Acer Aspire One Bios Question

[Bmdd]

In the event viewer I am getting this error:
"The embedded controller (EC) returned data when none was requested. The BIOS might be trying to access the EC without synchronizing with the operating system. This data will be ignored. No further action is necessary; however, you should check with your computer manufacturer for an upgraded BIOS.".
I read that the embedded controller is the ACPI controller. have been having trouble with my battery not showing correct percentage. At 4% yesterday it lasted over 2 more hours. And the highest % it "shows" is 35%. Ok on to my question...(haha). I recently updated from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and I'm wondering about how I update the bios? Can I just DL off the Acer website or will the W10 update affect it?
I'm have never fooled around with BIOS before, it makes me nervous! Also this ACPI Controller...can you change the software or anything like that? Any suggestions/advice would be super helpful. Thank You

 

[darkbreeze]

First thing I would do would be to find the manufacturers product page for your EXACT model/sub model, and install any updated or recent drivers listed there for chipset, audio, LAN, graphics, storage controllers and USB.

Second thing I'd do, is on that same page, find and download the most recent BIOS firmware if it is newer than the version currently installed on your machine. Windows version has nothing to do with the BIOS firmware, in as far as whether or not it "supports" it. The BIOS is independent of any operating system you might install and simply consists of the firmware and instructions needed for basic hardware support PRIOR to booting into the Windows or other OS environment, AND to provide Windows with some information regarding what hardware is installed and how it is to be handled.

Generally, Windows 8 and 10 systems are UEFI type bios. Try to locate a youtube video or find a tutorial on upgrading the BIOS version on YOUR specific model, and follow those instructions exactly. Knowing the exact sub model (Many different units may have the same model family description, but have multiple configurations possible, thus, several sub models) as listed on the product sticker or label that should either be on the back of the unit or underneath the battery in the battery compartment on the case itself.

 

[Bmdd]

First thing I would do would be to find the manufacturers product page for your EXACT model/sub model, and install any updated or recent drivers listed there for chipset, audio, LAN, graphics, storage controllers and USB.

Second thing I'd do, is on that same page, find and download the most recent BIOS firmware if it is newer than the version currently installed on your machine. Windows version has nothing to do with the BIOS firmware, in as far as whether or not it "supports" it. The BIOS is independent of any operating system you might install and simply consists of the firmware and instructions needed for basic hardware support PRIOR to booting into the Windows or other OS environment, AND to provide Windows with some information regarding what hardware is installed and how it is to be handled.

Generally, Windows 8 and 10 systems are UEFI type bios. Try to locate a youtube video or find a tutorial on upgrading the BIOS version on YOUR specific model, and follow those instructions exactly. Knowing the exact sub model (Many different units may have the same model family description, but have multiple configurations possible, thus, several sub models) as listed on the product sticker or label that should either be on the back of the unit or underneath the battery in the battery compartment on the case itself.

Thank you so much for your quick reply. I am going to follow your instructions and see if this takes care of the issues. I am going to copy and paste at the bottom of this message the available BIOS updates. Could you please tell me which one I should install? They're all pretty old (but newer than mine haha). The newest one says non Windows systems....So obviously Im thinking not that one? Sorry for all the questions..Im a big "dud" when it comes to this and I really don't want to do something wrong and mess it all up permanently. My battery issue started before Win10.... I noticed after installing a bunch of updates (win7 to get ready for win10 DL) Could one of those updates have caused these problems? One more thing I thought of, after Win10 upgrade under "Batteries" in Device Manager I no longer have the composite battery, I still have the other 2 (AC Adapter and ACPI Compliant Control Battery Method) Does that matter?


