Help Please - Not Sure If It's Windows 7 Or My New Notebook

[Mobi]

I have just purchased a new Acer Aspire 4736.

I downloaded Windows 7 and installed.

Everything worked fine and I have started to download and install virus software, windows live etc, all of which work.

First time I tried a DVD it worked perfectly but on subsequent tries, sometimes it worked, and sometimes the screen froze and I had to log off and crash the notebook as the log off never finished.

Then it seemed to be ok so I tried to put in a software cd to install some propriety software (legit cd). The first time the files came up on the screen but the window then froze when I hit setup and same problem as above.

Then the notebook wouldn't accept any cd's or dvd's. Just froze when I right clicked and I had to crash the system and restart.

I then reinstalled Windows 7.

The first time I put a Cd in, the software CD files came up and everything worked Ok. then I put a dvd in, and the screen still showed the previous software cd as present, even though I had taken it out. When I tried to play the dvd, the system froze again.

I have also repaired and restored to previous points and tried again. Same problem each time, even though the Windows diagnostic repair tools report no problems.

So I am wondering if this is a problem with the Acer or with Windows 7. Has anyone else had similar problems, and what do you think is wrong?

Thanks

[LivinLOS]

Well your using a beta os.. Sure it might work for some people but its not ideal for a daily use machine..

[Mobi]

Well your using a beta os.. Sure it might work for some people but its not ideal for a daily use machine..

I didn't say it was.

I have 3 other machines that are working fine on XP.

I'm looking for advice as to whether I have a faulty Acer or is it W7 that's causing the problems.

Your remarks are unhelpful.

[MKAsok]

I'm looking for advice as to whether I have a faulty Acer or is it W7 that's causing the problems.

Boot into safe mode. If the drive works okay, it's most likely a driver or firmware issue with Win7. If it doesn't, it's most likely a faulty drive.

[H2oDunc]

Well your using a beta os.. Sure it might work for some people but its not ideal for a daily use machine..

I didn't say it was.

I have 3 other machines that are working fine on XP.

I'm looking for advice as to whether I have a faulty Acer or is it W7 that's causing the problems.

Your remarks are unhelpful.

Calm down ladies Mobi Livinlos is just saying that the windows 7 you are using is a pre release test copy for evaluation. The chances are that the problem lies with 7 rather than the laptop You would be better having a dual boot system when using a beta version of a OS so if you have a problem you can boot into Vista or XP etc and see if the problem remains

[Mobi]

Well your using a beta os.. Sure it might work for some people but its not ideal for a daily use machine..

I didn't say it was.

I have 3 other machines that are working fine on XP.

I'm looking for advice as to whether I have a faulty Acer or is it W7 that's causing the problems.

Your remarks are unhelpful.

Calm down ladies Mobi Livinlos is just saying that the windows 7 you are using is a pre release test copy for evaluation. The chances are that the problem lies with 7 rather than the laptop You would be better having a dual boot system when using a beta version of a OS so if you have a problem you can boot into Vista or XP etc and see if the problem remains

Yes,I've been trying to load windows XP all day and may have completely screwed up the lap top. Can't even restore the machine to factory settings as I have no recovery disxc and the back up menu on the lap top has vanished - if it was ever there.

I'm quite calm thanks, but if I didn't know that windows 7 is a "pre release test copy for evaluation" - quite apart from the fact that it says "evaluation copy" on the bottom right side of my screen, then I have no business turning on a computer.

Edited May 24, 2009 by Mobi

[Johnxxx]

I have just purchased a new Acer Aspire 4736.

Thanks

Did the DVD drive ever work before - longer than your install? Are the DVDs printed (original legal CDs) or copies (burned)? To me the story looks like a bad drive or a drive that has reading problems or media that is damaged. Latter you can check with a different computer.

My experience Thinkpad 770 - changed DVD drive 5x because of reading problems. Desktop with Liteon drive - changed it 4x because of reading problems. But perhaps I am wrong in your case.

Anyhow - you just purchased - better to talk to the dealer within 7 days and not wait that YOU have to send it to the company. Now it will be still more a dealer problem and he will give you a replacement if the computer is faulty.

