Aspire XC-605 weird behaviour

http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4189-fast-startup-turn-off-windows-10-a.html

have you already tried to turn off fast start-up from windows power options?

also check drivers and update to the latest version available.

Hi,

Since exiting the BIOS was doing it as well I assumed it wasn't an OS issue.

I disabled the Fast Start in the BIOS but I'll do in the OS later and see if helps.

Thanks

Hi,

I updated all the drivers to acer latest and disabled fast start as suggested but I still have the exact same behaviour.

Any BIOS settings I should check?

Any USB peripheral connected?

Hi,

No USB drives or devices. The only thing that's connected is a wireless logitec keyboard and mouse dongle and that seems to worked fine since I got the PC and didn't affect restarts when I initially installed Win10.

can you check under Event viewer any error or warning, when you try to reboot and the system hangs?

Hi,

I cleared the event logs and rebooted and nothing to indicate anything is going on at all. When you exit the BIOS the disk light doesn't flash at all. Same happens when you reboot. Totally stumped on this one as teh machine works fine except you can't reboot from OS or BIOS. Wondering if putting the i3 back in just to test is a worthwhile process.

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Ntfs
Date:          13/10/2015 23:16:48
Event ID:      98
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      (2)
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
Volume C: (\Device\HarddiskVolume4) is healthy.  No action is needed.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Ntfs" Guid="{3FF37A1C-A68D-4D6E-8C9B-F79E8B16C482}" />
    <EventID>98</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000002</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:16:48.368415200Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1119</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="168" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="DriveName">C:</Data>
    <Data Name="DeviceName">\Device\HarddiskVolume4</Data>
    <Data Name="CorruptionActionState">0</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-FilterManager
Date:          13/10/2015 23:16:46
Event ID:      6
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      (70368744177664)
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
File System Filter 'Wof' (10.0, ?2015?-?08?-?06T03:13:43.000000000Z) has successfully loaded and registered with Filter Manager.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-FilterManager" Guid="{F3C5E28E-63F6-49C7-A204-E48A1BC4B09D}" />
    <EventID>6</EventID>
    <Version>1</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000400000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:16:46.954907100Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1118</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="FinalStatus">0x0</Data>
    <Data Name="DeviceVersionMajor">10</Data>
    <Data Name="DeviceVersionMinor">0</Data>
    <Data Name="DeviceNameLength">3</Data>
    <Data Name="DeviceName">Wof</Data>
    <Data Name="DeviceTime">2015-08-06T03:13:43.000000000Z</Data>
    <Data Name="ExtraInfoLength">196</Data>
    <Data Name="ExtraInfoString">{ "flags" : "0x00000010" , "registration_version" : "0x00000203" , "tx" : true , "sections" : false , "frame" : 0 , "class_name" : "FSFilter Compression" , "instances" : [["40700","0x00000000"]] }</Data>
    <Data Name="FilterID">{02000000-0002-0000-A9FB-83D90406D101}</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-FilterManager
Date:          13/10/2015 23:16:46
Event ID:      6
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      (70368744177664)
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
File System Filter 'FileInfo' (10.0, ?2015?-?07?-?10T04:14:57.000000000Z) has successfully loaded and registered with Filter Manager.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-FilterManager" Guid="{F3C5E28E-63F6-49C7-A204-E48A1BC4B09D}" />
    <EventID>6</EventID>
    <Version>1</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000400000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:16:46.954300600Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1117</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="FinalStatus">0x0</Data>
    <Data Name="DeviceVersionMajor">10</Data>
    <Data Name="DeviceVersionMinor">0</Data>
    <Data Name="DeviceNameLength">8</Data>
    <Data Name="DeviceName">FileInfo</Data>
    <Data Name="DeviceTime">2015-07-10T04:14:57.000000000Z</Data>
    <Data Name="ExtraInfoLength">192</Data>
    <Data Name="ExtraInfoString">{ "flags" : "0x00000010" , "registration_version" : "0x00000203" , "tx" : false , "sections" : false , "frame" : 0 , "class_name" : "FSFilter Bottom" , "instances" : [["45000","0x00000000"]] }</Data>
    <Data Name="FilterID">{02000000-0001-0000-A9FB-83D90406D101}</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot
Date:          13/10/2015 23:16:46
Event ID:      30
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
The firmware reported boot metrics.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot" Guid="{15CA44FF-4D7A-4BAA-BBA5-0998955E531E}" />
    <EventID>30</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:16:46.476194700Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1116</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="ResetEndStart">0</Data>
    <Data Name="LoadOSImageStart">10211</Data>
    <Data Name="StartOSImageStart">10263</Data>
    <Data Name="ExitBootServicesEntry">12180</Data>
    <Data Name="ExitBootServicesExit">12189</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot
Date:          13/10/2015 23:16:46
Event ID:      32
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
The bootmgr spent 0 ms waiting for user input.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot" Guid="{15CA44FF-4D7A-4BAA-BBA5-0998955E531E}" />
