Which is the exact keyboard sequence to switch an Acer Aspire 5920G to boot from CD?

December 11, 2011 8:31 AM

Which is the exact keyboard-time sequence to switch an Acer Aspire 5920G to boot from CD instead of HDD? I need to be guided like a blind.

Maybe it has been a random event, by the way after a Windows update the Acer Aspire 5920G laptop of my friend has lost its capability to display anything on screen, both on builtin screen and on external monitor from VGA.

In fact, there's no way to see anything of what's happening, because from the moment you turn it on to the when you turn it off, nothing is displayed. Bios loading and bootstrap included.

The last attempt that I would like to try before opening the case is to boot it with a Linux live CD, and replicate the exact same actions that I can do on another PC, in order to load a VNC server or something like that, etc.

So I need someone that can guide me as a blind, when I turn it on, to enter the bios menu and change the boot sequence, choosing CD as the first device wher to boot from.

I need something like this:

- turn it on;
- wait (?) seconds;
- press the (?) key quickly for (?) seconds;
- wait (?) seconds;
- press the (?) key;
- press the (?) key (?) times;
- ...

For this reply, you should obviously have access to an Acer Aspire 5920G laptop.

posted by lion to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

If it's happening at boot time it's probably not the OS, and replacing the OS probably won't fix it. I think it's more likely some key has been pressed that has re-directed the video output to one of the other outputs (vga/svideo/hdmi/whatever) or suppressed it entirely for some reason. I don't know this laptop but most of them will have a "function" key that will toggle through the options.

Another possibility is the backlighting isn't working? i.e. it's displaying stuff but you can't see it. In which case try attaching it to another monitor/tv/whatever you can and cycle through the output options and see if you can get something.
posted by RustyBrooks at 8:38 AM on December 11, 2011

I have my brother's Aspire 5738Z right here, let's give it a shot

- turn it on
- start wanging f2 (it takes about two, three seconds, but you can't overpress it or anything). It'll beep when it works.
- Wait a second or two, again, can't overwait
- Press right three times
- Press f5 six or so times. That's you sliding the hard drive down the boot order. The CD drive isn't #2 on the list, there's a few options for USB drives first, so just send the hard drive down to the bottom. It'll beep when it can't go any lower.
- f10 and enter to save and exit. It'll reboot.
- Start pressing any-key, as you have to press a key to confirm booting from CD.

Might be different on the 5920G, and as RustyBrooks says, I don't honestly know if booting from a CD will fix the problem.
posted by Simon! at 9:10 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]

Personally I would be hesitant to do stuff in BIOS when you can't see the screen.

I'd probably crack it open (it's not a big deal, laptops are designed to be very modular) and unplug the hard drive. If it can't find the HD it should try the CDROM.
posted by Sebmojo at 12:16 PM on December 11, 2011

Response by poster: The function keys that switch VGA/LCD had been already tried with negative result.
Attaching an external monitor had been already tried with negative result.

I was waiting for someone with Simon!'s reply, but for the 5920G. By the way thank you Simon!, that's closer to what I need and if no one will reply for 5920G, I will definitely take the risk and try it.

If it won't work, I'll try Sebmojo hint of unplugging the drive (thanks).
posted by lion at 5:25 PM on December 15, 2011

Best answer: Probably it is a problem of the graphic card, as there are several laptops with this kind of issue and many solve it with hot air gun reflowing.
posted by lion at 8:54 AM on January 12, 2012