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The Acer Guy Forum » Problem corner

1. 

   Posted by: djrh
   Member

   Hi guys,

   I am having a weird issue. I am trying to install Windows XP or Windows 7 on an Aspire One AOA150 netbook, but it fails. It has a 160gb hdd, and I AM ABLE to install Ubuntu on it.

   Here is what happening. I use a usb stick (tried two different, don't think the USB stick is the problem).

   1. For Windows XP, I go through the text portion, and when I start the GUI portion, I get the XP logo, and it just sits there forever. I can see the bar under the logo scrolling, but it's not the smooth scrolling, it looks kinda choppy. There is no disk activity what soever (hdd or usb).

   2. I tried with Windows 7, and similar things happen. It goes through the initial progress bar, then I see the Win 7 logo, then the logo disappears and the screen turns black. It just sits there forever with no activity.

   3. I've also tried to run a Windows Live USB, but similar thing happens - it just hangs at the beginning.

   I have also upgraded the BIOS using the FN + ESC method, but it did not make any difference. Also, I do not see the AHCI option in my BIOS (even after the update).

   Ubuntu installs and works without any issues whatsoever. Do you guys have any ideas? I spent 3-4 days trying out different things and am already out of ideas. Last thing I could think of i borrowing a USB DVD from a friend, but I don't think this would do the trick.

   Thanks in advance.

   Posted 2 years ago #
2. 

   Posted by: djrh
   Member

   Tried with the USB DVDROM - same thing, no go.

   Please help.

   Posted 2 years ago #
3. 

   Posted by: TechieDiva
   Moderator

   did you try ubuntu first? if so, you will probably need to wipe the hard drive and repartition and reformat it for windows use. Windows and linux use different boot loaders. the linux bootloader may still be present preventing windows from loading.

   Posted 2 years ago #
4. 

   Posted by: djrh
   Member

   Thanks for your reply, I have repartitioned and reformatted via the XP install.

   I think I was able to identify the problem - either a faulty memory stick or vga problem. I tried loading UBuntu live CD (was going to edit the boot.ini file to include logging and debugging), and it gave me an error CANNOT LOAD X DESKTOP. Weird because I was able to install the Ubuntu netbook version. Go figure ...

   The unit goes back to ACER for repair.

   Posted 2 years ago #
5. 

   Posted by: sinam777
   Member

   Take out HDD (google around - there are videos explaining that, and service repair manual for Aspire One), connect to another PC, install and open up Active@ Partition Recovery, select this HDD, go through menu - Tools-Fix MBR (Create Typical MBR), in first popup window select Yes (agreing to fix MBR), in second select No (agreing to fix MBR and delete all partitions on HDD, because Yes- you agreing to fix MBR without deleting all partitions, but be sure you back up your data, if you have any). Then with Acronis Disk Director wipe this HDD. Then repeat fixing exactly the same with Active@ Partition Recovery. Go back to Acronis Disk Director, create partition - primary and set it active. Format with NTFS (if you want to Install XP or later, and if its not SSD). Then shut down PC, take out your HDD, back to the netbook. Now you can install any Windows if you haven't other problems with your netbook. Better try installing with external DVD drive, because USB drives sometimes fail.

   Posted 2 years ago #
6. 

   Posted by: sinam777
   Member

   And make sure you disabled D2D Recovery in BIOS-Main, because as said in Service Repair manual this
   "Enables, disables D2D Recovery function. The function allows the user to create a hidden partition on hard disc drive to store operation system and restore the system to factory defaults."
   This should be disabled.

   Posted 2 years ago #

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