[advice] I'm an idiot , need help.

I have a new laptop and rather foolishly ( or not , you decide) I partitioned the hard drive. Simple job , C:\ for the OS and D:\ for media. Now I cant use refresh or whatnot as I am told by "Acer" system settings my system configuration is not default and basically get lost lol. * high five Acer, thanks bro*

I have made a UEFI bootable flash drive with Win 8 on it , but am a little confused, as to the procedure. Yes I have set my BIOS to boot from it and yes , it works as I have tested it but cancelled the install.

Do I delete all the current partitions on it ? Obviously I want to keep D , but I mean the existing recovery partition etc.

Will a clean install give me a new recovery partition or will I have to create my own ? Like you had to do with Win 7.

Simple questions I know but Id rather get it right once and then all future clean installs will be a breeze .

Thanks.

You can use the Acer version of
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html

Windows 8 - Create a Factory Default Backup - Acer Recovery Management - YouTube
Windows 8 - Create a Drivers and Applications Backup - Acer Recovery Management - YouTube
Windows 8 - Restore Windows With a USB Recovery Drive - YouTube

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

You can Order Acer recovery disks from here:

https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer
or
Acer | Recovery Media
Check in Accessories
or check the main web site.
Acer Worldwide - Select your local country or region

Thanks so much for the links and advice really appreciate it , but I don't want none of that. Just some advice on a clean install.

Have you try a RESET?

How to do a Reset
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2302-reset-windows-8-a.html

Yes tried it , but "Acer" system settings are telling that my system configuration is not default ( because I partitioned the drive I guess) and it wont play dice , hence me wanting to do a clean install with no Acer junk included. Just want a "vanilla" windows 8 type thing.

My drivers are all backed up as well as the other stuff I'd like to keep. I made a typo in my OP (sorry ) my media partition is E and F is readyboost.



So what do I delete on a clean install please ?

If you want Acer's recovery function, you'll need to reset your partitions to the stock configuration and probably use the recovery to reinstall, unless the Windows installation has somehow survived all this... For obvious reasons, it's typically recommended that you leave it stock unless you know what you're doing...

If you're 100% sure you won't need or want any Acer recovery partitions in the future (as in you won't be able to restore them, save for sending it in to Acer) then all of the partitions would be fair game - none of them are necessary if you don't want Acer's recovery (corollary: all of them are necessary if you do want Acer's recovery - in the same configuration it shipped with).

If you don't want or need the Acer recovery, then it's all fair game. I've wiped the entire drive clean (all partitions deleted, new partitions set up) and installed Windows clean without any issues, but then you've got to download and install all the drivers and set everything up yourself. If you want to do that, you could delete all of the partitions and then re-create the partitions you want, then install Windows fresh. I'd only go this route if you know what you're doing, especially since Acer will tell you you're SOL if you can't get it to install and boot and your only option would be to send it in and pay them to fix it (probably not cheap either).

The ACER Recovery DVD will repartition the HDD to suit & setup the IRST acceleration cache.

Azaraith said:

If you want Acer's recovery function, you'll need to reset your partitions to the stock configuration and probably use the recovery to reinstall, unless the Windows installation has somehow survived all this... For obvious reasons, it's typically recommended that you leave it stock unless you know what you're doing...

Click to expand...

I was under the assumption that I could do the same thing as I have always done. I have another laptop , an Asus with Windows 7 preinstalled . I partitioned the drive and the recovery option still works without issue. Thought this laptop would be the same. Obviously not.

theog said:

The ACER Recovery DVD will repartition the HDD to suit & setup the IRST acceleration cache.

Click to expand...

So if I use that , wont I be back to square one again ? Ideally I want two partitions on my laptop , so if get it back to factory default I will only have one. Am I misunderstanding how Windows 8 recovery works ? I did say I was an idiot in the title of the post.

Thanks to you both Theo and Azaraith. + Rep for you both.