Acer swift go 14 now I want to reinstalling windows?

gairmonster

I installed linux on my Acer swift go 14 -2024 and discovered the linux drivers were in an awful state. I now want to reinstall windows! Whats the easiest way to go about this ?

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title and add issue detail]

lostb053

unless you have snapshots saved, i'd say boot media.

if you don't have USB/CD/any external storage for boot media, install windows in dual mode by creating two partitions

1. EFI partition which will store ISO files and run it using GRUB loader by adding entry for windows efi file.
2. Empty partition where windows installs itself.

Later just delete all other partitions and create simple volumes (diskmgmt.msc)

But honestly it'll be messy. using boot media is better option

billsey

Try the Alt-F10 at boot option to see if the original Windows load is still on the recovery partition. If it's not there you will need to do a vanilla Windows install. Download the install from Microsoft onto a flash drive and boot from that, the when it gets to the screen asking where to install, remove all the Linux partitions and install to the unallocated space. That way the install will create all needed partitions. Once done do updates until there are no more left (including optional updates) then install the applications from the Acer support site. That will get you as close as possible to the original load.

gairmonster

OK thanks - does anyone know where the windows activation key is? usually there is a sticker on the outside of the laptop but I cannot find any!

billsey

Stickers like that are old school, they haven't done them since the release of Windows 8. The activation key is embedded in the BIOS, so you have no need to enter it. They used to have lots of issues with various malicious actors copying the keys off new machines, then selling them to people. When someone then bought the new computer and tried to activate it, it would come back with 'already activated'. So now it's embedded and that is no longer an issue.

gairmonster

Thanks for the advice - all sorted now. Tbh the last time I bought a laptop before this one was 12 years ago , it was well due a replacement. I think looking back I would of bought a laptop with more a better linux pedigree!

billsey

Yeah, you almost have to buy a last years model to get the best Linux support. It typically takes a year or so before they roll out all the driver ports needed…