Restore Acer Aspire 1650 to factory settings

Hi All

I am new to this and a complete dumb blonde when it comes to computers so, bare with me!!!

I want to restore my Acer Aspire 1650 back to the factory settings. I am suffering due to trojans, spyware etc.

The only problem is:

1. Alt+F10 doesn't work
2. Have no boot disk
3. Unable to burn bootable disk

Is there another way I can start a fresh? I have all my docs etc backed up on an external hard drive so, not worried about loosing everything.

Please help a damsel in distress!!! Debs http://forum.notebookreview.com/ima...m.notebookreview.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

 

Go into BIOS setup (F2 at boot if I remember correctly) and makes sure that "D2D Recovery" is set to enabled- otherwise ALT+F10 won't work.

 

It is enabled!!!

 

OK- why are you not able to burn a recovery CD/DVD?
Are you running Windows XP?

 

This is where it gets complicated. The cd/dvd will not complete due to errors at the end of download, I have tried putting it onto a usb that also failed! I am running Ubuntu within windows xp, I select the OS on boot up.

 

That may be why recovery partition is not active- boot settings have been changed.
Provided that the recovery partition is still there- have you tried using an application called Acer eRecovery to burn recovery CDs (which is in essence a copy of your hidden recovery partition made on CDs)
You'd have to do that from XP.

 

I don't think so but, I have tried to burn a bootable disk in xp and that failed also? Would this application be any different?

Whilst I wait for your reply I will log out and log into xp, as anything I need to do will have to be done from there anyway.

Back in a minute

 

I don't know if it's going to be any different but we have to try.
Do use use quality media- i.e. Verbatim CD?
Old burners and new disks don't go well together unless the disk is "known" bu the firmware and there's a special strategy for it- that's why (apart from higher quality) Verbatims are so good- every firmware has a strategy for it.

In case burning won't work I would give up on creating disk yourself (at least on this laptop) and simply borrow someone else's Windows XP CD and use it with the product key that you have on the sticker (bottom of the notebook)

 

I have used several different dvd/cds even bought a new batch. I do not wish to have xp any longer I am happy with Ubuntu which, is why I want to clear out my pc. I already have a disk with Ubuntu on it (albeit an older version but, I can then upgrade online). I was hoping there was another way I could clear it?

I also, forgot to say that I have previously burnt the Ubuntu disk on this computer with the same dvds??? So, I don't think its a problem with the disks and I couldn't put it on the memory stick either. I think there is another problem!

 

If you have a disk already, go into BIOS and change boot order so that CD/DVD drive is first and HDD is second and then attempt to boot from the DVD.

 

Already tried that, doesn't work?

 

What exactly happens when you boot with DVD set to first boot device and Ubuntu DVD in the drive?

 

Nothing, its as if the disk isn't there! Still get the option to choose OS or it defaults and opens xp. Sorry, if you have already had this message but, something odd is happening here lol

 

There's also a BIOS option of enabling boot menu that. When this is enabled and you see acer splash screen push F12 and then choose DVD.
Can you see the contents of Ubuntu DVD from Windows or Ubuntu itself (I want to make sure that the drive can see it at all)?

 

When I logged out and logged back in on xp I did double check that D2D was enabled and while I was there enabled the F12 menu. I can use ubuntu when I select at boot up and I can open and view the files on the disk when in xp.

I have also now checked that the F12 facility has the CD option selected which, it has.

 

Does it mean that the DVD drive doesn't even try to spin the DVD- just gets over it and boots XP?
If there is a problem with the optical drive itself we're in trouble as old Acers didn't have an option to boot from USB so it's either HDD or DVD...

 

I don't think it spins but, not sure I will try it now!! Bare with me

Ok just tried it now, the disk does spin but, it just doesn't have any effect!

 

It's an old laptop so it almost certainly uses an ATA connector for DVD drive. Do you have another old laptop or can borrow just the DVD drive for your laptop to test if it's gonna boot?
Does it even show the DVD drive in BIOS?

 

I do not have another old laptop but, I may be able to borrow one. I will need to go back into BIOS to check that sorry, back in a min and i would thank you for your help and patience its very much appreciated

Yes, it is showing the dvd on the info page of BIOS