Reformat gone bad - please help

Are you following Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7?

It explains exactly how drivers are handled in Win7, as well as everything else you need to know to get and keep a perfect install.

Most drivers will be provided during install and after you get online, enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3)
then run all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates, with reboots, until there are no more.

Any drivers still missing after all Updates are done can be found on the Acer Support Downloads webpage for your model. If there's no Win 7 drivers try Vista, google the Device make and model for a Win7 driver, or ask back here for it.

Plug your ethernet cable in, enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3), watch for animation in System tray for driver loading.

If none look in the Device Manager for installed Network Adapters. If none, what are the missing Drivers?

What is your exact make and model? Go http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/drivers input the model to get the network drivers on a stick or CD, bring them to the target PC and install them. Watch the System tray for available wireless networks to sign in or that the wired ethernet connection is active.

You wouldn't have had this problem if you'd have followed the tutorial I provided earlier Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which covers exactly how drivers are handled in Win7 along with everything else needed to get and keep a perfect install.

The network driver you use was to be in your backup so if it isn't provided by Win7 you can install it to get online and do all of your Important and Optional Updates which provide most other drivers.

I'm not on-line yet, Greg.

I'm not on-line yet, Britton.


I went to the Acer support site and downloaded the drivers, tranferred them to my pc, downloaded them, attempted to restart and reconnect to my wifi but still no connection has been made.

Chipset Driver
2 Wireless Lan Drivers
1 Lan Driver
1 Video Card Driver
1 Audio Driver

Shouldn't the Lan drivers be the drivers I need to acquire a connection?

Should I go back to the drawing board and try again with a new Windows 7 download?

gregrocker said:

Plug your ethernet cable in, enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3), watch for animation in System tray for driver loading.

If none look in the Device Manager for installed Network Adapters. If none, what are the missing Drivers?

What is your exact make and model? Go Acer | Download input the model to get the network drivers on a stick or CD, bring them to the target PC and install them. Watch the System tray for available wireless networks to sign in or that the wired ethernet connection is active.

You wouldn't have had this problem if you'd have followed the tutorial I provided earlier Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which covers exactly how drivers are handled in Win7 along with everything else needed to get and keep a perfect install.

The network driver you use was to be in your backup so if it isn't provided by Win7 you can install it to get online and do all of your Important and Optional Updates which provide most other drivers.

Greg, I checked the device manager and it shows that I have a Marvell Ethernet Driver as well as a Realtek Wireless Device Driver located in Network Adapters. As far as whats missing your guess is as good as mine.

Plugging the ethernet cable directly into pc didn't appear to make a difference.

Acer Aspire m3202 Desktop

I installed the available drivers, but still no connection.

I had no desire to reformat my entire computer. I only wanted to reformat drive C. Are you suggesting I start the whole process again? I'm not sure what I did differently than the tutorial that would have saved me this headache, but I'm open to suggestions.

I do have a backup, but I'm not sure exactly how to locate those specific drivers. I suppose I should have another look though.

Both your wired and wireless drivers seem to be installed. Do they say they're working when you click on them in Device Manager?

The next stop is the System Tray to see if networks are available to connect. If not rightclick the connection icon to Troubleshoot Problems which will tell you what is wrong.

Check the wireless switch is on.

gregrocker said:

Both your wired and wireless drivers seem to be installed. Do they say they're working when you click on them in Device Manager?

The next stop is the System Tray to see if networks are available to connect. If not rightclick the connection icon to Troubleshoot Problems which will tell you what is wrong.

Check the wireless switch is on.

Yes, both devices appear to be working properly.

The wireless switch?

Seeing as how I have an upgrade DVD for Windows 7 would it have made more sense to download Windows Vista and then turn around and attempt to upgrade to Windows 7 with drivers?

Dude, Relax. I just registered to this forum last night so I didn't know about any specific steps prior to getting myself in this mess and I didn't report back to you about the system tray because that is common knowledge and thought it's maybe better to focus on what I don't know. Also, I'm not sure which tutorial it was but the one clean install tutorial didn't offer a download for my specific computer so naturally I had to look for a download by other means. And I really don't think I should have to apologize to anyone for being a noob, and it should be obvious I don't know what I'm doing.