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Refurbished Acer Aspire E5-411 14" Laptops £100 (€130) delivered

12357

Comments

  • #122
    Andy From Sligo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,325 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    OK now running Win10 32bit (upgrade from my win7 32bit hard drive) - still laggy, might get 8gb stick some time and put that in if I go back to 64bit, or 4GB stick if I stay with 32bit see if that helps.

    I have one driver left in device manager that has exclamation - its the PCI Encryption/Decryption controller - maybe its because I am running 32bit, although I tried loading 32bit Intel Chipset drivers and it still needs the drivers for this - anyone else got the exclamation mark in device manager for that controller?


  • #123
    duridian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,541 ✭✭✭duridian


    Andy From Sligo wrote: »
    I have one driver left in device manager that has exclamation - its the PCI Encryption/Decryption controller - maybe its because I am running 32bit, although I tried loading 32bit Intel Chipset drivers and it still needs the drivers for this - anyone else got the exclamation mark in device manager for that controller?

    I think you need the Intel TXE driver for that one. (Trusted Execution Engine)


  • #124
    Andy From Sligo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,325 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    duridian wrote:
    I think you need the Intel TXE driver for that one. (Trusted Execution Engine)


    Thanks, took me quite a while to find a 32bit version of it but I found it in end. All drivers now installed.


  • #125
    cuculainn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 872 ✭✭✭cuculainn


    So finally got round to installing 8gb RAM stick. It's relatively straight forward. Just open evey screw on the bottom and do some gentle prying apart.

    It runs pretty good. I hadn't overly challenged it on 2gb but there is def less lag doing simple things with the 8gb.

    Overall I think it's a fine laptop for a light user.


  • #126
    Andy From Sligo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,325 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    I have a few future plans for this laptop. Some people might say after I mod it why didn't I just buy another laptop, but here's what I have planned getting (hopefully) in the near future for it.

    A 4gb ram stick if I'm sticking with 32bit win10.
    A ssd drive, I dare say a 350gb will do me.
    Even thinking of going so far as to changing the glossy screen on it for a Matt one, eBay are doing Matt screens for this model for 40EUR.
    An internal DVD drive/writer.


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  • #127
    Kenlen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 65 ✭✭Kenlen


    Anyone else having trouble updating to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 on this laptop?? I've tried twice and each time after hours of downloading system files, I get a message telling me one important update hasn't installed and I'm left with Windows 8.1. Any advise greatly appreciated.....


  • #128
    Gadgetman496
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,548 ✭✭✭Gadgetman496


    You could do a clean install of 10 using the instructions HERE

    "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."



  • #129
    duridian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,541 ✭✭✭duridian


    Yep. Check that guide I put up last week on another thread, which Gadgetman496 linked.

    Technique will work for any activated Windows 7 or 8/8.1 that you want to upgrade to Windows 10, and you'll have a proper Windows 10 install disc at the end, which you can use to upgrade other computers/lend to a mate to upgrade theirs etc.


  • #130
    BrianJD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,126 ✭✭✭BrianJD


    Hey, I'm a bit useless with technology but I set this laptop up and connected to my wifi but it is still saying no internet connection! Any ideas how to fix this?


  • #131
    Andy From Sligo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,325 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    BrianJD wrote:
    Hey, I'm a bit useless with technology but I set this laptop up and connected to my wifi but it is still saying no internet connection! Any ideas how to fix this?


    First try this, if it says 'connected' to Wi-Fi router but there is a warning of 'no internet' try unplugging Wi-Fi router from the mains electrical socket, then wait a minute and then plug Wi-Fi router back in and then wait for a couple of minute to initialize then check to see if it can get internet connection then


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  • #132
    Andy From Sligo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,325 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    Has anyone tried putting an internal DVD Rom drive into this laptop? - tried various slimline ones and all of them too big (only by a smidgen) to fit in the space that's there after removing the "dummy" piece of plastic


  • #133
    Gadgetman496
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,548 ✭✭✭Gadgetman496


    BrianJD wrote: »
    Hey, I'm a bit useless with technology but I set this laptop up and connected to my wifi but it is still saying no internet connection! Any ideas how to fix this?


    Is there a function (FN) key or manual switch on that lappy to turn wireless on/off?

    "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."



  • #134
    Skill Magill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,344 ✭✭✭Skill Magill


    Fn and the F3 key pressed simultaneously


  • #135
    BrianJD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,126 ✭✭✭BrianJD


    Andy From Sligo wrote: »
    First try this, if it says 'connected' to Wi-Fi router but there is a warning of 'no internet' try unplugging Wi-Fi router from the mains electrical socket, then wait a minute and then plug Wi-Fi router back in and then wait for a couple of minute to initialize then check to see if it can get internet connection then

    Thanks for advice. I tried that but it didn't work. From what I can see it has a connection and when I go into a App screen the news is updated, yet when i try and open a page it just says waiting. I also need to apparently activate Windows and the two options are to click on line to activate (not connecting) or a product key which isn't in any of the paperwork with it!