BIOS Acer 1. Updates 2011 OEM SLIC Table for non-Windows system. 2. Updates charge protection. 1.26 2.6 MB 2011/07/11 Download

BIOS Acer Fixes issue which has noise when play audio file at the same time adjust brightness. 1.25 2.6 MB 2010/07/05 Download

BIOS Acer Modifies brightness control table. 1.24 2.6 MB 2010/06/14 Download

BIOS Acer 1. Removes Detect BT condition for product line can't detect Bt issue. 2. Fixes sudden flash of Garbage Message when Boot into [...] 1.22 2.6 MB 2010/05/24 Download

BIOS Acer Fixes BT/3G status is not correct when flash BIOS,and boot to DOS immediately. 1.21 2.6 MB 2010/04/06 Download

BIOS Acer 1. Modifies String 'Save Changes' in BIOS Setup Configuration. 2. Adds VBIOS to support LG panel. 3. Fixes WLAN BCM4313 (ASPM [...] 1.20 2.6 MB 2010/03/22 Download

BIOS Acer Modifies 'Exit Discarding Changes' string in BIOS setup. 1.19 2.6 MB 2010/03/08 Download

BIOS Acer 1. Modifies MCP hot-plug function. 2. Adds Atheros and Broadcom Bluetooth detection for INT15. 1.18 2.6 MB 2010/03/03 Download

BIOS Acer Fixes boot seguence 1.17 2.6 MB 2010/02/23 Download

BIOS Acer Fixes highight text disappeared issue. 1.15 2.6 MB 2010/01/26 Download

BIOS Acer 1. Fixes Host Bridge lacking SSID/SVID value. 2. Sends C45 DDB to EC when detect Huawei 3G card. 1.12 2.6 MB 2010/01/19 Download

BIOS Acer BIOS 1.10 2.6 MB 2010/01/12 Download

Once again, thank you tons for your help!

 

[darkbreeze]

When updating the BIOS, you only ever install ONE update, whichever is the MOST recent. Every updated image contains all previous updates, unless and except when a prior version was found to be lacking, in which case, a modified firmware would be used that more correctly addressed whatever problem THAT update had been supposed to fix. Generally, that isn't even a factor and newer updates only ADD support or correct previously uncorrected problems.


So, just install the newest one and forget any others.

Also, are you still on an "upgrade", or have you done a clean install of Windows 10? If you are on an updated install, I'd backup any important documents and files and do a "clean" install, as follows. One thing to note, that I've not yet modified in my tutorial, is that when doing a clean install you CAN use a Windows 7 or 10 product key to install with although if the system has already been upgraded to windows 10 previously you should just click "skip", twice, on both occasions it asks for a product key during the installation. If you read the tutorial you'll see why doing a clean install is recommended on any system that experiences issues after upgrading.

http/www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2784691/ditch-problematic-win10-upgrade-replace-clean-install.html

 

[Bmdd]

When updating the BIOS, you only ever install ONE update, whichever is the MOST recent. Every updated image contains all previous updates, unless and except when a prior version was found to be lacking, in which case, a modified firmware would be used that more correctly addressed whatever problem THAT update had been supposed to fix. Generally, that isn't even a factor and newer updates only ADD support or correct previously uncorrected problems.


So, just install the newest one and forget any others.

Also, are you still on an "upgrade", or have you done a clean install of Windows 10? If you are on an updated install, I'd backup any important documents and files and do a "clean" install, as follows. One thing to note, that I've not yet modified in my tutorial, is that when doing a clean install you CAN use a Windows 7 or 10 product key to install with although if the system has already been upgraded to windows 10 previously you should just click "skip", twice, on both occasions it asks for a product key during the installation. If you read the tutorial you'll see why doing a clean install is recommended on any system that experiences issues after upgrading.

http/www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2784691/ditch-problematic-win10-upgrade-replace-clean-install.html

Awesome info. I am still on the Upgrade. I have a week or so more left in my "month long period". I had considered rolling back to Windows 7 to try to get rid of issues. Ok, I am going togo ahead and try the clean install of windows 10 first (bios update afterwards) and make a backup usb of windows 7 just incase. If something happens to go wrong and I need to change back to Windows 7 would I have to use my product key? My sticker on bottom of Laptop is worn pretty bad and cant be read. I have a desktop that has Vista, could I make a backup of that OS and use the product key located on PC on my laptop? Just trying to figure it all out and get my ducks in a row...Just incase.
I'm going to go ahead and mark your answer as solution. You have given great advice. Thanks for your time and patience with all my questions

 

[darkbreeze]

Yes, you will need your Windows 7 product key to reinstall Windows 7. And, you can use it to reinstall Windows 10 at any point you choose to so long as you do not change motherboards. If you ever change to a new motherboard or computer, both Windows 7 and 10 have non-transferable licenses once they've been registered to that hardware, that's pretty much it. If you change the motherboard out for an identical motherboard, that's usually ok, but new motherboard equals new computer in the eyes of microsoft, so it usually requires a new license. Windows 8 and 8.1 can be transferred so long as they are only used on one device at a time but do have to be reactivated by phone if you change computers or motherboards.

