Acer Hidden Recovery Partition

You are welcome , and you deserve some credit too , all this months that I am around , no one had ever think to do what you did ..

Regards !!

 

Thanks and regards.

 

Hi. Thanks for your time and help, and sorry for my bad english.
Lilanswer, I tried this procedure but in th recovery console its shown a message like "Cannot get Restore.dat file".

 

Restoring the MBR like that doesn't always work. You have to run a few more commands to bring Vista back to life:

bcdedit /store c:\boot\bcd /set {default} os partition=c:
bcdedit /store c:\boot\bcd /set {default} deviceos partition=c:
bcdedit /store c:\boot\bcd /set {bootmgr} os partition=c:

 

Hi, i am new here and this is my first post so please forgive me if i dont seem to understand what has happened and why.

I have recently purchased an Acer Aspire 6920G. Vista Home Premium is installed and after playing about a bit i decided to reinstall using Alt+F10. this worked just fine and returned everything to "as new conditions" . However, yesterday i thought i would be brave and install Windows 7 to see how it would run, what it looked like etc..and to be honest it was all ok except for some drivers etc. This is where my problems started.
Upon pressing ALT+F10 i am now greeted with WINDOWS BOOT MANAGER

There are 3 options in there...
WINDOWS 7
WINDOWS 7
WINDOWS SETUP [EMS ENABLED]

I wasnt sure what to do here so i reinstalled vista using my burned restore discs (i wasn't so silly as to not burn them).

Again..the ALT+F10 brings up WINDOWS BOOT MANAGER
If i select either of the WINDOWS 7 options, the computer boots into vista as normal
HOWEVER..
If i select the WINDOWS SETUP [EMS ENABLED] option, the windows enters the restore mode and i am fully able to reinstall to default settings.

Everything else works perfectly except for this one thing...
I have trawled the internet looking for this but can't seem to find anyone who has the same problem...
Any ideas as to what i can do to get things back to normal...it is not catastrophic as i am still able to restore if needed..and also have my backup dvd's...but i would like to be able to return things to as they should be

Thanks in advance

 

Your HD MBR had be rewritten ..

Check my links, about how to restore the MBR with the ACER one.

 

Thanks for that..but unfortunately it did not go well.I have reinstalled Vista using the Recovery Discs...and everything is just fine. But now when i press ALT+F10 nothing happens. It just loads vista as normal. The recovery partition is still there and as a test i was able to use it to make another set fo recovery discs (just in case). D2D is enabled in bios...but doesnt work..and niether does the recovery function of eRecovery...it just reboots the computer as normal.
I have checked in the PQSERVICE partition and there is a NAPP.txt there and lost of NAPP stuff..but nothing that relates to NAPP.exe although when i restore from discs it does show NAPP.exe running in a dos window during the install.
Is it possible that the VISTA install mbr is different from the XP mbr...because there is nothing on the partition with mbr in it's filename anywhere (and i have shown hidden and system etc) BUT on the backup discs there is rmmbrwin.exe (maybe i have spelled that wrong)
Tried phoning acer..and they didnt have a clue either...HOWEVER
i do have access to an aspire 5920..which runs the same vista as my 6920G. would it be possible to copy the mbr (or do i need bcd) and then put it to my 6920G? if so, what tools would i need to do this

 

Spookman

If you do not understand English ... you are forgiven ..

 

Hi guys,

My problem and solution below

PROBLEM

• Windows XP won't load on Acer Aspire One due to a corrupt DLL
• Repair using recovery console in Windows would not work
• Unaware of ALT+F10 option at this stage
• Attempted reinstall of Windows, made things worse

After snooping around on the net, I learned about the hidden partition and the ALT+F10 option.
I had overwritten the master boot record during my fiddling around, so the ALT+F10 option would not work for me.

