Acer Z5710 issue

[stevo1210]

I've got this very awesome all-in-one Acer Z5710 desktop. Worked fine until a few hours ago. I was just browsing the net and it kept giving me BSODs and saying DRIVER_WHQL error or something like that under Windows 7. I found it to be a bit odd as this computer has never, ever done that to me. Then it kept boot looping/restarting every time Windows was at the loading screen until after a few attempts it made it to the desktop and then would BSOD and restart...which I found really odd.
Finally it got into Windows desktop again (like the 5th time now) and it worked for maybe 5 minutes? Then I got another BSOD and instead of restarting it turned off pitch black/dead.
Now when I try to switch it back on, it comes on for a second or two and switches off.
Sadly, all my data is on this PC so I will have to remove the HDD tomorrow and do diagnostics work.
So with the experience of every one here... what the hell could be wrong with my computer? I am thinking either the PSU has crapped out or my motherboard has called it quits.
Parts aren't too expensive according to eBay AU but just a bit annoyed I have more shit to deal with now... and just to add, I haven't tampered with it since the day I got it... its been unopen!

[Heihachi_73]

Re: Acer Z5710 issue

It's an Acer. Chances are you'll find a ton of crapped-out Teapo caps in the PSU like the two Acer desktops I have (both lasted 6-7 years before failing to boot however, and in both cases, the m/b was fine and only needed a new PSU).

[Time2Retire]

Re: Acer Z5710 issue

It's windows. Chances are you have a crappy operating system.

[cheapie]

Re: Acer Z5710 issue

It's windows. Chances are you have a crappy operating system.

That wouldn't make it fail to stay running for more than a second...

[luke10050]

Re: Acer Z5710 issue

my first thoughts were graphics, but i guess unclean power could do that too

[Time2Retire]

Re: Acer Z5710 issue

That wouldn't make it fail to stay running for more than a second...

I was being (semi) sarcastic.

[stevo1210]

Re: Acer Z5710 issue

Tested with another known working 24 pin ATX power supply, did the same thing... turns on for a few seconds and off. Remove the RAM and all it does is beep... however it will stay on. Put a single RAM stick in again and it does the 1 second on thing again.
Can I safely confirm it's the motherboard before spending $$$ on a new board? ($149 for board... computer is worth $800 RRP).

[Elysarian]

Re: Acer Z5710 issue

removing the RAM isn't really a test (it'll fail to POST), you need to substitute a known good stick in there to test properly.

I'd also check the mobo for bloaty caps.

[thesloc]

Re: Acer Z5710 issue

Why does everyone here immediately blame hardware before software?

[ratdude747]

Re: Acer Z5710 issue

Why does everyone here immediately blame hardware before software?

Because it's a hardware forum and crap is so poorly built these days.

[Uranium-235]

Re: Acer Z5710 issue

Why does everyone here immediately blame hardware before software?

in this case, if you read the OP and saw:

"Now when I try to switch it back on, it comes on for a second or two and switches off."

thats pretty much why in this case, i'm going with hardware

yeah sounds like MB or PSU. Try a known working PSU

[stevo1210]

Re: Acer Z5710 issue

removing the RAM isn't really a test (it'll fail to POST), you need to substitute a known good stick in there to test properly.

I'd also check the mobo for bloaty caps.

Well... probably should have read this earlier LOL.

There are four sticks in there... 1 was faulty. I ended up removing the RAM as stated earlier and then re-inserting the single faulty one where it did the on-off sequence and so I came to the "dead motherboard" conclusion as seen above.

I was a bit bored and restless so I decided to experiment with another 1 of the 4 sticks and it booted right up! Seems like faulty RAM all along. LOL.

Time for my computer to be put back on the table and back into service.