Loading windows 2000 or later version on Acer Aspire 5050

Remove the drive, connect it externally to another computer, and format it. Reinsert the drive in the laptop and load XP.

Good Luck!

You may need Windows Installer Version 3.1 or higher to install iTunes (and most other programs).

I actually have one of these, I just went and got Fedora 10 (Fedora version of Red Hat Linux vs. the pre-installed Linpus version of Red Hat Linux) and installed it instead. Anyways, there should be a way to take the cd, load it onto another computer, and have it put itself on an empty 2GB (or bigger) USB thumb drive if you can't get a cd loaded onto it. I did this several times before I went to Fedora 10, and the wireless works in Fedora 10.

If you have linux on your aspire 1 then you can't use the original messenger because it is made for windows systems. you can try using it with Wine or find a linux messenger replacement.

for example Pidgin works with MSN accounts and it has a linux version.
http://www.pidgin.im/

"
IM all your friends in one place Pidgin is an easy to use and free chat client used by millions. Connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and more chat networks all at once."

Hi, the Acer Aspire is a Linux operating system based computer. It does not run Microsoft windows in the same way that Apple computers run OSX, not windows. The antivirus programs you mention are for windows computers. On the bright side, running Linux you really DON'T need virus protection Linux is inherently far more secure than windows.

go to everest home edition down load the free version and then run it . it will tell you the name of the hard ware in your computer then you goto that hardware manu facturer web site and install the drivers for the version of that product

Hi All.. this might help you

http://www.laptops-drivers.com/acer-notebooks/free-download-acer-aspire-5050-for-windows-xp.html

Check this link:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-6031733.html

Should solve your problem.

Let me know what happens.

Hi, I also have an acer aspire 5050 (AMD 64bit CPU).
It came preinstalled with Vista Home Basic which I decided to get rid of. I downloaded a copy of SUSE 10 Enterprise Desktop (5 CD iso's images from ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/x86_64/10.0/iso/ )and burn't them to CD, and installed it straigt off CD.
It installed fine with Gnome (havent tried KDE). There are certain problems that you need to tweak before it all works ok.

The 5 in 1 card reader wont work at all, but I have heard that it might in future kernel upgrades. 

The sound doesn't work untill you edit a file (follow the guide at http://nosrednaekim.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/linux-on-the-acer-aspire-5050/) after doing this and rebooting it works great.

The graphics was another issue, I have an ATI Radeon Xpress 1100. I couldn't get 3d accelleration to work for ages, but have managed to now. First off you have to download the ati driver for the "Mobility Radion X300" for linux (x86_64 for 64bit CPU) from http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html. When downloaded just run it in a terminal ("sh ./ati*%$%*%$*%"). Then after rebooting (the tricky part for non linux geeks!) open a terminal, "su" to root and run "init 3" then log in as root and run "aticonfig --initial -f" when complete run "aticonfig --app=maya --fsaa=on --fs=4 --ovt=opengl" then when complete run "aticonfig --effective=now" then "init 5". Now log on and you can enable 3d in display properties (in control center). The 3d desktop is so much better than Vista could ever be. I have only just got my graphics card working and I havent messed about with all the settings yet so you can probably get it working alot faster with some tweaking.

If you're interested in porgramming or compiling programs for your OS you will need to "build your Kernel" this takes a bit of time but a good guide is at http://www.howtoforge.com/kernel_compilation_suse i skipped page one and some other bits)

Hope this helps, and you enjoy linux.

Hi, You of course have the prerogative of shifting your Windows to basic XP SP2 since the standard pre-installwed Windows in an Acer Aspire 5050-3242 is Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition. But since it is brand new and I assume recently purchase, why not simply return it for replacement of another unit, model or brand. If you feel that something is not right, then probably for a few dollars more you can get another brand/model more to your liking (test before leaving WalMart). Good luck and kind regards.