5672 Install Questions/Comments

Hi, got my first laptop on Monday, and after doing a lot of reading on the forums, decided I'd upgrade it to XP Pro.

Windows didn't give me the option to reformat when I booted from the XP Pro disc (I'm thinking that Acer's partition could have been to blame), so after install, I was left w/ Acer XP Home on C and XP Pro on D.

Booting into Pro, I was able to get the chipset drivers installed, bluetooth, the Omega drivers...basically going down the line like it's been suggested by a lot of the folks on here.

Everything was fine, till I got to the ePower software. When I clicked setup, it told me that I needed to install .NET framework 1.1 or greater. No problem, I grabbed .NET 2.0 and installed it. A quick reboot later, and the ePower installation software's throwing the same error.

I was wondering if anyone else had encountered this before. I'm guessing that I should install 1.1 and that should take care of it, but at the same time, I think I'm just going to remove all the Acer partitions, and reformat cleanly.

What's the best way to go about removing all those Acer partitions. Since I coudn't do it before with my XP Pro disc, are there any free programs that can do a good job of that?

Last question: I created the restore DVD when I first powered on my Acer. If I blast all the partitions away, and reinstall XP Pro, will I ever be able to go back to "factory software" with that DVD, or should I just have a pretty light show w/ it in the microwave?

 

I can some of my experiences:
Most Acer software installed are c-r-a-p.
ePower gives a lot of trouble but good to keep.

The backup DVD you made will restore to factory default but will cause issue if the type of partition changes. I mean after turning on your laptop and making that DVD in FAT32 may not work if you meanwhile changed partition type to NTFS.

If you decide to convert partition type, immedietly make a ghost backup of C. It will come very handy.

Upgrade your BIOS to the latest, I think 1.3224 is the latest. Upgrade yours if your BIOS version is lower than this.

I've upgraded to XP pro on top of XP Home, working fine.

 

2 things to take note here

#1. Before you mess with the file partition structure on the Acer laptop read up on my Acer multiple key thread - http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=76670

#2. To install .net 1.1 and 2.0 go check www.ryanvm.net/msfn . Go download and install the switchless installers. Silent, saves time, and just as good.

I would check for all avalible keys on the pc before you start. Once that is completed install pro to add the few extra features (even if you don't need / use em).

Then once you get that far look into installing the bare minium software needed. I personally just use the minium drivers + e_power management + NHC (notebook hardware control). With these 3 it increases the performance of the laptop and gives you that little extra boost.

Don't forget to burn a restore DVD b4 you format your drive! Also if you have Norton Ghost or Acronis or any other quality imaging software run it on the base HDD and stick that on DVD as well incase you did decide to go back to your factory image.

--ssx--

 

Thanks!

1. I pulled my extra keys (3 counting the one stickered on the lappy) monday night. Printed them out for my file cabinet, and also stored 'em on my Desktop.

2. I'm not so familiar w/ the RVM integrator, re: the .NET Switchless Installers. Are you suggesting that I Slipstream those onto another disc w/ my XP pro, or to just burn the 2 .NET Framework files on Ryan's site onto a seperate CD for AFTER the install.

3. I made a backup already using Acer's software, but I already converted both partitions to NTFS and don't have any image software. I honestly don't have much desire to go back to what Acer gave me, though.


4. What would you recommend that I use to blast the Hard drive before installing XP? Are there any CD Versions of Linux that I could use to clear it all off?

5. Regarding drivers, I will probably attempt to put those that JohnnyT in his How To thread threw back on. That's my initial plan.

 

1. I'm glad you pulled the keys, I hope this helps other people in the future! ^_^

2. RyanVM has 2 parts to his site which are helpful. The first is switchless installers ".exe's" that you run while in windows (not the pre-envyroment). And the second is his auto update .cab's that are used in the windows pre build envyroment (while installing windows).

I currently have .net 1.1 and 2.0 + hotfixes + mp10 + secondary updates slipstreamed into my windows disks.

I was simply suggesting that you go and use the .exe's to install 1.1 and 2.0. It saves time and is faster

3. I'm glad you made the backup,this is what is key. It's also good to hear you have oem copies of home and pro (I also have copies of both) and this is more useful than any restore dvd or feature avalible.

4. I use DBAN - http://dban.sourceforge.net/ It's free, it's linux, and it's used by the government when they want to erase critical data from old computer systems (before they ya know, crush em, etc.)

5. Drivers are fairly straight forward, the only suggestion I have is this. Don't use the .exe's to install the drivers, unzip them and point the missing driver in device manager instead. This also cuts down on bloat (Especially in the intel wireless drivers). Intel is nice and tires to install and take over windows default wireless configuration utilties Linking the .inf in device manager solves this problem.

