Acer Recertified Predator Helios 500 arrived with unwiped hard drive containing pirated games

Pinkhamster

A bit concerned that this newly purchased computer arriving from Acer with "warez" on the hard drive is a sign that the recertification process on this laptop was not the most carefully performed.

Jack22

@Pinkhamster
Please contact the store from where you bought the unit, or you can also contact Acer support for more help.
http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/

Click on 'Yes' if the comment answers your question!

tobimaru

I've been on a refurbished Acer laptop for months now. It came with the standard Intel/Acer package of bundled software and games. Depending on your region, different software is available. Some Acer laptops come pre-loaded with Linux in certain countries even. Where was the laptop purchased from?

Pinkhamster

I bought the laptop from Acer itself at the AcerRecertified website on Cyber Monday. It comes with an SSD and a hard drive both. The SSD had the typical bundled software configuration on it, but the storage hard drive appeared to have not been wiped and had that iffy stuff on it. At least it wasn't illegal porn, thank god.

fejerm

WHat is actually the problem here? 
When you turned on the laptop, did you have to go though the Windows setup process like with a new one or there was already a user available?
Does your laptop have any other problems? Temperature, freezing, dead pixel ,etc? 
Acer probably checked the condition of the laptop and run some quick test to see if it functions. 

After that they reinstalled WIndows to factory state. 

However this laptop has an SSD and a HDD and the ACer technician probably forgot that even if he/she ask Windows to wipe the drive of everything during the process, it will only wipe the SSD and leave the HDD intact. 

This is the thing which probably happened. 

WIndows forgot to remove a few files which the previous owner left behind, I don't think it is a big deal. Of course it would be different if you would have found files which can be linked to some serious felony (murder, child pornography, etc), but we are talking about just some pirated games which the previous owner tried out on the laptop. 

I say if you got a good deal and there is no other problem with it, just format the HDD and be happy with your new beast

Pinkhamster

If the hard drive wipe was the only thing they forgot to do, I agree that it is of course not a huge deal. However, as I mentioned in my original post, it does make me a little concerned that if they forgot to do that step of the refurbishing process that other steps may have been forgotten as well. I hope not. I am not attempting to blow this out of proportion or state that the device is unacceptable to me. Guess I posted it here because this was the only place that came to mind.

fejerm

Pinkhamster said:

If the hard drive wipe was the only thing they forgot to do, I agree that it is of course not a huge deal. However, as I mentioned in my original post, it does make me a little concerned that if they forgot to do that step of the refurbishing process that other steps may have been forgotten as well. I hope not. I am not attempting to blow this out of proportion or state that the device is unacceptable to me. Guess I posted it here because this was the only place that came to mind.

Recertification process was probably only doing a quick test and reinstalling Windows since it is a brand new machine there were no needs to swap hardware components. 
If you do not see any physical damage outside, the laptop is not freezing and the temps are good, then enjoy your beast, no need to worry just because the WIndows installer forgot to format the HDD

PredatorHelios500

I beg to differ. A machine with pirated software is far more likely to have malware or viruses lurking on it. I'd consider the machine compromised even if Windows were reinstalled.

AlpineTom

PredatorHelios500 said:

I beg to differ. A machine with pirated software is far more likely to have malware or viruses lurking on it. I'd consider the machine compromised even if Windows were reinstalled.

I agree, but that's something that can be easily rectified: reinstall Windows and wipe the HDD in the process.

xapim

In my view i would never buy a refurbished laptop especially a gaming laptop (unless i would knew the previous owner or what happened to it before or for parts) there are too many stakes here starting why was it refurbished and what issues did it had before it was refurbished so there is no way i would get a refurbished one not saying they aren't good though

PredatorHelios500

AlpineTom said:

I agree, but that's something that can be easily rectified: reinstall Windows and wipe the HDD in the process.

Not necessarily easy: there are some types of viruses that are extremely hard to get rid of like boot sector viruses.

xapim

Only way to get rid of those nasty bugs its zerofill full format with the proper software and can take days to format depending on the drive size

Manny-Acer_Retired

Hi Pinkhamster,

I am very sorry to hear this, i recommend you contacting the support line for re-certified units here: https://acerrecertified.com/Content/Support 

Thanks,
Acer-Manny 

EddieSi

Not acceptable. You shouldn’t have to do their work for them. A refurbished unit should come to you with a clean install of windows and nothing else. I would contact them and make sure you get something out of it.