Used system recovery disks purchased from ACER not working

[Imalexa]

Hi all,
I stumbled across your site while looking for help on recovering my system. I am NOT a computer whiz, and so some of the information to fix this computer is way over my head. I figured I would try here to see if it is something I can do. So I have an Acer Aspire running windows 7. One day, not sure why, the DOS screen came up and said operating system not found. I tried the Alt-F10 trick, which did nothing, and I figured I would order the recovery disks from Acer for my particular computer. I put them into the system hit f12 to bring up the boot sequence and selected CD/DVD drive. it start to run and them when it got to the Acer recovery page, on the partition screen, like where it is, those lines were blank. I attempted to take out the hard drive and put it back in to make sure it wasn't something loose in there.
To my question. I have two computers (one is the broken one) that are running Windows 7 Home, but neither one had a reinstall disk for Windows 7 in case it crashed because it was installed by the OEM? Sorry if I didn't say that right. I tried making a system disk from the computer that works and put it into the broken one, but the one that works is a HP and the broken one is an Acer. Now some screen for HP is coming up on the Acer. I am lost. Anyone with any advice or help with this would be appreciated. By the way, I am a nurse, not a tech person so instructions will have to be explained for the novice.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Alexa

 

[Imalexa]

Oh, I meant to add, that I am currently in school and really need the broken computer to work because it has Microsoft Office on it....

 

[whs]

I would try a startup-repair with the DVD you have.

Startup Repair: frequently asked questions - Windows Help

 

[Imalexa]

Thanks for replying WHS,
I used the Acer recovery disks like it said to in the order that it said there are 5 disks, but it still did nothing. I also tried to create a start up repair disk from the working computer and put it into the Acer and that got me to the acer recovery at which point no partitions are showing.
Then it tells me to put the third disk in from the recovery set which I did and then it gives me a fail create partition disk 0.

 

[Imalexa]

I also went onto the Microsoft website and tried to enter my product code on the bottom of the computer, it gave me an error message that I need to contact the manufacturer of the computer. Apparently the code is not really a code....

 

[Imalexa]

I have been able to get into the menu with system restore and command prompt and all of that, but its the HP, which is weird. Can I connect the broken computer to the one that is running and do something to make it read the operating system from the correct one to the broken one? I am thinking of every way to do this that my limited computer skills are offering.

 

[maxseven]

I have been able to get into the menu with system restore and command prompt and all of that, but its the HP, which is weird. Can I connect the broken computer to the one that is running and do something to make it read the operating system from the correct one to the broken one? I am thinking of every way to do this that my limited computer skills are offering.

That your Acer is showing HP now can only mean you put the HP drive into your Acer, or perhaps tried to recover your Acer from the HP drive or repair disc process.

In any case the only way that I can imagine for you to recover your original HDD and partition(s) and Office and schoolwork etc. might be to take the HDD and Acer to a PC repair facility to see if they can install the HDD to another computer and try to find/restore the original information.

It doesn't sound like you have a backup. Most of us here have made Image Backups of our PCs so that in the event of drive failure, the worst case scenario is that you pop-in a new HDD/SSD and restore from the image backup, then recover any more recent Files from the file backups we make every day.

 

[Imalexa]

Thanks Maxseven,
So there is no way to reinstall windows 7 onto the broken computer from the one that is working? Remember they both were installed with windows 7 and I have no disk, which I have now learned will not be happening again.

 

[maxseven]

Well I don't know of any way to do that, no. Your Acer recovery disks, which I hope you know would simply restore your computer to factory-fresh condition, along with a new hard drive, are probably your best bet if you insist to not try to find someone to help you.

But any programs you might have installed/updated, and all your work, will be gone, and certainly along with that NO HOPE of ever recovering your work if you do the Recovery to your original hard drive.

I can only assume that the Recovery Disks did not work because your hard drive was corrupted in some way. Not to say it can't be FIXED possibly, but you need another working computer and specialized tools which is why I suggested getting help. If you used it for schoolwork then there must be some valuable material you created on it?

 

[Imalexa]

Can I make a copy from the computer that is working and put it onto the one that isn't?m Even if they are different manufacturers.

 

[Imalexa]

MaxSeven,
At this point I don't care about the saved documents, because I really need the computer to work, I will try to get copies of papers and things from gmail, I emailed a lot of the info out to other students and professors. I just want the thing to work, please help.....

 

[whs]

Recovering the documents is easy though. See here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/287439-emergency-kit-save-your-files-dead-os.html

 

[Imalexa]

If I take the hard drive out and put a new one in, can I recover the info from the old hard drive later if I feel that there is something on there that I would need.
Also, if I do replace the hard drive what about my windows OS? I don't have a disk and the only product code I have is from an OEM, not sure if I would need a windows 7 installation disk or can I use the OEM product code to download it from somewhere. I don't think I should have to pay for the install disk if I have already paid for it.

 

[Imalexa]

OK so I copied a disk for system repair off the other computer with windows 7 and put it into the old computer. The language screen comes up which brings up the only option is english, which is fine. Than a system recovery options screen comes up and there are two options, 1= "use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting windows. Select an operating system to repair (there is no info in this box), or if your operating system isn't listed, click load drivers and then install drivers for your hard disks.
Or 2=restore your computer using a system image that you created earlier.
I have the Acer recovery disks for my specific computer, which one do I choose and when do I start putting their disks in?

 

[whs]

1. As long as the harddrive functions (e.g. no corruption), you can recover the data.

2. The OS you can transfer to the new disk with an image. Here is how (just skip the SSD specific stuff):

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

 

[whs]

OK so I copied a disk for system repair off the other computer with windows 7 and put it into the old computer. The language screen comes up which brings up the only option is english, which is fine. Than a system recovery options screen comes up and there are two options, 1= "use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting windows. Select an operating system to repair (there is no info in this box), or if your operating system isn't listed, click load drivers and then install drivers for your hard disks.
Or 2=restore your computer using a system image that you created earlier.
I have the Acer recovery disks for my specific computer, which one do I choose and when do I start putting their disks in?

ad 2) they are looking for a system image which you apparently do not have. Sticking the CD in will not help.

 

[Imalexa]

Sorry for being ignorant, but am I creating the system image from the broken computer or the one that is working? These directions are a little complicated....

 

[whs]

The system image you have to always create for a running system. But in your case that is too late.

I was only referring to point #2 where they want a system image which you do not have and can not produce at this time with a broken system.

PS - you can of course make an image of the broken system but it will not do you any good.

 

[Imalexa]

Am I also selecting to load drivers? Sorry I understand sick people more than sick computers. Not trying to be a pain.

 

[whs]

Am I also selecting to load drivers? Sorry I understand sick people more than sick computers. Not trying to be a pain.

What on earth are you trying to do.