Acer reformat using retail Vista DVD.

I'm soon to be getting an Acer and I am almost positive that it doesn't come with a recovery cd. I really WANT to reformat it and get rid of all the crap pre-loaded. So if i use a friends Vista dvd can i use the serial number on the bottom of my acer notebook???

 

Maybe as long as it the same version and you have a valid COA. I would use the key with the disc to install, then change it and try to activate it using your key. It's much easier to change the key in Vista.

 

Should I keep windows Vista or should I put an extra old copy of XP home that I have lyin' around on it?

By the way I am looking to purchase this one tomorrow:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Specifications-of-Acer-Aspire-15-4-Widescreen-Notebook-PC-5630-6288/sem/rpsm/oid/185213/rpem/ccd/productDetailSpecification.do#tabs

 

i really dont think you can do that because its a retail cioy and not an OEM disk. What you can do is go buy a retail version of vista then install it thats what i did as soon as i got my mine. Good thing acer always has a place where you can go download the drivers

 

There is no reason to do this acer unlike dell and other manufacturers doesn't include pre-loaded "crapware" with their notebooks. The only annoying stuff that acer loads is the acer empowering technology software which can be easily removed via windows add/remove or if you choose to use it you can but its functionality is already built into windows power management. They will also include the NTI CD/DVD burning software (OEM) which is very nice .

This is a major reason why I respect acer they don't include all of that aol etc trial nonsense! The only trial software that you will receive with your notebook will be a three month trial of norton antivirus, and acer is so kind as to not install it but they give you the disc so you can decide if you want it or not.

As for the recovery discs you will make those when your first power on the notebook erecovery will prompt you to place a DVD into the drive and it will create the backup discs, manufacturers do this now to save themselves some money.

 

If you decide to reformat using the erecovery discs will the computer be back to its original state using those discs?

 

Yes. Erecovery essentially copies what is on the hidden recovery partition and puts it onto the discs so that they can be used to recover the notebook to factory specifications. Disc 1 will be bootable so all you have to do to reinstall windows will be to place this disc in the drive and restart the notebook and the recovery will start. It will restore drive C only and not touch the backup data partition (drive D). Also if you choose you can use the hidden recovery partition instead of the discs to reinstall windows just hit Alt+F10 at the POST screen and follow the instructions.

(Note: as with all manufacturer recovery discs, it isn't like a classic windows disc in that it only contains an image and therefore cannot be used to repair a windows installation only to reinstall it.)

 

You can use the retail DVD of windows vista to do a clean install. Just pick which ever version of vista you have on your Acer laptop(home, business or ultimate). Do not put in a serial number during your installation. You have 30 days to activate. Once you are up and running with windows vista, activate. Since it is a retail version, you will probably have to call Microsoft to activate. It is a harmless process.