Ultra-Thin

[Jamworth]

Hi There

Im currently trying to restore a Windows 8 Aspire S3 to factory settings. Unfortunately the UEFI recovery partition doesnt work.

When started up, the first message is a Windows 8 error 

RECOVERY

Your PC Needs to be repaired

File: \BCD

Error Code: 0xc0000034

It asks for recovery media, which I have, a USB stick which has been partitioned correctly (using Rufus) into UEFI mode, on the USB is Windows 8 media and I wish to try and install Windows as a fresh installation

(not worried about the Acer recovery partitions etc)

I have disabled secure boot in the BIOS, have amended the boot priority and turned on the F12 boot menu but when pressing F12, the only option is 1. Windows Boot Manager.

Thats it?

Ive tried many other combinations of settings (even down to adding the UEFI files to see if I could force it to read them, it wouldn't) but the only option every time is Windows Boot Manager.

I have tried using a standard windows 7 ISO file as a trial under legacy mode, which boots and starts the install fine, but obviously wont let me install due to the disk being a UEFI GPT Disk. (even if i format through the install and recreate a partition)

This is the S3 which has no optical drive (of which I dont have a USB one)

Im stuck and now a little confused. 

Any help appreciated as need to get it back to the client

Thanks

[Acer-Blayn]

What was the system doing before you tried to recover?

Have you tried installing recovery media from Acer, or you loading a retail copy?

There could be a hardware problem that is preventing installation of the OS. If you have tried using Acer's recovery image and are not able to load the system, I recommend contacting the Acer service center in your region.