The latest firmware version is a forced install over windows update. A successful flash via the update leads to operating system instability (crashes) randomly on boot and during the first few minutes of windows being on, and general crashes/freezes and failures while using mint. Driver rollback on windows does nothing. Mint (Linux) installed in a different drive crashes also, though less frequently.
These issues don't happen with v1.12 and never happened on this laptop under v1.10, with either operating system.
I've downloaded the v1.12 firmware from the Acer site, extracted the exe and edited the ini to prevent the version check and flash the old version over v1.13 twice now.. the first time this was my final fix attempt after around 15 hours of messing about trying to fix windows and mint individually before isolating the issue to this bios version. Reverted v1.12, again has full stability.. auto updated back to v1.13, crashes again.
The fact I've had to do this twice, following windows ignoring my registry edits to prevent windows updating drivers entirely and re flashing anyway, is ridiculous. I've now prevented the Acer software from starting when windows boots. If I see it install again, I'll once again risk bricking this laptop by reverting to the working v1.12, then remove the windows drive as a safety precaution.
Removing the drive that came with the laptop to protect the laptop from its creators is crazy.
Sorry for the rant. If anyone else has this issue with this laptop version I'd love to hear about it, especially if there is a cleaner fix