Older Acer laptop with a problem

Greetings,
I have an older Acer Aspire 5733-6838 laptop that has problems. Wife was running a Microsoft app called Reimage,which restores the OS when it works right. This time, about half way through, it failed and ask if she wanted to go to safe mode. She clicked okay and the screen flickered a couple of times and started rebooting. When the reboot was done, she was back at her normal login screen instead of safe mode and now the computer does not recognize her password or her login pin. Repeated attempts to logon either gets incorrect password or tries to start, but after seconds it comes back with incorrect password. I have a back up of the system on an external HD, but can't get into the system to use it. I figure when the app failed it had already removed part of the OS in the repair stage so now it won't respond. I've heard you can use the keys Alt-F10 during reboot to get to restore mode but don't know. This has been updated to Win 10 Home Premium. Any imput would be appreciated !!

Accepted answers

Lanner_Falcon

Hi @flatlander137

If there isnt any important info on the computer which you might think is valuable, then I would suggest to format the computer and reinstall with a fresh Windows 10 operating system using media creation tool. All you need is a 8 GB flash drive or more and another computer to create the tool.

Visit the following microsoft link to know the step by step procedure:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

Also, remember that for this to work the Windows 10 must have been installed in this device for atleast more than few months.

Please let us know, if you need further help.

JackE

The ALT+F10 cold boot recovery will take you back to Win7 only if Win10 did not overwrite the hidden ACER recovery partition. You would of course lose all the personal files created under Win10.

I'm not sure why reimage was used. But I suspect it was because of a problem with the system or hard drive to begin with. If the personal files are important, I would first try to tap F2 at boot time into the BIOS menu security tab to make sure no inadvertent entries were made into the HDD password option. Then press F9 to load defaults. Then F10 to save settings and exit. The going gets tough if this doesn't work but your personal files may be salvageable from another machine.

Jack E/NJ

flatlander137

Would like to thank the community for their time and their answers. And would respond to each. On suggestion from JackE, tried to access the F2 opition, but it's guarded by a password that doesn't recognize any input from us. Yes thought about the idea of a hack and password change. Not much on the laptop of any value as she uses it mostly for online gaming and media correspondence. All banking and such are done on mine and by me.
As for Lanner_Falcon's idea, that has a possible use. The laptop was a bargain buy from WalMart back about 2 or three years ago. Came with no recovery disc and nothing was made up. As I see it, I have a few options thanks to the input. One: follow the link and make up the rescue OS from the link, which sounds best and then reinstall the back up I have. 2: Use the certified copy of Win 7 Pro I have and then install the backup and hope for the best. Or 3: Buy a copy of Win 7 Home Premium and proceed from there. Think option one may be the best to try. As far as the Alt/F10 option, I had it on the screen once and backed out of the option once and now it won't take it again or I'm doing something wrong. Am familiar with computers but not the wifes as she uses it not me. But you know what they say about a little knowledge in the wrong hands. Yeah ! Will post results later and thanks to all that gave input,

All comments

Lanner_Falcon

Hi @flatlander137

If there isnt any important info on the computer which you might think is valuable, then I would suggest to format the computer and reinstall with a fresh Windows 10 operating system using media creation tool. All you need is a 8 GB flash drive or more and another computer to create the tool.

Visit the following microsoft link to know the step by step procedure:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

Also, remember that for this to work the Windows 10 must have been installed in this device for atleast more than few months.

Please let us know, if you need further help.

JackE

The ALT+F10 cold boot recovery will take you back to Win7 only if Win10 did not overwrite the hidden ACER recovery partition. You would of course lose all the personal files created under Win10.

I'm not sure why reimage was used. But I suspect it was because of a problem with the system or hard drive to begin with. If the personal files are important, I would first try to tap F2 at boot time into the BIOS menu security tab to make sure no inadvertent entries were made into the HDD password option. Then press F9 to load defaults. Then F10 to save settings and exit. The going gets tough if this doesn't work but your personal files may be salvageable from another machine.

Jack E/NJ

flatlander137

Would like to thank the community for their time and their answers. And would respond to each. On suggestion from JackE, tried to access the F2 opition, but it's guarded by a password that doesn't recognize any input from us. Yes thought about the idea of a hack and password change. Not much on the laptop of any value as she uses it mostly for online gaming and media correspondence. All banking and such are done on mine and by me.
As for Lanner_Falcon's idea, that has a possible use. The laptop was a bargain buy from WalMart back about 2 or three years ago. Came with no recovery disc and nothing was made up. As I see it, I have a few options thanks to the input. One: follow the link and make up the rescue OS from the link, which sounds best and then reinstall the back up I have. 2: Use the certified copy of Win 7 Pro I have and then install the backup and hope for the best. Or 3: Buy a copy of Win 7 Home Premium and proceed from there. Think option one may be the best to try. As far as the Alt/F10 option, I had it on the screen once and backed out of the option once and now it won't take it again or I'm doing something wrong. Am familiar with computers but not the wifes as she uses it not me. But you know what they say about a little knowledge in the wrong hands. Yeah ! Will post results later and thanks to all that gave input,