Looking for help on performing a clean reinstall or repair install

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  1. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #11

    TommyZing said:

    So how exactly would I go about making recovery disks then if I need to do a clean install? Or is it too late since my system is already having issues, causing the need for a clean install in the first place?

    Here is a screen shot of my disk management (I think this is what you wanted)? Are you able to help me find the recovery partition and continue on from this:
    You can see the recovery partition on the left in that graph. It is 11.72 GB in size.

    Consult your user manual or the Acer web site for details on how to use it.

    As I said in prior post, you most likely start the process from a menu in your program list or by holding down a certain key combination during a reboot.

    Look in your programs menu for anything related to Acer or recovery.

    If you do a recovery, ALL personal data on the hard drive will be deleted, so back it up first.

    Any recovery disks you make should be valid if that partition is still valid. They just aren't quite as reliable as the partition.

    If you were satisfied with the performance of the PC when you got it, you would likely be satisfied with a recovery. You can always do a clean install at some later date if needed, assuming you have the Product Key.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #12

    ignatzatsonic said:
    TommyZing said:

    So how exactly would I go about making recovery disks then if I need to do a clean install? Or is it too late since my system is already having issues, causing the need for a clean install in the first place?

    Here is a screen shot of my disk management (I think this is what you wanted)? Are you able to help me find the recovery partition and continue on from this:
    You can see the recovery partition on the left in that graph. It is 11.72 GB in size.

    Consult your user manual or the Acer web site for details on how to use it.

    As I said in prior post, you most likely start the process from a menu in your program list or by holding down a certain key combination during a reboot.

    Look in your programs menu for anything related to Acer or recovery.

    If you do a recovery, ALL personal data on the hard drive will be deleted, so back it up first.

    Any recovery disks you make should be valid if that partition is still valid. They just aren't quite as reliable as the partition.

    If you were satisfied with the performance of the PC when you got it, you would likely be satisfied with a recovery. You can always do a clean install at some later date if needed, assuming you have the Product Key.
    Thank you. So to confirm that I fully understand your recommendations, this is what I now need to do:

    1. Back up ALL files on my hard drive to an external.
    2. Google how to make a recovery disk and create one.
    3. Google how to use the recovery partition and use it.

    And then after applying the recovery partition, my laptop should be back to performing how it did when I first got it, and then I just need to restore all my files and reinstall all my programs and stuff?

    There was mention of backing up drivers or downloading drivers or something of that nature in someone's response in this thread. Is that a necessity at all when doing the recovery partition method?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #13

    TommyZing said:

    Thank you. So to confirm that I fully understand your recommendations, this is what I now need to do:

    1. Back up ALL files on my hard drive to an external.
    2. Google how to make a recovery disk and create one.
    3. Google how to use the recovery partition and use it.

    And then after applying the recovery partition, my laptop should be back to performing how it did when I first got it, and then I just need to restore all my files and reinstall all my programs and stuff?

    There was mention of backing up drivers or downloading drivers or something of that nature in someone's response in this thread. Is that a necessity at all when doing the recovery partition method?
    You've got it about right.

    You don't mention looking in your own program menus for some reason.

    There may be posts on this forum that better explain the procedure for an Acer laptop, but I haven't really searched for such a post. Or just try Google.

    It's a near certainty the procedure is explained in your user's manual, which you should download anyway if you don't have it.

    The programs supplied by Acer would be reinstalled automatically when you do a recovery, but you would have to reinstall anything you later installed, as well as restore all of your personal data.

    If you do a recovery, you shouldn't need to download drivers or anything.

    But----I'd be prepared for the recovery to go completely into the toilet and not even boot. Know what you will do if that happens---namely, do a clean install. So I would go to Acer web site and download drivers anyway now, in case the recovery method fails.

    Put all that stuff on a DVD or preferably a USB thumb drive.

    You should be particularly certain to get the Ethernet or wireless driver so you can get an Internet connection going.

    If you do a clean install from a burned ISO disc, that disc will include most and maybe all needed drivers, but you cannot count on it having the Ethernet/wireless driver. If you have a working Internet connection, you can later download the necessary drivers if you didn't already do so.
      My Computer

  4.    #14

    I provided you with the steps from Acer to run Factory Recovery: Acer Support: Frequently Asked Questions list for Recovery media and Restoring a system to factory load.

    Are you just going to ignore them and the tutorial I also linked which shows you in detail how to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #15

    ignatzatsonic said:
    TommyZing said:

    Thank you. So to confirm that I fully understand your recommendations, this is what I now need to do:

    1. Back up ALL files on my hard drive to an external.
    2. Google how to make a recovery disk and create one.
    3. Google how to use the recovery partition and use it.

