Windows Vista Recovery of no CDs are provided

I've ahd issues with my new Acer laptop. This is what the CS gives you when email them. I hope this will be a step easier for others experiencing similar problem with windows vista home edition.

Symptom: When I turn on the laptop I get a window saying "Startup Repair is checking your system for problems...", runs for about 3 minutes and says cannot do the repairs automatically. I don't know what to do after that. I cannot shut down either, it just restarts. I have to force it to shut down. I don't have recovery CDs.

This is what customer support advised me to follow to recover the computer to factory setting. If you computer didn't come with recovery CDs, that the recovery files are likely partitioned onto the D drive. They gave me two options. I had to use the second option.

First Method: If Windows will startup:-

Move your mouse over the Empowering technology widget and click on the eRecovery Manager icon or you may also press ALT and F10 on the keyboard to start the program. Please note: The first time you access the eRecovery feature, you are prompted to create a password. If you forget it then you will have to use the recovery discs to reformat the system.

In the next window look at the bottom of the window and choose Restore

Now choose Restore System to Factory Default

Enter the password you assigned the first time you activated the eRecovery feature. If you do not know this password you cannot continue

Read the warning and choose Yes or No. If you choose No, the eRecovery will not continue.

If you choose Yes, click Next. The restoration will begin.


Second Method: If Windows will not startup (or the first method did not work/would not start)

Turn the system on

As soon as you see the Acer splash screen, press ALT and F10 together, then release both keys

The ALT key is located to the left of the space bar and the F10 key is along the top of the keyboard.

It should show a screen stating "Starting Acer Erecovery".

You will also see a screen showing Windows XP, don't worry, the original operating system that shipped on the computer is what will be installed.

There will be 4 options:

1. Restore system to factory default

2. Restore system from user backup

3. Restore system from CD/DVD

4. Exit

Choose option 1 (if you would like directions for the other options, please let us know)

1. Restore system to factory default

a. Enter the password you created when you first entered eRecovery.

b. Read the on-screen warning and choose Yes or No. If you choose no the recovery will stop.

c. Click Next. The recovery will start.

When recovery is complete the system will startup and you will need to complete the setup of Windows (assigning time zones, user names etc.)

When setup is complete Windows will clean up the files needed to perform the recovery. Please be patient as this process can take a while. After installation Windows will startup and it will show the desktop with the icons, you will think that it is complete. It is not, you need to wait. Now is when the installation of all the Acer software begins. It will start and stop several times, so you may think that it is complete when it is not.

By interrupting this process, you cause it to not install properly and this message on the screen is the most typical result. I would say if it appears to be completed, wait about 15 more minutes, then restart the computer.