    <EventID>32</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:16:46.476122800Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1115</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="BitlockerUserInputTime">0</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot
Date:          13/10/2015 23:16:46
Event ID:      18
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
There are 0x1 boot options on this system.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot" Guid="{15CA44FF-4D7A-4BAA-BBA5-0998955E531E}" />
    <EventID>18</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:16:46.476078500Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1114</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="EntryCount">1</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot
Date:          13/10/2015 23:16:46
Event ID:      25
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
The boot menu policy was 0x1.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot" Guid="{15CA44FF-4D7A-4BAA-BBA5-0998955E531E}" />
    <EventID>25</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:16:46.476014700Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1113</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="BootMenuPolicy">1</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot
Date:          13/10/2015 23:16:46
Event ID:      27
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
The boot type was 0x0.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot" Guid="{15CA44FF-4D7A-4BAA-BBA5-0998955E531E}" />
    <EventID>27</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:16:46.476014400Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1112</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="BootType">0</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot
Date:          13/10/2015 23:16:46
Event ID:      20
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
The last shutdown's success status was true. The last boot's success status was true.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Boot" Guid="{15CA44FF-4D7A-4BAA-BBA5-0998955E531E}" />
    <EventID>20</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:16:46.476007000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1111</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="LastShutdownGood">true</Data>
    <Data Name="LastBootGood">true</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-General
Date:          13/10/2015 23:16:46
Event ID:      12
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
The operating system started at system time ?2015?-?10?-?13T22:16:46.327773100Z.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-General" Guid="{A68CA8B7-004F-D7B6-A698-07E2DE0F1F5D}" />
    <EventID>12</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:16:46.475870700Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1110</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="MajorVersion">10</Data>
    <Data Name="MinorVersion">0</Data>
    <Data Name="BuildVersion">10240</Data>
    <Data Name="QfeVersion">16485</Data>
    <Data Name="ServiceVersion">0</Data>
    <Data Name="BootMode">0</Data>
    <Data Name="StartTime">2015-10-13T22:16:46.327773100Z</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-General
Date:          13/10/2015 23:15:43
Event ID:      13
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      
User:          N/A
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
The operating system is shutting down at system time ?2015?-?10?-?13T22:15:43.869661100Z.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-General" Guid="{A68CA8B7-004F-D7B6-A698-07E2DE0F1F5D}" />
    <EventID>13</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:15:43.869662100Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1109</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="6076" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="StopTime">2015-10-13T22:15:43.869661100Z</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Date:          13/10/2015 23:15:41
Event ID:      109
Task Category: (103)
Level:         Information
Keywords:      (35184372088832),(4)
User:          N/A
Computer:      PC-XXXXX
Description:
The kernel power manager has initiated a shutdown transition.

Shutdown Reason: Kernel API
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power" Guid="{331C3B3A-2005-44C2-AC5E-77220C37D6B4}" />
    <EventID>109</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>103</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000200000000004</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-10-13T22:15:41.621481300Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1108</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="716" ThreadID="720" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>PC-XXXXX</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="ShutdownActionType">5</Data>
    <Data Name="ShutdownEventCode">0</Data>
    <Data Name="ShutdownReason">5</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2011/01/10/turning-off-a-virtual-machine.aspx

Can you check the proper shutdown procedure for your emulators? If I try to shutdown or restart while running Hyper-V with linux still running, the computer doesn't like it and will throw fits and hang. I have to properly shut down the virtualization. I just used google to find the proper shutdown procedure.

http://serverfault.com/questions/69983/whats-the-difference-between-turn-off-and-shutdown-in-hyper-v

I doubt if the problem is the i5 4460, but you can test it if you want.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19792/Intel-Processor-Diagnostic-Tool-64-bit-

Edit: Although I know you're not running hyper-v, when i connected my speakers to monitor thus using intel display audio, it caused all kinds of problems with hyper-v. But when I plugged speakers in to onboard realtek audio, the problems went away. Unrelated to your problem....probably...but just thought I'd throw that out there.

