Acer aspire 3000 laptop (running XP) wont recover even with recovery CD that came with it (#1 of 3 discs). I made sure the CD was first in boot order via setup (bios). I think its a virus, tried to go back via safe mode to "prev good config", etc. doesnt work.

Hi Debra
This will describe how to reinstall the Operating system on your computer.
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Select models, with Microsoft Windows, have the ability to have the Operating System reinstalled from a hidden partition built into the computer.
Note: During the process, all data stored on your computer will be overwritten. This means all your files, such as email and photos, will be erased. Therefore, we recommend making a backup of all personal data before starting the recovery process.
To start the system recovery:
1.Restart the computer.
2.When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the Alt and F10 keys repeatedly.
3.If you are prompted with a Microsoft Windows boot screen, press the Enter key.
4.After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.
If the ability to reinstall from the previous method is not available or fails, recovery of the Operating System will need to be from Recovery Media. If you do not have a set of Acer Recovery Media, you may purchase the set online from the Acer Recovery Media Order Form..
Note: If your computer does not have an internal optical disc drive, an external optical disc drive will be required in order to recover the Operating System using Acer Recovery Media.
1.Restart the computer.
2.When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the F12 key repeatedly to enter the computer's Boot Menu.
3.Press the CD-ROM drive eject button and insert the disc labeled System CD.
4.Close the CD-ROM tray.
5.Refer to on screen instructions to select either CDROM or USB CDROM.
6.The computer will boot from the Acer Recovery Media
7.When prompted for the Recovery CD, remove the System CD and insert the Recovery CD.

Note: If there are multiple Recovery CDs, please insert the first of the Recovery CDs.

8.After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.
Note: if your computer is unable to run the Acer Recovery process, or errors occur during recovery, please contact Acer support.
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Bud

Hi ultraview27...

How to reinstall the Operating system on your computer

Select models, with Microsoft Windows, have the ability to have the Operating System reinstalled from a hidden partition built into the computer.
Note: During the process, all data stored on your computer will be overwritten. This means all your files, such as email and photos, will be erased. Therefore, we recommend making a backup of all personal data before starting the recovery process.
To start the system recovery:
1.Restart the computer.
2.When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the Alt and F10 keys repeatedly.
3.If you are prompted with a Microsoft Windows boot screen, press the Enter key.
4.After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.
If the ability to reinstall from the previous method is not available or fails, recovery of the Operating System will need to be from Recovery Media. If you do not have a set of Acer Recovery Media, you may purchase the set online from the Acer Recovery Media Order Form..
Note: If your computer does not have an internal optical disc drive,you will have to have an external optical disc drive because it will be used in order to recover the Operating System using Acer Recovery Media.
1.Restart the computer.
2.When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the F12 key repeatedly to enter the computer's Boot Menu.
3.Press the CD-ROM drive eject button and insert the disc labeled System CD.
4.Close the CD-ROM tray.
5.Refer to on screen instructions to select either CDROM or USB CDROM.
6.The computer will boot from the Acer Recovery Media
7.When prompted for the Recovery CD, remove the System CD and insert the Recovery CD.

Note: If there are multiple Recovery CDs, please insert the first of the Recovery CDs.

8.After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.
Note: if your computer is unable to run the Acer Recovery process, or errors occur during recovery, please contact Acer support.
Please take time to rate me

Hi w abdallah25...

How to reinstall the Operating system on your computer

Select models of Acer laptops have Microsoft Windows partition , they have the ability to have the Operating System reinstalled from a hidden partition built into the computer.
Note: During the process, all data stored on your computer will be overwritten. This means all your files, such as email and photos, will be erased. Therefore, we recommend making a backup of all personal data before starting the recovery process.
To start the system recovery:
1.Restart the computer.
2.When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the Alt and F10 keys repeatedly.
3.If you are prompted with a Microsoft Windows boot screen, press the Enter key.
4.After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.
If the ability to reinstall from the previous method is not available or fails, recovery of the Operating System will need to be from Recovery Media. If you do not have a set of Acer Recovery Media, you may purchase the set online from the Acer Recovery Media Order Form..
Note: If your computer does not have an internal optical disc drive, an external optical disc drive will be required in order to recover the Operating System using Acer Recovery Media.
1.Restart the computer.
2.When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the F12 key repeatedly to enter the computer's Boot Menu.
3.Press the CD-ROM drive eject button and insert the disc labeled System CD.
4.Close the CD-ROM tray.
5.Refer to on screen instructions to select either CDROM or USB CDROM.
6.The computer will boot from the Acer Recovery Media
7.When prompted for the Recovery CD, remove the System CD and insert the Recovery CD.

Note: If there are multiple Recovery CDs, please insert the first of the Recovery CDs.

8.After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.
Note: if your computer is unable to run the Acer Recovery process, or errors occur during recovery, please contact Acer support.
Please take time to rate me

Hi coz352...