SOLUTION

1. As various people have recommended in this thread, I downloaded Ultimate Boot CD from here www.ultimatebootcd.com
2. I burnt UBCD to a CD (duh)
3. Connected an external CD drive to the netbook via USB
4. Set the BIOS options to boot to CD first
5. Launch the UBCD interface > Filesystem Tools > Partition Tools > Cute Partition Manager
6. This app takes a while to load...give it a few minutes until the blue user screen appears.
7. Two Hard Drives should appear in the list. The first one is most likely the hidden recovery partition. Under the 'Boot' column it will most likely say 'no' and the 'Total Size' column should say '4.88gb'.
8. Make sure this drive is highlighted and press F5 on the keyboard to 'Change boot flag'. This will tell the hidden partition to boot the next time you restart
9. Press F4 to Save your settings
10. Shutdown the netbook
11. Disconnect the external CD ROM
12. Restart. The Acer e-Recovery software should now launch. Success!!!
13. Once complete, reconnect the external CDROM, lanch Cute Partition Manager again and set the 2nd larger Windows Partition to boot. This is important. If you don't do this, the e-Recovery software will continually start when you reboot the computer.
    
    I hope this comes in handy for someone!

 

Loading a third party MBR boot manager its a known solution .

Any way , thanks for the tip .

 

I stayed up until 2 am this morning reading all of the posts that my eyes could stand on this thread, but alas, I am still stuck.

I have recently purchased a Gateway 3103u (Acer based netbook). Vista Home Basic came stock on it. I have upgraded the RAM to 4GB (which it took fine) and ambitiously wiped and loaded Vista Ultimate x64. I am having a hell of a time with drivers (I have contacted Gateway for driver, but I'm still waiting), and I would really like to cut my losses and return to Vista Home Basic.

In the F8 menu, I do not have the option given to me to Recover. I do not have any luck with Alt+F10, so I have done the usual. I have downloaded partedit32 and have executed it so that I can see the PQService partition. (My directory calls for D:\rytools\mbrwrwin.exe...) I have disabled D2D in my BIOS. Here is where it gets hairy...

Running the Command Prompt as administrator, I type in "D:\rytools\mbrwrwin.exe install rtmbr.bin" This is what I get:
"Searching for free space ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Find a free ssector at sector 12, move old MBR there.
Moving previous MBR ... OK.
Error loading file: rtmbr.bin"

(it's at sector 12 because I've tried this that many times already)

I've tried rebooting Vista into Safe Mode with Command Prompt and I get the same thing.

I am seriously stumped here. I've checked the partition six ways to Sunday, and I can't find any errors-except for this one.

The Recovery Disks are about 2 weeks out from Gateway (*doh*) so I've got time to play.

Thanks ahead of time to everyone who can possible help.

 

OMG-I actually found it!

Go here: http://www.fixya.com/support/t223496-d2d_recovery

Go to Solution #3 (I used link #2) and download then extract and then run the dat file-it fixes it for you!

I hope this helps anyone that was "out there" like me-and THANK YOU to all the people out there that keep these forums up. You guys are LIFESAVERS!

 

Thats a common cure , and we have speak about it, about 1000 times .

For me , I will call it as a miracle , if some one post a download link of the MBRWRDOS.EXE

Elaine3931 , I do not like to take your joy away , but the above fix its an easy tip supplyed officially by ACER.


I am closely follow this thread mostly from curiosity , as I know well that the basic solutions are all ready known .

I have to Admit that what Andrajos proposed few posts back , was a truly smart workaround.

And about such solutions I am interested most ..

 

Easy for you to say! It wasn't your baby that was sick!

I wasn't able to get any Acer info because the goobers at Gateway...well, they're goobers (some things don't change.)

Anyhoo, I'm just happy it's fixed.

 

Who needs the recovery partition. I deleted it

 

I too tried this solution and worked for me on my 8930G as I have dual booted vista 32 and 64.