AXC-605 spare parts CPU:

IC CPU HASWELL PENTIUM G3220 2C 3.0GHZ C KC.32201.DGG

IC CPU HASWELL I3-4130 2C 3.4GHZ C-0 65 KC.41301.CI3

IC CPU HASWELL I5-4440 3.1GHZ 95W LGA C- KC.44401.CI5

IC CPU HASWELL I7-4770 3.4GHZ 8MB LGA 84 KC.47701.CI7

you mentioned i5-4460, so i suspect that your BIOS is missing microcode for 4460, it's worth a try to re-install the original CPU and check if the issue is still here.

Thanks for your response and feedback

I need HyperV for Windows Phone emulators but I haven't upgraded Win10 home to Pro yet as I was waiting to see if I could find a resolution.

Since the last clean build of the system there is no HyperV and no other VM's like VirtualBox from Oracle which I use for Android app development with Genymotion.

There really is very little installed on the system at this moment in time and no VM's. It's also worth noting when this behaviour started to occur after upgrading the hardware I wiped the system and restored the OEM build of 8.1 (complete with all the junk that lie McAfee that it installs) after wiping the C & D drives. In the clean 8.1 build, the same restart issues were there and essentially that's been restored to factory state.

Thanks for the links, I will run the diagnostics for my own peace of mind. The system is completely stable when running.

Did you use diskpart clean?

Here's a random xc-605 running i5 4460 with same board.

60.SVND1.004	ASSEMBLY FRONT BEZEL SILVER W/USB 3.0 HOLE	COVER	N
KC.44601.CI5	CPU INTEL CORE I5-4460 LGA 3.2G 6M 1600 1150 84W HASWELL SR1QK	CPU/PROCESSOR	Y
HI.10800.071	CM ICOOLER LGA1156 W/I PURE AL 40MM W/I 9225 FAN W/I 18 DUCT FOR 8.5L	HARDWARE.COOLING	N
33.SKQD1.001	FRONT I/O BRACKET	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
33.SKQD1.002	HDD&ODD BRACKET	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
60.SVND1.002	HDD & ODD BRACKET	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
60.SVND1.003	ASSEMBLY FRONT IO BRACKET W/FRONT IO & CARD READER BOARD	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
DC.10811.00H	COOLER MASTER 65W COOLER FOR TOWER SUNON FAN LGA1155	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
DC.10811.00J	COOLER MASTER 95W COOLER FOR TOWER WITH SUNON FAN LGA1156 95W W/I DUCT CM	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
DC.10811.00N	COOLER MASTER 65W FOR TOWER WST STOCK DP6-9KDSA-R1-GP W/I PURE AL 25MM W/I 9225 FAN FOR DTX AIO / 73W LGA1150	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
DC.10811.00Q	COOLER CM 65W FOR TOWER ECS STOCK DP6-9KDSA-R1-GP W/I PURE AL 25MM W/I 9225 FAN FOR DTX AIO / 73W	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
DC.10811.00R	COOLER CM 95W FOR TOWER ECS STOCK W/I PURE AL 40MM W/I 9225 FAN W/I 18 DUCT FOR 8.5L	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
DC.10811.00Y	COOLER CM 95W LGA1155/1150	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
DC.10811.00Z	COOLER CM 65W LGA1155/1150	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
DC.10811.010	COOLER CM 65W LGA1155/1150	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
DC.10811.011	COOLER CM 95W AVC LGA1155/1150	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
HI.10800.068	AVC ICOOLER_1156 PURE AL 35MM HS W/I FAN 9225 W/I 20MM FAN DUCT FOR 8.5L	HARDWARE.MISC.	N
KH.50001.038	HDD 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3 16MB 3.5 4K ST500DM002 SEAGATE (PHARAOH 4K) LF F/W:KC45	HDD/HARD DISK DRIVE	Y
DK.USB1B.06S	KEYBOARD LITE-ON SK-9626 USB BLACK US	KEYBOARD	N
DK.USB1K.001	KEYBOARD KYE OM-130006A/K USB BLACK US	KEYBOARD	N
DK.USB1K.03P	KEYBOARD KYE OM-130006A/K USB BLACK US WITH NEW F/W V221	KEYBOARD	N
DB.SRPCN.001	MB KIT AXC-605 INTEL H81 N/A INTEL HD GRAPHICS RTL8111GA ACER LOGO DTX W/O 1394 V1.0 LF	MAINBOARD	Y
KN.4GB07.006	MEM 4GB DDR3L 1600 UNB-DIMM ACR16D3LU1KBG/4G KINGSTON LF+HF 512*8 1.35V	MEMORY	Y
KN.4GB07.009	MEM 4GB DDR3L 1600 UNB-DIMM ACR16D3LU1NGG/4G KINGSTON LF+HF 256*8 1.35V	MEMORY	Y
KN.4GB0G.024	MEM 4GB DDR3 1600 UNB-DIMM HMT451U6AFR8C-PB HYNIX LF+HF 512*8 1.5V / 29NM	MEMORY	Y

