Acer laptop Win 7 Ultimate x64 OEM, how to clean install without disk?

[alphanumeric]

Ok I downloaded the portable version of rweverything and ran it. Then went to the Access drop down menu and selected ACPI Table. Then clicked the SLIC tab.



You can see mine lists ASUS Notebook. The 20 01 00 02 in blue means mine is version OA 2.1 which supports Windows 7. If it's 20 00 00 00 it's only version OA 2.0 which does not support Windows 7

 

[silverfx]

Snap, it looks like mine supports Windows 7 too (see attached screenshot below)

This shouldn't surprise me though should it, since it's running 7 at the moment?

Maybe I should double check with Acer support whether they intend to supply Windows 8 recovery media because it wasn't made clear. Out of interest, is Windows 8 supported too and can rweverthing tell us that, or is there only one supported version, 7 or 8, that rweverything has reported?

In any case, the question remains whether updating the bios will desirably overwrite the oem identifier in the slic table to allow activation of recovery media, either 7 or 8.

When I gave them my serial number last time I called support, I imagine they looked it up to see if it had shipped with an OS but they didn't say it had and I didn't ask. In fact they questioned whether i had bought genuine Win 7 with it, and I told them believed I had. I think they are prepared to supply recovery media, either because they know it was originally a genuine Windows 8 installation replaced with counterfeit Windows 7, or because they know that it was originally neither genuine Windows 8 nor 7, but they accept I bought it in good faith.

Cynically, might they be prepared to sell recovery media which they know won't install on a system which never had a genuine OS? Or slightly less cynically, because they don't know whether it will activate or not and/or don't care?

Innocently, they could ignorantly supply media which can't activate with an updated bios, unless I take a chance and explain I know the the current SLIC table was flashed with a false oem-id as per the MGADiag report. If they explicitly accept that I bought it in good faith, or tell me they know it originally shipped with genuine Windows 8, then I will ask for at least a verbal guarantee I can quote them on, that the recovery media I pay for will activate with an updated bios. But is this why you posted your rweverything report showing yours supports Windows 7, and since mine is identical, does that prove Windows 8 was never installed? In which case, I will be relying on them accepting my good faith.

I think my other safe options are to update the bios, wipe the disk and either install a retail version at full cost, or WES8 with free license as I have an account with Dreamspark. I'd rather WES7, but they only do a 32bit version, and I don't think I want to update the bios with 32bit firmware from within my current 64bit installation, but I can look into that some more.

 

[cyclops]

silverfx, unless you plan on gettin seks with that thing you probably will never notice a difference between 32 &64 bit, probably wouldn't notice if you were gettin' some. Doh, I take that back, you already got screwed. Sorry, I saw that opening and had to take the cheap shot. Go with the WES7 x32 because with a i3 processor it won't change a lot. Buy some beer instead.

 

[silverfx]

Nice summary

 

[silverfx]

Will downgrading from 64 to 32 be a problem, since I have to update the bios from 64 to 32bit with the oem windows flash executable whilst in the current 64bit installation?

Re the seks, you mean I shouldn't tell chicks my system is 32bit? :roflmao:

 

[cyclops]

Silverfx, it almost looks like you are rolling in a puddle on the floor. Ha ha! That shop is full of it, if you are getting that screen. Who are they? Cuz Daddy wants to give them a call. I don't know what to tell you about the switch from 64 to 32 other than that if it is installed from the correct type of disk for a clean install the version is dependent on the COA that is entered. I have Ultimate 64x cuz that's what i bought. You have no freakin" idea what you bought at this point.
How familiar are you with disk mgt.?
Cuz ya' gotta get ridda that linux partition. Otherwise it could be a wastin' yo space.
I don't always type/talk this way, Im just messin' wich ya.

Bi da way, Iz dowt dey fixd ya' kibowd.

 

[Layback Bear]

silverfx because you have two threads going at the same time on the same computer it's hard to keep up on what your status is at this time.

Have you done a proper install of Windows 7 or are you still trying to get your counterfeit copy to work?

 

[silverfx]

Dere ain't no Linus or even Linux partition on this machine, more's the pity, but I will probably stay with Windows for the time being, and the kibowd is fine, I use a Logitech bluetooth keyboard and mouse, cuz I find that after about 2005 all the keyboards went to s**t apart from Thinkpads, when all the other manufacturers started going down the money saving route in the name of imitating MacBook flat key styling. Functionality sacrificed for style, to sell the latest new look and feel. Just one of my pet hates! Even Lenovo followed suit in the end, albeit, keys less flat with some ergonomic indentation for the little ol' finger tips to surf up and down off.