 

For those wishing to purchase the Recovery CD's, I was able to purchase mine from Acer using this link: https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer

 

Never purchase recovery disc just activate using Acer OEM license you are entitled to if your laptop came with Vista Preloaded.

 

Gateway models do not use RTMBR.BIN, they use rtmbrgw_vista.bin or rtmbrgw_xp.bin (depending on your OS being Vista or XP). They are also in the folder on Gateway models. Trying to use Acer's MBR will only cause the system to not boot (or launch eRecovery via ALT+F10).

 

Well I will be quick on my reply .... One Laptop that travels ,
are always on danger , to end up with corrupted OS , due an impact - or sudden power loss , due the impact .

If this happen , you will left , moving around one brick, on your vacation or work time .

The ACER restore , its your only hope , to turn the damaged brick ,
in to a working laptop .

Simple as that .

 

Wow thats confusing info ... and this thread are watched by many ACER owners ..

Imposing software of another laptop builder in to the hardware of another brand , its a mistake ...

 

I think that this link will let empty handed , any Acer owner of the European union .
My laptop, it is registered at ACER Europe ..

 

Hey Elaine which RAM did you use to upgrade? I thought the 3103 maxed out at 2GB.

 

Acer Aspire 4315 / Windows Vista Home Basic

Attempting Factory Restore via Hidden PQservice Partition

Hard drive (C prev formatted and Vista Reinstalled (somehow) but now corrupt due to Viruses / Addware / Spyware

PQservice Partition still present and in tact.

Have exhausted every suggestion offered on every forum / google search I have been able to find to no avail.

Namley:

(1) Disable D2D in bios / Unhide recovery partition / copy mbrwrwin.exe + rtmbr.bin to Route DIR / mbrwrwin install rtmbr.bin / re enable D2D in bios / reboot / Alt F10

Result = File:\windows\system32\winload.exe

Status: 0xc000000e

Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because
the application is missing and corrupt

(2) Unhide partition / Mark as active / reboot

Result = Nothing or same as above.

As an experiment I aslo made a clone of the PQservice Partition using Norton Ghost / Copied to another partition on another hard drive / Restored image / rebooted (on a separate machine) and got same result as above.

Viruses / Spyware problems have now been resolved and machine is in working state, reasons for wanting to continue now personal interest.

Please Advise / Extremely frustrated / thanks in advance.

 

Acer Aspire 4315 / Windows Vista Home Basic

Attempting Factory Restore via Hidden PQservice Partition / Alt+F10

Have attempted all the above and keep receiving the following upon rebooting and pressing ALT+F10

(Same result if I unhide PQSERVICE Partition and set active

File:\windows\system32\winload.exe

Status: 0xc000000e

Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because
the application is missing and corrupt

As an experiment I also made a clone of the PQservice Partition using Norton Ghost / Copied to another partition on another hard drive / Restored image / rebooted (on a separate machine) and got same result as above.

Please Advise / Extremely frustrated / thanks in advance

 

Okay bright spark work around this one:

Acer Aspire 4315 / Windows Vista Home Basic

Attempting Factory Restore via Hidden PQservice ParHition

Have attempted all the above and keep receiving the following upon rebooting and pressing ALT+F10

Same result if I unhide PQSERVICE Partition and set active:

File:\windows\system32\winload.exe

Status: 0xc000000e

Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because
the application is missing and corrupt

As an experiment I aslo made a clone of the PQservice Partition using Norton Ghost / Copied to another partition on another hard drive / Restored image / rebooted (on a separate machine) and got same result as above.

?

 

Apologies for the double post.

