Acer 5742G dead after stress test

[sopik78]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

Yes, do it. It takes just a few minutes and could help. If not, suspect for other problem.

[JohnSwe]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

That above didnt help.

I havent yet reflashed the bios... Is it even worth a try?

[JohnSwe]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

Performing this will clear all BIOS settings stored in CMOS RAM,
and revert BIOS settings to default safe state.
Thus any 'incorrect' temperature, voltage, (...) values will be erased.

Flashing the BIOS (with default switches active) will produce not only the same result,
i.e., clear all BIOS settings stored in CMOS RAM and revert BIOS settings to default safe state,
but overwriting the firmware (BIOS) as well .

Worth a try!

I found this:

If users set a BIOS Password (Supervisor Password and/or User Password) for security reasons, the BIOS will
prompt for a password during system POST or when the system enters the BIOS Setup menu. If it becomes
necessary to bypass the password check, users need to short the HW Gap to reset the password by
performing the following procedure:
1. Power off the system and unplug the AC and Battery from the machine.
2. Open the Hard Drive and RAM doors.
3. Remove the Hard drive.
4. Remove the mylar as shown in the above figure.
5. Find the appropriate HW Gap on M/B as shown in the picture.
• G1 is the RTC Reset. When asserted, this signal resets register bits in the RTC well. Unless
the CMOS is being cleared (only to be done in the G1 power state), the RTCRST# input must
always be high when all other RTC power planes are on. In the case where the RTC Battery is
dead or missing on the platform, the RTCRST# pin must rise before the RSMRST# pin.
• G2 is the Secondary RTC Reset. This signal resets the manageability register bits in the RTC
well when the TRTC battery is removed. The SRTCRST# input must always be high when all
other RTC power planes are on. In the case where the RTC Battery is dead or missing on the
platform, the SRTCRST# pin must rise before the RSMRST# pin.
6. Use an electric conductivity tool to short the two points of the HW Gap (G1).
G2
G1
210 Chapter 5
7. Plug in AC, keeping the HW Gap shorted, and press Power Button to power on the system till BIOS POST
is finished. Once BIOS POST has run, remove the tool from the HW Gap.
8. Restart the system. Press the F2 key to enter BIOS Setup menu.

[megaraider]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

P.S.: about atsio post/opinion

Aside any controversial I must point out the following:
The above statement only enumerates the conditions when not to manipulate those signals states,
not when they could be manually manipulated neither what they are meant to.

Furthermore, the motherboard schematics even include a very clear not 'close to RAM door'
- clearly an indication to the PCB design person where those should be located (easy access location point).

Although not being a much known method, even less described by manufacturers, if you search the web for references you will find step by step instructions on how to perform manual CMOS reset, clear NVRAM and restore default BIOS settings
– all of which involve the RTCRST and SRTCRST jumpers or pins on desktop and laptop models, respectively.

Why don't manufacturers refer this information you might ask?
Perhaps they are more concerned on making money swapping non-defective system boards… imo!

As a final note I shell say that I commonly use the procedure described with success on fixing related faulty systems.
Systems with mod BIOS (allowing advance/hidden bios settings), misbehave erratic behaviors (random system reset/reboot) and faults caused by abrupt/forced powered down
are some common examples.

[megaraider]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

If that doesn't help, neither flashing the BIOS,
you should begin a more selective approach following the trouble shooting flow chart.
My advise, having some experience, including with 'compal' motherboards, is to start checking voltages on the LM393 (PU18, mainly responsible for acknowledge voltages presence)
followed by checking RT8206 (PU16, SMPS).
These IC's are responsible for many faults on 'compal' motherboards,
resulting in 'dead' motherboards...!

[megaraider]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

What a magic trick is this?

Performing this will clear all BIOS settings stored in CMOS RAM,
and revert BIOS settings to default safe state.
Thus any 'incorrect' temperature, voltage, (...) values will be erased.

Flashing the BIOS (with default switches active) will produce not only the same result,
i.e., clear all BIOS settings stored in CMOS RAM and revert BIOS settings to default safe state,
but overwriting the firmware (BIOS) as well .