Re the 64/32 conundrum, I will possibly:

1. install WES7 x32 on a D: partition as a dual boot
2. update the bios with latest 32 bit version whilst in 32bit environment,
3. delete the existing C: partition and Ultimate x64 installation

Then I'll reboot and hope it works, but slightly bothered that WES7 won't be left on the C drive, rather the D drive. So then, I'll

• recreate a C partition
• install Windows resulting in a dual boot with WES7 on both partitions
• delete the D partition to leave Windows on the C drive

Finally, I will wipe the disk, my overarching aim, and with the BIOS flashed to the latest 32bit version, finally clean install WES7 to a clean wiped C drive.

What do you think?

Apologies, for the concurrent threads: after starting this thread first, I thought an MGDiag report absolutely had to go in the Windows Updates & Activations sub-forum, but I am probably wrong.

As for a proper install of Windows, in summary, I'll probably install WES7 x32 with a genuine license. If I can get the 64bit-->32bit downgrade procedure right, without bricking the thing.

 

[silverfx]

Unless I install WES8/WES10 to keep the 64 bit environment and live with the snooping updates, or disable them. No other disadvantages are there? Besides eventually, we'll all have to upgrade anway when they stop supporting 7, won't we?

 

[alphanumeric]

It supporting OA 2.1 is no surprise, it has to for Windows 7 OEM-SLP to work. Notice it lists HPQOEM SLIC. It shouldn't. It should say ACEROEM SLIC. There is a way to check for a Windows 8 embedded code with it. It will be under the ACPI table MSDN tab.

 

[silverfx]

Cool, thanks alpha, I'll take a look.

 

[silverfx]

Can't see any MSDN tab within the ACPI Tables, is it somewhere else?

 

[alphanumeric]

There probably isn't one if there is no Embedded key. I don't see one on this PC either, it doesn't have an embedded key. Give me a couple of minutes and I'll run it on my laptop that does have one.

 

[alphanumeric]

It's there on my laptop and my OEM key is visible.

 

[silverfx]

So no oem key was ever there apart from the false HP one boot loaded or flashed. Ok. And OEM Technical Support must know that.

And there's no point in guessing or asking them, whether purchasing recovery media will work regardless, because whatever they say, if it doesn't work, I'm no better off.

So, I will install WES7 with a Dreamspark license.

Really appreciate everyone's help and advice, and if I can return the good karma, I will.

Now, let me see if I can get this 64bit/32bit dual boot working without bricking it...

 

[alphanumeric]

It's up to you, but one thing you could do is flash the BIOS with the latest official BIOS for your make and model. Then run rweverything again and have a look. If it shows AcerOEM SLICK and the other code is 20 01 00 02, you'll then know your Windows 7 recovery media will/should work. If it's 20 00 00 00 then it only supports Vista OEM recovery media. Flashing the BIOS will break your current fake OEM activation. The SLIC and the activation files won't match anymore.

 

[silverfx]

Thanks. Well, I'm tempted to flash the bios (64bit) and risk the annoying pop up and black desktop if it triggers a failed activation, as I've heard some system changes can, and then run rweverything, to see if Win 7 recovery media should activate.

Option A: If rweverything showed AcerOEM SLICK with 20 01 00 02, then I could purchase Win 7 x64 recovery media, with little or no risk of the installation not activating? Assuming they don't agree to 7 on the phone, and then send out Win 8 media. But I still won't have a COA - isn't it true some laptops just don't come with them now? My fathers newish Toshiba Satellite with Win 8.1, for example, no COA anywhere (though didn't check near the battery yet), bought online here in the UK from a reputable dealer and must be genuine activation.
If there remains a slim chance the recovery media might not install, might be safer to go straight to WES7 x32?

Option B: If rweverthing didn't show AcerOEM SLICK, then I'd definitely go ahead and install WES7, right.

 

[alphanumeric]

For option A yes if it shows Acer and 20 01 00 02, there should be little to no risk ordering the Windows 7 recovery media. Windows 7 PC's should come with a COA sticker with an actual product code on them. Windows 8/8.1 Pc do come with a sticker, but all it says is Windows 8 with no key. With the embedded key there is no need to have one printed on the sticker. The COA sticker on my Windows 8 laptop does not look like the COA sticker you'd expect to see. So some would think that there isn't one. Windows 8 Recovery media will not work on your PC, if it requires an OEM embedded Windows 8 key, which I believe it does.

For option B, yes if there is no correct SLIC for your factory recovery media it will not work and you'll have to go another route. I have no experience with "embedded" so I don't know what pitfalls or restrictions come with that version.

 

[silverfx]

Thanks. Now looking into any 'standard embedded' restrictions.

 

[alphanumeric]

If I understand it correctly, it's meant for systems like Point of Sale (cash registers), Instant tellers, KIOSK etc. Not sure how well that will work as a daily Windows PC. I have access to it via MSDN but have never even looked at it. I've never had a use for it.