no inputs working on XP-multimedia Aspire

Has anyone come across this problem with the Aspire 5102 please? Nothing
works, no mouse, no keyboard either on POST or in Windows. Neither internal
nor USB. It goes into Windows, loads drivers and programs (unbelievably
slowly) but does nothing else and has to be closed off with the power
button to do anything.

We are at the moment just trying to take the CMOS battery out for a few
seconds to see if something in the BIOS has become corrupted but wondered if
anyone had come across this problem before with this or any similar
computer? Is there any other way of resetting the motherboard or flashing
the BIOS without a mouse or keyboard? No lights go on at the external
keyboard on turn-on so I wondered if this might be a problem before the
whole computer even gets to the BIOS stage?

Not sure if this is relevant (I cant see how it could be) but the whole
computer seemed dead (only charge light and power button) until I re-seated
the memory chips and then at least it went into Windows. But nothing else.

"news.rcn.com" <fountainpen@amexol.net> wrote in message
news:ru2dnWrtP6pxSLfVnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@rcn.net...
> Has anyone come across this problem with the Aspire 5102 please? Nothing
> works, no mouse, no keyboard either on POST or in Windows. Neither
> internal nor USB. It goes into Windows, loads drivers and programs
> (unbelievably slowly) but does nothing else and has to be closed off with
> the power button to do anything.
>
> We are at the moment just trying to take the CMOS battery out for a few
> seconds to see if something in the BIOS has become corrupted but wondered
> if anyone had come across this problem before with this or any similar
> computer? Is there any other way of resetting the motherboard or flashing
> the BIOS without a mouse or keyboard? No lights go on at the external
> keyboard on turn-on so I wondered if this might be a problem before the
> whole computer even gets to the BIOS stage?
>
> Not sure if this is relevant (I cant see how it could be) but the whole
> computer seemed dead (only charge light and power button) until I
> re-seated the memory chips and then at least it went into Windows. But
> nothing else.

This probably won't help much, but I've seen similar on desktop
motherboards, when an onboard (surface mount) silicon fuse had blown.
This fuse was there to protect from short circuits in the PS/2 keyboard
and mouse cables, but also delivered the 5V power to all the USB ports.
Luckily I managed to locate it (near the keyboard PS/2 socket) and
simply soldered a bit of wire across it. If it's that, you'll need to know
what such a fuse looks like and test it with a multimeter (should be
close to zero ohms) and be 100% sure, before risking this kind of fix.
HTH,
--
Rob

"Rob" <noone@nowhere.noway.com> wrote in message
news:g0s5gt$ej$1@south.jnrs.ja.net...
>
> "news.rcn.com" <fountainpen@amexol.net> wrote in message
> news:ru2dnWrtP6pxSLfVnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@rcn.net...
>> Has anyone come across this problem with the Aspire 5102 please? Nothing
>> works, no mouse, no keyboard either on POST or in Windows. Neither
>> internal nor USB. It goes into Windows, loads drivers and programs
>> (unbelievably slowly) but does nothing else and has to be closed off
>> with the power button to do anything.
>>
>> We are at the moment just trying to take the CMOS battery out for a few
>> seconds to see if something in the BIOS has become corrupted but wondered
>> if anyone had come across this problem before with this or any similar
>> computer? Is there any other way of resetting the motherboard or
>> flashing the BIOS without a mouse or keyboard? No lights go on at the
>> external keyboard on turn-on so I wondered if this might be a problem
>> before the whole computer even gets to the BIOS stage?
>>
>> Not sure if this is relevant (I cant see how it could be) but the whole
>> computer seemed dead (only charge light and power button) until I
>> re-seated the memory chips and then at least it went into Windows. But
>> nothing else.
>
> This probably won't help much, but I've seen similar on desktop
> motherboards, when an onboard (surface mount) silicon fuse had blown.
> This fuse was there to protect from short circuits in the PS/2 keyboard
> and mouse cables, but also delivered the 5V power to all the USB ports.
> Luckily I managed to locate it (near the keyboard PS/2 socket) and
> simply soldered a bit of wire across it. If it's that, you'll need to
> know
> what such a fuse looks like and test it with a multimeter (should be
> close to zero ohms) and be 100% sure, before risking this kind of fix.
> HTH,
> --
> Rob
>
>
>Chances are it's the power supply, i know this might sound strange due to
>the fact the machine boots, but the PSU does not just deliver the full
>amount of power to the board it splits off into various amounts, the mouse
>and keyboard has a -5v supply. So if you have a generic PSU just connect
>that up and see if it works. Failing that If you have just re installed the
>hard drive and the keyboard and mouse are USB boot the machine into windows
>and give it 5 mins to load the drivers as I have seen this as well this
>on Dell desktops

Is Windows XP the original OS or did it ship with Vista and XP was then
installed?