6. I would go out and download 3 .cab files and make a custom windows disk b4 you go and blow windows away and install pro.

Go check out Ryan VM's site and snag his post SP2 hotfixes + MP10 and secondary hotfixes + Foxy's .net 1.1 and 2.0 (google it). Slipstream them with his default intergrator and remake the .iso with nlite (or that's what I use). I update of my operating system's disks each month so that when I need to grab a pc off the shelf and format it for a customer (rebuild, new install, etc.) it's up to date and saves time.

I also took the liberty of converting a Windows Media Center Edition 2005 disk and shrinking it into a single 702MB disk from it's previous 2 disk install If you want help in doing so lemme know.

Overall you look good Keep it up

--ssx--

 

Thanks again SSX.

Regarding your final thoughts:

I see that you recommend using Ryan VM's hotfix packs, which I was planning on doing. Since nLite can pull packs from archive files, do you think I could skip using the Ryan VM application alltogether, and bundle everything up with nLite?

 

I would not reccomend it and here is why. Nlite has issues with update packs at times and RyanVM does not suggest using it (which I don't). You can use his update application to extract the contents of the disk to your desktop or designated folder, slipstream the various packs and .cabs into it. Then you can use nlite AFTER this process for what ever you want (auto installation, unattended processes, etc.).

I keep mine vanilla (untouched) because I install it on various customers hardware (laptop, desktop, tablet, etc).

I would keep it untouched, but that is just me.

--ssx--

 

I have posted alot of info here on the as5672. It may be helpful to you.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=77995

 

Thanks, JohnnyT.

I've been following that thread. Some good stuff in there.

Going to get everything prepped tonight. May go ahead w/ the install as well, but it depends on time...might finish it here at work tomorrow, too.

 

Status Report: Had a few Red Bulls in me, so I decided to take care of the install last night.

Here's a few points:

1. Windows XP Pro Install went smooth.
2. Drivers and Software went okay. I had to download the European Webcam software. Also tried the Logitech drivers first to no avail, and Acer's US version.
3. Tried flashing the BIOS, and mine already had the European version on it.

Everything's running really smooth, and I'm left with one Minor issue.

I have a splat in Device Manager: It comes up under type of 'Other'.

Upon investigation, the device is:

ACPI/SMCB000/

After doing some googling, I've discovered that it's the ACPI driver that's missing (well DUH ;P). But for some reason, I can't seem to find that driver on the Acer website. I'm sure it's there, I just can't figure out what they have labelled it.

 

It could possibly be your infared,bluetooth,or card reader? Have you tried after installing the bluetooth stuff to switch it on in the front, after I swithced it on it finished installing the rest of the drivers.

 

JohnnyT: About 3/4ths of the way through the Bluetooth installation it got to a point where I thought it had stalled out. I remember a dialogue box came up, so I flipped the Bluetooth switch and it finished out.

I suspiciously think that it's IR related, as I only recall installing the FIR Driver and I notice that Acer's site also shows a CIR driver. I THINK I may have just installed one of them. We'll see if that clears it up tonight.

Looking at the Euro Site, it appears that the CIR driver, that I didn't install is for the Customer Infared for remotes. I'm unsure if this would cause that problem or not.

 

When isntalling the bluetooth, it doesn't hang it just takes a long time. I installed it by first going through the whole installation and restarting. Then once the computer is back up into windows I turned on the bluetooth and it installed more drivers. Are you sure that you have installed the card read? I would make a checklist of things, just to make sure you have everything.

 

Card Reader's fine. I even used it to get the Euro Webcam software, w/ an SD card.

I'll double check my list.

I have verified functionality on Bluetooth and the Card Reader, so I'm not really sure what's going on, and the fact that it's showing as ACPI makes we wonder if it's something related to Power Management, though that install went really smooth, after installing .NET on the box.

If someone without any splats in Device manager could check to see if they have anyting listed under "Other" or can see any ACPI controllers listed of the Hardware Tree, maybe we could figure out what driver it is.

 

The device was the CIR device. JohnnyT was right. After I installed it, Blammo, everything worked great.

Bad news, though. The keys I extracted before I began don't work on XP Pro, nor do they work on XP Home (reinstalled into that last night) so I'm going to have to buy another license of pro.

 

Could someone pls give me the link to that kinda "drivers-install-order" since I´m planning to install a new XP on my Acer 5672, too.

 

Could someone pls give me the link to that kinda "drivers-install-order" since I´m planning to install a new XP on my Acer 5672, too.

 

chipset
video
audio
lan
wireless
video camera
5in1 card reader
cir infrared
Windows Updates (snag .net 1.1 and 2.0)
Acer EPower management

That should do it

--ssx--

 

Great, thank you SSX4life!