I'm not sure about ACER but many desktops/laptops have a special menu with Safe Mode, LKGC, etc. Try pressing F8 repeatedly as the computer boots up. It should bring you into a menu. Select Last Known Good Configuration. This may or may not work if your backup is faulty but it is the first thing I would try. If this doesn't work I would try going into Safe Mode with Networking and attempt to backup all your data. Once this is done you can recover the OS using the recovery disk. These are generic instructions so please also refer to this link for ACER specific ideas.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/243980-32-acer-laptop-recovery-help
Hi there,
I would not use "directory services restore mode" unless you are using Active directory. If this is a home pc you are most likely are not. What Operating system are you using, XP? Do you have a recovery CD? I could not find any official information on this pc since the Acer support website is not functioning but I did manage to find the following that will answer your question about what selections will save your data or NOT. Sorry the link is long. You have to copy and paste it to a browser possibly.
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:pi9...
Hopefully you have this option:
Restore system from user's backup Allows you to restore the system using the most recent backup image you created. When selected, the backup image information appears below the option
Restore system from user's backup
Allows you to restore the system using the most recent backup image you created. When
selected, the backup image information appears below the option
×
Turn Off the computer, now as soon as you hit the power button, keep on holding "Alt" key & keep on tapping "F10 key,ie: Alt+F10, it will open the recovery console ,select full factory restore and follow on screen instruction. (Note:this will erase all datas on the computer) or During the boot process you will see on the screen to press a certain key to enter setup Press and hold that key during the boot up process to enter BIOS you can load failsafe defaults or load optimized defaults ,press escape then press f10 to save to cmos to restart Hope this helps
In
this case, first you have to enter setup by pressing F2 at boot time,
as soon as the ACER logo appears in the screen. Then, you will need
to switch the SATA Mode to IDE from AHCI.
Select:
Main -> SATA Mode -> IDE
This
is done to allow Window XP to see your SATA.as an IDE disk and
install the system.
When
you get the external USB CD/DVD driver to use with a Windows XP
installer CD, connect it to you laptop, switch it on and press F2
again to enter Setup.
This
time, scroll over to the BOOT menu and press Enter. Scroll down to
the last option USB CD- Rom and then use the F5 key to move it to the
top of the boot list order. Then press Escape and then F10 and finally Enter. The computer will restart and load the CD and you can start
the installation of Windows XP.
Hope this info may help you!
404 views
Usually answered in minutes!
Thanks for responding. Neither the Last Know Good Figuration, or Safe Mode worked. I clicked on the link, but don't know how to download the quick restore disks since I can't reboot.
I looked at the list of post there. The last suggestions is that I hold down the f8 key and select "repair your computer option." I don't get that option. There is one for "directory services restore mode." Should I use that option?
Also if I am able to "repair" the computer so that it boots, will I lose my data?
Thanks again for the reply. This is a home PC. Vista was installed when I purchased the computer about 14 months ago. There was no installation CD. My employer provides us with copies of all software used at work, so I do have the Vista Business Upgrade and Office 7 CDs. Every 30 days I was prompted to back up my system, and I did for a while -- I have over 30 CDs of back up. I tried putting in Backup CD #1, but nothing happens. I labeled themas I was told, but they are just number with the date. None of the labels indicate that any one disc is a restore disc. I was able to access the link but those links also give instructions for my being able to boot up the system. When I do click the alt F10, I do not get the options indicated on page 10, only the option indicated in my first post.
I appreciate anything else you can share.
Thank you for all of your help. I took the PC to work. Two of the tech guys told me things were hopeless. One had me to order the installation CD from Acer, which I did. He then said he would try to remove the hard drive to try to save my data. Today he told me it was impossible to remove the hard drive and would be working on other projects. I talked to one of the other IT guys who went in chose the last known good configuration and it worked. He could not find anything wrong with the computer. I tried that link all weekend -- don't know what I did wrong. I'm on the PC now and am investing in an external hard drive to back up. I can't go through this mental torture again.
Thanks for all of your help. You gave me the write info -- I don't know why it didn't work for me or the other two tech guys.
×