 

Well there is good news and bad news as I have found out with the Acer PQService partition. The good news is if you have made a backup of the partition it can be restored. The bad news is if you did not then you are out of luck. I have the PQService partition for an Acer 5536 if needed and can mail if need be. So here we go.
I used Macrium Reflect Free Edition http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
once you install this you can right click on the 1-PQService and choose to create an image. this will be around 9.756GB good news is this will automaticaly backup the MBR so you dont need to mess with trying to do all that.
Once you make a backup of that partition you can do whatever you want with the laptop including upgrading the hard drive ect. You say ok so that sounds good but how do I restore it back to factory once done. Good question here is the answer.
You can do this however you want I was away from home and just had a few things with me. I used the MAC OSx86 install disk to pretend to install OS X Leopard used the disk utility to create an MSDOS FAT32 partition of 10GB then the rest of the HDD was MSDOS FAT 32 as well. I gave this partition name Acer. Then I installed vista on PARTITION 2 DO NOT INSTALL ON PARTITION 1. ****YOU WILL NEED TO REFORMAT FOR VISTA TO BE INSTALLED ON PARTITON 2***** did not bother with drivers ect. I reinstalled Macrium Reflect Free Edition http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
Chose to restore image select the 1-PQService file and let it do its magic just follow the instructions. Once that is completed restart and press Alt+F10 and it will boot into restore mode. Questions you may email me. Hope this helps.

 

Thats a sin against heaven

 

I got a New HDD cuase the original is broke. I finished the factry recovery proccess with disk i orderd to Acer, but my computer doesn't boot up. The screem show the Acer Log with a message "Prepare to boot OS", then the screen is black with a blinking dash in the upper corner. May some one help me? I check the RAM. OK.

 

I just purchased an Acer AspireRevo nettop (like the Atom netbooks, but no screen, keyboard, or mouse) system and used Macrium Reflect Free Edition to backup the PQSERVICE partition to an image file. Also using Macrium Reflect, I chose to mount the image as a browseable partition on P:\. Looking through the partition, I located the Windows Image file:

P:\AcerBoot\SOURCES\BOOT.WIM

Using the ImageX utility from the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) I mounted this image file for browsing, and what I found is pictured below. We know Acer puts everything needed in the PQSERVICE partition, and this WIM file is where they've packaged everything needed to rebuild your factory disk image.

There's one more really good reason for backing up your hidden PQSERVICE partition: you can trace the entire disk image build process.

Have fun . . .

 

Those files are, what they say.... NAPP version 7.0 ..

In other words, they can not help old laptops , that needs lower versions of NAPP.

 

Actually, the NAPP program iteslf may work very well for older laptops. The \D2D\Images\*.SWM files Acer uses to assemble the system image are the items specific to each combination of laptop model, Windows operating system, and os release. These files are segments of a total .WIM image file which the ImageX utility appends together to create the first-run/out-of-box-experience (OOBE) bootable image. Including the correct hardware drivers package, this is how Acer's NAPP builds and restores the factory configuration to your system's hard disk drive.

Running the NAPP executable outside of this directory brings up the utility's GUI (it displays Packard Bell branding.) The initial step of this utility is to mount the existing disk partitions on drive letters like M: and N: for performing file manipulations. Then the overall actions are driven by *.DAT/*.INF files telling the utility what operations to perform like disk formatting, partition creation and naming, etc.

 

This your speculation ..

In praxis , this is not possible .

Your laptop are new .

If you had an old laptop , and try to install newer version of the windows Acer tools that activates recovery .... you will get a message of incompatible NAPP version .

The NAPP version of files stored on the hard drive , MUST BE 100% compatible with the ACER software running on windows .
Or else there is no cooperation .
In this story , you cannot run recovery or backup due windows.

If you think that you are smart .. ACER are smarter !

 

True, that is my optimistic speculation.

Attached are the the text files Flag.log and NAPP7.log from the root directory of the PQSERVICE partition. Fortunately, these files are clear text. Observe the Flag.log section header that says [NAPP6] even though the version of the NAPP program used is 7.x Also notice the NAPP7.log final line that says "NAPP6 Finished". The Flag.log file shows the control flags the NAPP program uses to apply features. The file NAPP7.log shows the program using Microsoft's Windows utilities Diskpart.exe, ImageX.exe (as a callable DLL library) and Bootrec.exe to partition, build, and make a bootable disk.