Since you have latest BIOS, then you know it supports Haswell Refresh.

http://forum.crucial.com/t5/The-Cru/Reset-your-SSD-to-factory-settings-Windows-DiskPart/ba-p/162503

I'll post the steps for a clean install of Windows 10 in case you missed them in the other thread.

A clean install of windows 10 would typically go like this:

1. Backup all your important personal files like photos, word documents...etc..etc,,..because the following steps will wipe your HDD or SSD.

2. Create a windows 10 installation media (either USB or DVD--doesn't matter which). Choose "install on a different PC".

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install

3. Go in to your BIOS settings and enable the "Boot Menu" and then save/exit.

4. Boot the windows 10 USB or DVD installation media.

5. After you choose your language, look for "Repair your PC"...and select "Repair your PC".

6. Navigate in the menu and select "Command Prompt"

7. Use "diskpart clean" which will wipe your HDD or SSD. Be careful here, because if you select the wrong drive.....that would be bad.

8. After diskpart clean successfully runs, exit out of diskpart, and exit out of command prompt.

9. Navigate in the menu until you find "shutdown your computer"...and shutdown your computer.

10. Turn on your computer, and install windows 10. Choose custom install, Left click on your blank drive that says "unallocated space" to select it. Left click on "next". After you click "next", the windows installer will automatically format and partition your HDD/SSD and install windows 10 for you. When it asks for a product key, you don't need to enter a key.....just click on "skip" or "not now", or "do this later". It should automatically activate when it's done installing (assuming you're connected to internet).

11. Check Acer website for drivers.

http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/drivers

12. Or check windows update. I use all of the drivers on Acer's website except for the 4600 graphics driver which I get from windows update or directly from intel website.

stupid question: have you done a CMOS reset after ram and CPU install?

I never did a CMOS reset. I did flash the BIOS using the documented steps.

I wasn't aware you have to go to the lengths of pulling the battery out. Seems a bit extreme.

Hi Jordan,

I know it sounds daft but the PC was working fine on Win10 (including restarts) until I swapped the CPU and RAM and suddenly it wouldn't be a reboot and does nothing when you exit the BIOS.

I did a reapir and selected the option for reset to factory default and wipe all data. Done this twice now. I don't have an SSD as there is nowhere to put it in the case. I'll propbably junk the optical drive at some stage as I never use it and put the SSD there but for now I'll just use the 1TB drive.

I can do the steps below but surely wiping the system and resetting to factory default is more or less the same?

---In theory, you shouldn't need to reset the cmos after upgrading the ram or cpu, it should auto detect, but sometimes you do have to reset cmos for whatever reason.

-- The first time you install or upgrade to Windows 10, it does take extra time to load the graphics driver (even on my computer with SSD). The screen will remain blank for what seems like an eternity. Since I have same computer without SSD, I know what you experienced there. After a couple days and a few restarts, it speeds up to normal. Manually powering down your computer during the upgrade was a bad idea...and could easily have corrupted something. Smiley Happy

--The diskpart clean instructions are for both SSD and HDD. I wrote that in the instructions. Smiley Wink Diskpart clean ensures that the EFI partition is deleted and you are able to start over fresh. I don't believe that using the internal recovery is a complete fresh start like diskpart clean gives you.

--I'm using this graphics driver for HD4600......10.18.15.4279 I think it's the one that Windows Update gave me, but I can't remember...maybe I got it from intel website.. It's newer than what's on Acer's website

--Both my Acer computers w/H81 and w/ i5 work great with windows 10 and I used the instructions that I gave you.

--I'm out of ideas. Smiley Sad

--You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make 'em drink Smiley Happy