Solved Gradual Deterioration

[ROBFUSCATE]

Hi, I was given and Acer Aspire 5520 - Acer Support: Aspire 5520 Series Specifications - some time ago which had Ubuntu installed. I used it like that for a year or so, but want to run a Windows based database program so I purchase a Windows 8 DVD and installed it. Worked like a charm, for a couple for days.

Then all of the tiles on the new interface disappeared leaving just the background. If I opened the Task Manager using Alt-Ctrl-Del then I could get onto the Desktop and work there.

After another couple of days, the PC would boot up to a screen saying that it required Activation and to open settings - I'd click on the button to open Settings, but nothing would open - it would go to a white screen then to the desktop.

Later again it wouldn't even go anywhere, just sit on the background to the new interface.

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I have now refreshed, repaired and completely reinstalled W* and on each occasion the above series of rolling failures occurs.


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Processor / Speed	AMD Turion 64 X2 dual-core mobile technology
Core Logic Chipset	ATI M690G chipset
RAM / Max RAM	2 GB of DDR2 667 MHz memory,
Video Subsystem	ATI Radeon X1250 integrated 3D graphics with up to 896 MB of HyperMemory (256 MB of dedicated system memory, up to 640 MB of shared system memory), supporting Microsoft DirectX 9, PCI Express
LCD Properties	15.4" WXGA TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 pixel resolution
Hard Disk Drive	up to 160 GB Hard Disk Drive

 

[theog]

All Linux code must be deleted using the CLEAN ALL command.As you have had linux on the HD you need do a Clean all & full format.


Try Cleaning the HD Drive, using Step one in this tutorial:
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Forums
& than Reboot PC to install.

 

[ROBFUSCATE]

Thanks, I'll give that a go and let you know.

I should have mentioned that I ran the W8 Release Candidate for a couple of months with no issues like this, then reinstalled Ubuntu.

 

[ROBFUSCATE]

Well, that didn't work - quite the opposite.
I did the 'Clear All' stuff, then when I tried to format the disk DISKPART gave me an error saying that there wasn't enough space to perform the operation.

So I tried to install and W8 says
"We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one"

 

[theog]

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.

Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure

 

[ROBFUSCATE]

OK, thanks, that's a job for the weekend I think!

 

[ROBFUSCATE]

Just on the offchance, I shut everything down and started the Windows 8 disk from power off - as opposed to straight from DISKPART. It's installing as we speak, so let's see if this solved the deterioration problem.


Later: Here's an interesting thing - the installation dialogue asked for a bunch of info which it didn't ask for the few last times - my colour choice for example.

Even later: many things which didn't work previously are now working - IE for example.
An oddity, though. I went into Settings to Activate and it said I couldn't activate 'right now' - pressed the button and it did activate anyway.

I've decided not to install anything until I've been using this for at least a week to see if it's stable.

 

[ROBFUSCATE]

I think I have this sorted.

Everything worked fine until I installed the monitor driver, downloaded from the manufacturer, so I can get the correct 1280 x 800 rather than 1024 x 768 which the generic driver allows. Once I installed the driver all of the symptoms above reappeared; uninstalled it and they went away.

It's ugly, and disappointing, but I can live with the incorrect resolution.