HH

"Rob" <noone@nowhere.noway.com> wrote in message
news:g0s5gt$ej$1@south.jnrs.ja.net...
>
> "news.rcn.com" <fountainpen@amexol.net> wrote in message
> news:ru2dnWrtP6pxSLfVnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@rcn.net...
>> Has anyone come across this problem with the Aspire 5102 please? Nothing
>> works, no mouse, no keyboard either on POST or in Windows. Neither
>> internal nor USB. It goes into Windows, loads drivers and programs
>> (unbelievably slowly) but does nothing else and has to be closed off
>> with the power button to do anything.
>>
>> We are at the moment just trying to take the CMOS battery out for a few
>> seconds to see if something in the BIOS has become corrupted but wondered
>> if anyone had come across this problem before with this or any similar
>> computer? Is there any other way of resetting the motherboard or
>> flashing the BIOS without a mouse or keyboard? No lights go on at the
>> external keyboard on turn-on so I wondered if this might be a problem
>> before the whole computer even gets to the BIOS stage?
>>
>> Not sure if this is relevant (I cant see how it could be) but the whole
>> computer seemed dead (only charge light and power button) until I
>> re-seated the memory chips and then at least it went into Windows. But
>> nothing else.
>
> This probably won't help much, but I've seen similar on desktop
> motherboards, when an onboard (surface mount) silicon fuse had blown.
> This fuse was there to protect from short circuits in the PS/2 keyboard
> and mouse cables, but also delivered the 5V power to all the USB ports.
> Luckily I managed to locate it (near the keyboard PS/2 socket) and
> simply soldered a bit of wire across it. If it's that, you'll need to
> know
> what such a fuse looks like and test it with a multimeter (should be
> close to zero ohms) and be 100% sure, before risking this kind of fix.
> HTH,
> --
> Rob
>
>
>

Shouldn't matter - OP says no keyboard in POST, so problem
is OS-independant.
--
Rob

"HH" <hahunt42@va.metrocast.net> wrote in message
news:y9qdnSiC8apyA6zVnZ2dnUVZ_g-dnZ2d@metrocastcablevision.com...
> Is Windows XP the original OS or did it ship with Vista and XP was then
> installed?
>
> HH
>
> "Rob" <noone@nowhere.noway.com> wrote in message
> news:g0s5gt$ej$1@south.jnrs.ja.net...
>>
>> "news.rcn.com" <fountainpen@amexol.net> wrote in message
>> news:ru2dnWrtP6pxSLfVnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@rcn.net...
>>> Has anyone come across this problem with the Aspire 5102 please? Nothing
>>> works, no mouse, no keyboard either on POST or in Windows. Neither
>>> internal nor USB. It goes into Windows, loads drivers and programs
>>> (unbelievably slowly) but does nothing else and has to be closed off
>>> with the power button to do anything.
>>>
>>> We are at the moment just trying to take the CMOS battery out for a few
>>> seconds to see if something in the BIOS has become corrupted but
>>> wondered if anyone had come across this problem before with this or any
>>> similar computer? Is there any other way of resetting the motherboard
>>> or flashing the BIOS without a mouse or keyboard? No lights go on at the
>>> external keyboard on turn-on so I wondered if this might be a problem
>>> before the whole computer even gets to the BIOS stage?
>>>
>>> Not sure if this is relevant (I cant see how it could be) but the whole
>>> computer seemed dead (only charge light and power button) until I
>>> re-seated the memory chips and then at least it went into Windows. But
>>> nothing else.
>>
>> This probably won't help much, but I've seen similar on desktop
>> motherboards, when an onboard (surface mount) silicon fuse had blown.
>> This fuse was there to protect from short circuits in the PS/2 keyboard
>> and mouse cables, but also delivered the 5V power to all the USB ports.
>> Luckily I managed to locate it (near the keyboard PS/2 socket) and
>> simply soldered a bit of wire across it. If it's that, you'll need to
>> know
>> what such a fuse looks like and test it with a multimeter (should be
>> close to zero ohms) and be 100% sure, before risking this kind of fix.
>> HTH,
>> --
>> Rob
>>
>>
>>
>

"Rob" <noone@nowhere.noway.com> wrote in message
news:g119ul$nmv$1@south.jnrs.ja.net...
> Shouldn't matter - OP says no keyboard in POST, so problem
> is OS-independant.

