Hi, I am helping a friend with his crashed 7520. Vista bsod's on startup and continuously reboots. In the 'Startup Repair' utility, The 'System Recovery Options' box lists no windows Vista installations to repair, even after loading the proper storage drivers... When I browse for Drivers, I can access D:, E: (CD), and X: (??), but not C:. When I try to access C:, I am told I have to format it before I can use it... Looks like C: (and Vista) is toast. Luckily, There are no 'Lost Pictures, etc, issues on this one, just looking for a return to functionality.

• What do I need to do to get this machine bootable?
• Is there any way to recover from here?
• From what I have read so far, It seems I'll need a WinVista disk, but what Version?? (I can read the Product Key, but not the version info on the MS sticker).
• I've also seen lots of "driver recovery" CDs and downloads out there, but Do I need them? Will they help me recover the existing Vista install?, or are they just drivers that I can dl from Acer?
• What is X:?? a third partition??

Sorry so long winded, Thanks for any help.

Have you tried with Alt+F11 for recovery?

cheers ...

Ahhh, I had a feeling there was a key combo... but all I found were $10 - $25 "Free" driver disks... I will try that when I get back home.

Alt + F11 During bootup.

Thank you.

Alt + F11 During bootup Didn't help.

Still arrive at same "Windows error recovery" screen with options: Startup Repair, or Start Windows Normally.

I had always thought it was Alt+F10

indeed!

Alt+F10 Brings me to the "Edit Boot Options" screen, where my choices are; enter = submit, or Escape = exit.

The screen also lists a path statement, Partition: 2, Hard Disk: , and a command: /noexecute=optin

Entering through this screen only got me another try at booting Vista, and another BSOD...

I deleted the /noexecute=optin command, hit enter to save the change, and recovery started. I got a screen asking about recovery options, I chose "Restore to Factory Defaults", and was prompted to verify the laptop was plugged into Power because Restore would "take Lots of Power", then another "please wait" screen, then a minute later it rebooted, and I'm back to Vista/BSOD... I went back into System Recovery Options, and there is still no Vista listed in the repair window.

You want to give a shot with some input from this member here?

http://www.notebookforums.com/thread230167.html

cheers ...

Thanks For all the help folks, All I need now is a copy of Vista Home Premium. Anyone know if an Vista Ultimate disk will allow install of Home Premium?

You should be able to install Home Premium using the Ultimate disk. It is the serial key that determines the version of the OS on Vista.

If the COA key is on your notebook, you might need to call in for activation.

cheers ...

Yes, The key is there, but the version info is faded/rubbed off... I am assuming it is Home Premium (not my machine). but whatever the key allows is what it will get.

I will report back once I re-install.
Thanks.

Install and run BelarcAdvisor, I believe it will give you that info

All is well. Got a copy of Vista sp2, Installed using key on machine, Home Premium is up and running. Just need to find & load drivers... Thank You all for the help!

Thanks for the feedback. Good lucks with the drivers, I'd give ACER support the first look ;-)

cheers ...