Predator G9-793-79V5 - Recovery/Reinstalling Windows 10

dmw_4814

When I first got my Predator 17 laptop, I immediately opened it up and replaced the two 128GB M.2 SSDs with two new M.2 SSDs, each 1TB in size. I also installed a 2TB 2.5" SSD. I made recovery media ( a USB flash drive, which of course I now cannot find!). Because I was unsure the recovery media would work with my new drives (as opposed to it looking for the Acer-installed drives, and failing because they're no longer present), I used my own personal copy of Windows 10 that I already owned to put Windows back on my laptop, and I downloaded all the drivers I thought I needed from Acer's support page for my Predator model. Everything was working pretty much OK (except for this annoying freezing/stuttering I frequently experience when using my wireless Logitech MX Master mouse), until I recently changed my Microsoft Account password (because I moved and changed my cell number, and forgot to update my cell number with Microsoft first; I had 2-factor authentication turned on, and couldn't reply to the authorizations they were sending to my old number, so I was eventually allowed to reset my password). Now, I'm constantly told there's a problem with my MS account, and when I click on "Fix Now" (or, something to that effect), a window opens up that's completely gray inside - no text or boxes - and it disappears after a second or two. I've searched everywhere for help with this, but none of the solutions worked. I created a local account & signed out of my MS account, thinking I could just re-add it, but I can't - the same gray box appears then disappears. So, I figured I'd reinstall Windows, hoping that would also cure my stuttering problem with my mouse.

Have a couple of questions, though:

1. If I purchase I recovery thumb drive from Acer, will I be able to use that to restore my Predator to its "factory" condition? Will it work, even though I've replaced my original SSDs? I downloaded Acer Care & installed it last night, but it doesn't seem to want to run. When I click on it, the "splash" screen appears for a second or two, then just goes away, and the program doesn't run. I've tried compatibility settings, but no dice. I've tried to run D2D, which I read was recovery from the BIOS (or, something like that), by pressing the left ALT key at the Acer logo, then repeatedly pressing F10, but the computer always just boots to Windows (is that an incorrect key combination for D2D?).

2. Can I just set the boot order to boot from the USB drive, first? Will that get me into recovery? Or, will I need to use my Windows 10 disc again?

Thanks,

Dennis

XdxD

For the 2nd option to work, you need to first turn Secure Boot off. Also, you need to make a pen-drive as installation media with GPT partitioning. Use RUFUS for that. Acer's recovery never worked for me. So I made a recovery drive with AOMEI OneKey recovery which actually works.
1st option: Use the ISO from Microsoft. No problem in that. But try this once: Reset your PC using Acer Care Centre. Will bring it back to factory condition but without Acer's drivers. Get them from support website. 

xapim

@dmw_4814 the recovery pen drive its only available in the US they dont ship it internationally only locally if if you still have the old 128gb ssd you can clone it into one of the 1tb u have actualy what you should had done it first place was to clone it into one of the new m.2 with easeus partition master or other similar if you dont have or formatted the old 128gb you only option if you dont live in the US to obtain the recovery usb drive its to create a win10 bootable usb drive using rufus (my best bet)

XdxD

For the 2nd option to work, you need to first turn Secure Boot off. Also, you need to make a pen-drive as installation media with GPT partitioning. Use RUFUS for that. Acer's recovery never worked for me. So I made a recovery drive with AOMEI OneKey recovery which actually works.
1st option: Use the ISO from Microsoft. No problem in that. But try this once: Reset your PC using Acer Care Centre. Will bring it back to factory condition but without Acer's drivers. Get them from support website. 

XdxD

Also, which build are you on?

xapim

@dmw_4814 the recovery pen drive its only available in the US they dont ship it internationally only locally if if you still have the old 128gb ssd you can clone it into one of the 1tb u have actualy what you should had done it first place was to clone it into one of the new m.2 with easeus partition master or other similar if you dont have or formatted the old 128gb you only option if you dont live in the US to obtain the recovery usb drive its to create a win10 bootable usb drive using rufus (my best bet)

dmw_4814

XdxD said:

For the 2nd option to work, you need to first turn Secure Boot off. Also, you need to make a pen-drive as installation media with GPT partitioning. Use RUFUS for that. Acer's recovery never worked for me. So I made a recovery drive with AOMEI OneKey recovery which actually works.
1st option: Use the ISO from Microsoft. No problem in that. But try this once: Reset your PC using Acer Care Centre. Will bring it back to factory condition but without Acer's drivers. Get them from support website. 

I'm on Windows Home, build 1803.

Acer Care won't even run on my system, for some reason. I'll just download the latest Windows ISO, and use that. Thanks. 

dmw_4814

xapim said:

@dmw_4814 the recovery pen drive its only available in the US they dont ship it internationally only locally if if you still have the old 128gb ssd you can clone it into one of the 1tb u have actualy what you should had done it first place was to clone it into one of the new m.2 with easeus partition master or other similar if you dont have or formatted the old 128gb you only option if you dont live in the US to obtain the recovery usb drive its to create a win10 bootable usb drive using rufus (my best bet)

I'm in the US (Cleveland, OH).

XdxD

Well, try installing the ISO. If that solves, nice. Or, you have the option of getting the recovery. You can even send it to Acer Centre for service.