Converting C: partition to NTFS

After searching the forums I've found one or two conflicting posts so I just wanted to make sure of what I was doing before going ahead. If I convert the C: partition to NTFS will the Acer E-Recovery still work fine?

Sorry for asking a question that I know has been asked a few times before but I just want to ensure I know what I'm doing is going to be fine.

 

NO your recovery disk WILL NOT work. The Acer recovery disks demand a FAT32 main (c:\) partition. They use a primitive version of Norton Ghost, and so that is why.

I know, its bad, but you can make your own recovery disk using nLite.

 

Let me clarify for you.

First and foremost there are 2 recovery options with each acer notebook sold. The first is a D2D recovery (disk to disk) in which a hidden partition is activated and images your hard drive back to origional factory settings.

The second is a restore image burnt to 5CD's or a single DVD. This method backs up and creates a restore image from the D2D files on your hard drive. This will allow you to boot of the CD/DVD and re-image your hard drive if you decide to format it etc.

One other thing to note about the DVD restore method is that it wipes out ALL partitions on your HDD and creates a single large FAT32 drive. So if you use this be forwarned.

------------------------------------

With that being said let me answer the rest of your question.

"If I convert the C: partition to NTFS will the Acer E-Recovery still work fine?" If you convert your C: drive to NTFS or merge C: and D: into a single large partition while keeping the PQSERVICE drive (the D2D partition) it will NOT work. However you will still have access to your DVD-R recovery method which works just as well.

A third option is to backup your critical data to another pc or media. And acquire an OEM copy of windows xp and use the key on the bottom of your pc. This is the best method for restoring / installing windows overall for two reasons.

#1. You have a single NTFS partition which frees up extra hard drive space.

#2. You have a single 4k cluster size of your partition. This allows for better performance (not to mention all the acer bloat is gone which speeds your pc up even more.)

Hope this explains it in detail.


--ssx--

 

I've used the recovery partition on an Acer laptop I had changed to NTFS from Fat32, worked fine. I'd even changed the drive from two partitions to one as well, the recovery partition just installed it all on the C drive.

 

Hi! I'm newbie on laptops and I still got a doubt.

This recovery DVD will restore the HDD even if I format the HDD, create a new MBR and join all 3 partitions (wiping out the PQSERVICE)?

What is in this DVD? Just an IMAGE from the system (as a backup of the system), or the entire instalation disks that were on PQSERVICE (Acer tools, Windows disks...)?

Sorry, I'm asking because I thought it would restore the computer to factory settings (fat32, 3 partitions, Acer's custom MBR) in case of a blank HDD (just formated and partioned) or brand new HDD.

Thanks!

 

It worked for me on my 1 year old Acer laptop. I joined the two drives and converted to NTFS, and I was still able to use the recovery partition to set it back to factory default. I'm not sure if Acer have done anythin in the past year to change that. I can't imagine so, the Norton Ghost utility will just be configured to format the C drive and install the files on it, which it will do. Its just this time the C drive is bigger and NTFS.

 

Going along with this whole topic:

If you do use the Restore DVD instead of the D2D option, and then your D: gets erased and combined with the C:, is there a way to get the D: back so you can utilize eRecovery to its fullest potential?

I've read on various posts that this just is not possible, that you have to send the laptop back to acer and they get a Service Engineer to do it ...

The reason I ask is because I did something stupid: I formated my brand new Aspire 5040 so that I could put my own copy of XP Home on it, but formatted and combined the 2 partitions (because I thought the D: was useless; I've had older computers where this was the case).

Now, to put my laptop back to the "original" condition I simply popped in the restore DVD that came with it, and viola ... the OS and drivers, applications, etc. from acer were back to normal (Media Centre Edtion). However, it didn't re-partition the C: so that I could also have my D: back ... I now only have a single FAT32 drive still.

Just curious ...

 

I like some of that bloat!

 

Any of that "bloat" that you oh so love can be downloaded from acer's site. I don't need Acer Arcade, trial anti-virus, no-name cd burning applicaitons, and other unknowns. All I need is Acer E_Powermanagement and possible teh quicklauch utility (but even that is iffy).

To each his own on what he or she prefers on their pc (hense why it's theirs). but personally I'll take a clean setup over an oem build any day.

--ssx--

 

Not the PowerProducer & DVD. But everything else is NOT needed for me. And I hate eEmpower management.

 

Hi. I've restored my 5672 with both methods, and the DVD restore left the D: drive completely untouched, including some files I had on it.