Desktops & All-In-Ones

[tom85]

What BIOS version you've got?

[nobliti]

It has nothing to do with the BIOS version.... It is this silly new UEFI bios that Acer is installing on their machines. They have an enhanced BIOS feature through their default Windows 8 image.....

I had the EXACT same issue as posted, here is the solution to make your drive bootable options in the boot menu-

1.Completely shut down your computer.

2.Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press Delete to enter the

BIOS.

3.Use the right arrow key to select Authentication.

4.With Secure Boot highlighted, press Enter and then the down arrow to select Disabled.

5.Use the right arrow key to select Boot Options.

6.With Launch CSM highlighted, press Enter and use the down arrow to select Always.

7.Press Enter.

8.Press the F10 key to save changes and restart the system

Good riddance Windows 8!

[nobliti]

Also forgot to mention, this will also allow your install in Windows to go normal. Windows 7 has a UEFI interrface as well, that essentially marries that hard drive to that motherboard...

[yycheah]

Hi Nobility,I manage to install Windows 7 but there conflict for the driver for the eternet controller, USB 2.0 and the PCI Simple Communication controller,SM Bus Controller.

What should I do?

[mklsim]

You can download the ethernet driver from the intel site for Windows 7. Search for Intel 82579 Gigabit Driver

[murr2k]

You can also use all of the "Win8" drivers from the Acer support site that were originally meant for your Win8 computer. Win7 has no problem using these. I did this with my Acer X3-100.

[Bret1975]

Hi,

I have an XC600 Core i5 machine. I need to install Windows 8 Pro as I am connecting to a domain, I purchased an OEM Windows 8 Pro with the PC as I wanted to do a clean install and get rid of all of the rubbish installed by default.

I have followed all of the info here and changed the BIOS settings but when installing from my Windows 8 Pro disc it is only installing as Home. I have now replaced the hard drive for a brand new blank hard drive and re-installed the OS again but it is still not allowing my Win 8 Pro and even stranger it is pre-activating Windows 8 Home with the original license key so it must store this in the BIOS somewhere.

Can anyone help? I've worked in IT for years but this one is really starting to stress me out!

Many thanks,

Bret 

[Bret1975]

Update!

After a whole day wasted and no less than "10", yes 10 Windows re-installs I have finally managed to get Windows 8 Pro on my XC600. This is all credit to a guy over in the Notebook Review Forums.

Follow this link, very, very simple and got me working in under 30 minutes - http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/698920-installing-windows-8-pro-over-standard-oem-your-new-win8...

3-Step Process basically:

1. Extract Windows 8 Pro ISO to bootable USB stick

2. Insert USB stick AND Windows 8 DVD media and boot from DVD

3. Select required OS when prompted - it will ask if you want Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro

There is absolutely NO requirement to disable secure boot or make any modifications to the UEFI at all, at the very most you may have to head off to Acer to download 3 missing drivers as these don't seem to install.

Hope this helps people.

Bret

[rab8823]

If you don't want to use a usb drive, you can also install Windows 7 by enabling CSM in the BIOS:

1. Change the SATA controller to IDE mode (under integrated peripherals, I believe)

2. Disable Secure Boot 

2. Enable CSM (the first item under Boot Options

3. Save and reboot

I saw this on another forum and thought I'd post it here for anyone looking for information on installing Win7.

Hope this helps!

[hightech]

After a lot of head scratching I found this solution & it worked for me BUT only if I used an external DVD Drive to boot from.

Many thanks