Edited May 24, 2009 by Johnxxx

[Guest Reimar]

Mobi:

you may check out the Acer has an hidden Partition with the Recovery Software. If so, you should be able to use the key combination Alt + F10 while start the laptop. That will gives you the option to restore to Factory default (as you bought the laptop).

About the problem of Windows 7, I can't tell anything! I use an 3 years old Acer Laptop with Windows seven since Pre-Beta and without problems. All other computer with 1 exception using Windows 7 in my Office and Home as well and without problems!

Download the Trial Version of Everest, run it and check the hardware firmwares with the hardware manufacturer about problems with some OS pp. If new Firmware is available, download and update the hardware. Maybe you'll have to use a professional service for that.

Cheers.

[webfact]

My guess is that you should replace that drive.

Sounds like the reader is off. Could be just trouble with burned cd's, but sounds you

likely will have trouble with all disks.

Still under warranty? Visit your dealer a.s.a.p.

[Mobi]

I have just purchased a new Acer Aspire 4736.

Thanks

Did the DVD drive ever work before - longer than your install? Are the DVDs printed (original legal CDs) or copies (burned)? To me the story looks like a bad drive or a drive that has reading problems or media that is damaged. Latter you can check with a different computer.

My experience Thinkpad 770 - changed DVD drive 5x because of reading problems. Desktop with Liteon drive - changed it 4x because of reading problems. But perhaps I am wrong in your case.

Anyhow - you just purchased - better to talk to the dealer within 7 days and not wait that YOU have to send it to the company. Now it will be still more a dealer problem and he will give you a replacement if the computer is faulty.

I don't know if it ever worked before as it is a new machine and I just downloaded W7 on my desktop and then loaded straight onto the Acer. Everything seemed to be Ok at first - I tried a dvd movie and it was fine. Then I tried the Acer disc which came with the new machine, and problems with that. I eventually managed to open the disc after after nummerous tries and copied it onto the hard disc. After that I tried some ORIGINAL software (eg a printer driver) and had problems loading. Even the movie wouuldn't work sometimes. All the discs I tried worked fine on my desk top using XP. I'm beggining to think you are right and it's a fauty machine. My attempts to load Windows XP and my impatience seem to have fcked up the machine compltetely. See my additional reply to Reimer below.

[Johnxxx]

I don't know if it ever worked before as it is a new machine and I just downloaded W7 on my desktop and then loaded straight onto the Acer. Everything seemed to be Ok at first - I tried a dvd movie and it was fine. Then I tried the Acer disc which came with the new machine, and problems with that. I eventually managed to open the disc after after nummerous tries and copied it onto the hard disc. After that I tried some ORIGINAL software (eg a printer driver) and had problems loading. Even the movie wouuldn't work sometimes. All the discs I tried worked fine on my desk top using XP. I'm beggining to think you are right and it's a fauty machine. My attempts to load Windows XP and my impatience seem to have fcked up the machine compltetely. See my additional reply to Reimer below.

If you have Nero on your system you can try cdspeed.exe It should be in the folder

C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Nero Toolkit

Or if you have a different version - look for cdspeed.exe in the Nero folder in Nero Toolkit.

Use the tap Disk Quality. It will give you an idea about the media quality or the reading quality of your drive. If you do the same on a different computer you can find out if it is the media or the drive. But for using this tool it has at least to start to read a little bit.

But anyhow - still stick to a drive problem and if you are within the 7 days RUN to the dealer with the computer.

Edited May 24, 2009 by Johnxxx

[Mobi]

Mobi:

you may check out the Acer has an hidden Partition with the Recovery Software. If so, you should be able to use the key combination Alt + F10 while start the laptop. That will gives you the option to restore to Factory default (as you bought the laptop).

About the problem of Windows 7, I can't tell anything! I use an 3 years old Acer Laptop with Windows seven since Pre-Beta and without problems. All other computer with 1 exception using Windows 7 in my Office and Home as well and without problems!

Download the Trial Version of Everest, run it and check the hardware firmwares with the hardware manufacturer about problems with some OS pp. If new Firmware is available, download and update the hardware. Maybe you'll have to use a professional service for that.