I had kinda discounted the OS as that seems to be the only bit which works!
I had thought that it might be the i/o controller if it isnt the BIOS and
wondered if no one agreed with this? There is a guy on ebay who repairs
motherboards on Acer computers which seem to be quite cheap because the
motherboards seem to blow quite frequently? He wants five times what I paid
to buy it to replace the i/o controller.

Isnt this just another computer made by Quanta and badge engineered to the
specs of the name brand?

If it IS the i/o controller, does anyone know if it is possible to identify
what piece this is, buy it and replace it? Or is it a really tiny piece on
which you can only re-solder joints with specialised equipment? For that
matter, as I plan to junk this computer if I cant get this repair done
reasonably easily and inexpensively, the fuse solution is hardly a risk!!
How would I identify the fuse on this laptop MoBo? Does this silicon fuse
LOOK blown when it is?

Is there a serious possiblity of trying another power supply in this laptop
or of diagnosing the current coming out of some unknown 5v rail?

In response to the other points, I am into this computer for virtually
nothing and this isnt a situation in which I desperately need to get the
computer working again because it forms the mainstay of my network or to get
data off it. It would be nice to get the computer working as the specs are
substantially better than my present main computer but I am hardly married
to it!

[Sorry for delay on MY responding to this but I have never understood the
workings of newsgroups and why these response messages, for which I am
really grateful, have only just cropped up in OE]
> Rob
>
> "HH" <hahunt42@va.metrocast.net> wrote in message
> news:y9qdnSiC8apyA6zVnZ2dnUVZ_g-dnZ2d@metrocastcablevision.com...
>> Is Windows XP the original OS or did it ship with Vista and XP was then
>> installed?
>>
>> HH
>>
>> "Rob" <noone@nowhere.noway.com> wrote in message
>> news:g0s5gt$ej$1@south.jnrs.ja.net...
>>>
>>> "news.rcn.com" <fountainpen@amexol.net> wrote in message
>>> news:ru2dnWrtP6pxSLfVnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@rcn.net...
>>>> Has anyone come across this problem with the Aspire 5102 please?
>>>> Nothing works, no mouse, no keyboard either on POST or in Windows.
>>>> Neither internal nor USB. It goes into Windows, loads drivers and
>>>> programs (unbelievably slowly) but does nothing else and has to be
>>>> closed off with the power button to do anything.
>>>>
>>>> We are at the moment just trying to take the CMOS battery out for a few
>>>> seconds to see if something in the BIOS has become corrupted but
>>>> wondered if anyone had come across this problem before with this or any
>>>> similar computer? Is there any other way of resetting the motherboard
>>>> or flashing the BIOS without a mouse or keyboard? No lights go on at
>>>> the external keyboard on turn-on so I wondered if this might be a
>>>> problem before the whole computer even gets to the BIOS stage?
>>>>
>>>> Not sure if this is relevant (I cant see how it could be) but the whole
>>>> computer seemed dead (only charge light and power button) until I
>>>> re-seated the memory chips and then at least it went into Windows. But
>>>> nothing else.
>>>
>>> This probably won't help much, but I've seen similar on desktop
>>> motherboards, when an onboard (surface mount) silicon fuse had blown.
>>> This fuse was there to protect from short circuits in the PS/2 keyboard
>>> and mouse cables, but also delivered the 5V power to all the USB ports.
>>> Luckily I managed to locate it (near the keyboard PS/2 socket) and
>>> simply soldered a bit of wire across it. If it's that, you'll need to
>>> know
>>> what such a fuse looks like and test it with a multimeter (should be
>>> close to zero ohms) and be 100% sure, before risking this kind of fix.
>>> HTH,
>>> --
>>> Rob
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

