Windows 8.1 Turned my laptop into a paperweight

windows8brick

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Hello everyone, im posting on here to try and find an answer to my problem as windows 8 customer support couldn't give me any answers to fix it so they dc'd me and wouldn't let me connect to support chat -_-.
Basically what has happened is wondows forced my laptop to go from 8 to 8.1, I will make this very clear I did not want the update, I have automatic updates turned off, and can't afford to have my laptop reset and loose all the work ive done since the last save point. So over the last few days I kept getting a window popping up trying to get me to update to 8.1, I said no. but everyday since then the same window pops up, normally causing most of my programs to crash. Today though the same screen popped up and didn't give me an option to cancel, it said 15 min to restart and update and could not be stopped. My laptop then rebooted and now no longer works, nothing shows up on the screen anymore, the backlight comes on when you switch it on but that's it, screen remains blank and not able to even see the boot options or login options, ive also tried just connecting it to my tv through the hdmi out but nothing. So I contacted support 2 times, both times they were clueless and even had to explain what a blank screen was, both times they replied with I see, then dc'd and it would not connect back to the person, even took screenshots of this.

Anyway has anyone else had this problem? or anyone know how to fix this?
i'm completely clueless as to what has happened with this update, and from where im looking now its looking like ive got myself an expensive paperweight :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8 brick version
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    acer
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    740gtm

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3820 CPU OC @ 3.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte G1.Assassin2
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 16GB Quad Channel DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia by EVGA - GeForce GTX 670 4GB
    Sound Card
    On board Creative SB X-Fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    acer 24" H243H
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Main 500GB Hybrid Drive @ 7,200RPM
    Secondary OCZ SSD Vertex 3 Max IOPS
    PSU
    Silent Pro 1000w gold 80+
    Case
    Azza Hurrican 2000
    Cooling
    Liquid CPU cooler & fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Tek Republic Wired Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    5ms Ping 5.15Mb/s Download .64Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes
There is a fix, but, it will cost you. A business-oriented computer place can probably roll you back to a working Windows 8 or 8.1. I had my mine rolled back to Windows 7 Pro. Unless you're a superb geek like many here in eightforums [and I'm not one of them!], it might be that time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit [MS blue-disk set]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Acers & 1 Antec[?]
    CPU
    i7 in 2 Acers, i5 in desktop
    Motherboard
    Desktop w/Gigabyte
    Memory
    Two w/16GB, 1 w/8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Laptops GameWorthy; Desktop maybe GameWorthy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    flatscreens; 2 are BluRay worthy
    Screen Resolution
    1368x768; 1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1TB internals; 2 ext usb WD 1TB HDs
    PSU
    what's PSU?
    Cooling
    Regular plus external fans
    Keyboard
    desktio w/PS2
    Mouse
    desktop w/PS2
    Internet Speed
    DSL middle level [160?]
    Browser
    from Netscape 0.9 to FF 36
    Antivirus
    well-balanced, well-configured mult-layered defense is best
    Other Info
    From MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS 6.22, from Windows 3.1 to WFW 3.11 to Windows 95-98SE, now to Windows 7 Pro.
    Security for now: Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
^nonsense. Never pay for your computer to get fixed when it can be free here! DIY!

:D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3820 CPU OC @ 3.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte G1.Assassin2
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 16GB Quad Channel DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia by EVGA - GeForce GTX 670 4GB
    Sound Card
    On board Creative SB X-Fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    acer 24" H243H
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Main 500GB Hybrid Drive @ 7,200RPM
    Secondary OCZ SSD Vertex 3 Max IOPS
    PSU
    Silent Pro 1000w gold 80+
    Case
    Azza Hurrican 2000
    Cooling
    Liquid CPU cooler & fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Tek Republic Wired Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    5ms Ping 5.15Mb/s Download .64Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes
DustSailor, you're correct, if somebody has time, energy, tech-savvy & knowhow, needed to make OS roll-backs -- then of course, have eightforums techs here help with advice to make such rollbacks. The place I went to had to pull off heatsinks, read the chip, goto chip manufacturers, download the latest accurate drivers, reglue the heatsinks, install, install, install -- testing along the way.

addition: i just realized i didn't mention that i rolled from Windows 8 back to Windows 7
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit [MS blue-disk set]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Acers & 1 Antec[?]
    CPU
    i7 in 2 Acers, i5 in desktop
    Motherboard
    Desktop w/Gigabyte
    Memory
    Two w/16GB, 1 w/8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Laptops GameWorthy; Desktop maybe GameWorthy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    flatscreens; 2 are BluRay worthy
    Screen Resolution
    1368x768; 1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1TB internals; 2 ext usb WD 1TB HDs
    PSU
    what's PSU?
    Cooling
    Regular plus external fans
    Keyboard
    desktio w/PS2
    Mouse
    desktop w/PS2
    Internet Speed
    DSL middle level [160?]
    Browser
    from Netscape 0.9 to FF 36
    Antivirus
    well-balanced, well-configured mult-layered defense is best
    Other Info
    From MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS 6.22, from Windows 3.1 to WFW 3.11 to Windows 95-98SE, now to Windows 7 Pro.
    Security for now: Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
@ windows8brick :

What was your course of action when the PC appeared not to be working?
I've seen various machines taking up to 2 hours of black screen to 'lift' the OS from the machine, install the update then rearrange your stuff.
Rule of thumb is, Don't touch it and Don't rely on WiFi and battery power; get plugged in!
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home
can't afford to have my laptop reset and loose all the work ive done since the last save point.

Unfortunately, this is exactly what is going to happen if you obtain the Acer recovery disks and reformat the laptop drive to reinstall Win8.

If this was my laptop, my first course of business would be to recover the files and folders I want to retain. To do that, you have to be able to boot the laptop into some environment that allows you to copy off files. The only FREE stuff that I know will do that are the Linux distros, and to use those, you will need a working PC to download the ISO image, and either a DVD burner (with blank DVDs) or a USB stick. IF you use the latter, you will have to create a bootable USB of the Linux distro. You can find Linux distros at distrowatch.com.
 

My Computer

Windows8brick, the whole reason I just joined this site was for the same issue you had. One night, my laptop was fine, the next when I turned it on, it was black except for wording at the bottom that said Getting Ready..... and it was trying to do something...fast forward at least half hour, then it said Apply Settings.....probably an hour later it went back to Getting Ready.......I just kept watching TV and letting it go to where it would. After about 2+ hours I had to go to bed and since it was doing nothing I turned it off (hard shut down). The next day it went through a shorter version and then finally got a message at the top that said Windows failed to Install. Then it mentioned I could do a system restore..I chose that but it all it ended up with was my desktop screen but with nothing else and no way for me to tell it to do anything. I strongly suspect it's the same as you...forced upgrade from 8.0 to 8.1. If any company is going to allow a forced upgrade, they should have to support the problems from it properly. Have you had any luck since your post? Anxious to know.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion g7
    Browser
    IE
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