Cheers.

I have tried many times to access the hidden partition with the recovery software, and have tried Alt + F10 amongst many other ways. I even have a special "back-up" button on the lap top, but nothing happens when I press it. I suppose it is possible that I have deleted everything, including the hidden partition

I am very impatient and have got more desperate as the day has worn on.

In an attempt to test the DVD drive on Windows XP, I put the Windows XP installation disk in and tried to install. The first time it wouldn't install - presumably because there was a conflict with W7. So I ran the installation disc again, and half way through the installation I reformatted the hard disc as I thought this would delete the W7 software. But ever since then Windows XP has refused to install - it loads all the files and then reaches a point where it encounters some problem and won't go any further.

So then I got really smart and tried to repartition my hard disk using G.Parted software. I have done this, but still the same problem with XP

I have now succeeded in re -installing Windows 7. Seems to run OK, but no sign of the DVD/CD ROM in Windows Explorer, or listed in "My Computer". Just the hard disc C, no removable storage disc. It's gone completely!

Back to the shop tomorrow, and try to tell them I didn't do anything!!

[Mobi]

If you have Nero on your system you can try cdspeed.exe It should be in the folder

C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Nero Toolkit

Or if you have a different version - look for cdspeed.exe in the Nero folder in Nero Toolkit.

Use the tap Disk Quality. It will give you an idea about the media quality or the reading quality of your drive. If you do the same on a different computer you can find out if it is the media or the drive. But for using this tool it has at least to start to read a little bit.

But anyhow - still stick to a drive problem and if you are within the 7 days RUN to the dealer with the computer.

As you can see from my previous post I cannot access any cd's or DVD's now. In any case, I only have Window media player, which comes with with W7. I couldn't install any more software due to all the problems.

Let's see how I get on at IT City tomorrow.l

[Johnxxx]

As you can see from my previous post I cannot access any cd's or DVD's now.

Sorry - but this statement of you confused me:

"Then I tried the Acer disc which came with the new machine, and problems with that. I eventually managed to open the disc after after nummerous tries and copied it onto the hard disc."

Anyhow - talk to the dealer.

[Guest Reimar]

If you have Nero on your system you can try cdspeed.exe It should be in the folder

C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Nero Toolkit

Or if you have a different version - look for cdspeed.exe in the Nero folder in Nero Toolkit.

Use the tap Disk Quality. It will give you an idea about the media quality or the reading quality of your drive. If you do the same on a different computer you can find out if it is the media or the drive. But for using this tool it has at least to start to read a little bit.

But anyhow - still stick to a drive problem and if you are within the 7 days RUN to the dealer with the computer.

As you can see from my previous post I cannot access any cd's or DVD's now. In any case, I only have Window media player, which comes with with W7. I couldn't install any more software due to all the problems.

Let's see how I get on at IT City tomorrow.l

If you've an Acer Service Center at your area, I would go there because they should know to best what to do with your laptop.

Good luck.

[Mobi]

As you can see from my previous post I cannot access any cd's or DVD's now.

Sorry - but this statement of you confused me:

"Then I tried the Acer disc which came with the new machine, and problems with that. I eventually managed to open the disc after after numerous tries and copied it onto the hard disc."

Anyhow - talk to the dealer.

There was an Acer supplied disc with user manuals etc on it. I had a lot of problems running it as it kept freezing/crashing the system. But I finally managed to successfully load it and then I copied and pasted into a folder on on my laptop so that I could access it easily without crashing the system again

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Today I'm off to the dealer

[Mobi]

I went back to the shop and they reformatted and installed Windows XP (Acer edition) and everything works fine. Windows 7 is no longer there.

So there is something on my Acer that is incompatible with Windows 7.

The engineer at IT city just shrugged his shoulders.

I cannot find any info about firmware updates or updated drivers on the Acer website, .

Any further suggestions?

Thanks

[Guest Reimar]

I went back to the shop and they reformatted and installed Windows XP (Acer edition) and everything works fine. Windows 7 is no longer there.

