Solved Problems with appearance and personalization

[lehnerus2000]

Possibly much quicker

...
After you have everything set up again I'd immediately make a system image using either the built in Win 7 imaging tool or any of the free products like Macrium or Paragon. Once you have a system image, feel free to experiment. If and when the computer gets hosed (and it will happen if you like to tinker ) you can use the system image to be up and running in about 30 minutes.

If you do regular images (say just before you install the MS Patch Tuesday updates) it should take only a few minutes to restore your computer.

Macrium images/restores at about 3GB/min on my machine.

 

[NotDarkYet]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

A system restore seems like the answer then marsimar. What are the major cons of taking such an avenue?

I really haven't installed many programs - nothing a day of downloading can't fix.

Is there anyway you could post a guide on performing a system restore?


Thanks very much,

Ian

 

[Britton30]

A system Restore will not change any personal folders like Music, Pictures, Docs, etc. It will remove any programs you installed prior to the restore point you choose.
system Restore Tutorial.

 

[MacGyvr]

I don't think the OP is asking about a System Restore. What needs to happen here is a full recovery back to the factory installation (a "Recovery"....not "Restore"). Too much has been done to this system at this point to waste time on another "fix."

 

[Britton30]

NotDarkYet I agree with Mac here, bite the bullet, do a recovery, complete reinstall and start from square one. That will fix everything in one swoop.
How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7

How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7

Read both through, it's not difficult and pick the one best for you. I suspect Acer has a restore function built-in alrady, look through your start menu, for something like Restore, or system Recovery.

 

[NotDarkYet]

Thanks again for the replies guys. I think the 'Clean Install' option seems the best method to take.

Just a few questions though; the computer I'm using came with Windows 7 installed on it so I don't have an installation DVD. The only thing I can imagine may be similar in essence is when I first turned the machine on I was prompted to save information to DVDs (six to be precise) but I really wasn't paying attention at the time to what was being written onto the discs so I don't know how viable they are as an alternative.

Does anyone know what they are and/or if they are of any use in a clean install?

Also, in the 'Warning' box on the Clean Install Windows 7 page it states I need: '2 GB RAM for 64-bit Windows 7' and '20 GB for 64-bit Windows 7'; will I lose this memory?

Thanks again,

Ian



PS. Once Windows has set up a new 'Backup' point can the old one be deleted? Stupid question perhaps; but I've been wrong about these things in the past...

 

[marsmimar]

The discs you made should return your computer to original factory settings (just like it was the day you got it home.) Everything on the hard drive will be wiped clean. But you may also have a hidden recovery partition (accessible through your start menu or by clicking a specific Fn key at start up) that would do the exact same thing - return your machine to factory specs. I'd look for/try that first because if one of those discs didn't burn correctly you could be up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

"Also, in the 'Warning' box on the Clean Install Windows 7 page it states I need: '2 GB RAM for 64-bit Windows 7' and '20 GB for 64-bit Windows 7'; will I lose this memory?"

This refers to the minimum requirements for any computer doing a clean install. For best results you need 2GB RAM and 20GB of free hard drive space (not the same as RAM.) If you use the discs you made or the hidden recovery partition, you wouldn't have to worry about this because your machine already meets those minimum requirements and probably exceeds them.

Not sure what you mean by "backup point". I'm familiar with restore points, data backup, and system image backups. Generally speaking, old "points" can be deleted if you're sure you'll never need them again (to free up hard drive space) but some people like to keep the last 3, or 4, or 5,or 20 "just in case". Don't know if this answers your questions.

Added: Acer used to call their hidden recovery partition Hard Disk Recovery. Hard Disk Recovery should be enabled by default. To see if it is enabled, restart the system and hit ALT+F10. This will begin the Aspire system recovery process. You will be prompted to type six zeros as a security step. Type 000000 to proceed. You will then see a screen to select your Operating System. Do this and hit enter and the recovery process will begin. If Hard Disk Recovery is not enabled, you may need to go into your system’s BIOS by hitting F2 at boot and enable it under the Advanced tab. Once Hard Disk Recovery is enabled, you should be able to proceed with clicking ALT+F10 at start up.

Note: These instructions may have changed. Check your user manual for the specific information for your particular model.

 

[NotDarkYet]

Hey everybody,

sorry for my delay, yet again.

Good news though; a 'Hard Disk Recovery' worked. The registry has been reverted to factory settings and all my original problems have been resolved.

Even the external hard drive is removing itself without any issues.


Thanks very much to everyone who aided me in solving this blotch.


It's much appreciated,

Ian

 

[seavixen32]

Hello Ian.

We're just pleased to hear your problem has been resolved.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

 

[marsmimar]

Likewise, Ian. Very glad to hear things are working again!