Select models of Acer computers, with Microsoft Windows, have the ability to have the Operating System reinstalled from a hidden partition built into the computer.
Note: During the process, all data stored on your computer will be overwritten. This means all your files, such as email and photos, will be erased. Therefore, we recommend making a backup of all personal data before starting the recovery process.
To start the system recovery:
1.Restart the computer.
2.When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the Alt and F10 keys repeatedly.
3.If you are prompted with a Microsoft Windows boot screen, press the Enter key.
4.After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.
If the ability to reinstall from the previous method is not available or fails, recovery of the Operating System will need to be from Recovery Media. If you do not have a set of Acer Recovery Media, you may purchase the set online from the Acer Recovery Media Order Form..
Note: If your computer does not have an internal optical disc drive, an external optical disc drive will be required in order to recover the Operating System using Acer Recovery Media.
1.Restart the computer.
2.When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the F12 key repeatedly to enter the computer's Boot Menu.
3.Press the CD-ROM drive eject button and insert the disc labeled System CD.
4.Close the CD-ROM tray.
5.Refer to on screen instructions to select either CDROM or USB CDROM.
6.The computer will boot from the Acer Recovery Media
7.When prompted for the Recovery CD, remove the System CD and insert the Recovery CD.

Note: If there are multiple Recovery CDs, please insert the first of the Recovery CDs.

8.After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.
Note: if your computer is unable to run the Acer Recovery process, or errors occur during recovery, please contact Acer support.
Please take time to rate me

Note: During the process, all data stored on your computer will be overwritten. This means all your files, such as email and photos, will be erased. Therefore, we recommend making a backup of all personal data before starting the recovery process.

To start the system recovery:

1. Restart the computer.
2. When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the Alt and F10 keys repeatedly.
3. If you are prompted with a Microsoft Windows boot screen, press the Enter key.
4. After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.

If the ability to reinstall from the previous method is not available or fails, recovery of the Operating System will need to be from Recovery Media. If you do not have a set of Acer Recovery Media, you may purchase the set online from the Acer Recovery Media Order Form..
Note: If your computer does not have an internal optical disc drive, an external optical disc drive will be required in order to recover the Operating System using Acer Recovery Media.

1. Restart the computer.
2. When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the F12 key repeatedly to enter the computer's Boot Menu.
3. Press the CD-ROM drive eject button and insert the disc labeled System CD.
4. Close the CD-ROM tray.
5. Refer to on screen instructions to select either CDROM or USB CDROM.
6. The computer will boot from the Acer Recovery Media
7. When prompted for the Recovery CD, remove the System CD and insert the Recovery CD.
   Note: If there are multiple Recovery CDs, please insert the first of the Recovery CDs.
   
8. After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.

Note: if your computer is unable to run the Acer Recovery process, or errors occur during recovery, please contact Acer support.

Keyboard - Do you have the NumLock on?

From the ACER support site:

To start the system recovery:

1. Restart the computer.
2. When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the Alt and F10 keys repeatedly.
3. If you are prompted with a Microsoft Windows boot screen, press the Enter key.
4. After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.

If the ability to reinstall from the previous method is not available or fails, recovery of the Operating System will need to be from Recovery Media. If you do not have a set of Acer Recovery Media, you may purchase the set online from the Acer Recovery Media Order Form..
Note: If your computer does not have an internal optical disc drive, an external optical disc drive will be required in order to recover the Operating System using Acer Recovery Media.

1. Restart the computer.
2. When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the F12 key repeatedly to enter the computer's Boot Menu.
3. Press the CD-ROM drive eject button and insert the disc labeled System CD.
4. Close the CD-ROM tray.
5. Refer to on screen instructions to select either CDROM or USB CDROM.
6. The computer will boot from the Acer Recovery Media
7. When prompted for the Recovery CD, remove the System CD and insert the Recovery CD.
   Note: If there are multiple Recovery CDs, please insert the first of the Recovery CDs.
   
8. After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.

Note: if your computer is unable to run the Acer Recovery process, or errors occur during recovery, please contact Acer support.

To start the system recovery:

1. Restart the computer.
2. When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the Alt and F10 keys repeatedly.
3. If you are prompted with a Microsoft Windows boot screen, press the Enter key.
4. After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.

If the ability to reinstall from the previous method is not available or fails, recovery of the Operating System will need to be from Recovery Media.
Note: If your computer does not have an internal optical disc drive, an external optical disc drive will be required in order to recover the Operating System using Acer Recovery Media.

1. Restart the computer.
2. When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the F12 key repeatedly to enter the computer's Boot Menu.
3. Press the CD-ROM drive eject button and insert the disc labeled System CD.
4. Close the CD-ROM tray.
5. Refer to on screen instructions to select either CDROM or USB CDROM.
6. The computer will boot from the Acer Recovery Media
7. When prompted for the Recovery CD, remove the System CD and insert the Recovery CD.
   
   Note: If there are multiple Recovery CDs, please insert the first of the Recovery CDs.
   
   
8. After the system recovery application has loaded, follow the prompts to reinstall the Operating System.

Note: If you do not have a set of Acer Recovery Media, you may purchase the set online from the Acer Recovery Media Order Form. If your computer is unable to run the Acer Recovery process, or errors occur during recovery, please contact Acer support.
Order form:
https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=Acer

Click on this link or copy and paste the complete link into your browser.

If I could be of further assistance, let me know. If this helps or solves the issue, please rate it and give a testimonial for my response. Happy New Year!

Thanks, Joe



I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/joe_8b8c2cd6ce148309

That model ships with Windows XP, which tends to make it highly regulated. In order to recover it to factory defaults you'll need to order a recovery disc from Acer technical support.

go 2 bios set up make your cd rom b the first bottable device.

You can try to reseat the HDD, that may resolve the issue. More than likely, there has been some damage to the HDD. Try running checkdisk to see if there are errors on the HDD.
If you need help, please let me know.
Ron-