HELP desperately needed - Win 7 upgrade

prestwich1 · 08 Jan 2010

Ok for 2.. Boot to your vista desktop and then insert you win 7 disk.
It should auto run and open a screen which has the install option, click install now. If it doesn't auto run then open the dvd and click on setup.
You should then get a screen giving you the choice of upgrade or Custom install. Click on Custom install.
A new screen opens and wil show all the hard disks you have and any partions on them. There are options below the window showing the drive.
Select a partion and then select delete to remove it, do this to all the partions. I'm guessing that as it's a laptop you will only have one hdd which has 2 partions. Once you have done this you should have an empty hdd. Select format the hdd and then select the hdd by clicking on it so it's highlighted, go to the bottom of the screen and click on next and win 7 should install.

gregrocker · 08 Jan 2010

You have not answered my intial question:

Did you receive an Acer Upgrade Kit which has a Win7 installation DVD with product key, and a Driver/Apps CD which allows you to choose which drivers and apps your want to install?

If so, then you can clean install from boot with the Win7 DVD. This makes available the Custom Drive Options so you can delete the existing partitoning, create new partition(s) as you wish (or just one big one) and Format before installing Win7 to first partition.

If you have instead received some other Acer Upgrade kit with no bootable DVD installer, then you may not be able to accomplish a clean install of Win7. However we can help you achieve this if you can borrow or obtain a Win7 installer: http://gizmodo.com/5391268/microsoft...grade-problems

So what does it say on your two disks? Is there a Product Key enclosed?

You can also try running the Win7 DVD from the Win7 desktop as was also suggested, but it will not then make the Drive Tools available to delete, repartition and format your drive before install.

gregrocker · 08 Jan 2010

realeyes said:

1)How do I gather these ‘program disk installers’ and what exactly are they? Do you mean the programs that are pre-installed on my computer? I have listed right at the bottom the programs that are pre-installed. Is it these that I have to somehow collect and store on an external HDD because they won’t be included on Win 7, i.e. NTI CD/DVD Maker – if so how do I do this please?

I was referring to Programs you have installed on the Computer: Office, Games, Quickbooks, etc. You'll need to reinstall those. Apps which came with your Acer should be on the Drivers/Apps CD which comes in the Acer Upgrade Kit. There are others on the Acer website Support Downloads page for your computer model.

realeyes said:

2)The term ‘Boot’ – is this when I insert the update disc, then turn off the computer and then turn on again? Will this load the CD’s next phase automatically or do I have to press an ‘F’ key to activate it?
3)Will the screen guide me thru when I click ‘custom install’ & ‘driver advance’, ‘partitions’ & ‘format’ etc..? Is it clear instructions so that ‘I’ the novice will understand it?

Did you receive the Acer Upgrade Kit that includes a Win7 installation DVD with Product Key and an Apps/Drivers CD? If so, then you would boot the Win7 installation DVD. Place DVD in drive, restart computer, look for prompt to "press any key to boot from DVD" and follow instructions here: Clean Install Windows 7

If you have a problem booting DVD (not CD): Boot from CD - How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD - Boot to CD[/QUOTE]

realeyes said:

4)In my update kit, I received another disc with Acer drivers on them BUT these were for models 2930 and not 2920 – how do I view the disc to see if its the drivers I need? Or should I download from Acer before the clean install? Acer refuse to tell me the difference of a 2930 & a 2920.
1A) Here’s the list of pre-installed programs – not sure what they all do, but if you could tell me what is vital for my laptop to work properly this would be fantastic!

As stated, the Win7 DVD is driver-complete, meaning you don't have to install any drivers unless they are missing after install in the Device Manager. Then you can browse from any Devices lacking a driver (which will have a yellow ! mark next to them) to the Apps/Drivers CD to find that driver. Others are located on your computer model's Support Downloads webpage.

If you want the TV Wizard, NTI disk maker (Win7 has excellent backup Center; ImgBurn is the best free disk burner), or card reader apps then check on the Apps CD or your model's webpage to see if they are available there to download after install, since they will not be in the Win7 DVD installer. Adobe Reader/flash and Java runtime are on their websites.

Pentium3 FTW · 08 Jan 2010

SIW2 said:

the worst OS ever into the best OS yet

LOL. I disagree entirely. Vista is an excellent o/s.

Excellent in concept; lots of new and promising feature, but I felt like it was half-baked. There were too many little issues, problems or oversights to make it really solid. Windows 7 just feels like a more complete OS all around.

gregrocker · 08 Jan 2010

This user reports resolving a major problem with his in-place Acer Upgrade by clean installing using the Upgrade Kit's Win7 DVD. His is white. Our Acer Upgrade kits also have a white DVD which says Windows 7 Upgrade Media. Is yours similar?

realeyes · 09 Jan 2010

Hello Gregrocker and all you other beautiful people who have helped me these last two days - you are absolutely fantastic with your patience and advice and i send you all lots of cyber kisses!!!

I am jumping up and down - my laptop has now a clean install of Win7 freeing up 60GB from the fingerprints of Vista. I knew absolutely nothing about computers, you guys took me into dimensions that made my head spin - yet with your advice this virgin novice did it - so its proof that anyone can do this with your wonderful help!
Yep, i began completely as a fool, trying to boot the wrong disc

(LOL) - Then i had to do things in BIOS - scarey stuff - AND THEN THE MIRACLE HAPPENED!!! I have one happy laptop fixed in an afternoon - Vista's completely removed - uys fixed what Acer couldn't in 6 weeks!
I have been praising you all to my friends, especially gregrocker for his incredible patience - YOU ARE ALL THE BEST!!!
Bless you All - may this unconditional kindness you have given me be sent back to you ten-fold!
Natasha

gregrocker · 09 Jan 2010

Glad to hear it, Natasha
.
Be sure to check Windows Updates for latest Updates and Drivers.

Now type Device Manager in Start Search box, go there and look for any devices in error with a yellow ! mark.

Click on Device, then Driver tab, then Update Driver. First try searching Automatically, then Browse to the Drivers CD which came with your Upgrade Kit to find the driver. Let us know if you need any help.

Finally, when you have it where you want it, save a Win7 Backup Image externally (or to a primary formatted partition) so you never need to reinstall, just reimage the HD or a replacement HD from the Win7 DVD.

realeyes · 10 Jan 2010

Hi Gregrocker,
Windows automatically sorted out all the driver updates during install - I didn't need to use the Acer disc - cool!
Eveything in device manager is hunky dorry! I will do the back-up image as suggested on an EX HDD.
Thanks for being so thorough - you could teach the manufacturers a thing or two or three (LOL)

gregrocker said:

Glad to hear it, Natasha
.
Be sure to check Windows Updates for latest Updates and Drivers.

Now type Device Manager in Start Search box, go there and look for any devices in error with a yellow ! mark.

Click on Device, then Driver tab, then Update Driver. First try searching Automatically, then Browse to the Drivers CD which came with your Upgrade Kit to find the driver. Let us know if you need any help.

Finally, when you have it where you want it, save a Win7 Backup Image externally (or to a primary formatted partition) so you never need to reinstall, just reimage the HD or a replacement HD from the Win7 DVD.

K3VL4R · 10 Jan 2010

The built in drivers that are in Windows 7 are sufficient to get most systems working out of the box (ie. after installation). If you do end up having issues and needing drivers, I would recommend downloading new ones from the device manufacturers website rather then from the software dvd which may contain out of date drivers.

HELP desperately needed - Win 7 upgrade

THANK YOU! Win7 now installed without errors!!!

Your The Best on Advice!!!