    And then after applying the recovery partition, my laptop should be back to performing how it did when I first got it, and then I just need to restore all my files and reinstall all my programs and stuff?

    There was mention of backing up drivers or downloading drivers or something of that nature in someone's response in this thread. Is that a necessity at all when doing the recovery partition method?
    You've got it about right.

    You don't mention looking in your own program menus for some reason.

    There may be posts on this forum that better explain the procedure for an Acer laptop, but I haven't really searched for such a post. Or just try Google.

    It's a near certainty the procedure is explained in your user's manual, which you should download anyway if you don't have it.

    The programs supplied by Acer would be reinstalled automatically when you do a recovery, but you would have to reinstall anything you later installed, as well as restore all of your personal data.

    If you do a recovery, you shouldn't need to download drivers or anything.

    But----I'd be prepared for the recovery to go completely into the toilet and not even boot. Know what you will do if that happens---namely, do a clean install. So I would go to Acer web site and download drivers anyway now, in case the recovery method fails.

    Put all that stuff on a DVD or preferably a USB thumb drive.

    You should be particularly certain to get the Ethernet or wireless driver so you can get an Internet connection going.

    If you do a clean install from a burned ISO disc, that disc will include most and maybe all needed drivers, but you cannot count on it having the Ethernet/wireless driver. If you have a working Internet connection, you can later download the necessary drivers if you didn't already do so.
    Thank you very much for your help. I will attempt the solution and I will quote a post of yours in this thread if I have any complications or confusions.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #16

    gregrocker said:
    I provided you with the steps from Acer to run Factory Recovery: Acer Support: Frequently Asked Questions list for Recovery media and Restoring a system to factory load.

    Are you just going to ignore them and the tutorial I also linked which shows you in detail how to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7?
    Hi, sorry about that! I was actually reading through the link you provided to figure out how to do the factory recovery that I now know I need to do.

    I work as a cashier when I'm not at school so I've been attempting to sneak off till long enough to reply to these responses via my phone for the most part, so I apologize for not replying to your direct response sooner.

    I appreciate your assistance and am currently using the steps in the Acer link you provided me.

    It doesn't seem like I need to do a clean reinstall if the factory recovery works for me, correct? Like, if I understand correctly, then I should prepare for a clean install in the event that the factory recovery fails, but otherwise I should be able to get by without the clean install? And then all I'll need to do is use the link you provided to get rid of the factory bloatware afterwards?
      My Computer

  7.    #17

    No prob, Ignatz' is always good help but I just wanted you to have the tutorials in hand.

    Most tech enthusiasts prefer the Clean Reinstall because it leaves out a lot of sponsored crapware and useless duplicate utilities Acer lards into the factory image. But you can somewhat mitigate these after Factory Recovery by following these additional steps to Clean Up Factory Bloatware.

    If you're happy with the Recovery and it meets the OS standards of intantaneous performance without ever hanging on adequate hardware, then you can wait to Clean Reinstall until you have time to take on an interesting tech project.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #18

    TommyZing said:

    It doesn't seem like I need to do a clean reinstall if the factory recovery works for me, correct? Like, if I understand correctly, then I should prepare for a clean install in the event that the factory recovery fails, but otherwise I should be able to get by without the clean install? And then all I'll need to do is use the link you provided to get rid of the factory bloatware afterwards?
    Yes to all of that.

    Factory restore first; if satisfied with it, do nothing more.

    If not satisfied with factory restore, try methods to remove bloatware. If satisfied, do nothing more.

    If not satisfied, do a clean install.

    Be prepared to do a clean install regardless.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #19

    This is an incredible forum and I deeply appreciate all the help I've received.

    I will follow these steps and post back in here if I have any further questions, issues, or confusions. I will return and mark this thread as solved if I am able to successfully reach my solution.

    Thanks all!
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #20

    gregrocker said:
    No prob, Ignatz' is always good help but I just wanted you to have the tutorials in hand.

    Most tech enthusiasts prefer the Clean Reinstall because it leaves out a lot of sponsored crapware and useless duplicate utilities Acer lards into the factory image. But you can somewhat mitigate these after Factory Recovery by following these additional steps to Clean Up Factory Bloatware.

    If you're happy with the Recovery and it meets the OS standards of intantaneous performance without ever hanging on adequate hardware, then you can wait to Clean Reinstall until you have time to take on an interesting tech project.
    When I download the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool and attempt to complete Step 1 of 4 (Choose ISO File), after clicking the ISO File that I downloaded from the tutorial and attempting to click 'Next', a message pops up which says "The selected file is not a valid ISO File. Please select a valid ISO file and try again."

    Any ideas?
    Thanks
      My Computer


 
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