Acer Laptop. Fan Was Faulty at Start. Now What Should I Do?

Melb69 on 22/04/2019 - 09:53
Last edited 22/04/2019 - 09:54

Just received a new laptop from Amazon Aus. From start up the fan was making a loud noise and sounded like it was out of alignment. This was from boot up a few times. Now after a day or so the fan seems to have settled down and not making the noise. Having said that the laptop hasn't really been pushed, so the fan is probably running on normal fan speed rather than at max. Will be doing a stress test on it to see if we can make the fan noise again.

For now, the laptop seems to be working fine. There's the obvious question now on how reliable it is for the long term.

What do you think we should do? Vote and also if you can give a reason for choice hopefully that might help us make our decision on what to do. Thanking you all in advance.

Note. Amazon listing says there's now at least a 1-3mth wait if your ordering one now. Don't know if that same timeline is applicable to replacements. Acer has heard the fan noise on phone CS. We can return it. We, however, don't really want to wait for a replacement,as there is no timeline as to when it a replacement will come. Free postage back for replacement at present, but suspect Amazon has a 30day return policy for now.

There are now no other stores offering the same laptop at the same price, so getting a refund will mean we will need to look for another alternative. We are happy with the features, so Ideally don't want to look for another laptop model or brand.

Poll Options

  • 12
    Return laptop for a replacement ASAP
  • 1
    Return laptop for full refund
  • 2
    Keep laptop and see if fan becomes an issue again and then return/replace
Computing Acer Computer Laptop

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Comments

  • loulou1 on 22/04/2019 - 09:57
    +1

    Why not see if they can give you a timeline on replacement and agree to do a swap over? i have done it before, granted it was a looong time ago, where the courier brought the new one to me and took the old one at the same time.

    • Melb69 on 22/04/2019 - 10:02

      Not sure Amazon has that option. We have been asked to send it back? I can ask Amazon customer service, but they seem to offer generic answers.1. I have a faulty laptop. 2.Oh sorry to hear. We can offer a replacement or refund. What do you want to do? 3. How long will a replacement take to come? 4. Currently, we have no stock and it says 1-3mths.

      By the way, Acer said return through the seller. It might be as its a return that we will get a replacement quickly through Amazon and Acer supply chain. Neither of them will give a definitive answer.

      I'll ask to see if we can change it over when in stock but suspect Amazon need the faulty one to get the replacement process happening. Email sent to CS. Will see their response.

  • GangGang on 22/04/2019 - 10:34

    I would do the test first or try a game out to see if the noise comes back before returning it.

    Was the computer updating/installing when the noise issue was there? Seems strange that it just disappeared.

    • Melb69 on 22/04/2019 - 10:44

      We were going through the initial set up. Maybe the laptop was just pushing too hard to do that as it would have been downloading software and running the update etc. Yes it is strange the noise has disappeared as we were thinking that the fan was dead, but I can definitely hear it still working, but quietly now. Also from my experience when a fan goes like that its usually unrecoverable which is why it's still a concern for the future if we don't return it.

      The laptop is SSD no HDD. Of all the moving parts it's the fan that was the problem. Everything else ticks the boxes from our expectations and specs.

      • GangGang on 22/04/2019 - 10:48

        My answer would be updating/installing software, especially If it disappeared.

        Try Google going your model number and the issue and see if it comes up. I'm not too experienced in hardware though so get more advice.

        A family member dropped our laptop and now the fan is very loud ever since.

        • Melb69 on 22/04/2019 - 10:51

          I just booted it up a now and its working perfectly. Boots up quick and the fan is on working quietly. Like normal and nothing happened before. Odd and annoying that we don't know why it was making the noise.

          laptop not dropped. Although I did shake it a bit, and maybe that has realigned the fan back.

          So if you can knock the fan and it puts it out of alignment, then maybe we have just fixed it back somehow. If its coming factory new there shouldn't be any issues with it.

  • Clear on 22/04/2019 - 12:46

    There is a known bug in Windows 10 that affects heaps of different brands and models but there is an easy fix. I find that it affects Dell the most.

    Basically the maximum power state needs to be changed from 100% to 99% to stop the fans going haywire. I can't guarantee that it will fix the issue as there is the possibility they are faulty.

    • Open Control Panel
    • Power Options
    • Change plan settings
    • Change advanced power settings
    • Open the Processor power management menu
    • Open the Maximum processor state menu
    • Change both 100% to 99%
    • Melb69 on 22/04/2019 - 13:37

      I read the same about the same issue fix for the Acer Aspire. The swift we have doesn't have the power management menu. It only has these basic battery settings. There is meant to be a bios update that you can do to get that menu. Will leave that to my Son to try. But having it now work without doing anything , means really do we need to do anything?

  • brokenglish on 22/04/2019 - 18:08

    Return the laptop, get a refund if possible not a replacement.
    If this is not due to a faulty hardware (fan), you might get a similar issue with a replacement (of the same model).
    Get a better brand (Dell, Lenovo, etc.)

    • Melb69 on 22/04/2019 - 18:17

      100% sure its a fan issue or if not the sensor to turn it on. Having said that the fan hasn't made the noise since. We don't have an issue with getting a replacement, but there is no ready stock of the same model. Asked Amazon if they could give us a better deal on the model up. No. They have now also give $10 voucher on future purchases.

  • Geekomatic on 23/04/2019 - 13:58

    It sounds like you don't want to be without it & that you might never get another one if Acer doesn't actually replenish amazon. You reported it so it's on the books, though after 12 months, they might not honor a repair. I suppose worst-case scenario is you have to open the laptop at some point & replace the fan yourself.

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