Notebooks & Netbooks

[Eric3]

As stated earlier it is possible to download a Windows 8 iso for use on your already licensed machine. If you do this you *must* check the md5 hash to make sure it is correct.

On my V3-771G I did not have to enter any key during the install and when the install had finished Windows was activated. I selected version 8.1 for the installation but it actually installed 8 so I updated from the store afterwards.

The only OEM software I wanted was the Acer DVD player software but I will have to do without it.

[gergev]

I get the "access denied" response to when trying to view the link. I would like to view it if possible. Any suggestions?

Just purchased Acer Aspire M5-583P-6637 and updated OS to 8.1. Now I would like to install an SSD.

Will this work?

http://blog.laptopmag.com/triple-your-speed-how-to-install-an-msata-ssd-boot-drive-in-your-laptop

According to this, this laptop should accept an mSATA SSD

http://truejournals.com/2013/10/05/inside-the-acer-aspire-m5-583p

[Eric3]

I get "access denied" too. Must be due to a low post count 

[Eric3]

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gergev wrote:

I get the "access denied" response to when trying to view the link. I would like to view it if possible. Any suggestions?

Just purchased Acer Aspire M5-583P-6637 and updated OS to 8.1. Now I would like to install an SSD.

Will this work?

http://blog.laptopmag.com/triple-your-speed-how-to-install-an-msata-ssd-boot-drive-in-your-laptop

According to this, this laptop should accept an mSATA SSD

http://truejournals.com/2013/10/05/inside-the-acer-aspire-m5-583p

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I would give serious consideration before following that guide as it tells you to delete all partitions from the HDD after cloning. If you do that on the disk that came with your machine you will lose your recovery partition.

Also I would try and purchase a mSATA which includes cloning software if possible which will make things much easier.

By the way, are you sure that model has a mSATA slot?

[gergev]

I took off the back panel and I do see the open slot for the mSATA. The tutorial creates disk image of the HDD to the mSATA drive with the original three partitions, so it would appear that the recovery partition would be transferred to the mSATA. Couldn't an additional backup image file of that be saved for reinstallation if necessary? Other than to sell the laptop, I'm not sure why I would want to reinstall from the recovery partition. Wouldn't that revert the OS back to 8.0 and load all original drivers and bloatware again?

[Eric3]

Yes that's right it would. Like you I am unlikely to re-install from the recovery partition but i'ts possible that if I have to have a warranty repair Acer might insist it has their version of Windows installed. Not saying they would but I'm a bit paranoid like that so after installing the SSD I just deleted the Windows partition from the HDD and left the others intact.

I'm not sure wether or not you did a fresh install of Windows so this may not apply to you.

You're right about the recovery partition being cloned so in theory you should be safe.

[miguel69]

another cheap way is to use imaging and partitioning software (there are lots of free ones), i used Macrium Reflect Free and Mini Tool Partion Wizard when i upgraded my Vista machine to a larger drive.

if you are going to split drives with the OS on a small SSD do some math so the OS and recovery partitions will fit, you use partition wizard to trim any unused space in the 15GB recovery partition and the OS partition, then make images of all partions to an external drive using Macrium. next using Macrium's recovery disk copy the images to the new drive(s). you can then use Partition Wizard again to resize OS and DATA partitions to fill any blank unused space.