Black Screen of Death without login screen.

Hi Wildkard,

I'm sorry to hear about your Acer Aspire E15 experiencing issues after the power loss during the update. This situation can be tricky, especially if the update interruption affected critical system components. Here are some troubleshooting steps to help narrow down the problem:

1. Perform a Hard Reset/Power Cycle:

• Disconnect the AC adapter and, if possible, remove the battery.
• Hold the power button for around 30–60 seconds to fully discharge any residual power.
• Reconnect the power (and battery) and try powering on the laptop again.

2. Check for Any Startup Indicators:

• Listen for fan noise or any beep codes, as these can indicate that the system is attempting to POST (Power-On Self-Test).
• Look for any LED activity on the keyboard or chassis.
• Try shining a flashlight directly on the display—sometimes the backlight fails while a faint image may still be present.

3. Attempt to Access the BIOS:

• Immediately after powering on, repeatedly press F2 (or Del if applicable) to access the BIOS setup.
• If the BIOS screen displays, check the boot order and internal display settings.
• If the BIOS screen does not appear at all, there could be an issue with your system firmware.

4. Test with an External Monitor:

• Connect an external monitor or TV via HDMI or VGA.
• If the external display shows output, the issue might be with your laptop’s built-in display or its backlighting.

5. Revisit Your Bootable USB Approach:

• Ensure that your Windows 11 boot USB is correctly created using the latest Media Creation Tool.
• Verify that your BIOS settings allow USB booting and that the boot order prioritizes USB devices.
• Try using another USB port if available.

6. Consider Advanced Issues:

• If you're unable to access the BIOS (no display or POST indicators at all), there’s a possibility the interrupted update might have corrupted the UEFI firmware. Some Acer models have an emergency BIOS recovery mode, but the procedure can vary. It’s wise to check Acer support documentation or forums for any model-specific recovery instructions.
• If you feel comfortable and have experience, you might consider reseating the RAM or checking internal connections. However, if nothing shows up on-screen, this might signal a deeper issue.

Next Steps:
Please try these suggestions one by one and let us know what behavior you observe—whether the fans spin up, any lights or sounds appear, or if you're able to access the BIOS. These clues will help determine if it’s a display issue, a boot order misconfiguration, or potential firmware corruption that might need professional repair or intervention from Acer support.

Feel free to post back any updates or additional details on what you see, and we can continue troubleshooting from there.

Best regards,

ChatGPT

1. Removed all exterior plugs, cannot easily pull the battery but I have a battery reset button. I held the power button and the battery reset button down to simulate pulling the battery. No effect

2. No startup indicators. no beeps, no sounds, the keyboard backlight is lit, and I have the on and power indicators lit up, but nothing else. Flashlight had no effect.

3. No BIOS Screen.

4. external monitor had no effect.

5. I used the download option from here Download Windows 11
No effect.

Hi Wildkard,
Based on the additional details you provided, it sounds like your Acer Aspire E15 isn’t even getting to the POST phase – no BIOS, no display output (even on an external monitor), and no startup sounds or beeps. The fact that the keyboard backlight and power LEDs come on tells us that some parts of the system are receiving power, but the absence of any BIOS activity is concerning.
Here are some additional steps and considerations:
1. Consider the Possibility of Corrupted BIOS/UEFI Firmware:

• 
  [] Losing power during a critical update can sometimes corrupt the firmware. If the BIOS itself is damaged, the system may never initiate a proper POST.
  [] Some Acer models offer an emergency BIOS recovery mode, but it often requires a specific procedure. Check Acer’s support pages for your Aspire E15 model; they might detail steps like creating a BIOS recovery USB (often using a FAT32-formatted drive with the correct BIOS file renamed as required) and a key combination (for instance, some models use Fn+B, though this can vary).

2. Clear CMOS/BIOS Settings (If Feasible):

• You might try to fully drain any residual power by disconnecting power sources (using both the AC adapter and the battery if possible) and holding down the power button for an extended period (60–90 seconds). I know you used the battery reset button, but if you feel confident opening the laptop, consider clearing the CMOS by disconnecting or removing the CMOS battery temporarily. Note that this process can be a bit technical for laptops.

3. Reseat or Test Memory Modules:

• Even if the issue leans toward firmware corruption, it’s worth removing and reseating the RAM modules. If your model has more than one stick, try booting with one at a time to see if that changes anything.

4. Double-Check External Monitor Connections:

• Although your external display didn’t show output, sometimes testing with a known-good cable or a different external display might rule out an issue with the video output circuitry entirely. However, given that the BIOS isn’t coming up, this is less likely to be the sole culprit.

5. Professional Assessment:

• If none of the above steps yield any progress, the corruption of the BIOS/UEFI is a strong possibility. At this point, it may be necessary to contact Acer support or take the laptop to a professional technician experienced with BIOS recovery or motherboard repairs.

Next Steps:

• Look up your specific model on Acer’s support site for any emergency BIOS recovery instructions.
• Consider the possibility of a hardware fault if the BIOS recovery procedure isn’t successful.
• If you’re not comfortable opening the laptop for CMOS reset or RAM testing, professional service might be the safest route.

Feel free to update here with any new observations or questions as you work through these additional steps. I hope you’re able to recover your laptop soon!
Best regards,
ChatGPT

Wildkard said:

Hello,

My laptop lost power during the last update. Now when I try to turn on the laptop, it has a black screen. I see zero signs of startup, it will power on, and nothing happens. I have an Acer Aspire e 15. I tried making a windows 11 boot up usb and it has had no effect. I appreciate any assistance.

Click to expand...

I'm sorry to hear about your laptop troubles. Here are a few steps you can try to troubleshoot the issue:

1. **Perform a Hard Reset/Power Cycle**: Disconnect the AC adapter and, if possible, remove the battery. Hold the power button for around 30–60 seconds to fully discharge any residual power. Reconnect the power (and battery) and try powering on the laptop again.

2. **Check for Any Startup Indicators**: Listen for fan noise or any beep codes, as these can indicate that the system is attempting to POST (Power-On Self-Test). Look for any LED activity on the keyboard or chassis. Try shining a flashlight directly on the display—sometimes the backlight fails while a faint image may still be present.

3. **Attempt to Access the BIOS**: Immediately after powering on, repeatedly press F2 (or Del if applicable) to access the BIOS setup. If the BIOS screen displays, check the boot order and internal display settings. If the BIOS screen does not appear at all, there could be an issue with your system firmware.

4. **Test with an External Monitor**: Connect an external monitor or TV via HDMI or VGA. If the external display shows output, the issue might be with your laptop’s built-in display or its backlighting.

5. **Revisit Your Bootable USB Approach**: Ensure that your Windows 11 boot USB is correctly created using the latest Media Creation Tool. Verify that your BIOS settings allow USB booting and that the boot order prioritizes USB devices. Try using another USB port if available.

6. **Consider Advanced Issues**: If you're unable to access the BIOS (no display or POST indicators at all), there’s a possibility the interrupted update might have corrupted the UEFI firmware. Some Acer models have an emergency BIOS recovery mode, but the procedure can vary. It’s wise to check Acer support documentation or forums for any model-specific recovery instructions.

If none of these steps work, it might be best to contact Acer support or take your laptop to a professional technician for further diagnosis and repair. I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck in resolving the issue!