Solved Can't re-instell from Factory Recovery Dsks. Possible MBR

[llelajack]

My daughter brought her Gateway NE71B laptop to me because it was running like a snail. She had NO anti-virus software so I plugged in an external HDD and created what I thought was a Recovery Partition. When I had the computer boot to the external drive I tried the auto repair twice and failed both times.
When I tried to recover from the external drive I got an error message that said I/O error that could be caused by the fact that a portable device needed to be plugged in to continue.
Didn't know what to do so I unplugged the drive and tried again. No bootable devices found. Plugged the external drive back in and got the same I/O error. So I thought I'd just order the recovery media from Gateway. The day it arrived, I put the System Recovery disk in, It booted to the recovery screen with 3 options; Full recovery (original factory setup), Full recovery after removing data and Exit. I've tried both the first 2 options and up pops a window that says; Recovery must be done in Legacy Mode.
So I changed the bios from UEFI to legacy, restarted the computer with the Sys. Disk still in DVD tray, It start to load the recovery screen and up pops a window that says; Recovery Can Only Be Done In UEFI Mode.
If I were to guess, I would say I have an MBR virus and it's playing tricks with me.
I've ordered a new identical hard drive to install when it arrives and hope to be able to get the recovery media to get back to normal.
Can anyone tell me if I'm on the right track?

 

[theog]

Are you booting the Gateway Recovery DVD in UEFI mode from the One Time Boot Menu?




Enabling the boot device menu

On most Acer systems, you can use the F12 key on boot to select the drive or network from which loading the operating system. In case the F12 option does not work, you may need to enable this function.

SOLUTION

Enabling the F12 function:

1.Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F2 key, or the DEL key if you have a desktop, to enter the BIOS.
2.Press the right arrow key to select Main.
3.Use the arrow keys to navigate to F12 Boot Menu, and press ENTER.
4.Select Enabled, and press ENTER.
5.Press the F10 key to save changes and restart the system.

 

[llelajack]

Tried that.

I've already entered Bios and selected the F12 option to show on startup screen. If I hit F12 a window is displayed saying there are no bootable devices to select. Even when the recovery CD is in the drive.
I know very little about Windows 8 but I sure miss the F8 button so I could get to the command prompt and do a fixmbr.

 

[theog]

Try one of those.

From the desktop:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2269-system-recovery-options-boot-windows-8-a.html
or
From the Repair CD/USB:


How do a Refresh:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html


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


How to do a System Restore:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4692-system-restore-how-do-windows-8-a.html

 

[llelajack]

I can't get back to Recovery Env.

I apologize if I seem ignorant but the situation is that when I created the Recovery Partition to my portable hard drive, it wiped out the OS itself.
I have since erased the data on the portable drive thinking that when I got the Factory Recovery CD's all would be well. Unfortunately, I was wrong and now I cannot enter into the windows environment whatsoever.
Turn it on and no bootable device found. Put the System Restore CD in and I get the UEFI/ Legacy go around as mentioned in my original post.
I appreciate your help but I really think the MBR is messing with me. That's why I ordered a replacement hard drive.
I hope it has MBR already on it! Don't know.

 

[llelajack]

NO Luck

Thanks THEOG for the hyperlinks but none will work because I can't get to any Windows screen to perform any of those solves.

 

[theog]

Take a look at this on Acer.

http://community.acer.com/t5/Tablet...nstall-windows-8-with-recovery-DVD/td-p/74319

Use the following steps to reinstall Windows 8:

1. Put your Iconia Tab W510 into its docking station.
2. Connect the powered external DVD drive to the mini-USB port on the tablet. Use the supplied USB converter cable.
3. Connect the USB mouse to the USB port on the docking station.
4. Insert the disk labeled System DVD into the DVD drive.
5. Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F2 key or the DEL key if you have a desktop, to enter the BIOS.
6. Tap Security, and then choose [Set] to create a Supervisor password.
7. After your password is set, select Boot, then select Enabled and choose Disabled to disable secure boot.
8. Tap Main, than tap F12 Boot Menu. Change the Boot Menu setting to Enabled.
9. Press the F10 key to save changes and restart the system.
10. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F12 key to enter the Boot Menu.
11. Select the DVD Drive, and press ENTER.
12. After the system recovery program has loaded follow the prompts to reinstall the operating system.

13. Some systems require more than one Recovery Disc. If this is the case, insert the next Recovery Disc in the sequence, when prompted.

14. If prompted to reinsert the System Disc, please so.

15. Note: Some systems may not require this step.

16. Once the reload is complete, the system will prompt for all Discs to be removed and the system will reboot.

 

[llelajack]

Don't Own an Iconia 510 Pad

Not sure what the Iconia 510 is but I just goggled it and it appears to be an Acer Tablet at hundreds of dollars.

THEOG, when my new hard drive arrives, do you see any problems with restoring Windows 8 using the factory recovery CD's?

 

[theog]

Take a look at this on Acer.

ICONIA W510,how to reinstall windows 8 with recove... - Acer Community

Use the following steps to reinstall Windows 8:

1. Put your Iconia Tab W510 into its docking station.
2. Connect the powered external DVD drive to the mini-USB port on the tablet. Use the supplied USB converter cable.
3. Connect the USB mouse to the USB port on the docking station.
4. Insert the disk labeled System DVD into the DVD drive.
5. Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F2 key or the DEL key if you have a desktop, to enter the BIOS.
6. Tap Security, and then choose [Set] to create a Supervisor password.
7. After your password is set, select Boot, then select Enabled and choose Disabled to disable secure boot.
8. Tap Main, than tap F12 Boot Menu. Change the Boot Menu setting to Enabled.
9. Press the F10 key to save changes and restart the system.
10. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F12 key to enter the Boot Menu.
11. Select the DVD Drive, and press ENTER.
12. After the system recovery program has loaded follow the prompts to reinstall the operating system.

13. Some systems require more than one Recovery Disc. If this is the case, insert the next Recovery Disc in the sequence, when prompted.

14. If prompted to reinsert the System Disc, please so.

15. Note: Some systems may not require this step.

16. Once the reload is complete, the system will prompt for all Discs to be removed and the system will reboot.

Should work for all ACER's.

Not sure what the Iconia 510 is but I just goggled it and it appears to be an Acer Tablet at hundreds of dollars.

THEOG, when my new hard drive arrives, do you see any problems with restoring Windows 8 using the factory recovery CD's?

NO.

 

[llelajack]

External DVD drive with A/C adapter

Sorry THEOG. I didn't read far enough to understand what the article said I needed.
However, I should get the new Hard Drive Monday. I'll install it and see if the recovery cd's will get me back to factory default. If not, I'll follow the instructions you pointed me to and try that route.
Thanks.

 

[llelajack]

Problem Solved

Installed new hard drive, restored BIOS to factory default, started the laptop with the Recovery Disk in the DVD drive and away it went.
Hard drive must have been killed by a virus or just went bad at the same time?
Thanks for all the help!!!

 

[theog]

You are welcome.