Desktops & All-In-Ones

[Snuffy]

Several program will make a proper USB drive for you. I like two in special. 1. Rufus USB Maker 2. Windows 8 USB Maker by M$ every USB i make with them has been bootable on my Acer(s). another thing is I ONLY USE GENUINE .ISO FROM M$. which are FREE to DL. but NOT FREE to Activate. If you do not know how to set LEGACY Mode, then it will not proper allow any to install. it also depends on If your BIOS is set to allow Windows 7, and Acer might not supply Drivers if you change OS. and M$ has stated that all Computer that have the Windows 8.1 logo will BOOT into UEFI. so make your BOOTABLE USB from a NEW Genuine Windows 8.1 iso... it will auto install and activate. the key is embedded in your BIOS, so you do not need a KEY. but MS if very touchy about CHANGING mobos( that looks like your are doing a PIRATE Install.

[persius]

Several programs will make a valid boot block on any USB, CD, DVD media - however, there is NO LEGACY MODE in the shipped UEFI/BIOS for this device.  You are required to PIRATE a hacked version of the BIOS and downgrade to that, just in order to boot something like Linux, Windows 7, FreeBSD, etc.

Acer has a problem here.  @ Snuffy - M$ is very touchy about changing hardware, but M$ does not rule my life, my customers lives, or this world.  You can NOT use Rufus USB Maker and boot anything aside from M$ Windows 8.1 on this device.  I dislike Microsoft operating systems and choose to purchase hardware from vendors that permit me to MAKE THE CHOICE of what operating system I would like to use, or install pursuant to my own customer needs.

Why are we embedding keys in BIOS to lock the consumer into a single-vendor OS / platform?  That's unethical.  Get real here, piracy is not the problem - unethical business practices are, and Acer is on the top of this list now that they are in bed with Microsoft with this scheme.  Also, the entire purpose of UEFI was to "secure" boot sectors and operating systems, however, Microsoft has required vendors that distribute Winodws 8.1 to implement those features.  Here, we see Acer taking the next step and intentionally REMOVING the "Legacy" mode, completely preventing the consumer choice.  Good luck with that - this is why we have antitrust laws, and businesses like Acer and Microsoft have no problem with just paying the fees for violating them because their profits usually exceed those fees.

Thanks, but the consumers are right and Acer should have never removed the Legacy Mode.

[Kyler]

I'm pretty sure Acer-Blayn was saying the limitation is with the CPU, which is Intel and not Acer. Do other companies offer systems with Bay Trail-d processors that can legacy boot?

[hollafront1314]

i tried flashing but im getting errors..can you please show me how..thank you so much

[Snuffy]

Have you tried to change the CSM from never - that is suppose to be LEGACY MODE. and make sure the BOOT MEDIA is Legacy and MBR and Not UEFI & GPT

[persius]

The Intel processor is able to boot in to a legacy mode.  As I said - all the problems went away with a simple BIOS update, that Acer is not providing.  No hardware needed modification.

[Snuffy]

Nice, glad it was fixed.

[persius]

Me also, however, I will not purchase Acer again because they still do not "support" the hack to fix it, even though they created the problem to begin with.

[Snuffy]

Does your system not come default with Windows 8.1.. and Intel produces the UEFI - and did not Acer state they did not support Windows 7 on that Model.. and it is possible to install Windows 7 by using other methods rather than HACK the Bios. But that is your choice... Again i hope you the best on your HACKED Bios and Windows 7.

[cship2]

Hey persius, I agree with several of the points you made. I was unable to get anything BSD to boot on the Acer AXC-603-UR10 I purchased, which is extremely disappointing. Windows 7, I'm sure would not be able to be installed without unofficial BIOS. I was able to get some Ubuntu variants to boot. I'm sticking with Arch Linux until I can get BSD running. The installation of Arch was very smooth. I just dc3dd'd the image to a USB and turned off secure boot.

It's unfortunate that hardware vendors get caught up in Microsoft's anti-consumer freedom politics.

The keyboard is poor, but I am otherwise very happy with the desktop hardware. Computer vendors are going to get increasing push back from people that intend to use open source software, like openelec, on these low power consumption machines.

I made a post which is relevant to this thread. The Bay Trail-D processors, which Acer support claims does not support legacy or CSM boot, support legacy or CSM boot per other manufactures:

http://community.acer.com/t5/Desktops-All-In-Ones/Windows-7-on-603-Desktop/m-p/281502#U281502