A workaround solution to the Acer 4520 keyboard lag problem
I’ve been blogging about the Acer 4520 problem regarding keyboard lag and have posted some of the theories and “solutions” that owners have performed as a way of addressing the lag problem. All of the methods used have proven to be ineffective so the search for a solution continues.
Recently, an avid Have Laptop Will Travel reader from Singapore gave an ingenious workaround to the problem. His suggestion is quite simple and he said it will immediately address the keyboard lag.
The workaround? Just press F7 to deactivate the Touchpad of the Acer 4520. Of course you will now have to attach a mouse for navigation. Our reader said that it is the touchpad’s drivers that are creating a conflict in the system and producing the lag. As I mentioned earlier, this is more of a workaround than a total fix. He said that you will have to do this everytime you open your laptop, or else look for a way to deactivate the touchpad automatically everytime the laptop is opened. He said that until the conflicts are addressed by Acer through a Bios update or a patch then the “workaround” is the only option.
To Acer 4520 owners, why don’t you try the workaround that our Singapore reader has suggested? Do email me about your experiences with this fix.
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Comments / What do you think?
August 23rd, 2007
It works, amen.
I got my acer from China on vacation and I thought I was dupped…I was so mad but hey now that it works who cares about the touch pad, i’ll use the small mouse they gave me and call it a day.
Thanks for the info, if it wasn’t for you I would’ve probably let the laptop collect dust somewhere.
August 23rd, 2007
the fix worked for me. this is lycan2005 from tpc by the way.
i’ve forwarded this “fix” to cooltoyz since they will be meeting with the acer reps about the 4520 key lag problem
and it’s fn+f7 to disable the touchpad.
thanks for the fix. i now disable the touchpad when i have to write lengthy emails.
August 27th, 2007
Good news, there is now an official Bios update that should not take more than 15min at the Service Centre. However also from further understanding it was also believed the ‘Brand’ might at no immediate pt issue a public/official/industrywide declaration or notice in this regards, despite that the Service Rep whom the User would ‘incidentally and voluntarily’ chat up with, likely at the Service Centre some 30 miles from his/her personal residence, might also ‘happen to meekly recommend’ a quick Bios update if that User was to again happen to ‘incidentally and voluntarily’ raise a squeak on this ‘interesting’ issue at that opportune rendevous. If the User would also inquired further out of curiosity if he/she would happen to be the only ‘victim’, he/she would likely be ‘greeted with a smile and the assurance’ that this was but a ‘minor, infrequent’ issue that though had been ‘scantily and infrequently’ reported that the ‘Mgmt’ had considered in all goodwill to conjure up a simple Bios update for the benefit of all its faithful users..just hey last week (er isnt today MONDAY). If the User was inclined to PURSUE FURTHER, he/she might be informed that the cause would actually be the over(zealous?) setting of the Touchpad sensivity, with some nitty gritty references to some distinctive thermal detection science tech thingy that the User would naturally NOT understand and hence should just take a queue number and wait in turn with OTHER HORDES OF USERS already in line. Before departing, the Service Rep might also offer ‘with all good intentions’ his ‘utmost understanding’ for the User’s concerns on his this very recent purchase made on the recent sales promotion with heavy discounts. :)
August 27th, 2007
I’m glad that the tip worked for you guys. And to Tsanhon, thanks so much! I also appreciate your news about the BIOS update. :)
August 28th, 2007
No prob, joy to share with all users.
Oh same way i came across your blog, finally came across sort an official review on this model here: http://priceguru.in/archives/features/895, appears theres several sub-models with slightly different specs/config. Not sure the actual reason why, but i had ever came across a report by one forumer that he had prob getting support despite the intl wty so offered (either pay up for immediate/complimentary parts or await XX time for exact parts to ship over), simply hes told by the service becos his that sub-model he bought at one region wasnt really available in the other region where he wanted it serviced!?! a twist or a ploy in the terms and conds?? so far i been keeping an eye for this interesting turn, anyone with news or experience do share! cheers
August 29th, 2007
I have the same problem, just curious if the BIOS update fixes the problem?
August 29th, 2007
LaL !
Another way to fix this is to simply roll back the driver of the touchpad :)
Works like a sharm!
August 29th, 2007
hard to understand tshanhon’s comment. hopefully someone translates that to english.
August 30th, 2007
[...] in terms of the replies coming in from readers of Have Laptop Will Travel’s entry on the Acer 4520 keyboard lag problem and its accompanying solution. People who have tried the fix (which is to simply deactivate [...]
August 30th, 2007
i tried the touchpad advice by the singaporian dude and yes no doubt that it works !!!!
VIsta is the recommended OS in this laptop 4530 but i think if XP is installed this lag prob can be improved since vista takes much more memory to operate
August 30th, 2007
As i said, just roll back the driver of the touchpad. It still works perfectly :) I also noticed that the problem was solved when i downloaded the newest drivers from Synaptics.
August 30th, 2007
How about providing us with the link to this bios update? I cant find it on the acer official website.
