ACER 5551-A will not post (blank screen on power on), need help!

footygeek301 · Jan 22, 2014

Hi, I have an Acer Aspire 5551-A Laptop. Recently it has developed a problem in that it will not post wherein the power will come on, the fan will whirr, the DVD drive will spin, but the screen stays blank and nothing happens. Having done a bit of googling and some troubleshooting I have managed to exclude quite a few of the common causes. The issue does not relate to the screen which works fine, nor is it a case of a problem with the inverter or backlight etc. I have tried the widely mentioned fix of removing the power and battery holding down the power button to remove remaining charge and then re-starting, this does not work. I can also be fairly sure it is not the hard drive as I can eventually get the laptop to work. If I leave it on for quite a while and then turn it off and then on again it will often work, though not always. Equally, If I just leave it alone for a while and do nothing sometimes that will work also, but the process is frustrating and does not solve the problem. When the computer does eventually POST it boots up no problem and when it is up and running everything is fine. At the moment I am scared to turn it off, as when I do I am fairly sure it will not restart again.

What can the problem be? I am somewhat perplexed by it all, but really need my laptop for my studies and just can't afford a new one at the moment, so I hope there is a solution.

Any help much appreciated.

jarotech · Jan 22, 2014

Hi, can you check with an external monitor, if you have nothing, then the problem is the GPU. Maybe a bad solder, and when it's warm the contact is made.

footygeek301 · Jan 22, 2014

Hi, I have tried an external monitor and there is no output, nothing is happening and the screen is not the problem.

I suppose it could be the GPU though when it does eventually come on everything works fine (as it is at the moment). Also I have been able to get it to come on from cold once before so that might negate your idea about a contact being made when it is warm.

I appreciate the help though, thanks for the reply. Are there any other possible causes which I might be able to remedy myself?

jarotech · Jan 22, 2014

I would suggest a test just to be sure, and if I'm right, you will loose the picture, take the laptop in your hands and twist the laptop a little, if nothing happens, it's not a contact. When you power the laptop, you don't have any picture on the screen and on an external monitor, and the laptop is booting, the only common part is the GPU. From a cold start can you go in the BIOS.

footygeek301 · Jan 22, 2014

jarotech :

Thanks once again for the reply.

Hi, I tried twisting the laptop a little and this has no effect. I will double check the external display test the next time I must turn off the laptop and it fails to restart. So what you are saying is that sometimes the GPU is working and sometimes not, ie sometimes there is a contact and it comes on and other times it doesn't.

Are there any other possible causes? It just seems strange to me that when the system does boot everything is perfect, and I can restart also usually fine. The problem only comes either when the laptop goes into sleep mode and then won't come back out of it even when the power is on (this is how the problem initially started), or when it starts from scratch and has a blank screen with power on.

I am sure you are right that the problem is essentially an intermittent one.

Shubbstar · Jul 13, 2014

Hey guys, had this same problem around a month ago. Initially I chucked the laptop under my bed until today and I thought i'd have a go at reviving it.

After a little playing around I started to wonder if maybe it's a connection and thought what better way to check if it is by trying the old XBOX towel trick.

I plugged in the power (battery inserted of corse) pressed power. The blue power light flicks on, the fans whirl then nothing.

While in this state, (blue light, black screen) close the lid and wrap firmly in a large towel and leave to heat it self up for 30 - 45 mins.

After 30 - 45 mins remove from towel, hold power button down until blue light turns off, unplug the charger then put the laptop in a cool place instantly. I like to use a empty bath, the ceramic disperses the heat fast.

After 10 mins of cooling, plug the charger back in and hit the power button.

Obviously this is not a long term fix, but for those who wish to access this may help you.

Note - If this does not work try powering on straight after unwrapping from towel.

Good luck

barcelones · Oct 1, 2014

I own the same laptop with the same problem. Some times goes fine, other times does not start.

As it is really easy and you find in Internet a pair of good manuals for disassembling the machine I have done it and reassembled it, at least four times, and after doing so sometimes turns on and continues doing well during some time, as it does now, till it goes wrong again. It is a totally erratic question. There is no rule.

All the parts of my machine are apparently in good condition except the plastic case. It breaks in the holes of the screws. Be careful.

Sorry I can´t be more useful.

Freddy 100 · Jan 21, 2015

I have the same problem, but it seems no one on here got a clue, its none of the obviouseroblems people keep saying its just happening and no rhyme or reason, I think your best bet to take it to a good computer technician

Andreas_38 · May 13, 2017

Typical symptoms of failed CMOS battery. Find youtube video on how to disassemble your laptop, and replace CMOS battery. It's easier than you think.

Search

ACER 5551-A will not post (blank screen on power on), need help!

footygeek301

Honorable

jarotech

Dignified

footygeek301

Honorable

jarotech

Dignified

footygeek301

Honorable

Shubbstar

Estimable

barcelones

Estimable

Freddy 100

Estimable

Andreas_38

Prominent

Similar threads

TRENDING THREADS

Share this page