Need help to re-install Windows on Aspire laptop

Hello,

I am about to re-install Windows on my friend's laptop, an Aspire 4520.

I am not super familiar with laptops, however I have noted that at the top
of his desktop, there is an utility program, a toolbar that I think is called Empowering Technology. My friend uses it mainly to check his battery charge
level, although there are a few other tools in this bar, like "acer eData Security Management".

The problem is, if I reinstall Windows, all programs on the Windows partition will be erased. That included this program/toolbar. And I don't know where to get back it back...like where to download a new one for installation.

Can anyone help ?

Thanks for your replies.

 

Use Erecovery to create backup discs before attempting to reinstall windows. You can then use the backup discs to to reload to factory defaults, exactly as the C: drive was when new. All the drivers and applications preinstalled. You can also use the recovery partition to recover to factory defaults. If you look in the C:\Book\ directory, there should be a .pdf copy of the users manual. It will tell you what all the empowering software does. If you absolutely must do a reinstall of the OS, the drivers and some apps can be found here.

 

I posted the following a month or so ago. You may find it useful.

 

Ok, 2 things:

#1 The computer right now has Vista, but the OS I will
install is WIndows XP. I think some of your answers were considering I was to reinstall Vista, which is not the case. Does that change anything to your answers ? Is there something particular I should be aware of, before installing XP ?

#2 Paten gave me a shortcut ( http://support.acer-euro.com/drivers/notebook/as_4520.html) to download the Utilities.
But on that page, there doesn't seem to be any way to download anything ! There is no download button. How can you get the utilities from that page ?


Thanks for your support.

 

If you are going to xp you don't need the software on that page. It is for Vista.

Personally, I'm done with XP. Vista works just fine for me on my laptops. Try searching the forum here for posts on downgrading to XP. There are plenty of people doing it. I'm not one of them.

 

Well, my friend is the one "downgrading" to XP, and I approve his decision. Particularly when you look at all the problems other users have experienced; please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Windows_Vista and if that doesn't scare you, I don't know what will

Concerning the page http://support.acer-euro.com/drivers/notebook/as_4520.html , it does have elements in it for Windows XP. But whether you want stuff for Windows or Vista, there doesn't appear to be any functionality on that page, no way to download anything. Can someone clarify this ?

 

Highlite the file you want to download in the pull down menu. Hit enter.

EDIT: Okay, the page doesn't seem to have any thing listed in the pull down menus. Go to the FTP site. Link at the bottom of that page. Find Aspire 4520 folder. Look inside. However, it is still all Vista drivers and apps. You want XP.

 

Here ya go!

Acer empowering platform v2.3.2026
Acer ePowerManagement v2.0.2030
Acer eData Security v2.0.3079
Launch Manager v1.01.1e (for hotkeys)
Acer GridVista v2.53.0209
Acer ePresentation Management v2.0.2014
Acer eLock Management v2.1.2004
Acer ePerformance Management v2.0.2009
Acer eSettings Management v2.3.2020

All these work for Windows XP, hope this helps

I'll post these in a new thread, 'cause I know others will be interested, I've seen this question asked plenty

 

Many, many thanks, Bob !