August 30th, 2007
did cross my mind to disable or as mentioned replace the touchpad driver. unfortunately theres no other known driver, as for disabling, wont that be counter productive since its the ONLY tracking device for use if theres no external pointer, and we all know how that could happen time to time during a brief retrieval or reference. A onetime BIOS update is best, lest you ARE 30miles from your nearest service centre ha. Other than the tricky interpretatio of ‘intl wty’, i discovered another issue with 4520, for some reasons its slower to respond (ie opening up a folder, or calling up Properties under Computer) than its other numerate brethens, ie 4710, 4920, 5710 etc, some might say its a non-dedicated graphics, but hey so does some those others, as well other brands/makes sporting the similar graphic chipsets. anyone noticing this as well do share your experiences. agwe2 no offence, but i believe you might have certain difficulty understanding these so i pardon your incapability herefirst. cheers
August 31st, 2007
Tshanhon, do you have a link to the official BIOS update that will fix the keyboard lag problem?
August 31st, 2007
tsanhon: You SEEM to be able to communicate in English. So, if there is such a BIOS update, why won’t you share it with us?
August 31st, 2007
hi Mel! no theres none that i know of, or i was informed about. from understanding of last converation with Tech Rep, seems its ‘supposedly per customer’s request or feedback’, going back to where i said before, you aint raise it, then they aint doing it. haha
oh doubly good news, the bios update is indeed onetime, the keyboard issue is gone even after a complete system recovery (secretly i was half expecting it to recurr!!). I would still hope for feedback on the Intl Wty and the graphics lag issue – not just me, this was raised at other places as well, though Acer been rather ‘prohibit-sive’ abt substitute drivers – even nvidia drivers cant install, except Acer propietry. I forsee this another catchy area up next AFTER the kb thingy, tho its not so obvious at first.
September 3rd, 2007
I also bought 4520G 3 days ago & I have encountered the same issues also. Keyboard lag & everytime I plugged in my USB drive it reads/browse the files slowly. At first, it’s fast then later on it will slow.
Hope 1 time BIOS update will fix both issues.
I am planning also to downgrade the OS to WinXP Pro tomorrow nyt & will see if same issues persist. Since, it has another partition, I still have WIN VISTA on the other one.
September 5th, 2007
Hi Guys,
Unfortunately, after updating the touchpad driver(downloaded from Synaptics website), keyboard lag still persists.
However, here’s one workaround I discovered that worked on my laptop (ASPIRE 4520G-401G16) – KEYBOARD LAG, instead of disabling the touchpad. See if this works for you. GOOD LUCK!
1. Go to Synaptics Pointing Device Properties
2. Then, go to Device Settings Tab
3. Select Synaptics Touchpad
4. Under Properties for Synaptics Touchpad, Go to Pointer Motion>Pointer Refresh Rate
5. Select Slow(better with slow computers or some animated pointers)
September 8th, 2007
hi! just return from a trip, still trying if a righful copy of the Bios could be available somewhere..meantime Mel, just incidentally you recently mentioned about laptop heat? hey maybe this could be useful stuff!: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140156098287&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=004
September 8th, 2007
gejr: do i OWE you anything? you even spelt me incorrectly, i can imagine you might struggle with a lengthy web link, so give me some time to find it first and then translate it something EASIER FOR YOU ok ha!
September 8th, 2007
pointer refresh rate set to slow works for me. thnx arjay
September 9th, 2007
hi people,
wonder if you can help me
how do i enter a question mark, usually it is shift + question mark key, but i got something like É everytime i did shift + question mark keys, can anyone help, please…..
many thanks
September 9th, 2007
#17. It works! Thanks Arjay.
September 11th, 2007
Hi Guys,
I always keep on tracking this forum and at TipidPC.com (http://tipidpc.com/viewtopic.php?tid=110276) and found an update regarding 4520G BIOS update.
A BIOS update (V3619) was uploaded from ACER.COM.HK website. See link below.
http://stkts.sertek.com.tw/notebook.nsf/f8216decdda3731a482568a3002c860b/52506978a3547e2a4825733d000ecc57?OpenDocument
Below is the link for translation of the page to English.
http://www.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fstkts.sertek.com.tw%2Fnotebook.nsf%2Ff8216decdda3731a482568a3002c860b%2F52506978a3547e2a4825733d000ecc57%2F&langpair=zh%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8
I haven’t try updating my BIOS as there’s no detailed technical description for this update. I’m waiting for other 4520 users who have already updated their BIOS to the latest version if the keyboard lag issue has been resolved.
Anyway, thanks for those who considered my workaround for the keyboard lag issue. Hoping that this BIOS update will fix the issue completely.
GOD BLESS!!!
September 17th, 2007
Here they are, the BIOS Update and other suggested solutions: http://coolerpads.blogspot.com/
September 21st, 2007
其实这个问题我已经注意很久了，可是老是有时候会有时候不会。
不知道为什么，我已经更新了我的BIOS，可是情况还是那样
September 22nd, 2007
worked beautifully – thanks Arjay :)
November 6th, 2007
This only shows acer’s “COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE” (yeah right!!) Dropping us owners like hot potatoes. Its kinda pathetic for an international laptop brand that couldn’t even solve their own blunder. Glad there are resourceful guys like Arjay here who found a solution. Maybe you should hire him instead of your dumb-ass technical people you have there. sheeessshhh!!!