    Any help or advise greatly appreciated!


  • #136
    Skill Magill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,344 ✭✭✭Skill Magill


    Anybody installed w10 and now the trackpad doesn't work? Reinstalled drivers to no avail.


  • #137
    duridian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,541 ✭✭✭duridian


    Skill Magill wrote: »
    Anybody installed w10 and now the trackpad doesn't work? Reinstalled drivers to no avail.

    Are you definitely installing the right touchpad driver? I think there were two different types in the driver's download page at Acer website.

    The one in mine is made by Elan or Elantech, something like that (on my phone at the moment, so can't confirm) and not Synaptic or whatever the other option was, so I'd assume Synaptic drivers would not work.


  • #138
    duridian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,541 ✭✭✭duridian


    BrianJD wrote: »
    Thanks for advice. I tried that but it didn't work. From what I can see it has a connection and when I go into a App screen the news is updated, yet when i try and open a page it just says waiting. I also need to apparently activate Windows and the two options are to click on line to activate (not connecting) or a product key which isn't in any of the paperwork with it!

    Any help or advise greatly appreciated!

    First thing I'd check is to disconnect the Wi-Fi and connect the laptop to the router with an Ethernet cable.
    The purpose here is to narrow down the likely cause. If the same problem manifests itself when connected via a cable them you can eliminate the Wi-Fi as the culprit, if not then you then know the Wi-Fi is the cause.

    Also I assume you are still on the original Windows 8.1 that came with the laptop. I didn't keep 8.1 for more than a brief test before I switched to 10, but I'm trying to recall if there was some security software like McAfee installed from the factory? If so you might want to check this in case there is some kind of firewall in this software that is set wrong and blocking your internet.

    That's all I can think of for now.


  • #139
    Skill Magill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,344 ✭✭✭Skill Magill


    duridian wrote: »
    Are you definitely installing the right touchpad driver? I think there were two different types in the driver's download page at Acer website.

    The one in mine is made by Elan or Elantech, something like that (on my phone at the moment, so can't confirm) and not Synaptic or whatever the other option was, so I'd assume Synaptic drivers would not work.

    When you go to control panel and mouse, is the last tab hardware or elantech?
    Mines hardware, so I don't think the driver is installing correctly.


  • #140
    duridian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,541 ✭✭✭duridian


    Skill Magill wrote: »
    When you go to control panel and mouse, is the last tab hardware or elantech?
    Mines hardware, so I don't think the driver is installing correctly.

    This is mine:

    383938.jpg

    I use a wireless mouse as well. that is why there are two HID compliant mice listed as well as the Elan I2C filter driver.


    [Edit] This is the Windows 10 64-bit driver I am using from Acer support website.


  • #141
    Skill Magill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,344 ✭✭✭Skill Magill


    Cheers D, this lappys being a bit of madam at the mo, only after upgrade to 10 though. I'm gonna use rufus which should let me create a bootkey using ntfs and reinstall 7 and use UEFI instead of legacy in the bios. Are you using a solid state?


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  • #142
    duridian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,541 ✭✭✭duridian


    Skill Magill wrote: »
    Cheers D, this lappys being a bit of madam at the mo, only after upgrade to 10 though. I'm gonna use rufus which should let me create a bootkey using ntfs and reinstall 7 and use UEFI instead of legacy in the bios. Are you using a solid state?

    I just wanted to draw your attention to the following which may be some helpful info to you.

    You might encounter difficulty in getting a Rufus-created NTFS filesystem USB key to work as a UEFI Windows 10 USB key.
    See discussion here:
    https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/issues/589

    Now there is also a guide on Paul Thurrott's site on this subject, but I recommend you ignore Thurrott's method and use what I myself used, which is a guide from the comments section under Thurrott's posting, which worked perfectly for me with the UEFI in this laptop.
    https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/5162/windows-10-tip-create-windows-10-setup-media-the-right-way

    The relevant comment is by a user named "Waethorn" and it is actualy pretty simple to do without any special tools or apps, just use what is already available within Windows 8 or newer.
    Waethorn • 8 months ago

    The partition type doesn't have to be GPT.
    This is the method I use, and it requires no additional software:
    1) Format the drive as FAT32 using Windows. Use quick format and the default allocation unit size.
    2) Mark the partition as Active using diskpart (this only needs to be done once per USB stick and persists through subsequent reformats as long as you don't repartition the stick)
    2a) Open Command Prompt with admin rights and type: diskpart
    2b) Type: lis vol
    2c) Find the drive letter of the USB stick
    2d) Type: sel vol [drive letter or corresponding drive ID#] (this selects the corresponding partition...and don't use a colon)
    2e) Type: act
    2f) Type: exit
    2g) Type: exit
    3) Mount the ISO (Windows 8 and 10 and Server 2012 have this feature built in)
    4) Copy the entire contents of the drive to the root of the USB stick (I just use Select All and Send To Removable Disk to do it fast)
    5) Boot from it
    Every system I've deployed Windows on worked with one of these USB sticks since Windows Vista SP1 (except for the odd bug with Vista SP1 support on UEFI systems where the EFI boot files were not in the proper folders for USB booting and had to be rejiggered manually...this was fixed in later images).

