Cloudbook 11 Windows Issue

Skier76
Skier76 Member Posts: 67

Tinkerer

edited November 2023 in 2018 Archives
Hi Everyone, 
Hope this is the correct forum! Feel free to move the topic if needed. I have an Acer Cloudbook 11. Awhile back, the machine went through a windows update and will not fully boot. When you turn the device on, it goes into Acer repair/recover....then into the the Windows "There was a problem starting the PC". I've gone through every option from troubleshooting, to DOS scans, to resetting with saving data, deleting data...you name it. 

I feel the only option at this point is booting from a Windows Recovery USB. Any idea how to create one of these without having the ability to boot Windows? I'm not looking to recover any data, just to get the machine to boot again. Can I get the Windows key from my device serial number somehow? 

Thanks in advance. 
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Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    If you tried to re-set outside Windows using the ALT+F10 coldboot recovery method, an eRecovery stick would likely give the same result and further confirm a hardware issue. Jack E/NJ  

    Jack E/NJ

  • Skier76
    Skier76 Member Posts: 67

    Tinkerer

    Hi Jack,
    I have not. Just hold ALT+F10 when booting up? 
  • Skier76
    Skier76 Member Posts: 67

    Tinkerer

    Many thanks Jack! I've tried both of those resetting options and each time I get a "There was a problem resetting this PC" message. 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    Just want to confirm that you played the above video and that you tried the recovery ***exactly*** as shown in the video totally outside Windows. If you got the same result, then you can still try to order the ACER recovery stick but I think you're gonna get the same result.  Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • Skier76
    Skier76 Member Posts: 67

    Tinkerer

    Thanks Jack.  My machine won't even boot to windows. I get the Acer splash screen; then end up with some options to restart to repair. I can post the exact options when I have the machine in front of me. 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    If you see the splash screen OK, can you F2 into BIOS menu on a coldboot? You might have to start tapping the F2 key even before you press the power button to turn it on. Once into the BIOS menu, check to make sure the SSD is properly recognized and IDed. Also make sure the D2D option is enabled in the MAiN dropdown. Then F10 to save setting and exit. Then try another ALT+F10 coldboot recovery. Jack E/NJ 

    Jack E/NJ

  • Skier76
    Skier76 Member Posts: 67

    Tinkerer

    Jack, I will give that a go and report back. Hope to have an update for you soon! 
  • Skier76
    Skier76 Member Posts: 67

    Tinkerer

    Frank,
    No issues getting into BIOS. SSD is displayed at EMMC and the model number and serial number are there. D2D is enabled. 

    Giving the reset a try right now......

    Got to 12% and I get the "There was a problem resetting your PC" message. 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    OK. Go back into the BIOS. Under the BOOT dropdown, make sure "secure boot" is disabled. If you can't disable it, then go to the SECURITY dropdown and set a supervisor password. F10 to save and exit. Then another coldboot. F2 to the BIOS menu. Enter supervisor password to get back into the BIOS menu. Then see if you can now disable "secure boot". F10 to save and exit. Then try ALT+F10 coldboot recovery again. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • Skier76
    Skier76 Member Posts: 67

    Tinkerer

    Will give that a go Jack and report here once completed. 
  • Skier76
    Skier76 Member Posts: 67

    Tinkerer

    Frank,
    Gave it a go...disabled secure boot then cold booted with alt f10. Tried a reset and I still get the "There was a problem resetting your PC" notice on the blue screen. 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    Please give me the cloudbook11's  full model number. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • Skier76
    Skier76 Member Posts: 67

    Tinkerer

    Jack,
    Aspire One Cloudbook 11
    A01-131-C9PM
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    OK. F2 back into the BIOS menu. Go to the MAIN dropdown. Then press F9 to load and confirm BIOS defaults. But please make sure D2D recovery remains enabled, Then over to the BOOT dropdown and the secure boot is still disabled. Then F10 to save and exit. Retry the ALT + F10 coldboot recovery. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • Skier76
    Skier76 Member Posts: 67

    Tinkerer

    Jack,
    Gave it a go. It still stopped once it got to about 12% on the reset. I did notice that it asked me for a password this time when I tried to reset and save my files. I tried a full, erase everything reset and still get the "There was a problem resetting your PC." message. 

    Would it make sense to try to boot from a USB? I have another laptop running Windows 10. Wondering if creating a USB from that machine (selecting the option to use on another PC) would work? 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    >>>Would it make sense to try to boot from a USB?>>>

    If you can boot from a USB and get into a command prompt that might be helpful. Also, I forgot to ask, if you start tapping  F8 when the boot logo screen first appears, do you get an options screen with options like safe mode with the command prompt, etc? Jack E/NJ   

    Jack E/NJ

  • Skier76
    Skier76 Member Posts: 67

    Tinkerer

    Hi Jack,
    I tried F8 and could not get into safemode. I even tried restarting from an option in the blue screen section with no luck getting into safemode. 

    I should have mentioned earlier. I brought the laptop to a local computer repair place awhile back. They said they couldn't fix it and the only option was a fresh install of Windows10 for $100 and change. Seemed a bit steep. 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    >>>I feel the only option at this point is booting from a Windows Recovery USB.>>>

    Back to square one. If you can't get to a workable command prompt via the ALT+F10 coldboot method, then yes the recovery stick may be the only way to repair the boot partition corruption caused by the update. We need the command prompt to run the bootrec and diskpart commands. Double check the ALT+F10 options for any options that may give us the command prompt. If nothing pans out, you can probably order the ACER recovery stick specific to your machine I think for about $20.  https://store.acer.com/en-us/extended/recovery/

    Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • Skier76
    Skier76 Member Posts: 67

    Tinkerer

    Jack,
    Thanks for the help with this! 

    I can get to the command prompt. Basically, each time the machine boots up, I get the Acer splash screen, it goes black, then the Acer logo and a "Diagnosing your PC" message under the logo. From there, it boots to that blue screen with options. From there, I can get to the command prompt.