For that reason alone I recommend buying Windows 8 over 7 or 10, as you will always be able to use your Windows 8 license on any upgraded system, but with 7 or 10 you cannot. Of course, the free upgrade is only through next August for anybody who hasn't upgraded yet, but once you've upgraded to 10 and your BIOS ID string has been registered on MS activation servers, even if you go back to 7 you should still be eligible to put 10 back later if you wish.

Vista is not included in the upgrade as far as being a qualified product, so that's a no go. If you did not back up your product key prior to upgrading to Windows 10, I don't know what to tell you. If you plan to do a clean install to Windows 10 anyhow, you might try rolling back to windows 7 if for no other reason than to see if you can then extract your original product key and record it for future reference.

 

[Bmdd]

Yes, you will need your Windows 7 product key to reinstall Windows 7. And, you can use it to reinstall Windows 10 at any point you choose to so long as you do not change motherboards. If you ever change to a new motherboard or computer, both Windows 7 and 10 have non-transferable licenses once they've been registered to that hardware, that's pretty much it. If you change the motherboard out for an identical motherboard, that's usually ok, but new motherboard equals new computer in the eyes of microsoft, so it usually requires a new license. Windows 8 and 8.1 can be transferred so long as they are only used on one device at a time but do have to be reactivated by phone if you change computers or motherboards.

For that reason alone I recommend buying Windows 8 over 7 or 10, as you will always be able to use your Windows 8 license on any upgraded system, but with 7 or 10 you cannot. Of course, the free upgrade is only through next August for anybody who hasn't upgraded yet, but once you've upgraded to 10 and your BIOS ID string has been registered on MS activation servers, even if you go back to 7 you should still be eligible to put 10 back later if you wish.

Vista is not included in the upgrade as far as being a qualified product, so that's a no go. If you did not back up your product key prior to upgrading to Windows 10, I don't know what to tell you. If you plan to do a clean install to Windows 10 anyhow, you might try rolling back to windows 7 if for no other reason than to see if you can then extract your original product key and record it for future reference.

I believe the product key in the system info was an OEM product key. I did at one point write it down somewhere incase it rubbed off....No telling where that went though :\

 

[darkbreeze]

Well, if it was an OEM key, you would need to have installation media to put windows 7 back on there in any case, which I'm guessing you don't have. Neither Microsoft nor any of the OEM manufacturers are still providing free Windows 7 ISO downloads for those with OEM keys, so unfortunately you'd need to either already have installation media, or get it from another source, cough, if you found the key.

We think this is stupid, as keyholders should always be allowed access to installation media for products they are legally entitled to, but that would not seem to be the case. Figures, what makes sense is rarely what is done by tech companies.

There are some other sources to locate a Windows 7 ISO, but they are hit and miss as to whether they work with an OEM key or not. All are legal sources of the original ISO available to licences key holders though. There are probably a few other sources around too if you need one and are willing to look.

http/www.techverse.net/download-windows-7-iso-32bit-64bit/

 

[Bmdd]

Well, if it was an OEM key, you would need to have installation media to put windows 7 back on there in any case, which I'm guessing you don't have. Neither Microsoft nor any of the OEM manufacturers are still providing free Windows 7 ISO downloads for those with OEM keys, so unfortunately you'd need to either already have installation media, or get it from another source, cough, if you found the key.

We think this is stupid, as keyholders should always be allowed access to installation media for products they are legally entitled to, but that would not seem to be the case. Figures, what makes sense is rarely what is done by tech companies.

There are some other sources to locate a Windows 7 ISO, but they are hit and miss as to whether they work with an OEM key or not. All are legal sources of the original ISO available to licences key holders though. There are probably a few other sources around too if you need one and are willing to look.

http/www.techverse.net/download-windows-7-iso-32bit-64bit/

I sucessfully updated the Bios....woohoo

 

[darkbreeze]

Nice, see, I knew you could figure it out.