Buzz
Troubleshoot your Acer if it’s stuck on the loading screen.
If your Acer laptop or desktop is hanging on the loading screen, there could be various causes. It's essential to troubleshoot the issue to identify and resolve the problem. Follow this guide to help you get past the loading screen.
Immediate Solutions
- Unplug any external devices and restart your computer.
- Ensure your laptop’s battery is fully charged while it’s powered off.
- Use the Windows Recovery Environment to run a Startup Repair.
- Check the system clock in BIOS/UEFI and reset it if necessary.
- Inspect the internal components to ensure no hardware is disconnected.
- Perform a factory reset on your Acer if the issue persists.
Detailed Troubleshooting Steps
Unplug any external devices.
External devices may be causing issues and preventing your Acer from booting properly. Disconnect all external devices, such as keyboards, USB drives, SD cards, and flash drives, then restart your computer. If your system is frozen, press and hold the Power button until it shuts down, then press it again to reboot.
- As a final step, drain any residual power by removing the battery (for laptops) or unplugging the power cable (for desktops), and press the Power button for 15 seconds. Reinsert the battery or plug the computer back in and try to power it up again.
- If the issue persists, move on to the next troubleshooting step.
Charge the laptop’s battery (if applicable).
Low battery levels can prevent your Acer laptop from loading properly. Turn off the laptop, charge it overnight, and attempt to power it on the next day.
- If the battery fails to charge overnight while the laptop remains powered off, you may need to replace the battery.
Perform a Startup Repair.
Windows will automatically detect and fix bootup issues. To prompt the Windows Recovery Environment (winRE), turn your Acer off and on multiple times. Follow these steps:
- Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to power off your system.
- Press the Power button to turn your system back on.
- When the Acer logo appears, hold the Power button for 10 seconds again to turn it off.
- Press the Power button once more to turn it back on.
- Repeat this process—once the Acer logo appears, hold the Power button for 10 seconds to power off.
- Press the Power button again to turn your system on, and it should boot into a blue screen with options.
- Select Advanced options. Use the arrow keys to navigate if the mouse doesn’t respond.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Select Advanced options.
- Select Startup Repair.
- Click Restart and let the Startup Repair process fix the issue.
Try connecting an external monitor.
An external monitor could help display what's missing from your primary screen. This is also useful if you’re using a desktop and suspect your primary monitor might be malfunctioning. Connect an external monitor to your Acer and try this:
- Press F4 repeatedly until an image shows up on the external display.
- If the external monitor displays fine, there may be an issue with your original monitor or its GPU connection. You can update your graphics driver through Windows Update or download the latest version from the GPU manufacturer’s website.
Adjust the time settings in BIOS.
Incorrect time settings can interfere with your Acer’s boot process. Although it might seem unrelated, the system time in BIOS affects the overall function of your PC.
- Turn off your computer by pressing the Power button.
- As soon as you see the Acer logo, press F2 (for desktops, press Delete).
- Look for the time and date entry in the BIOS. If it’s not visible on the "Information" screen, use Tab or the right arrow key to navigate to the "Main" screen.
- If the time or date is incorrect, change it. If it's already correct, skip this step. Instructions for changing the date/time are usually visible on the right side of the screen.
- Press F10 and Enter to save and exit BIOS.
- If this setting resets after a while, the CMOS battery might be dying. This battery keeps essential functions, like the system clock, running when the PC is off. To fix this, replace the CMOS battery or seek assistance from a technician.
Restore the BIOS or UEFI settings to default.
Issues in the BIOS or UEFI can cause your Acer to get stuck during boot. To access the BIOS and reset it:
- Power off your system, then turn it back on.
- When the Acer logo appears, immediately press F2 (for desktops, press Delete).
- Press F9 and hit Enter to reset to default settings.
- Press F10 and press Enter to save and exit.
Inspect the internal hardware connections.
Loose internal hardware can cause your Acer to freeze on the loading screen. Frequent handling, such as opening and closing the laptop lid or moving the PC tower, can dislodge components. To troubleshoot this, ensure you're working on an anti-static surface or wear an anti-static wristband to avoid static damage.
- If you’re using a desktop, open the case and check that all internal connections are secure. Make sure no cables are bent or damaged.
Perform a system reset on your Acer.
Corrupted files could be preventing your Acer from progressing past the loading screen. Performing a reset will erase all data on your device, so ensure you've created a backup first. However, avoid restoring from your backup right away, as it may reintroduce corrupted files. Start with a clean reset and check if the issue persists.
- To reset your Acer, press and hold the Power button for 5 seconds to turn it off, then press it again to restart.
- When the Acer logo appears, press Alt + F10 to boot into a blue screen with options.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Choose Reset this PC.
- Click Remove everything. Keeping your files may cause the problem to reoccur if the corrupted files are restored along with them.
- If your Acer continues to freeze at the loading screen, the issue is likely hardware-related. If it boots successfully, it suggests file corruption; you can restore files individually from your backup to avoid reintroducing the issue.
Reach out to Acer Support.
If the loading issue can't be resolved on your own, it could be a hardware problem. If your Acer is still under warranty, you may qualify for a free repair. To get support, you’ll need your Acer’s serial number, which is located on the white sticker next to "S/N". Alternatively, you can use the SNID, found below "S/N" and next to "SNID" on the same sticker.
- To contact Acer, visit this site for options to text, call, or chat with customer support.
