Installing Window 7

READ CAREFULLY:

Nobody has reported a BIOS lock blocking Win7 install on that model, or any Acer.

Call MS first.

The troubleshooting checklist posted in #24 and #25 could possibly resolve the DMI issue if MS doesn't have a better suggestion. I would try resetting BIOS to default step at least.

I would also post this exact error message and your model in the Hardware forum asking for help from Hardware specialists.

If you dont' want to go through those troubleshooting steps in #24/25 then you can also call Acer after MS and ask for their help in resolving the issue. DO NOT TELL THEM YOU ARE TRYING TO RUN WINDOWS 7, as it can void your tech support (but not hardware warranty). Just tell them the error. If they have a note in your SN that you have possibly installed Win7, tell them you were only asking about it and have the old Vista on there. They might then walk you through the fix, but they might also walk you through reinstalling the Vista recovery bloat.

If they are unable to resolve the error then you can also tell them you would like to be able to put Win7 on that machine and ask directly if there is any BIOS or other setting blocking it, and that you would like to have those removed.

When you put the Vista back on yesterday, was it with factory recovery disks? How did it run?

elite darkness said:

yeah i made a recovery disks when i bought the computer, i dunno the phone number of acer

1-800-816-2237

u just need the Serial Number off the box

I talked to them twice last month doing a Vista clean install for my roomie. They said they wouldn't support it using a clean OEM disk but were nice about it. When I had a reinstall issue later that I needed their advice on (I always call) I didn't tell them I had used a clean OEM copy of Vista so they thought I had used their bloatware disks.

Just stop short of telling them you have Win7 on there now and ask them if they are somehow blocking Win7 install if you want to put it on yourself, that you understand they don't support it and will put their Vista recovery disks back on if you need hardware support.

But first I would have them troubleshoot the error message as tho Vista is on there, so you can get it supported/solved. They may fix some BIOS or hardware issues that will free it up. If it slips you have Win7 on there, just act confused like you had tried it and thought you had taken it off.

Be real nice and say how much you appreciate their help. Sometimes I call back until I get a nice person who will help me. Happens all the time.

gregrocker said:

...As long as you have your files backed up and Vista recovery disk to fall back on, I would boot from the Win7 disk, choose Custom install>Advanced tools>delete ALL partitions> Create one big new one>Format it then install. Here is the tutorial again: Doing a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

...So do the clean install using the tutorial above. Use Custom install choice with Advanced Tools to delete all partitions, Create one big new one (so that Win7 doesn't install it's own 100mb system-reserved partition which no one wants), then Format and install.

Greg, your link goes to the thread, not the tutorial.