Windows Tablets

[thuru]

Hi,

I forgot the Windows 8 password of my ICONIA W 510. I tried many times and I couldn't get it back. Then I decided to format it and reinstall Windows 8. I loaded the Win 8 as a bootable into my USB, I changed the boot menu to first load the USB HDD. But no use. I tried disabling the Secure Boot as well.

Unfortunatley I don't have the Recovery Disk / Password Reset Disk.

I need help on this.

Thanks in advance

[ElizabethS]

Have you checked this article: http://community.acer.com/t5/Knowledge-Base/Understanding-Passwords-and-how-Acer-can-help-when-you-r...

[padgett]

My understanding is that to change the BIOS to Legacy mode you need to set the BIOS password, erase the signature store, tyrn off secure boot, and make the USB the first bootable device in that order.

The simpler answer is to just spend the $25 for a USB DVD and boot from the Windows 8 DVD. What is going on is that when you made the USB drive it did not have the UEFI components that are on the disk (did you create an ISO from the disk then use the Microsoft tool to transfer the ISO to a flash drive ?).

Remember, the stock BIOS will only boot from a UEFI enabled disk whose signature is in the BIOS library (am told those are Microsoft and Acer only but do not have the chain).

[thuru]

Hi, Padget

Thanks for the info. I have MSDN subscription and I downloaded the Windows 8 ISO and used the Microsoft tool to build the flash drive.

But as you told it doesn't have UEFI. How can I make a UEFI enable flash drive.

If I use a Windows 8 via USB DVD and boot will this be solved ? Don't I need UEFI features for a DVD boot ?

Please share more info about UEFI

Thanks

[padgett]

Just tried it and you are correct, the Microsoft USB tool does not seem to create a UEFI ISO (Disk or USB). Guess I always either used the recovery disks, a Windows 8 PRO DVD or Windows to Go flash drives, my MSDN ISOs always went to a desktop drive (why I have only 64 bit from there.

Will need to study a bit, there must be a way. Now highter in the RSN pile.

[thuru]

Can you give me some information about what is UEFI ?

And is it possible to create UEFI in 32 bit bootable Windows 8.

[padgett]

UEFI ( "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface") is essentially a secure and trusted boot mechanism that verifies the boot process. See http://www.uefi.org/home/ for more than you wanted to know.

Only an OS having the proper signatures and validations will even be visible in the boot menu.

I did find a program called "Rufus" (http://rufus.akeo.ie/) that can use a Microsoft Windows 8 ISO to create a bootable UEFI compliant flash drive.

[thuru]

Hi,

I used the 'Rufus' tool and created the bootable USB. But still it doesn't get detected.

I tried booting from an external DVD drive as well, but again no luck with that.

Can I get Acer support regarding this issue ? I've almost lost my patience

[billsey]

It seems to me that you're not addressing the real problem, that you need to reset your password for your Windows 8 login. If your login is through a Microsoft account (you use an email for the login) you can reset your password online and if your password is for a local account you can boot to something like the Hiren's Boot CD and use the tools there to reset the password on your account. No need to reinstall Windows 8.

[padgett · Accepted solution]

Did you use the GPT option with Rufus ? Fat 32 ? I used a Windows 8 x86 (32 bit) ISO from MSDN and was able to create a bootable drive that the W510 recognised & would boot.

This is the step-by-step process http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html .

Agree HIRENS can probably change a password (have not used for a long time) but how do you get it to boot ?