System restore options dimmed on Iconia W3

Kattz

Ok, so I'm on my second tab now. The first one was RMA'd due to the "Hard Drive not default" issue.  

Now, the new one, I want to do a factory reset and I again, can't do it.

 

I have the factory disks.  I plugged in the DVD burner, then held down Power+Volume Down keys.  I'm at the Acer Recovery Management screen with the Select Restore Type options.

 

BOTH options are dimmed out.  The only thing that I can select is exit.

 

I really hate this tablet.  I have never had a device that has done such stupid things as this one does.  Sorry, lol, I just had to get that out.  But really, I have had dirt cheap Chinese Android tablets that have worked better than this thing.

 

Does anyone know how to fix this?  

 

Thanks!

padgett

I am not sure where you are seeing this message, it is not part of the BIOS setup on my W3. Did it boot from the DVD and then you got to this message or was it some other way ?

 

Power-volume down just gets to the boot menu.

 

Also you mentioned "disks". My W3 just came with a single DVD : "Iconia W3 p/n FS.NLZA0.002

Recovery DVD Disk 1 OF 1." 

 

Note: the W3 (like my other tabs) does not provide enough power on the USB to reliably run rotating media (like a DVD burner). Do you have an external power supply for the DVD or a powered hub ?

Kattz

Thanks for responding.  First, I am positive that it is not a power issue.  This is a replacement tablet and since the first tablet was replaced because it couldn't factory reset, that is the first thing that I did.  It was able to do a factory reset out of the box.  I am using a powered hub and I plugged in both ends of the usb cable just to be sure.  There is no trouble with the disk spinning.  I can't choose a restore option from the menu.  Both are dimmed out and I can only choose exit.

 

These are the instructions that I am following:

 

http://acer--uk.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/32035/~/iconia-w3-810-recovery-using-acer-recovery-media

 

This set of instructions worked when I did the factory reset the first time.

 

I'm in Canada, so maybe we get a different set of recovery disks.  I have two of them.  They are labelled Recovery Disk 1 and Recovery Disk 2.

 

I'm not an inexperienced user by any stretch.  I remember that luggable.  So does my back...

padgett

Well first, that order sounds rong:

6.Under Boot priority order, use the arrow buttons to set the USB CDROM to the top of the boot priority order.
7.Select Exit to the left and select Exit Saving Changes on the right side.
8.Insert the DVD labeled System DVD.
9.Select English and then select Continue

 

That sequence would just boot from the SDD as normal, you need to have the DVD inserted first, then do a power + volume down boot. This should bring up the boot selection menu and you may select "CD".

 

So the first question is "are you certain it is booting from the DVD ?" It will not be quick.

 

Second question: if you have two disks, what are they labeled ?

supercustom

Hi. Like Kattz, I'm in Canada, so no idea if that makes a difference but I also have the two recovery disks. I have a question about a prompt I get during the setup. After completing the restore from the disks, on one of the first fresh reboots, I get a "System Preparation Tool 3.14" dialog box when I go to the Desktop. I have no idea if I should cancel this or proceed, and if the latter, which options to pick (no instructions in any of Acer's tutorials that I could find). I have a drop down selector where I can pick "Enter System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE)" or "Enter System Audit Mode". Which is preferred? Also, there is a check-box to select "Generalize". Should this be checked or not?

 

Thank you very much for any help.

obergd1

I have a w3-810 32bit 32gb. I am trying to restore with the restore **bleep** but the only one I can pick is exit. I have set it up ot boot from the disk and it does go to the page to select what I want to do. Any body have any idea how to select the option that I need to reset this thing?

obergd1

Sorry for the Bleep. Hit the wrong key while typing.

padgett

The restore DVD ?

 

Should mention that before I loaded the "preview" of Windows 10 on my 32GB W3, I created a "recovery" flash drive and took a full system image on a terabyte backup drive. I had to restore from the image back to 8.1 several times, no problem.

 

The key is to make both while you have a good system.

 

ps a terabyte drive formatted NTFS can hold a number of different system images, have 8 on a USB drive now, but each OS needs its own recovery flash drive. 7, 8, & 8.1 can use a 8GB flash but just did one for 10-64 that needs a 16GB.