Acer laptop with ATA errors

[tekkaman]

Hello everyone,

A client of mine left me a laptop he did not want to repair. He just decided to get a new one instead. It's from 2013 but I thought that even though it's no powerhouse it could be used for basic stuff. The model is: Acer V5-131-2629. This model came with Windows 7 and not Chrome OS. Now here's the problem it has. When I checked it I noticed the hard drive was bad. So I replaced it. It worked fine for a few weeks then it started giving me ata errors. I was using gsmart to check this. I reconnect and it works for some time and then I get the errors again. Thinking maybe I got a defective hard drive I put the hard drive on another laptop. This other laptop has been using the hard drive for a year with no errors at all. So I thought that maybe is the connector so I went to ebay and bought the connector. It was used but it looked fine. Put another hard drive in that has no bad sectors or errors. Works for a few weeks then I get ata errors again. The thing is this. Linux can work on this computer for a while if I ignore the error. But after a while it becomes unbootable. So, do you guys think the motherboard itself has gone bad ? I checked if there are bios updates that could address the issue but acording t o Acer, the model that has Windows 7 has no updates. Only the model that has Windows 8 has updates.

 

[Blues]

Are the ATA error occurring in the OS or in POST? What OSes have you run on it just Linux or Linux and Windows?

 

[tekkaman]

The errors occur after loading grub. After selecting the OS they appear and they are recorded in gsmart. I can see them there. I have only run linux on this laptop.

 

[Blues]

If you have a spare HDD/SSD I would try running windows 7 as a more stock config to see if there are any problems there.

 

[GTP]

If Acer only have updates for Win 8, why not throw that on a drive and update the BIOS?

 

[tekkaman]

@Blues: I will try that.

@Barcelona: I mean that the Acer website gives a warning that the bioses from the model that comes with oem win8 are different and are not interchangeable with the model that came with oem win 7.

 

[NviGate Systems]

Yes that makes sense. The models that came with Windows 8 are most likely UEFI, whereas Windows 7 may have been BIOS or CSM. Acer machines, especially older Windows 7 ones, are prone to semi bricks when doing BIOS update. Thankfully, they do have a recovery feature, aka the boot block. So just in case a flash goes wrong, a USB drive or DVD with the required BIN file (named correctly) will restore it. Had this happen once when on site. Whoopsies!

 

[tekkaman]

Hello everyone,

I wanted to updated this thread. As it was suggested I installed Windows 7 last week on this laptop to rule out any incompatibilities with Linux. The problem with sata errors still occurs. I took 2 screenshots on different occasions. At this point, I don't now what else to do with this laptop.

 

[Blues]

Is it a SSD and is the drive original or a replacement? If replacement new or refurb? I am beginning to lean toward a problem with the controller to a board of CPU problem which is going to effectively brick the whole thing in my book. If you are running an SSD you might want to try a spinning disc drive there may be some compatibility issue with SSD and the older hardware particularly if the SSD drives are newer.

 

[tekkaman]

Well the laptop has always had traditional hard drives. This is the third one. I replaced the the oem one because it had bad sectors. The second one it was brand new when I installed it. Thinking I might have a defective one I installed it to an older gateway laptop and it works fine and no errors. The third drive while it was used it had low usage and no bad sectors.

 

[MisterT]

Ok, I have a wild idea and a more grounded one. First the crazy: what if it's the RAM? If the RAM returns a flipped bit in the right spot, it could look like a hard drive error. This is just the first thing that popped into my head when I read the problem.

Now the sane one: I found the following clue https://www.manualowl.com/m/Acer Computers/Aspire-M5630/Manual/114295?page=35
LBA refers to a setting/process having to do with reading the drive. (I didn't study the technology too specifically). Perhaps changing that setting in the BIOS can fix the issue. You would have to research the specifics of LBA and make sure you get a HDD that will work without it.

 

[NviGate Systems]

LBA Errors if we look at a block diagram of the system, would be produced by the controller for the SATA, which if it's Intel would be Northbridge/Southbridge. So that would be the other chip on the main board with an Intel Logo. It may or may not have a heatsink. Same roughly applies to AMD.

What you have pure and simple is a failed board, whether it's an IC, passive components that feed the IC or failing routing/via/traces. Unless there is an errata like there was with Sandy Bridge (I think that was the one that would experience degraded performance over its lifetime can't recall the details that was way too long ago) no software fix will truly fix the issue.

 

[MisterT]

LBA Errors if we look at a block diagram of the system, would be produced by the controller for the SATA, which if it's Intel would be Northbridge/Southbridge. So that would be the other chip on the main board with an Intel Logo. It may or may not have a heatsink. Same roughly applies to AMD.

What you have pure and simple is a failed board, whether it's an IC, passive components that feed the IC or failing routing/via/traces. Unless there is an errata like there was with Sandy Bridge (I think that was the one that would experience degraded performance over its lifetime can't recall the details that was way too long ago) no software fix will truly fix the issue.

That does make sense... but I'm curious whether the option in the BIOS would do anything still. Or if the option I read about actually exists.