Acer 5552 recovery disc?

SnackCabinet · 30 Dec 2012

Hi, I was wandering since I have a Toshiba HDD in my Acer Aspire 5552 and if I bought and used an Acer recovery disc, would it turn my Acer back to normal? Because right now it says everything a Toshiba would say as in like if you open up the "repair computer" option as you start it up. It has everything a Toshiba would and it won't let me restore to factory default. So just to make stuff clear. Will this work?

This is kind of confusing to explain. I've never been one to word paragraphs correctly so bare with me.

mitchell65 · 30 Dec 2012

What problem are you having then?

SnackCabinet · 30 Dec 2012

Some stuff just doesn't work like it did before. My FN keys don't work. My computer is running all kinds of Toshiba programs it doesn't need to be running and I would like to have the option of restoring my computer to factory default settings if needed. My computer doesn't run as smoothly as it did before. So will a bought Acer recovery disc put it back so it runs normally? And do I need a certain Acer recovery disc?

mitchell65 · 30 Dec 2012

Looks like you would be better off doing a clean install of Windows 7 see this very good tutorial. Follow it to the letter for best results.
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

theog · 30 Dec 2012

Video, How to reinstall a ACER:
Acer Support - Answers, E-Mail, Chat - How do I restore my computer using the eRecovery Management program?

SnackCabinet · 30 Dec 2012

mitchell65 - I've already done a clean install of windows. It didn't really help.
theog - I cannot do that because my old Acer HDD was corrupt. So I put in a Toshiba HDD and it works. So my eRecovery option isn't there. It's replaced by Toshiba's Recovery option. Which doesn't work on an Acer laptop.

bobafetthotmail · 30 Dec 2012

let's see if I get it right:
You have an Acer laptop, the HDD dies, you place a HDD from a Toshiba Laptop and install Win 7 into it but then trigger its recovery partition or simply swap the hdd and wonder what the heck happened.

A hard drive is a computer main memory device. Everything is on a HDD, Windows 7, programs, whatever.
If the hdd from the toshiba laptop wasn't cleaned correctly, it still contains:
-the Windows 7 installation that ran on the other laptop
-the recovery partition and tools of the toshiba laptop

All your stuff is on the HDD you removed, Windows 7, programs, data.
If you tell what was the issue with that in more detail it may turn out it was fixable.

If that hard drive died, the best thing you can do is a clean install, and then search and download drivers, as explained in that tutorial linked above. And accept the loss of everything, and maybe start doing regular backups of important stuff in case this happens again.

A restore disk won't magically restore your stuff, will just restore the Acer the way it was when you first turned it on. If that is what you really want (why?), go ahead and buy it.
The recovery partition is the same, but wasting space on your HDD.

gregrocker · 30 Dec 2012

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup to enable Legacy BIOS if present. Next check BIOS Boot order for an EFI Boot Disk and if present remove it, set DVD drive first to boot, HD second. Then set SATA controller to AHCI. Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version here.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10 to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=102400 (for 100gb partition, adjust as desired)
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

theog · 30 Dec 2012

CosmicPoptart said:

mitchell65 - I've already done a clean install of windows. It didn't really help.
theog - I cannot do that because my old Acer HDD was corrupt. So I put in a Toshiba HDD and it works. So my eRecovery option isn't there. It's replaced by Toshiba's Recovery option. Which doesn't work on an Acer laptop.

Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

You can Order Acer recovery disks from here:
https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer

SnackCabinet · 31 Dec 2012

bobafetthotmail - Yes, I know all my programs will be gone. I could careless. I like organizing my computer and It'd give me something to do. So I do want it back to just like I turned it on for the first time.
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Everybody, just simply answer this simplified question I'm about to ask. If I buy an Acer eRecovery Disc, will I be able to use that disc, to make my Acer just like I took it out of a box?
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This would be a lot easier, but I was not the one who took it out. Someone "thought" they was fixing it, took my HDD out, threw it away with out my permission and slapped in the one I have now thinking it would be perfect.