As the OEM I think they're somewhat obliged to supply you with a means to reinstall the correct version of Windows on that laptop ?

Although I guess they might try to say they do so as a partition on the original drive, but most other manufacturers I've had experience with will readily ship disks for a small fee if the original drive is corrupted.

Yes, I was surprised by their attitude. Lady was polite but of no use whatsoever. I'll have another go just as a matter of principle.

Well, W8.1 full version i.e. mine to keep with the Key and 64 and 32 bit discs - turned up in an envelope so thin I thought it was junk mail. The shape of the discs was pressing through the thin cardboard.:ugh:

It was sent by Microsoft.

I prepared the USB stick as described and simply copied the files onto it really not believing it would work. After all, didn't we have to have everything in its place in the DOS /s days? Anyway, it starts the instal procedure, but I stopped there because the notes said load the drivers at the same time for a smooth installation. Mmmm . . .

What, just plonk them on the USB as well like a post script? Curiouser and curiouser.

Loose rivets,

Well done in persisting on getting the disks.

Have you tried without worrying about drivers ? Assuming you can get a system up and running you can always install the drivers later (e.g. if networks don't work, download the drivers elsewhere and install).

There are ways and means to install drivers at the same time, but its not particularly easy for end-users to do as it requires special software tools.

A lot has happened today. Hours, in fact all of my day. With the bit between my teeth I decided I shouldn't have to pay for MY key, and started out about mid day with a call to MS. Same oll' sameo. It's Asus. Asus, no, it's MS. Now I was trying to get a key that would work with this software without using my paid go. Huh!

Three calls each.



Now, here's another thing. I followed an Asus logo. Real and solid looking. After giving them permission to enter my computer, they were telling me all the faults they could see. She, a sweet sounding young lady, drew red lines around my faults. "But, but, if I'm formatting the drive, all of this doesn't matter . . . does it??????????"

I was told I was to be put through to the experts. They would find my Key. Ok. $99.99 please. WTF?????? Now I questioned her. No, I wasn't actually speaking to Asus. I was through to "MY PHONE SUPPORT" Now, the little angel spat nails as she spoke. Horrible. Without doubt sticking pins into my effigy.


Mmmmm . . . back to the real Asus. (Oh, by the way, they weren't interested in the bogus users of their logo. I wonder if they knew.)

Literally four hours of calm but forceful talks to both. Every time, contradictions and nonsense melded with some basic truths. This is just one email sent.

Mailer Dæmon killed that one. But they'll get to know the content when I finally speak to bosses. (yes, I will :E)

But no matter, I was now talking to someone (Asus) in a far-flung place that had exactly the same model of Asus on his desk. When he was realized this, he burst into life and told me he'd sort the problem right away. After 20 mins of yada-yada he asked me if I'd received an e from him. Excitedly I waited for my code based on the (one of many ) forms I'd filled in with Asus. When it arrived, it was an application to register my computer. :ugh: Oh, my. But, he did say from that new grand status, I could redeem my Key and that "not many operatives knew that". I said cheers, and no, I wouldn't fill in a survey right now thanks.

I filled in the application to register this now 18 month old product. ("Don't worry, we support our machines out of warranty, 24/7") Now after ages of finding the O in CANOCJ was in fact, CAN0CJ, I put in the serial number for the fourth time. Rejected. I hit upon NOT putting in the 12M clearly on the SN label. Success! Now, as a registered owner, I asked the question. I was presented with the vast form I'd filled in . . . to be a registered owner. It was about this time I opened a bottle of something that affects my brain but takes away the pain.

The last man had promised any W8 product would install. He put himself in that camp right away. So, I casually tried installing through to the Enter Key box. Excitedly I watched "Collecting Information" green bar progressing - I'd never seen this before, it must be getting my key, no? No. It moved 26mm and stayed there for the next half hour. And yes, I'd measured it with a vernier gauge.:rolleyes:

Just one more go since here I am refreshed at 21:30, and yes, if I put in the Key sent to me with the soft, I may progress. One of the options is for Load drivers. Mmmm... who knows. But if I do a normal install, I'll have lost the battle of principle. Only an old bloke with no life could afford to do this, so perhaps I'll carry on.

An addendum: Crikey, I don't know if I should format the little 100mb System Reserved partition. I assume if I want a truly clean install I should format this and drive C.

I've never considered this point before.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ps766f5083.jpg


Double crikey. I've just been reading that W8 needs 350mb for that partition. Mine is 100. I wonder if the setup will alter that, though I have a feeling it should be dispensed with and a format of the full C partition done prior to the instal - that 100 partition must have been made automatically by the W7 instal and I'd guess W8 would seize 350. But it's a guess.

Also, some folk copy the W8 files onto another USB stick. When the system fails to find files, they direct it to look there.

Yeah, wipe all partitions reserved or not if you're doing a clean install.

As for the rest of your saga, well, its amazing how difficult Acer have made it for you.

Last night I e'd the Belarc company. Got an e requesting the file that holds the data. I can't see any 25 digit number other than the W7 key and I'm wondering if the existing copy of W7 on there masks the BIOS code or even overwrites it. (shudder) I suggested that, but no reply yet.

Called BestBuy. Same Geek, same answer. They put in a Shop-floor copy of 8 and it just goes. Careful questioning made me think there were a lot of holes in his knowledge.

Driven by the same mischief that got me a new telly, I phoned Asus again today. A charming young lady was certain that an ordinary W8 disc would not be recognized by the system. I questioned her very carefully, and she was solid on the middle ground, that if a recovery takes place, there's no need for the Key, but in all other cases, you have to put in a new key. i.e. pay for new soft. I felt like I was talking to someone that was knowledgeable.

I guess now I need to attend to other things. Master cylinder to change now the temps are back in the 20s. I await Belarc's input with considerable interest.

Yeah, that probably makes sense as the recovery likely runs some scripts in the backgrounds to check the computer and skip through some checks.

Oh well, I'll leave you to your cylinders.

As mentioned I'm duplicating this statement since the thread got mingled with the Belarc thread. It's always a bad idea opening a new thread for an offshoot of the prime issue. Mea culpa.