    I was sceptical initially about it, but it really does work brilliantly.


    Oh and nearly forgot. I'm just using the original hard drive for now. Might get a SSD somewhere down the line, but as I've also just bought a Linx 1010 Windows tablet and keyboard, so that's my gadget fund gone for a while.


  • #143
    duridian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,541 ✭✭✭duridian


    Also get all your drivers. Search Notebook > Aspire > E5-411 at
    http://www.acer.com/ac/en/GB/content/drivers

    383950.jpg

    Edit: And the graphic driver can be got from Intel or just let Windows get one from Microsoft/Windows update.


  • #144
    Dr.Winston O'Boogie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,866 ✭✭✭Dr.Winston O'Boogie


    In the market for a new laptop, purely for web surfing, a small bit of downloading and storage really. These ones seem perfect.

    Complete novice question here, how easy is it to upgrade RAM if I ever need to? And how expensive?


  • #145
    stdidit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 553 ✭✭✭stdidit


    Dr.Winston O'Boogie wrote: »
    In the market for a new laptop, purely for web surfing, a small bit of downloading and storage really. These ones seem perfect.

    Complete novice question here, how easy is it to upgrade RAM if I ever need to? And how expensive?

    For this laptop, its quite easy to upgrade RAM.. There is 18 screws to take out, a bit of fidgeting to get the back off and you then have full access to the RAM. Whole process takes no more than 10 mins.

    Look back in this thread for links to where you can buy the RAM. I "borrowed" a 4GB stick from work and think its more than enough although most people on here went with 8GB.


  • #146
    duridian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,541 ✭✭✭duridian


    Dr.Winston O'Boogie wrote: »
    Complete novice question here, how easy is it to upgrade RAM if I ever need to? And how expensive?

    Pretty simple and straightforward if you take your time and reasonable care.
    I posted some instructions the day I got my laptop and upgraded the RAM last month.

    8GB is about €40 to 45 quid. 4GB about €25 to 30. You need a single stick, not a pair of sticks as there is only one slot altogether.

    See this earlier post of mine and also this one from Zilog regarding where and what kind of RAM we've used, and also links to other suitable RAM.


  • #147
    Andy From Sligo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,325 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    Skill Magill wrote: »
    Anybody installed w10 and now the trackpad doesn't work? Reinstalled drivers to no avail.

    mine was like that when I loaded windows 10 ... I think I ran it with an external mouse and Windows 10 update finally loaded the correct trackpad driver (and correct intel HD graphics driver!) , I didnt even have to download the trackpad driver from ACER which was good - if there is one other thing I like about win10 its that most of the time its pretty good at downloading the correct drivers seamlessly from windows update in the background for you


  • #148
    Skill Magill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,344 ✭✭✭Skill Magill


    I've brought it back to win7, trackpad working again, might try updating to w10 for the crack later


  • #149
    Dr.Winston O'Boogie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,866 ✭✭✭Dr.Winston O'Boogie


    Deal seems to have expired unfortunately just as I went to buy, seller has this on sale too, would it be similar in terms of value anyone know?

    Not too hot on processors etc.

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401108510834


  • #150
    stdidit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 553 ✭✭✭stdidit


    Dr.Winston O'Boogie wrote: »
    Deal seems to have expired unfortunately just as I went to buy, seller has this on sale too, would it be similar in terms of value anyone know?

    Not too hot on processors etc.

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401108510834

    Looks good to me for 150euro. Its a better laptop than the one in this thread. Note that that it is an auction though and has 14hrs left so price could rise a good bit..


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  • #151
    duridian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,541 ✭✭✭duridian


    Dr.Winston O'Boogie wrote: »
    Deal seems to have expired unfortunately just as I went to buy, seller has this on sale too, would it be similar in terms of value anyone know?

    Not too hot on processors etc.

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401108510834

    That's a more powerful laptop than the one we got, but I doubt you will get that one for less than €270 which is over double the money.

    As previous poster stated, that listing is an auction as opposed to a "buy it now" listing. The auction will have a reserve price, probably something in the region of my guesstimate, so even if you're the only bidder in the auction and offer €150 you won't get it, as it is less than the reserve price.

    An i3 processor will be substantially more powerful in the processing department, but this will come at a trade off in battery life. I get very close to 8 hours of mixed use out of mine before I charge it up again, and I never let it go below 30% charge before doing so, as I believe this leads to best battery longevity. But theoretically it could probably do 10 to 11 hours of I was willing to let it drain more. That to me is the most phenomenal aspect of the laptop that started this thread. The battery life is unbelievably good.


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