Vista - reinstalling XP issues

I am using a Acer Aspire 5670 laptop
Processor: Intel CPU T2300 @ 1.66 GHZ
RAM: 1.00 GB

I decided to try Vista. After a few days I decided to go back to XP.
The problem is I cannot access the install program on my laptop. I am
supposed to hit alt f10 when the acer screen is up and it will take me
into a restore process. The problem is IT WON'T WORK. I have tried
everything I can think of. I have changed to boot order, I even took
the files off the partition formatted the partition to ntfs (which might
have been a mistake) copied them back and it doesn't work. I have an
unused copy of XP from computer that is toast that I reinstalled, but I
am having a heck of a time getting drivers etc installed and it would be
sooooo much easier to restore it to it's original state with the
manufacturers software. Is there any chance I can get this to work
properly?

Thanks
Kathy

Did you create the set of restore CD/DVDs when you first got the Acer? You
may need to delete the partitions on the hard drive except for the Acer
partition then boot from the first restore CD/DVD. Vista alters the boot
sector which is why f10 isn't working. If you don't have the restore CD/DVDs
then you may have to contact Acer and order a set.

--
Kerry
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

"Kathy" <kmodahl@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:uJO5nFRoGHA.4648@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I am using a Acer Aspire 5670 laptop
> Processor: Intel CPU T2300 @ 1.66 GHZ
> RAM: 1.00 GB
>
> I decided to try Vista. After a few days I decided to go back to XP. The
> problem is I cannot access the install program on my laptop. I am
> supposed to hit alt f10 when the acer screen is up and it will take me
> into a restore process. The problem is IT WON'T WORK. I have tried
> everything I can think of. I have changed to boot order, I even took the
> files off the partition formatted the partition to ntfs (which might have
> been a mistake) copied them back and it doesn't work. I have an unused
> copy of XP from computer that is toast that I reinstalled, but I am having
> a heck of a time getting drivers etc installed and it would be sooooo much
> easier to restore it to it's original state with the manufacturers
> software. Is there any chance I can get this to work properly?
>
> Thanks
> Kathy

Some manufacturers have all of the drivers available as downloads. Is this
an option?

Start here:

http://global.acer.com/support/download.htm


--
Mark

Keeping the fun in dysfunctional!

"Kathy" <kmodahl@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:uJO5nFRoGHA.4648@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I am using a Acer Aspire 5670 laptop
> Processor: Intel CPU T2300 @ 1.66 GHZ
> RAM: 1.00 GB
>
> I decided to try Vista. After a few days I decided to go back to XP. The
> problem is I cannot access the install program on my laptop. I am
> supposed to hit alt f10 when the acer screen is up and it will take me
> into a restore process. The problem is IT WON'T WORK. I have tried
> everything I can think of. I have changed to boot order, I even took the
> files off the partition formatted the partition to ntfs (which might have
> been a mistake) copied them back and it doesn't work. I have an unused
> copy of XP from computer that is toast that I reinstalled, but I am having
> a heck of a time getting drivers etc installed and it would be sooooo much
> easier to restore it to it's original state with the manufacturers
> software. Is there any chance I can get this to work properly?
>
> Thanks
> Kathy

I have tried downloading the drivers from here, but some of them I can't
get. I would like to have the recovery CD to reinstall without all the
hassle of installing drivers. I got no CDs with my system at all. I
guess I will contact Acer and see if I can get them.

Kathy

Mark D. VandenBerg wrote:
> Some manufacturers have all of the drivers available as downloads. Is
> this an option?
>
> Start here:
>
> http://global.acer.com/support/download.htm
>
>

With a Windows XP CD, and a little luck, you can restore the boot sector.
This won't reinstall your XP operating system, but maybe you can use the f10
recovery procedure after you do it.

look at http://www.tech-recipes.com/microsof..._tips1040.html try steps
1 to 7, and then bang of the f10 key for all your worth.

Good luck.

