Windows 8 laptop dropped, wont boot

[JRockZ]

Hey guys sorry for posting here, I can register at the Eight forums and post this instead if ya'll think it would be a better idea just figured since im already registered here may as well ask here.

So this is the scenario,, a friends daughter dropped her Gateway NE56R laptop on the ground, I guess flat because it did not break the screen,,, but after that apparently it would not boot anymore,,, she had someone she knows look at it and I guess they did not diagnose the problem fully,, that person just told her it needed a new hard drive, So this guy put a new Hard drive in it and a hacked version of windows 7 pro Dohhh! But apparently he couldn't figure out how to get the wireless driver to install,, which is how I wound up with this thing.

So my first thought is test the old hard drive, I do and it is fine works perfect when I install in a external portable USB case, explored all files are there as is all partitions including one button and recovery, but no recovery media and from what I can tell it doesn't appear anyone ever made the media like they should have.
So I reinstall the original HDD back in the laptop but it will not boot at all,,,,,,, When I try to boot it says "No Bootable Device -- Insert boot disk and press any key",,, so im guessing it never was run as well as the recovery/one button partitions are small in size, and I have no boot disk

Oddly when I try Alt+F10 to start recovery process it says entering Acer recovery mode (lol this is a gateway) then takes me right to the same screen as a normal boot "No Bootable Device -- Insert boot disk and press any key",,,

So to move on now.....
Problem is I have NO clue what version of Win8 it is, weather it was set up as UEFI in the bios or not,, I don't know if it is 8.1 or just win8,,, I have no recovery media or start up discs,,, I tried win7 boot disk but it said this was not the right version of windows Dohhh lol.

So is there a way I can find out what version of win8 is on this thing and how I should have the bios set??? (I think I tried every possible option but since it wont boot I cant really tell what is right or not)
Also ill need to know What version of win 8 to get to either reinstall, factory reinstall or repair install this thing to see if I can spare the new hard drive of having to be used on a hacked version of win 7 grrrrr!.

I know ya'll will need to know more than this so ask away I will promptly reply with any needed info.

TIA
JRockZ

 

[gregrocker]

Make sure the hard drive is set first to boot in BIOS setup.

If it still won't boot then using the F12 Boot menu boot the Win7 installer for your licensed version to do a Clean Reinstall Windows 7. It discusses how to obtain confirmed-good media in Step 1, and the steps for drivers are printed in red so you can't miss them. We've never not been able to find a driver for Win7 so if you still can't find network driver after installing plugged in by ethernet cable and following all the steps, ask back here in our Drivers forum for help.

If you don't have a Win7 license to spare for a Win8 PC then do a Clean Install - Windows 8 using Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO - Download or Create which will auto-activate with the licensed version that came with the PC which can be determined by googling the model's specs.

 

[JRockZ]

Make sure the hard drive is set first to boot in BIOS setup.

If it still won't boot then using the F12 Boot menu boot the Win7 installer for your licensed version to do a Clean Reinstall Windows 7. It discusses how to obtain confirmed-good media in Step 1, and the steps for drivers are printed in red so you can't miss them. We've never not been able to find a driver for Win7 so if you still can't find network driver after installing plugged in by ethernet cable and following all the steps, ask back here in our Drivers forum for help.

If you don't have a Win7 license to spare for a Win8 PC then do a Clean Install - Windows 8 using Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO - Download or Create which will auto-activate with the licensed version that came with the PC which can be determined by googling the model's specs.

Thank you Greg! I could do win7 but I am trying to restore the PC to how it was with the Win8 that was already on the original hard drive and hoping to keep all files and programs,, I guess I just need some boot media to get it to boot,, and I think this idea I found may just fix it

1) insert W7 / W8 recovery disk or install disk. (USB if you have a bootable copy). You can actually use a W7 disk to fix W8 boot or a W8 disk to fix W7 boot !! but it's best to use the correct disk.
2) Boot from it
3) Choose Repair Windows
4) choose utilities ===>command mode
Now switch to the bootrec directory and enter these two commands
fixmbr
fixboot..

but im not sure,,, seems like that might work IF that is for win 8 and not win 7,,, i have never had Win8 or messed with it any so im a total newb when it comes to 8 but im pretty good with win 7,,, if the issue was with win7 I would have it fixed by now. I will read through what you posted and see if anything works,,, The other issue is this laptop has NO windows key on it, no stickers other than the s/n and model number sticker and the gateway emblem that's it! I don't even know if it was originally a win8 system or a win7 system.

EDIT:" Oh and I did find the WiFi driver for win 7 and got it installed no problem! the other person was the goof that didn't know how to install it!" lol

 

[gregrocker]

I would boot into Windows 8 Automatic Repair which automates those commands.

If it fails a more robust sequence of commands updated from XP starts in Step 5 of Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start which includes everything that can be done to start the OS and are the same for 8.