 

Attached are other .DAT files from the PQSERVICE partition (renamed to .txt for attaching here) These files control and direct the NAPP utility operations. The file RESTORE.DAT was an empty, zero-length file and could not be attached.

 

I located the file where they start the NAPP (New Acer Preload Process) program during the WinPE (Pre-Execution) process. In the \Windows\system32\ directory, there is a file named winpeshl.ini that tells the Windows PE shell program (winpeshl.exe) what to execute. It contains two lines:

[LaunchApp]
AppPath = X:\RyTools\NAPP7.exe

 

Courtesy of nabiy's 2/10/09 post on this blog page comes the proper imagex.exe command syntax for joining all of the SWM files Acer includes in the recovery partition:

imagex /ref *.swm /export POP01021P2EN3C21.SWM 1 acer.wim "Aspire Image"

This syntax merges the *.SWM files into a single large .WIM file which can be applied to a disk partition. Once applied, several additional "patch" command files and scripts are executed to finalize the clean, new "factory" image the user experiences when they first power on the computer.

 

can some help with the recovery process. I buy the recovery disk from Acer and use them. Now my computer get to the Acer launch and stalls at 4 out of 5 installs. I tried reinstalling and now it gets to 1 of 2 and just sits there saying thank you for using Acer. Everytime I restart my computer the Acer launch pops up and the only way to get it to go away is to launch Task Manger and close it.

 

i have it, http://ulozto.cz/3040475/mbrwrdos.exe

it is from travelmate 2413wlmi

 

I have acer aspire 4920 laptop … after I formatted my machine and created new partitions (C,D,E). When I tried to re install acer eRecovery file I got this message: "Not D2D system cannot find any installable component "

When I tried to use my factory default DVD which I burned earlier, but faild due to corrupted image file (S1E4X405.066 )

I would be very grateful should any generous person send me this file.
This file is about 50 mb and requires to be uploaded to a website where I can download from.

If you have acer aspire 4920 factoury default DVD or CD you can find this file in the "IMAGE" folder.

Many thanks and regards

 

Hello,
I have managed to make my laptop work AS 5720ZG, after a HDD failure (3 weeks out of warranty), but with a new install of the OS.
I would get back the original system, as I have several backups, but the eRecovery does not work. Changed the HDD to a smaller one, and later a bigger size, but no luck, I have copied another pqservice partition, and the eRecovery can make new backups (haven't tried get back the system from that), but doesn't work with the old backups. I have all the files, backed up on an external drive, and on DVDs too, so officially it should work, but got error message, I forgot it exactly, but means no succes on restore...
And bad thing is, distroy the MBR, so than I need to restore it again (from acronis)
Could you please help me?
Thanks

 

mickifin you are an angel ... but this download server has serious issues ..

It looks as 100% advertising link than download service. !!

Edit...
Ok got it with allot trouble ..




C:\DOWNLOADS>mbrwrdos.exe ?

mbrwrdos for Dos Usage:
mbrwrdos -clear ..... clearing 2-63 sectors at track 0
mbrwrdos -dump n ..... dump the content of nth sector
mbrwrdos -dumppart n ..... dump parti table embeded in nth sector
mbrwrdos -dumppart all ..... dump whole partition table
mbrwrdos -hide/-unhide n ..... hide/unhide partition n
mbrwrdos -directh/-checkkey/-hide1st/-unhide1st/-simsetint15/-setactive .. int
ernal use

mbrwrdos backup filename ..... backup MBR to file
mbrwrdos backuptrack filename ..... backup 1st track to file
mbrwrdos restore filename ..... restore file to MBR
mbrwrdos restoretrack filename ..... restore file to 1st track

mbrwrdos install filename ..... install filename to MBR
mbrwrdos install overwrite name..... don't move old MBR to safe place
mbrwrdos uninstall ..... recover previous MBR
mbrwrdos uninstall parttbl ..... recover partition table only
mbrwrdos mount hdx:y ..... mount harddisk x, partition y
mbrwrdos boot hd0:x ..... to set Acer MBR to boot from x partition
<to boot from 1st primary partition, use hd0:0>
<to boot from 1st logical partition, use hd0:4>

Nice !!

