Need layman instructions on restoring after a master hard drive error

confidentialcat · 08 Aug 2012

Hello, I am not even a newbie, it took me 15 minutes to figure out how to thread. Please help me, I know there are prior posts on this issue, but I don't understand the instructions and they are not specific to my issue.

I received the error code "Reboot and select proper boot device or insert..."
Also in another screen, which is one of the very few I can access, says there is a "master hard drive error." I have no CD's for Windows 7, I don't have a restore CD, I may be able to burn one from a neighbors computer, if I know the file and where to obtain it. I cannot bring up safe mode or any other screen other than when it attempts to turn on, it brings up the ACER sign, then I can press del: setup or F12:boot something.

I don't know what any of these things mean, I looked around and can see the BIOS stuff, but I don't have many options to change anything, and when I read the instructions here, I either don't have the resources or option, or don't understand the terminology in the instructions.

Please talk to me like I'm a 6 year old and help me get my computer back!! I downloaded, I guess, some bad software a couple of days ago and I'm assuming that's what did this.

bigmck · 08 Aug 2012

confidentialcat said:

Hello, I am not even a newbie, it took me 15 minutes to figure out how to thread. Please help me, I know there are prior posts on this issue, but I don't understand the instructions and they are not specific to my issue.

I received the error code "Reboot and select proper boot device or insert..."
Also in another screen, which is one of the very few I can access, says there is a "master hard drive error." I have no CD's for Windows 7, I don't have a restore CD, I may be able to burn one from a neighbors computer, if I know the file and where to obtain it. I cannot bring up safe mode or any other screen other than when it attempts to turn on, it brings up the ACER sign, then I can press del: setup or F12:boot something.

I don't know what any of these things mean, I looked around and can see the BIOS stuff, but I don't have many options to change anything, and when I read the instructions here, I either don't have the resources or option, or don't understand the terminology in the instructions.

Please talk to me like I'm a 6 year old and help me get my computer back!! I downloaded, I guess, some bad software a couple of days ago and I'm assuming that's what did this.

If you want to reinstall Windows, here is the link.
Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life
You will need to burn the file to a DVD. This link has every version of Win 7 in different languages. You will need to be sure and pick the correct one. You will also need the Product Key from your present Windows install to input after you get Windows installed. Don't put it in during the install when it asks you to. Wait until later after you are confident things work OK. You can just download the file, put on DVD and start the installation. It will erase everything on your hard drive. If you don't have them backed up, you will lose everything. It that is not a big deal, this is the way to go. The files that have X86 is 32-bit, the files that have X64 is the 64-bit. I couldn't tell from your specs what you have. Get back to us with any questions.