If you’ve ever owned an ASUS or Acer laptop, you probably know they’re solid machines—great for work, study, and even gaming. But like any laptop, they’re not perfect. I’ve used both brands over the years, and trust me, I’ve faced my fair share of issues: overheating during long Zoom calls, random Wi-Fi disconnects right in the middle of an email, and once, a keyboard that just stopped responding during a deadline (that was fun).
So, instead of letting you panic when these things happen, let me walk you through some common problems and the real fixes that worked for me (and for plenty of other laptop users I’ve helped).
Understanding the core differences between ASUS and Acer can help you choose a laptop with fewer long-term issues.
Table of Contents
1. Overheating & Loud Fan Noise
I remember my old Acer Aspire heating up so much that it felt like a mini heater on my desk.
What happens: Laptops gather dust inside, or the cooling paste wears out, and suddenly, the fans sound like jet engines.
What worked for me:
- I cleaned the vents with compressed air—huge difference!
- I started using a cooling pad during long work sessions.
- Eventually, I had thermal paste reapplied by a repair shop, and the performance improved drastically.
Lesson: Don’t ignore overheating; it can shorten your laptop’s life.
2. Power & Charging Issues
Once, my ASUS VivoBook just wouldn’t turn on, no matter how many times I pressed the power button.
What happens: The laptop doesn’t charge or power up.
What worked for me:
- A hard reset: disconnect charger, remove battery (if it’s removable), hold power button for 30 seconds. After reconnecting—boom, it worked.
- Another time, it turned out the charger itself was the problem. Borrowed a friend’s adapter and confirmed it.
Always check the charger before assuming the laptop is dead.
3. Screen Flickering or Black Display
My cousin’s ASUS laptop once showed only a black screen when she booted it. We thought it was gone for good.
What happens: Flickering screen, lines, or no display.
What worked for us:
- Updating display drivers fixed the issue for me once.
- Plugging into an external monitor helped confirm when the screen—not the laptop—was the problem.
- In my cousin’s case, a loose display cable was the culprit.
4. Slow Performance & Freezing
This one hits close to home—my Acer laptop slowed down so much that even opening Chrome felt like a marathon.
What happens: Apps take forever, random freezes, or laggy performance.
What worked for me:
- Disabled startup programs from Task Manager.
- Upgraded to an SSD—honestly, this was the best decision I ever made. It made the laptop feel brand new.
- Also added more RAM later, which helped with multitasking.
If you only do one thing: get an SSD. You’ll thank yourself.
5. Wi-Fi or Bluetooth Keeps Dropping
During online classes, my ASUS TUF suddenly dropped Wi-Fi. I had to reconnect five times in an hour—it was frustrating.
What happens: Wi-Fi disconnects or Bluetooth disappears.
What worked for me:
- Updated the network drivers (quick fix).
- Later, I replaced the Wi-Fi card with a newer Intel model (AX210), and the issue vanished completely.
If you rely on Wi-Fi for work or study, this upgrade is worth every penny.
6. Keyboard or Touchpad Not Working
This one happened to me during a big project deadline—the space bar on my Acer laptop just stopped working.
What happens: Keys or touchpad don’t respond.
What worked for me:
- First, I tried cleaning around the keys with compressed air.
- I also ran Windows’ built-in keyboard troubleshooter—sometimes it’s just a driver issue.
- Worst case, I plugged in an external keyboard until I could get it repaired.
7. When Nothing Works: Factory Reset
Sometimes, no matter what you do, the system just keeps acting up. I had to factory reset my old Acer once after a nasty virus.
How I did it:
- Backed up all my files.
- Went to Settings > Reset this PC.
- Chose “Keep my files” to save my personal stuff but reinstall Windows fresh.
It felt like giving my laptop a second life.
Conclusion
I’ve learned that ASUS and Acer laptops are reliable, but they’re not immune to problems. The good news is that most issues—whether it’s overheating, charging problems, or Wi-Fi glitches—can be fixed with a few simple steps at home.
The key is to stay calm, troubleshoot step by step, and know when to call in a pro. With a little care, these laptops can easily last you many years.
If you’re specifically dealing with gaming performance problems, see how these brands stack up in our ASUS vs Acer gaming laptop comparison to make an informed decision.
FAQs
Why does my ASUS/Acer laptop overheat quickly?
Overheating is usually caused by dust buildup, blocked air vents, or running resource-heavy applications. Clean the vents, use a cooling pad, and adjust power settings to minimize heat.
How do I fix my Acer laptop that won’t turn on?
Try a hard reset by unplugging the charger, removing the battery, and holding the power button for 30 seconds. Plug the battery back in and try turning it on again.
What should I do if my ASUS laptop keyboard stops working?
Ensure your keyboard isn’t disabled in BIOS settings, update drivers, and clean the keyboard with compressed air. If none of these work, an external keyboard can help you troubleshoot further.
How can I speed up my slow Acer laptop?
Disable unnecessary startup programs, upgrade your RAM, replace an old HDD with an SSD, and perform a malware scan.
Why does my ASUS laptop keep disconnecting from Wi-Fi?
Update your network drivers, restart your router, and disable power-saving settings for the Wi-Fi adapter in Device Manager.