So there is something on my Acer that is incompatible with Windows 7.

The engineer at IT city just shrugged his shoulders.

I cannot find any info about firmware updates or updated drivers on the Acer website, .

Any further suggestions?

Thanks

If you've follow my advice to download Everest, you'll get all hardware infos include the manufacturer of the drives pp. If you have that infos, you can easy check with the Hardware Manufactuirer (others than Acer) about new Firmwares or even use third party sites for that.

If you had "upgraded" from XP to Windows 7, than that problems were coming from there. Direct upgrades from XP to W7 resulting in problems most of the times. You've to resize the existing XP partition and install W7 on the new, now fee space while creating a W7 partition. Than there shouldn't be a problem like the probs you had reported here.

Cheers.

[Mobi]

If you've follow my advice to download Everest, you'll get all hardware infos include the manufacturer of the drives pp. If you have that infos, you can easy check with the Hardware Manufacturer (others than Acer) about new Firmwares or even use third party sites for that.

If you had "upgraded" from XP to Windows 7, than that problems were coming from there. Direct upgrades from XP to W7 resulting in problems most of the times. You've to resize the existing XP partition and install W7 on the new, now fee space while creating a W7 partition. Than there shouldn't be a problem like the probs you had reported here.

Cheers.

I didn't upgrade because I didn't have XP there before - I just installed a clean W7 rc on a brand new machine. Now I have XP and no W7.

Thanks for the info on Everest. I will download and see how I get on.

[monty]

If you insert the Win7 DVD, while WinXP is running, the install screen from Win7 will come up.

One of the choices you have is to check for compatibility. You'll get redirected to a Microsoft webpage where you'll have to download a program.

Afterwards, when you run that program, it will tell you what hardware and/or software will have problems, or will lack the proper drivers.

Theoretically, if that test comes up clean your laptop should run fine on Win7.

Unfortunately the theory is not always the same as what really happens

[Mobi]

If you insert the Win7 DVD, while WinXP is running, the install screen from Win7 will come up.

One of the choices you have is to check for compatibility. You'll get redirected to a Microsoft webpage where you'll have to download a program.

Afterwards, when you run that program, it will tell you what hardware and/or software will have problems, or will lack the proper drivers.

Theoretically, if that test comes up clean your laptop should run fine on Win7.

Unfortunately the theory is not always the same as what really happens

Thanks Monty. I will try that when I have the machine fully functional on XP.

The strange thing I have discovered is that very little works in XP until I have downloaded all the software from the disc supplied, such as wifi, blue tooth, etc, yet all this worked without downloading software in Windows 7. Even though I had problems with the DVD drive in W7, Windows media player did play the movie, but it won't in XP without me downloading a decoder from the net.

So am I correct in thinking that Windows 7 comes with some key software already embedded?

BTW, the IT shop in Pattaya is pretty useless. The Acer was delivered with an installation CD for software, much of which is in Thai! No help or suggestions from the shop as to what software I need to install for basic functions, like wifi and blue tooth. I ended up installing everything on the disc, even though I didn't know most of what I was installing.

Yet if you go to IT City you will see that nearly all the customers for Acers are farangs.

The technician couldn't even explain to me why the "backUp" key on my Acer didn't seem to work. He just shrugged his shoulders.

The dreaded Thai service looms again.

I will report back when I try W7 again.

[monty]

I don't like ITCity.

I tend to buy in the smaller shops specialized in laptops, there's about 3 bigger ones around. They know much more about laptops then the goons at ITCity.

I once brought in an expensive laser printer (color) for a minor repair (busted USB port) and got the printer back with a worn out transfer drum. Printer stopped working 500 pages later. Replacement: 12,000 Baht, should last 20,000 pages, I did maybe 2000 in all on that printer. They did a lucrative swap. Never thought on checking the transfer drum, only checked the toner cartridges...

The thing is with winXP, is that it is quite old, so it does not have any drivers or software for very recent hardware as it was all designed after winXP (or the latest service pack) came on the market.

Win7 has pretty much ALL drivers for any hardware currently on the market, even stuff which is not on the install DVD will be included in the very first update Win7 does.