news.rcn.com wrote:
> "Rob" <noone@nowhere.noway.com> wrote in message
> news:g119ul$nmv$1@south.jnrs.ja.net...
>> Shouldn't matter - OP says no keyboard in POST, so problem
>> is OS-independant.
>
> I had kinda discounted the OS as that seems to be the only bit which works!
> I had thought that it might be the i/o controller if it isnt the BIOS and
> wondered if no one agreed with this? There is a guy on ebay who repairs
> motherboards on Acer computers which seem to be quite cheap because the
> motherboards seem to blow quite frequently? He wants five times what I paid
> to buy it to replace the i/o controller.
>
> Isnt this just another computer made by Quanta and badge engineered to the
> specs of the name brand?
>
> If it IS the i/o controller, does anyone know if it is possible to identify
> what piece this is, buy it and replace it? Or is it a really tiny piece on
> which you can only re-solder joints with specialised equipment? For that
> matter, as I plan to junk this computer if I cant get this repair done
> reasonably easily and inexpensively, the fuse solution is hardly a risk!!
> How would I identify the fuse on this laptop MoBo? Does this silicon fuse
> LOOK blown when it is?
>
> Is there a serious possiblity of trying another power supply in this laptop
> or of diagnosing the current coming out of some unknown 5v rail?
>
> In response to the other points, I am into this computer for virtually
> nothing and this isnt a situation in which I desperately need to get the
> computer working again because it forms the mainstay of my network or to get
> data off it. It would be nice to get the computer working as the specs are
> substantially better than my present main computer but I am hardly married
> to it!
>
> [Sorry for delay on MY responding to this but I have never understood the
> workings of newsgroups and why these response messages, for which I am
> really grateful, have only just cropped up in OE]
>> Rob
>>
>> "HH" <hahunt42@va.metrocast.net> wrote in message
>> news:y9qdnSiC8apyA6zVnZ2dnUVZ_g-dnZ2d@metrocastcablevision.com...
>>> Is Windows XP the original OS or did it ship with Vista and XP was then
>>> installed?
>>>
>>> HH
>>>
>>> "Rob" <noone@nowhere.noway.com> wrote in message
>>> news:g0s5gt$ej$1@south.jnrs.ja.net...
>>>> "news.rcn.com" <fountainpen@amexol.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:ru2dnWrtP6pxSLfVnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@rcn.net...
>>>>> Has anyone come across this problem with the Aspire 5102 please?
>>>>> Nothing works, no mouse, no keyboard either on POST or in Windows.
>>>>> Neither internal nor USB. It goes into Windows, loads drivers and
>>>>> programs (unbelievably slowly) but does nothing else and has to be
>>>>> closed off with the power button to do anything.
>>>>>
>>>>> We are at the moment just trying to take the CMOS battery out for a few
>>>>> seconds to see if something in the BIOS has become corrupted but
>>>>> wondered if anyone had come across this problem before with this or any
>>>>> similar computer? Is there any other way of resetting the motherboard
>>>>> or flashing the BIOS without a mouse or keyboard? No lights go on at
>>>>> the external keyboard on turn-on so I wondered if this might be a
>>>>> problem before the whole computer even gets to the BIOS stage?
>>>>>
>>>>> Not sure if this is relevant (I cant see how it could be) but the whole
>>>>> computer seemed dead (only charge light and power button) until I
>>>>> re-seated the memory chips and then at least it went into Windows. But
>>>>> nothing else.
>>>> This probably won't help much, but I've seen similar on desktop
>>>> motherboards, when an onboard (surface mount) silicon fuse had blown.
>>>> This fuse was there to protect from short circuits in the PS/2 keyboard
>>>> and mouse cables, but also delivered the 5V power to all the USB ports.
>>>> Luckily I managed to locate it (near the keyboard PS/2 socket) and
>>>> simply soldered a bit of wire across it. If it's that, you'll need to
>>>> know
>>>> what such a fuse looks like and test it with a multimeter (should be
>>>> close to zero ohms) and be 100% sure, before risking this kind of fix.
>>>> HTH,
>>>> --
>>>> Rob
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>
>
The southbridge chip on the mainboard has failed. You will need to
replace the mainboard. There is no separate power supply other than the
ac adapter that you plug in to the unit. Power functions are built onto
the mainboard and control battery charge and unit operation.