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Thread ID: 89356 2008-04-28 11:49:00 Vista - restoring PC to factory settings - issues strifest (7443) Press F1
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663533 2008-04-28 11:49:00 My laptop came with Vista home premium and after a rather spectacular meltdown I had to recover it to factory default using the Acer recovery program that came with it. After that, I added a new partition by shrinking the original two partitions. It had another meltdown so I tried to use the recovery program to reset it to factory default except this time it failed. I tried several more times but nothing happens.

So I'm wondering, is it because I've created a new partition that the recovery program no longer works or something really got messed up?

Is there another way to restore the laptop back to factory default? It does not come with any system restore disc so I cannot reinstall the OS.

Thanks in advance. 		strifest (7443)
663534 2008-04-28 11:57:00 There would have been a program installed on the machine that you run to create the Recovery Disc set.
Can you still get into Windows at all? 		CYaBro (73)
663535 2008-04-28 12:37:00 I'd say, because you changed the partitions, you have messed up the recovery partition, you should have made your recovery DVD when you first got the laptop:crying

Acer eRecovery Management
Acer eRecovery Management is a tool to quickly backup and restore the system.
You can create and save a backup of the current system configuration to hard
disk, CD or DVD. You can also backup/restore the factory default image, and
reinstall applications and drivers.
Acer eRecovery Management consists of the following functions:
1 Create backup
2 Burn backup disc
3 Restore and recovery
This chapter will guide you through each process.
Note: This feature is only available on certain models. For systems
that do not have a built-in optical disc burner, plug in an external
optical disc burner before entering Acer eRecovery Management
for optical disc-related tasks.
When using Acer eRecovery Management, you may be prompted to enter the
Empowering Technology password to proceed. The Empowering Technology
password is set using the Empowering Technology toolbar or when first running
Acer eLock Management or Acer eRecovery Management.
Create backup
You can easily create full and fast (incremental) backup images of your system
configuration to hard disk from the main Acer eRecovery Management screen.
Note: Fast (incremental) Backup is only available after a Full
Backup is made.
1 Press <Alt> + <F10> or select Acer eRecovery Management from the
Empowering Technology toolbar to start Acer eRecovery Management.
2 In the Acer eRecovery Management window, select the type of backup you
want to create using Full or Fast.
3 Follow the instructions on screen to complete the process.
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Burn backup disc
Using the Burn Disc page of Acer eRecovery Management, you can burn the
factory default image, a user backup image, the current system configuration,
or an application backup image to CD or DVD.
1 Press <Alt> + <F10> or select Acer eRecovery Management from the
Empowering Technology toolbar to start Acer eRecovery Management.
2 Switch to the Burn Disc page by selecting the Burn Disc button.
3 Select the type of backup (factory default, user, current system,
application) you would like to burn to disc. Choosing to burn a user backup
will burn your most recently created backup image to disc.
4 Follow the instructions on screen to complete the process.
Note: Create a factory default image when you want to burn a
bootable disc that contains your computer's entire operating
system as it was delivered to you from the factory. If you wish to
have a disc that will allow you to browse the contents and install
selected drivers and applications, create an application backup
image instead — this disc will not be bootable.
Restore and recovery
The restore and recovery features allow you to restore or recover the system
from a factory default image, from a user created image, or from previously
created CD and DVD backups. You can also reinstall applications and drivers for
your Acer system.
1 Press <Alt> + <F10> or select Acer eRecovery Management from the
Empowering Technology toolbar to start Acer eRecovery Management.
2 Switch to the restore and recovery page by selecting the Restore button.
3 Select the backup point you would like to restore from. You can also
choose to recover the system from a factory default image, recover from a
previously created CD/DVD or reinstall applications and drivers.
4 Follow the instructions on screen to complete the process.
you may have to see if you can obtain OS disks to reinstall it, from your Acer agent; alternatively if you have a COA key (may be on a sticker under the laptop) you should be able to borrow a Vista disk and reinstall, but you'll need to download motherboard and other drivers from Acer (tho looking at the Acer NZ site, it's fairly broken (dead links and such), may be difficult). 		feersumendjinn (64)
663536 2008-05-01 12:01:00 CYaBro:
I can get into vista but it's not quite functioning properly.

feersumendjinn:
I planned to make a recovery disc but the meltdown happened about 6 weeks after buying the laptop and I was too optimistic about it not messing up on me that soon. And the touchpad also failed after the first meltdown, which was the reason I wanted to restore to factory default to check that it was hardware and not software failure. I've tried 2 different touchpad drivers from the Acer website and it's still not working.

I suppose I'll have to send it off to Sydney to get it fixed (which is annoying that they don't have service centres in NZ).

Thanks a bunch. 		strifest (7443)
663537 2008-05-05 06:55:00 I had a similar problem with a Hewlett Packard laptop.
After I had added partitions it crashed and would not recover when I hit, I think it was F12 at boot. Like you I had not made a rescue disc. I restored the partitions to their original state and eventually it agreed to restore the system, then the screen went blank and nothing happened! By this time I was fed up so I went to bed, leaving the computer showing a blank screen. In the morning I went to turn it off and to my surprise found Vista up and running! It has never looked back since. I then made the rescue discs (2 x DVD).

I think the problem was that the order of partitions had changed and the rescue partition (hidden) was no longer in the same place on the disc & could not be found.

You could do the the following:-
1] Do as above.
2] Format the drive (I use G-parted which is free) and buy Vista.
3] Install XP

HP wanted $90 to reinstall Vista.
Suggest you get Acronis to make a decent backup Image when you put it right. 		mzee (3324)
663538 2008-05-05 07:56:00 You can always download the Vista Recovery Disc (neosmart.net) it is the first part of teh Vista install DVD, it wont let you install Vista but it will allow you to boot into the recovery section. You load it as if going to install then down the bottom left hand corner select " fix my computer" it may allow it to boot so you can make the correct recovery DVD's. It used to be a direct download, but they have changed it to a torrent, so you now need a torrent program.

Acer do have repair centers in NZ just call them on 0800 223 769 and ask where the one is closest to you. 		wainuitech (129)
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