Todd

"Kerry Brown" <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote in message
news:uVAmXMRoGHA.4248@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Did you create the set of restore CD/DVDs when you first got the Acer? You
> may need to delete the partitions on the hard drive except for the Acer
> partition then boot from the first restore CD/DVD. Vista alters the boot
> sector which is why f10 isn't working. If you don't have the restore
CD/DVDs
> then you may have to contact Acer and order a set.
>
> --
> Kerry
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>
> "Kathy" <kmodahl@shaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:uJO5nFRoGHA.4648@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> >I am using a Acer Aspire 5670 laptop
> > Processor: Intel CPU T2300 @ 1.66 GHZ
> > RAM: 1.00 GB
> >
> > I decided to try Vista. After a few days I decided to go back to XP.
The
> > problem is I cannot access the install program on my laptop. I am
> > supposed to hit alt f10 when the acer screen is up and it will take me
> > into a restore process. The problem is IT WON'T WORK. I have tried
> > everything I can think of. I have changed to boot order, I even took
the
> > files off the partition formatted the partition to ntfs (which might
have
> > been a mistake) copied them back and it doesn't work. I have an unused
> > copy of XP from computer that is toast that I reinstalled, but I am
having
> > a heck of a time getting drivers etc installed and it would be sooooo
much
> > easier to restore it to it's original state with the manufacturers
> > software. Is there any chance I can get this to work properly?
> >
> > Thanks
> > Kathy
>
>

It's worth a try but most computers that use the "Press a key to restore"
feature have a non-standard boot sector to start with. Possibly restoring a
standard boot sector then unhiding the Acer partition and marking it as
active might work without pressing any keys.

--
Kerry
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Todd wrote:
> With a Windows XP CD, and a little luck, you can restore the boot
> sector. This won't reinstall your XP operating system, but maybe you
> can use the f10 recovery procedure after you do it.
>
> look at http://www.tech-recipes.com/microsof..._tips1040.html
> try steps 1 to 7, and then bang of the f10 key for all your worth.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Todd
>
> "Kerry Brown" <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote in message
> news:uVAmXMRoGHA.4248@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Did you create the set of restore CD/DVDs when you first got the
>> Acer? You may need to delete the partitions on the hard drive except
>> for the Acer partition then boot from the first restore CD/DVD.
>> Vista alters the boot sector which is why f10 isn't working. If you
>> don't have the restore CD/DVDs then you may have to contact Acer and
>> order a set.
>>
>> --
>> Kerry
>> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>>
>> "Kathy" <kmodahl@shaw.ca> wrote in message
>> news:uJO5nFRoGHA.4648@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> I am using a Acer Aspire 5670 laptop
>>> Processor: Intel CPU T2300 @ 1.66 GHZ
>>> RAM: 1.00 GB
>>>
>>> I decided to try Vista. After a few days I decided to go back to
>>> XP. The problem is I cannot access the install program on my
>>> laptop. I am supposed to hit alt f10 when the acer screen is up
>>> and it will take me into a restore process. The problem is IT
>>> WON'T WORK. I have tried everything I can think of. I have
>>> changed to boot order, I even took the files off the partition
>>> formatted the partition to ntfs (which might have been a mistake)
>>> copied them back and it doesn't work. I have an unused copy of XP
>>> from computer that is toast that I reinstalled, but I am having a
>>> heck of a time getting drivers etc installed and it would be sooooo
>>> much easier to restore it to it's original state with the
>>> manufacturers software. Is there any chance I can get this to work
>>> properly?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> Kathy

They should be able to send you a disc that is system specific. I know
Dell, Gateway, Hp, etc... all do. Probably charge you 20 bucks or so.

Good luck!

--
Mark

Keeping the fun in dysfunctional!

"Kathy" <kmodahl@shaw.ca> wrote in message news:44AD4BBD.7030600@shaw.ca...
>I have tried downloading the drivers from here, but some of them I can't
>get. I would like to have the recovery CD to reinstall without all the
>hassle of installing drivers. I got no CDs with my system at all. I guess
>I will contact Acer and see if I can get them.
>
> Kathy
>
> Mark D. VandenBerg wrote:
>> Some manufacturers have all of the drivers available as downloads. Is
>> this an option?
>>
>> Start here:
>>
>> http://global.acer.com/support/download.htm
>>

Vista Setup overwrote the code for F10. Acer should have a fix for this.