Which is one of the reasons win7 stands at 2.4GB, where winxp is a mere 0.5GB

I remember in the first days of winXP, where most hardware worked without having to fiddle with drivers, whereas with win2000, almost each and every peace of hardware needed software/drivers etc... It's just evolution!

[Johnxxx]

BTW, the IT shop in Pattaya is pretty useless. The Acer was delivered with an installation CD for software, much of which is in Thai! No help or suggestions from the shop as to what software I need to install for basic functions, like wifi and blue tooth. I ended up installing everything on the disc, even though I didn't know most of what I was installing.

After this surprising experience Win7 might create further problems...

If you are looking for the latest drivers for your notebook look at

http://www.acer.co.th/acer/service.do;jses...;CRC=4122151113

and click on the first entry on the RIGHT side written in Thai - below Driver Download. The rest is English again. Check your OS (XP or Vista) AND your language.

I have set up two Aspires for friends and my experience was that the included driver disk is pretty useless because old.

Often you can see more than one driver for the same device on this site - check first in your system the name of the installed driver then.

[Mobi]

This morning the Acer froze and when I re-started I had the same problem I had when I first bought it. The curser running across the page, like a "sticky key" and it was unusable.

Took it back again, and he reformatted, re-installed XP and this time he loaded all the drivers and software from his external hard disc and told me not to use the Acer supplied disc for installing software. He is convinced it is a software problem, but I'm not sure. I will run it for a few days on Xp and see if the problems come back. If it does I'll take it to Bangkok as I don't think these guys here know what they are doing.

On the front of the key board there is one of these proprietry engrained stickers that tell you what is in the computer. Amongst other things it includes, Microsoft Office, McCafee anti virus, and Bluray. I asked the guy for Office Software and he said it didn't come with that model. I showed him the sticker. He said the sticker didn't mean anything. "you also didn't have MccAFEE AND bLUrAY which is also on the sticker." Then he asked me if I had "Backup Manager" which was also on the sticker. I said I don't know but there is a special key for it which I showed him. He pressed it and said "well it doesn't work does it?"!!!!!!

I couldn't stop laughing. A sticker telling you what is in the computer but it's not really in the computer - just a pretty sticker to look impressive and mean nothing!!

Then he offered to install a pirate Office, FOC . Which one do you want? Office 2003 or 2007?

[monty]

Mobi,

What is the exact model?

Normally Acer puts inside what is on the stickers.

Mine didn't have windows installed but Linpus, and it clearly states so on the stickers on my laptop!

If I recall correctly the price you told me, then indeed it would not have Windows installed. And sure as heck, Acer is not going to put Blue ray stickers on it if it doesn't have a blue ray drive inside!

I think the shop is pulling a stunt on you (and other punters), putting stickers on from non existing software/hardware obviously to make it sell.

[Guest Reimar]

Looks like you'll have no other choice than to go an real Acer Service Center.

About the sticker: they may tell something or nothing! If the sticker tell's that this Laptop is capable to work with some named programs, that tell NOT that those programs are on this computer.

If it tell that there is a program preinstalled, it should works.

In case of MS-Office, that version is mainly a 60 days trial version with limited functions!

Cheers.

[Mobi]

Mobi,

What is the exact model?

Normally Acer puts inside what is on the stickers.

Mine didn't have windows installed but Linpus, and it clearly states so on the stickers on my laptop!

If I recall correctly the price you told me, then indeed it would not have Windows installed. And sure as heck, Acer is not going to put Blue ray stickers on it if it doesn't have a blue ray drive inside!

I think the shop is pulling a stunt on you (and other punters), putting stickers on from non existing software/hardware obviously to make it sell.

It's an Aspire 4736. The sticker is an "Aspire 4736" sticker , with the model number and specs on the right and what software etc is included on the left.

Reimer, there were virtually no programmes loaded, they were all on a disc that came with the notebook.

When I took it back the second time, he loaded all the software/drivers etc from his own external hard disc, and told me not to load anything from the disc. So Monty, maybe you are right.

I shall see how it behaves before I have another go with Windows 7. So far so good.