Problems recover or installing Win 7 on Acer Aspire

[balubajc]

Hi everyone

I got a new Acer Aspire 5820TG with 4GB RAM with preinstalled Win 7 Home Premium yesterday. It worked fine for about 1 hour. I installed Google Chrome and Windows Live Messenger. I Burned 3 DVD's (Acer Factory Default Recovery), and thought I was safe. After a while the screen turned black, and I thought it was Standby mode, because I had not used it for a while. That was when the "fun" started. I had to restart the PC and it took more than 10 minutes but at least it started. The screen freezed after a couple of minutes, and since then I have not been able to start win 7.

I tried to boot with the Acer Factory Default Recovery DVD's, and it works to a certain point. It starts the Acer erecovery Management (v7.5.21), and I get 2 choises...Completely Restore System to Factory Defaults and Restore Operating System and Retain User Data.. The problem is that they are both shaded so I can's choose any of them

I have googled a lot to find a solution to the problem and decided to try to do a fresh installation of Win 7 Home Premium Edition, and quickly found out that this was not as easy as it was with the Win XP since the laptop did not come with any DVD. I was able to borrow a Win 7 Home Premium X64 dvd from a friend and thought the problem was solved. The problem now is that when I boot with the DVD it cannot find a disk for the installation. It only finds one partition with 0 MB free space

I have a feeling I did a big mistake when I bought the Acer Laptop.

I will really appreciate all the help I can get.

Best regards

Johnny

 

[kword88]

did you try the acer system restore disc?

 

[Bill2]

Since you have a win7 install dvd, run both a startup repair and an sfc scan one by one.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Run each of those 3-4 times.

 

[balubajc]

Hi

Thank you for your responses

I do not have an acer system restore disc.

When I try to reinstall Windows 7 I get a message that it cannot find a disk. I have downloaded a driver for the disk from Acer's website and put it on my USB stick. When I browse the USB stick from the installation process no driver can be found.

I have also tried to change the settings in the Bios (for disk settings), but it didn't help.

Any other suggestions?

Best regards

Johnny

 

[kword88]

if when installing win7, it cannot find your hard drive, you need to install the SATA controller driver first. either burn them to a cd/dvd, or copy them to a flash drive.

if you just purchased the computer from acer, you should be entitled to some tech support from them.

 

[kword88]

here is the SATA driver for your computer:

http://global-download.acer.com/GDF...2157&Step1=Notebook&Step2=Aspire&Step3=Aspire 5820TG&OS=721&LC=en&BC=Acer&SC=PA_6

here is a link to the main driver download page for your computer:

Service & Support

 

[gregrocker]

You have the option to either return the laptop to the store, or use Acer Tech support which is included with your purchase (along with a full hardware warranty) for one year.

Acer Tech Support is terrible but one thing they do well is show you how to recover to factory condition since they do it for about every problem. They also mail a free set of Factory Recovery disks within the first 45 days of Purchase, and may send a WIn7 install DVD if you ask nicely.

The Recovery Disks are made off of a partition which can run itself during bootup of the computer. The key combination which you tap at boot up is usually Alt F10 or F10 on Acer, or check the BIOS splash screen, setup literature, or your Manual on the Acer Support Downloads webpage for your model.

 

[balubajc]

Hi kword88

Thank you for your answer.

I have already downloaded this driver, and tested it for the installation. It will still not find the driver. I think I have to contact Acer to inform them about the crap they deliver to their customers.

To bad they don't have drivers for XP for this computer. Then the choise would have been very easy.

Best regards

Johnny

 

[gregrocker]

Are you unzipping the driver, taking note of the location it is placed, then browsing from the Storage controller to try to pick up the driver from its folder?

Can you run the installer .exe as Admin to install the SATA controller that way?

 

[balubajc]

Hi gregrocker

Thank you so much for your answer.

I have unzipped the driver, and tested to place it on an usb stick and also burned it to a DVD. During the installation, when it stops because it can't find the disk controller, I have browsed both the cd and the usb to try to find it. Nothing helps.

How can I browse from the disk controller?

Best regards

Johnny

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have a Win7 DVD which came with your Acer, or just Recovery Disks?

Have you tried running the Recovery partition by tapping the keys given on first screen to Run Recovery? YOu can read more about how to run this by looking up your Manual at the Acer Support Downloads webpage for your model.

You should not have to install a SATA driver for Win7 and certainly not for Recovery disks.

 

[gregrocker]

Try running factory recovery partition using the key combination I gave before, listed on first boot screen, or in the Manual you can read at the Acer SUpport Downloads webpage for your model.

SATA controllers should not be needed with Win7 DVD installer. It is likely disk or boot sector corruption which can be remedied by wiping your HD before clean install with the DVD: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

If the clean install fails to the partition created, post back exact error message.

Call Acer now to order the free Recovery Disks within 45 days of purchase, so you'll have the backup.

 

[balubajc]

Hi gregrocker

I have talked to an Acer expert now, and he thinks the harddisk is sort of sick. I have to deliver it for repair. The laptop worked for about 30-40 minutes. That's probably a record for Acer.

Thank you very much for your help.

Best regards

Johnny

 

[kword88]

when you unzip the file, is it an executable or does it create a new folder with more files?

 

[kword88]

try to find out what chipset your laptop uses. once you know that, the driver can be downloaded from the Intel website. if you can locate the specs yourself, try downloading a program such as everest, sisoftsandra, or speccy.
once you find the chipset, post it here.