Just need some friendly advice...

[seth500]

Hi folks,

I've been at this computer gig for quite some time and of late took a break from building them and configuring and all that bull!! Basically took a vacation from the machines for the sake of sanity. Anyway you just can't be without a computer these days, it's like traveling the world without legs....So I went shopping for a laptop and picked on one up and was excited for a little while! It's an Acer Aspire E-15 which is plently of machine for me these days. What the disappointment and the conclusion that I have come to really sucks to say the least. Windows 8.1 and the amount of programs this thing is running by default plus the cloud syncing is the most stupidest thing I have come across. So this machine basically is going to be completely wiped of the crap and installed with no extra bloatware. I don't want to do it but I want to and I have to unless somebody here can steer me in another direction. I need to be in control of the machine not the other way around..

Ya know when I first come to the site things were pretty good as far as the net went nd so on and so forth, but now it's completely out of control as far as being exposed to the world on a machine that want's to sync with everything. That my friends is not the way it should be and it's done on purpose. Anyhow I will need to do things to implement my designs on this laptop that aren't with the the manufacturers and Microsoft in mind, they are are completely sucking the wallet just a little much-No install dvd's anymore, No keys to have in your possession! You get to be played by greedy and designing individuals to put the screws to ya and that's enough of my complaining. So my friends here what should I do? It's gonna get wiped so we have to go from there, what isn't happening I'm not buying more activation codes cause this is brand new but it doesn't serve me, or would any other computer that is bought. So basically I need a way of going about this in a manner that I get the machine running for me without putting up with Microsoft's and Acer's baloney! You folks know what's up and I need your advice on how to do this legally without buying stuff that should of been mine in the first place..!

Thanks for the help in advance and hi to those friends of mine here that I haven't chatted with in a while, this has a solution I'm sure and you guy's know the answer.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Have a look at this tutorial,
Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7

 

[seth500]

LOL I'm laughing my ass off right now, I would do that and can but what about activation and drivers and all that jazz? Will I be able to pull it off? Before you answer that thank you and I will give it a read I appreciate your help..Take care..

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Have you asked Acer
They would still have to provide the drivers for the hardware and of course a backwards activation key,
I can't say I disagree with any of your original question 7 rules
If not too late think return/ refund and new build
Cheers.

 

[seth500]

I have all the driver's just don't have the key as it's installed in bios from what I understand. I found a thread here that shows how to get or I guess Acer will have to give it to me, either way I'm just going to downgrade or reinstall with a Windows 8 DVD that is clean from all unnecessary junk if that will work, I do it all the time with 7. I'm torn cause 8 has a lot of great features that are so convenient. It all depends on how I'm feeling in the moment!! That's sounds stupid but it's true. haha. Thanks my friend I appreciate your help and if you have anymore advice it would be welcome...I really can't take it back until I take the new hardware out of this one and put old shit back in before I take it back that would be the noble thing to do. I'm just kidding

 

[AddRAM]

Windows 8.1 flies, just switch to a local account, no more cloud syncing, that`s an easy one. Next problem ?

Windows 8 Pro..... Terrible

Windows 8.1 Pro...... Much Much better

 

[gulls777]

If you can't downgrade to 7, then try

Classic Shell--- will bring the old start menu back, you won't see that start screen again

8Gadgetpack--- if you want desktop gadgets back

Oldnewexplorer--- brings file explorer back to 7 like state

 

[MagusMagnus]

Yup, OEM systems preloaded with Windows 8/8.1 don’t have the key on stickers anymore. You will need to find it in Regedit (seems to be hit-and-miss). And if that doesn’t work, you will have to call Acer to get it. If they can’t or won’t, then you’ll have to deal with MS to try and get it. Failing that, there are third-party software available to get it... but I personally think its risky (they might be mining keys to ‘phone home’...).

After you get your key, you can go here and get a clean ISO of the OS to use for reinstalling over the OEM, using your OEM key (unless, of course, MS changed it so you can’t do that anymore. I have no idea but it really wouldn’t surprise me if they did).

Then it’s just a matter of reinstalling your drivers (and from personal experience, Acer has a very poor track-record of providing any updated drivers for their systems. You’ll need to get those from the hardware vendors instead, if you actually want to keep them up to date at all. Acer Support is the worst of all of the OEM’s, really).

And modifying Windows 8 to be more desktop-friendly (if you want). If I were chained to 8, I’d certainly do those things... to get my start button back and ditch Metro.

I’m unsure of what you can do about the syncing (don’t and probably never will use 8. Well, unless 10 turns out worse... anyway) so I’ll have to leave that to somebody else to help you with.

 

[seth500]

Thanks you guys for all the info it is much appreciated and welcome. Will get it done, I do like the 8.1 just not all the "I have to do in this order to do that" That's "Bullshit" for something I paid for. All those programs just completely ruin the operating system system. Once remove from the system the system works like a charm..I'm just gonna get a copy of 8.1 that isn't OEM and go from there! Before anything though the key is my only problem and hopefully won't be a major issue. This system I have to tell you had around 15 to 20 start-up apps that were only intended to bend you over a grab your ankles, that's terrible but I am not impressed with how software companies are really corrupt and sneaky. I know I sound like I'm beating a dead horse but it's pretty bad! Well I better get going and thanks again. Regards Seth

 

[Stephanie]

Recently I have been looking at laptops for a friend with no OS as he likes and has used Zorin on one of my desktops, a machine with no OS may be an option for you seth500

 

[DavidE]

It's my understanding you can do a clean install with the latest 8.1 build available at
Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help
It will use the bios built-in key.

You can read more about this build in this EF thread:
New Windows 8.1 ISOs with November Rollup (Update 3)

 

[ThrashZone]

We've also been testing 10TP which is even allot better than 8.1 but not allot at this early stage but a new version is soon to be released 1/21/15
Upcoming Windows 10 Technical Preview build include ISOs
But yes a local account is preferred by most more conventional and less automatically connecting to unneeded stuff

 

[DavidE]

But yes a local account is preferred by most more conventional and less automatically connecting to unneeded stuff

I agree.
I normally use a local account, Classic Shell, and the Start menu.
I can use the Start Screen, MS Account, App Store whenever I feel like it.
I also turned off live update on all the Start Screen tiles.

 

[gregrocker]

I was wondering if we had slipped back ten years when reading advice about "getting drivers" for a driver-complete OS. Did you think this is XP? Win7 provides the drivers it wants in the installer and via Windows Updates after install. At the most there will only be one or two missing in Device Manager after that needing to be imported from the Acer Support Downloads webpage for your model. I've never not been able to find a driver for either 32- or 64-bit Win7 no matter if only one of these bit versions are supported on the Downloads page. Any driver can be traced by Hardware Identification or Device Manager - Finding Unknown Devices usually in minutes. If you get stuck our driver detectives here like Maxie can find any driver.

Other steps, tips, tools and methods that assure you'll get a perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7 in the blue link.

If you're wanting to stick with the WIndows 8 mess, they have their own forums at Windows 8 Forums.