"Kathy" <kmodahl@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:uJO5nFRoGHA.4648@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I am using a Acer Aspire 5670 laptop
> Processor: Intel CPU T2300 @ 1.66 GHZ
> RAM: 1.00 GB
>
> I decided to try Vista. After a few days I decided to go back to XP. The
> problem is I cannot access the install program on my laptop. I am
> supposed to hit alt f10 when the acer screen is up and it will take me
> into a restore process. The problem is IT WON'T WORK. I have tried
> everything I can think of. I have changed to boot order, I even took the
> files off the partition formatted the partition to ntfs (which might have
> been a mistake) copied them back and it doesn't work. I have an unused
> copy of XP from computer that is toast that I reinstalled, but I am having
> a heck of a time getting drivers etc installed and it would be sooooo much
> easier to restore it to it's original state with the manufacturers
> software. Is there any chance I can get this to work properly?
>
> Thanks
> Kathy

The OP pointed out that F10 does not start the recovery process. Vista no
doubt mashed the code. The OP will need a utility from Acer to re-enable
F10.

"Marc Nutty" <marc.nutty@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:BA0258A9-69E2-4330-998B-C3C39AE540E2@microsoft.com...
>I have an Acer laptop too, with 2 HDDs so have XP on one and Vista on
>another.
>
> However, if you only had one HDD and therefore only one OS installed you
> will have to boot up off the Acer restore CD that you should have gotten
> with your notebook.
>
> Or you may have got an XP disc with the laptop?
>
> Or you will have to contact Acer like Kerry said above
>
> --
> -Nutty-
> "Kathy" <kmodahl@shaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:uJO5nFRoGHA.4648@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>I am using a Acer Aspire 5670 laptop
>> Processor: Intel CPU T2300 @ 1.66 GHZ
>> RAM: 1.00 GB
>>
>> I decided to try Vista. After a few days I decided to go back to XP. The
>> problem is I cannot access the install program on my laptop. I am
>> supposed to hit alt f10 when the acer screen is up and it will take me
>> into a restore process. The problem is IT WON'T WORK. I have tried
>> everything I can think of. I have changed to boot order, I even took the
>> files off the partition formatted the partition to ntfs (which might have
>> been a mistake) copied them back and it doesn't work. I have an unused
>> copy of XP from computer that is toast that I reinstalled, but I am
>> having a heck of a time getting drivers etc installed and it would be
>> sooooo much easier to restore it to it's original state with the
>> manufacturers software. Is there any chance I can get this to work
>> properly?
>>
>> Thanks
>> Kathy
>

I have an Acer laptop too, with 2 HDDs so have XP on one and Vista on
another.

However, if you only had one HDD and therefore only one OS installed you
will have to boot up off the Acer restore CD that you should have gotten
with your notebook.

Or you may have got an XP disc with the laptop?

Or you will have to contact Acer like Kerry said above

--
-Nutty-
"Kathy" <kmodahl@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:uJO5nFRoGHA.4648@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I am using a Acer Aspire 5670 laptop
> Processor: Intel CPU T2300 @ 1.66 GHZ
> RAM: 1.00 GB
>
> I decided to try Vista. After a few days I decided to go back to XP. The
> problem is I cannot access the install program on my laptop. I am
> supposed to hit alt f10 when the acer screen is up and it will take me
> into a restore process. The problem is IT WON'T WORK. I have tried
> everything I can think of. I have changed to boot order, I even took the
> files off the partition formatted the partition to ntfs (which might have
> been a mistake) copied them back and it doesn't work. I have an unused
> copy of XP from computer that is toast that I reinstalled, but I am having
> a heck of a time getting drivers etc installed and it would be sooooo much
> easier to restore it to it's original state with the manufacturers
> software. Is there any chance I can get this to work properly?
>
> Thanks
> Kathy