Laptop stuck on acer software installation after system restore

It's only remaining steps are to install the factory bloatware which most tech enthusiasts avoid by doing a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. This is a vastly superior install which actually allows the user to enjoy native Win7 performance, which a factory install like Acer's doesn't come close to.

You can try running Recovery again from its hotkey at boot, or using the Recovery Disks you should have made as a backup. If you did not then these can sometimes be ordered from Acer. When running them it may be necessary to first wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command to clear old boot code and the partition table to allow Recovery to proceed. Since you need the Win7 disk or Repair CD Command Line to wipe the disk you might as well do the Clean Reinstall.

Acer Support: Frequently Asked Questions list for Recovery media and Restoring a system to factory load

This is why you needed to make the Acer Recovery disks when you set up your PC, so you'd have a backup method in case Recovery fails which it can do.

Your options now are to call Acer Tech Support to order the Recovery disks, or to follow the steps in this tutorial to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. Everything you need is in the link to get a superior install without the factory bloatware and duplicate utilities.

You would already know that the latest Win7 installer is provided if you'd even bothered to read the tutorial, so you need to decide now if you're going to be thorough to get the best possible install, asking back all the questions needed to get it done right. If not then order your Recovery disks or take it to a shop.

jcjsmc said:

There is an even easier solution, hold down Alt and press the Home key, there will be a box behind the installation page that needs your attention, had this twice yesterday on a recovery i was doing.

Awesome, I hit it and at first this did nothing. I know this thread is old, but I really, really thank you for posting this here also, so that people like me searching through google can find it quickly. (for what I Googled, this thread of one of the first results, if not the very first.)

Since it didn't work at first, I literally just started tapping the buttons and then I saw the box behind the installation. I clicked something (damn me for not paying more attention) and after the reboot the Software installation came up (stuck on Installing Office 2010... 35/48) It's been there for a couple days now. *facepalm* I thought this would have fixed it but it hadn't seemed so yet. I'm going to try it again. Because the odd thing was that it took me through the OOBE setup... but then popped up the acer software install again. It doesnt stop, and the prompt doesnt come up anymore.

Still looking for a solution...


Edit: I was skeptical at fist, and with good reason, to try the other solution posted to delete the 100mb partition. I did this, and now when I try to enter recovery I get this message "Restored failed - Error code=0x0 (WIMAppleImage cannot apply image : The operation completed successfully)

Wait what? It completely successfully? *Click OK*

System Recovery Options:
The tool failed to run. Try choosing another tool. *Click OK*

This failed. I restored the partition with a partition recovery tool. Thankfully, I already have a bit of knowledge with Windows and a few other helpful tools. Attempting the restore one more time before doing a clean install.

I do not like the other guys attitude, surprising he is still around here. Forcing a clean install down everything's throat isnt the solution to everything. Currently, I'm working on this laptop for a customer who is NOT computer savvy, and the customer would prefer all the bloatware to be on the PC (crazy I know, but it's their request) It's not my job to educate people, but my job to service their PCs. And once in awhile I come across a strange problem I cant fix I come to these threads looking for a solution. A clean install isnt really a solution, it's a shortcut around the problem, sure... but not always everyone's preference. Yes, I will whine and whine and whine.

Thanks to the other two guys for posting what they thought was a solution, but it didnt work for me this time. If trying the factory restore again doesnt work, I'll post the solution I've found here.

Over a million consumers have used Clean Reinstall Windows 7 without a single complaint, one of the most viewed and used Help tutorials on the web. I also wrote others like Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start and the basic Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 which comb the OS to solve almost any problem. Then there is Troubleshoot Windows 7 Installation Failures which resolves any install problem. These are all based on tens of thousands of consumers I've helped here for 5 1/2 years, 8-10 hours per day volunteer time without missing a single day since Win7 beta.

So how is it surprising that I am still here, and where am I trying to cram a Clean Reinstall down anyone's throat - when I also provide help to do the inferior Factory install to anyone who asks, even pioneering a way to Boot Recovery Partition using EasyBCD?

If you work in a shop you should know that Hirens or Universal Boot disk can boot any bootable partition.