[atsio]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

While you wait for the programmer try reseting all BIOS settings to default.
Incorrect values (assigned or recorded, e.g. temperature, ...) might have been stored.
To archive this you have to look for a 4 points jumper located very close to the RAM door / socket, labeled "RTCRST" & "SRTCRST".
Short them all together.

These are not jumpers but empty pads of resistors to ground.

" For ICH9/ICH10/Intel
®
5 Series Chipset and Intel
®
3400 Series Chipset, SRTCRST# is
used to reset portions of the Intel
®
Management Engine (Intel
®
ME) and should not be
connected to a jumper or button on the platform. The only time this signal gets
asserted (driven low in combination with
RTCRST#) should be when the coin cell
battery is removed or not installed and the pl
atform is in the G3 state. Pulling this
signal low independently (without RTCRST
# also being driven low) may cause the
platform to enter an indeterminate state. Si
milar to RTCRST#, it is imperative that
SRTCRST# not be pulled low in the S0 to S5 states "

https://cdn.badcaps-static.com/pdfs/...f19d3672cc.pdf

[sopik78]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

What a magic trick is this?

[megaraider]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

While you wait for the programmer try reseting all BIOS settings to default.
Incorrect values (assigned or recorded, e.g. temperature, ...) might have been stored.
To archive this you have to look for a 4 points jumper located very close to the RAM door / socket, labeled "RTCRST" & "SRTCRST".
Short them all together.

[Agent24]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

Yeah that would do it, although if the schematic is correct the main ROM is in a 200mil package so you would need both a 150mil and 200mil socket, one for each ROM.

Personally I'd buy from eBay too, I'm sure there are good sellers on AliExpress but I don't trust it myself...

[JohnSwe]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

Maybe something like this:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Quali...219537667.html

[Agent24]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

That CH341A programmer lists MX25L3205 and MX25L1005 as supported, which according to the schematic, your board uses.
You may wish to verify the chip part numbers on your own board too though, but if they are correct, it should work, assuming the software for such a cheap programmer is not full of bugs!

How are you going to connect the ROMs to the programmer though? Unless there is an ICSP header, you probably need a 150 and 200 mil SOP8-DIP adaptor sockets for the programmer. Also some way to remove the chips without destroying the board. It can be done with a soldering iron if you are skilled and careful, but hot air is a much better idea.

[JohnSwe]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

Thanks again.. I also have the Nvidia so that should work then.

Is that CH341A programmer above ok?

Can someone confirm that I've got the right chips on the mb, U18 and U31 ?

[Agent24]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

A heat station is sometimes easier than a soldering iron. Mask off the area with heat resistant tape and de-solder with the heat station Re-solder the same way.

With something like this, hot air is pretty much the only way.

[sopik78]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

Thanks!

Please correct me:
Content of bios_new71.rar is:
KBCA121A.rom = EC
NEW70121.fd = BIOS

Are there different BIOS dumps for different graphic cards on the mb?

Correct.

I used these dumps for nvidia model, but should work on ati as well

[sparker1]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

A heat station is sometimes easier than a soldering iron. Mask off the area with heat resistant tape and de-solder with the heat station Re-solder the same way.

[JohnSwe]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

Thanks!

Will any on these do for the programming:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251369833299
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/FAST-...713696363.html
(Gonna take some weeks to get them to Sweden..)

So I flash both BIOS and EC, right?
BIOS = SPI ROM = U18 ?
EC = U31 ?
(Im gonna need a smaller soldering iron for this job.... Desoldering is PITA?)

Please correct me:
Content of bios_new71.rar is:
KBCA121A.rom = EC
NEW70121.fd = BIOS

Are there different BIOS dumps for different graphic cards on the mb?

[sopik78]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

Try this dump, it worked well

I use EZP2010 external programmer, cheap chinese one and I am fully satisfied

[age80]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

Here's the schematic in case it's not a BIOS problem

[JohnSwe]

Re: Acer 5742G dead after stress test

So a faulty BIOS can make the charge-light not come on? Is not the charge circuit a more hw issue..?