Questions: Changing/flashing the bios for a clean install + fixing Acer partitions/eRecovery

I'm thinking about putting a "clean install" of XP Home on my laptop (mainly to avoid possible USB TV tuner complications later on down the road), but I have a quick question:

Is it possible to update/flash my Acer Bios so that it's not an "Acer Bios?" I ask this because I cannot currently use my ALt-F10 eRecovery options, and having this feature on my Bios/system makes me think that my lappy is "broken." ... I hope this makes sense.

Also, I might NOT do this if I can get my eRecovery options working properly ... this is what's wrong:

I have the hidden partition (PQSERVICE) on my hard-drive, I have my C: partition, and I have my D: partition. However, months ago I deleted the D: partition but used Gparted to re-create it. However, for some reason I cannot use Alt-F10 during post (I can only use it in Windows), I cannot create my own "snap-shot" image (although the option is there, the process fails and then reboots back to Windows), and when in Windows I cannot "restore my laptop to factory defaults" (when I try to do this, the laptop simply reboots back to Windows). I can only use the recovery DVDs that I made ... I just want to get my laptop back to the way it was when I first got it, and use all of the Acer programs that came with it (although many people don't like them). Is it possible that the partition I created has the wrong "flags" or has to be hidden, primary, extended, etc.? Do I have to put particular files on the D: partition in order for it to "re-connect" to the eRecovery functions? Why does it seem that everything will be able to work in Windows, but once it tries to do everythin in POST it fails/reboots? Bah, so many questions!

Thanks a bunch!