 

After reading through all these answers I will just ask the question (again).
Acer 5520 w/160HD, crashed, backups blank, ordered new ones from acer (1system and 2 recovery). After system boot, first recovery disk inserted and then get error D2D32 Type Mismatch.
All things here point to a partition issue but how do I partition with no OS?

 

@abrigger You need to use a partition tool, I prefer terabyteunlimited's Boot-It Next Generation (BING). You can use it free for 30 days so try it. http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootit-next-generation.htm
It should also enable you to do the things others are using PTEDIT for, such as activating partitions, changing their types, repairing MBR, booting multiple partitions. It's a swiss army knife.

@anyone -- It has been asked several times in this thread... and I want to ask this too: All this effort to create a D2D restore, why? The best-yet-weak answer was that someone may be traveling and not have the recovery disks (d'oh, take the disks along!). But rather than reading 40 pages of forum thread and buying $60 Acer disks which don't work -- why not apply a small amount of effort to creating a bootable flash drive with the OS installation on it? You will need to borrow a copy of Windows, of course. I just don't see the need for the recovery partition to sit there taking 10GB and making thousands of users upset when it disappears or is unreliable.

@abrigger Also, borrow someone's OS discs and load up using those. You will get 30 days of free use, and during that time you can activate Windows over the phone using the number on the sticker applied to the computer. Put your money into buying other software you will use. Such as good imaging software (again, BING does that). Win 7 and Vista, I think, will let you install using any of their versions -- it's the license key which tells what product you will have after activation. With XP you need to be more precise about what you borrow.

 

My D2D recovery also failed. that was awaste of money spent on blank DVDs to make them. kept gettting error 3 file path not found or missing.
Trying to borrow a OS disk is much easier said then done. many people dont have one. many computers don't come with any. i don't kknow where to borrow an OS disk. and trying to find a clean copy to download..........forget it.

 

Have you looked at this thread? I think it might be of some use.

 

Great point about needing a clean source for files. So here's an answer:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&displaylang=en

Thanks to http://www.bootdisk.com/ which has been around for years and years.

 

We do have freedom , we do have the right to say what ever we think right.

But hey , if you dislike the fact that ACER had provide , the perfect single utility , that restores and creates back up , of your latest software configuration ...

Thats you own problem ...

Millions ACER owners , who use the laptop and the software of it , with the correct manner , had no issues at all .

This thread started for all of them , who had injured laptops , and likes to restore them at factory defaults , by activating the ACER tools .

If some one likes to use other methods , he is free to do so.

But what is against LOGIC, are any teaching against the ACER utility !!!




.

 

@kiriakost I think you're suggesting I don't like Acer's utility, and I didn't say that. Nor did I say I was missing my recovery partition or my recovery disks -- I used mine "with the correct manner" I am interested to know why anyone would take this really hard method to solve a problem which can be solved with materials at hand or downloaded?

My motivation is to see if there's some good reason I should keep these two extra hidden partitions on my OEM computers. I have not seen one reason yet. Initially, I was afraid it was necessary to keep that around to prove to Acer my valid license or defend my warranty.

I can see that one's friends may not have Windows discs to loan you. In my own collection I have genuine bloatware-free CDs or DVDs for XP Pro, Vista, and Win 7 (I wish I had XP Home too). Yet I think there are legal ways to download at least a Windows which works for 30 days to get you back from your business trip and let you get activated again. Or, buy Windows 7 for $30 to $50 using discounts widely available. For some of these people, the cure gotten by reading this huge thread may be worse than the disease.