be solve easily like re-installation of windows or some minor hardware replacement. I suggest that you no need to sell it.

 

29 Posts and we still don't know what is the problem...

 

Acer is fine. If you don't fiddle and mess things up.

And if you feel you must fiddle.....at least have an idea of what the outcome of your fiddling will have before you fiddle. Got it???

Old Acer Non fiddler here over and out. Almost 3 years of no problems. Surely, you can do it too????

And my 5680 has had zero issues thus far. Everything still runs as quick as it was when new. What a brilliant lapppie. If this Acer ever dies....I will once again choose Acer.

Fanboy = NO. Acer has given me no reason to choose otherwise. Brilliant technology at the best price. Reliability has been outstanding considering this lappie runs 18/24. Yup, 18 hours out of 24 available hours.

And it was one of the "older crappy" Acers....according to users

Maybe I just look after my stuff better than others????

 

Or maybe you are just lucky as hell.

It's not his fault that the piece of crap choosed to die. I have had problems with 1 out of 2 computers from Acer. That is a ratio on 50% and that's not good.

 

I am probably as "lucky as hell". And so are the millions of of the happy/satisfied Acer users out there.

Who understand what they are doing. Before fiddling.

If I did not believe in Acer I would surely not post on/in this forum. I post here cause I can.

I do not like companies being blamed because of user issues. That is both unfair and dumb.

 

I am very happy with my Aspire 5610z, it had 1GB memory when I bought 2yrs ago, since I upgraded my memory to 2Gb it is brilliant, it is reliable, fast and I will buy another Acer whenever I decide to go for a new one.

 

I would avoid Acer next time. I wonder if Acer uses the latest GPU in their laptop? I always see 8400, 8600, 9300, 9500, 9600, 9650, 9700 Nvidia but i can't see something like 9800, GTX 260, GTX 275 and so on.
ASUS might be my next choice.

 

DarkSilver, the GT 130M is starting to filter into the product line-up, and the 8935G could be getting a GTX 280M.
Yes, Acer doesn't sell many models with the big-and-beefy graphics cards like the 9800M or GTX 200M series, but that's not Acer's brand image (it's Gateway's).

 

And I've had 3, along with 5 family members, and only 1 has ever had a problem... and thats cuz the user dropped it and broke it things. So out of 8, theres 100% with no problems that are Acer's fault. You wanna talk about a low sampling size... take a statistics class first.

In my experiences, ALL computers are unreliable when left to people that don't clean them properly, allow them to get very hot for long periods of time, such as using them while having them sitting on a bed where the blanket covers the exhaust ports and fan intake, and do not employ good software practices. Most people install programs willy nilly cuz they saw some pop up ad about it, or some guy on a forum told them to do this to make such and such a file run.

Its just like a car. If all you do is hammer the hell out of it, drive it like you stole it and don't maintain it properly either yourself or at a garage, you're going to have problems.

 

Agreed. My laptop left speaker died due to high temperature of the system. Personally I had to hardmod the laptop to reduce the temperature, so I would like to say it helps if the user competency level is good.
Otherwise if the user is helpless and depend on Service Support bad experience is sure to occur because Acer Service simply can't make it.
I hate it when the user go infected by some virus then start blaming support and so on.
Reinstalling the OS takes less than an hour why don't they DIT instead.

 

LOL! Yea. Actually, it is reasonable VIRUS infection doesn't need to call for support. Re-installation of Windows would be a marvellous choice. Yet, some tried to fix it manually which is nearly impossible when huge viruses had infected.

 

Well, I know another guy who has an Acer too, and it has been a hell for him. He sent it for repair two times, and it still makes a boot-failure sometimes, and it gets really hot, even after he had cleaned the fans.

I have always treated my computers very well. I have never had a computer in the bed, and I have always had a good antivirus program, and other good programs.

I will also go for an Asus next time I will buy a laptop.

 

I support u m8, i own aspire 8930g, 2,53 Ghz Cpu, 9700M gt grafic card, and its piece of ! My Grafic card have overheating problem and i cant fix it, and acer support say kiss our we wont help you!
Acer Never Againe!!!!

 

It's a little funny, because I had the exact same computer as you (8930g), and it overheated too. Acer couldn't fix it :/ Try to swap it to a new one!

 

For the uninformed, here's The Problem from The Original Thread

And if all it would take is a clean vista install, my problem is why is acer charging me £70 to fix it? When the laptop is only a month old, and i have an extended "advantagous" warranty. Bearing in mind it was their recovery management tool that got me into this mess. Atleast I know never to call them again. Or buy from for that matter.

 

OK here is what I suggest.
Go here
Grab the torrent of the vista cd it is legal since it is just an image without any keys or cracks.
It is just like the Vista Image from MSDN
You can do MD5 Checksum to verify disc integrity and compare it with the official Vista SP2 Checksum if it is the same means the image is not tampered it.
Personally I use it too so I can vouch for the integrity.
Then follow the instruction to activate the Vista using Acer OEM License.
Excluding Download it should take around 1hr to do.
Then install the drivers and you are good to go.
It is this simple so please do it.
Complaining doesn't solve anything and I agree Acer Service sucks so you have to help yourself.
Forget the factory image since it is full of crappy software install, this clean vista install method is better.

 

Well, many of the Gemstone blue(6920, 8920, 6930, 8930) users have experienced throttling problem(fake overheat and downclock).
It is very hard to explain to Acer sometime. You all can try harsh method like scolding or turn your voice higher while talking to them. They may afraid and help you nicely.

 

Hi, I recall that didn't someone once try to demonstrate this 'throttling' to Acer and failed?
Chris

 

Hi, count me in for being 'lucky as hell' then, my 8930 doesn't throtlle and neither do any of the 5920's, currently 11 in total, both my schools have...
Chris

 

He failed but Acer said would provide service for him as to repair the THROTTLING stuff for him. However, I hope for a BIOS fix instead of a technician/hardware fix.