My Acer Swift 3 SF314-43 was BitLocker-locked, and I no longer had the recovery key or access to the associated Microsoft account, so I wiped the drive for a clean installation. Since then, I haven't been able to install any operating system. Windows 10 and 11 copy the installation files successfully but crash or restart when driver initialization or "Starting Services" begins. Ubuntu also fails immediately after selecting "Try Ubuntu."
The SSD passes sustained write tests and reports as healthy, and a full MemTest86+ run found no RAM errors. The laptop can also sit idle in the BIOS or at a command prompt for more than 20 minutes without crashing, so overheating seems unlikely. Because both Windows and Linux fail at a similar point, I suspect a hardware or power issue rather than an operating-system problem.
The battery remains around 4% and never charges, even after being connected for over an hour, although the charging indicator stays on. Could a failed battery be unable to handle the brief power surge that occurs when the OS begins initializing? Is replacing the battery a reasonable first step, or does this sound more like a charging circuit or motherboard fault?
2 Answers
A battery stuck at 4% is definitely suspicious, but it doesn't prove the battery alone is responsible. The charging circuit, battery connector, or motherboard power-delivery components could also be at fault. A technician should first test whether the laptop remains stable with the battery unplugged and on AC power, then check the adapter voltage and charging circuitry before replacing the whole machine.
If possible, test the installation with the internal battery disconnected and the charger connected. That would help determine whether the battery is causing an unstable power rail. Since the battery isn't externally removable on this model, it would require opening the bottom cover, so only do that if you're comfortable with it or have a technician handle it.
The battery is internal rather than user-removable, so I haven't tried disconnecting it yet. I may have a shop test it that way before buying parts.