Regarding about Windows. Acer A315-56 (Notebook)

Hi. I purchased this computer back in UAE on 2020. It's an i3 10th gen, I know it's not used for gaming and stuff, but I did run a few games that were too high-end ones like Grand Theft Auto V. At starting the laptop was as good as new and all the things were optimized and I loved it. I'm kind of into gaming and discovering new stuff. So I literally keep experimenting stuff on this laptop. My current issue isn't the issue of my laptop slowing down but the issue is as I mentioned above I love discovering and experimenting stuff on my laptop. So I was trying to install a Linux os on my computer and I was surprised to see that my laptop couldn't discover the hard disk in the Linux os installer. I was shocked and I asked my friend, he did thorough research on it and told me that this issue was very common on acer windows laptops and there was a workaround. So he said to me, that I should boot into Linux and when I reach the desktop I have to keep my laptop lid closed which will put the laptop to sleep, upon reopening I was surprised to see that the hard disk appeared as if it got inserted at that moment. So I installed Linux and I thought all was good, but I was wrong and a huge surprise was waiting for me. I booted up the laptop after installation and I got stuck on the Linux command line which says hard disk not detected. I tried the workaround (lid close and open) but it didn't go to sleep, that's when I came to know that it will only go to sleep when you are on the os desktop not when you are on a command line. So literally I asked my friend for a fix again and I tried a few of them. None worked. The next he said is that just click shutdown by holding the shift key and when I asked what it will do, he said that it will fully turn off the computer as well as the hard disk and it might turn on when I try to boot into Linux again. So I did as he said but my laptop didn't turn off. Got really frustrated and I forced a shutdown while it was turning off. The next thing I knew I messed up my windows. This means neither I can get into the log-in screen nor reset. All it was showing me was a loading cursor that was glitching. I couldn't reset it because I had chosen a Microsoft account over the local account. I tried my Microsoft password but it wouldn't work, then I reset the password from the Microsoft site and tried it, still didn't work. so I gave up resetting. I searched up what other options I had left. I tried the recovery system which u get on pressing alt+f10 (recovery mode), and tried a few command lines, but none worked. Finally, I gave up and downloaded a windows 10 iso from the Microsoft site, and installed it on my laptop. Didn't face any issues, and installed smoothly, but then I think I lost a few drivers and I lost all the manufacturer apps. I tried searching if there was a link to Acer windows 10 but unfortunately couldn't find one. Tried asking my friend who owns an Acer gaming laptop, but he also said he has an idea. Currently, I'm on windows 11 as I got an update via settings as my laptop had all the specifications given for windows 11. I still plan on downgrading to windows 10, but I want the original one which Acer provided. Now the issue is that I bought thin from UAE but now I'm currently in India and won't return until a few years. So as a part of an acer user, I request you to please give me a solution or send an Acer version of windows 10 which has the drivers and manufacturer apps. I know this is stupid, but I still think acer windows is much better than the one which Microsoft provided. I do know that both are the same and Acer has just modified it a little bit with wallpaper and their apps. Please help me out. I do not plan on visiting a service centre for such an easy issue which I myself can fix but just need the right tools to do so. Hopefully you guys can help me troubleshoot my issue.

Thank You in Advance.

Computer Specifications:
Acer A315-56 (Notebook)
Intel i3 10th gen
4GB ram ( 3.79 usable only)
1TB HDD
INTEL UHD GRAPHICS
Windows 11 Home
No Graphics Card

( edited the title to add the model name )

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ttttt

@Ananthu

I think the way you install Linux was not proper. To install Linux for dual boot, you probably need to use supervisor password, depending on what version of BIOS being used.

Don't see why people cannot install Linux.
I have Manjaro Linux installed to my A515-46-R14k, with the Win 11 on the original 128 GB NVMe SSD and the Manjaro Linux on a separate 2.5" SATA3 SSD.

Please tell us what BIOS version that you have, and how you install Linux? What kind of Linux?

Ananthu_56

ttttt said:

@Ananthu

I think the way you install Linux was not proper. To install Linux for dual boot, you probably need to use supervisor password, depending on what version of BIOS being used.

Don't see why people cannot install Linux.
I have Manjaro Linux installed to my A515-46-R14k, with the Win 11 on the original 128 GB NVMe SSD and the Manjaro Linux on a separate 2.5" SATA3 SSD.

Please tell us what BIOS version that you have, and how you install Linux? What kind of Linux?

Thanks a lot for answering. Actually, I said the issue wasn't Linux. My issue is if someone could provide the windows modified by Acer (with drivers and manufacturer apps.)

Anyways, I would love to disclose my issue with Linux as well. I did disable secure boot and that option can be enabled and disabled only if I set a supervisor password, so that isn't the issue. It is not an issue with all Acer computers, only a few of them, and some won't even face this issue as those laptops come with Linux instead of windows. As you said, It's not a mistake from my side, but an issue from the computer's side as the installation wasn't at all an issue. The issue was that the hard disk doesn't turn on when booting into Linux. It only turns on when I'm booting into windows or it will insert when I do the tweak as said above. (close&open lid). I'm pretty sure that I installed it correctly, but the computer was unable to boot into Linux after installation only because the hard disk didn't turn on and u can't do the above-mentioned tweak when u r on the command line. Even if u close the lid laptop won't go to sleep when on the command line. Even the command line said that it can't find the disk and was unable to boot. By the way, I only have an HDD, no SSD or external disk, else if I had one, then mine too could have successfully booted into Linux. You installed it on your secondary drive, not the primary. I don't know about all that, correct me if I'm wrong.

I have the latest bios offered by Acer for my specified model. 1.26

I have watched several videos on how to install Linux. My friend said that it may be the Linux version. So the first ever Linux I tried to install was Manjaro Xfce edition. There I found the issue of the disk not being found. Then next I tried mint and that was when my friend told me to try the tweak. So then I came to know it wasn't a Linux issue but my laptop issue. So I did the tweak and installed mint but was unable to boot due to the above-mentioned reason. Due to all these issues, I'm thinking of making a persistent Linux on my 16GB USB as I have no other way. I still prefer installing on my hard drive instead of a USB and I will if u can help me fix the issue.

I even thought of buying an Acer gaming laptop (predator) but since these kinds of issues persist, I'm planning on a Lenovo or HP Laptop.

Hopefully, you can help me solve both these issues. ACER WINDOWS and LINUX INSTALLATION (DISK NOT FOUND)

Ananthu_56

Actually, One part of my issue is fixed right now. Due to my laptop slowing down and I decided that I will do a hard reset, what I meant by that is that I wanted to clean the drive and do an entirely new reinstall fully. So that's what I did. I clicked full reset and then I got 2 options, 1 was local install and cloud install. I chose cloud install and was surprised to see that after clicking cloud install and finished setting up, all those Acer apps which I lost in windows 10 came back even the drivers too. So 1st Phase of my issue is fixed. Now need help with Linux installing on the hard drive

AnhEZ28

@Ananthu_56 try to change to AHCI by opening MSConfig on Windows, boot tab, enable safe mode, and choose apply.

After that, reboot the Windows. Before the laptop turns on (after the restarting logo disappeared), quickly tap F2 to go to the BIOS, navigate to the Main tab, press CTRL-S, change the SATA mode to AHCI or disable the VMD controller, and choose save and restart when you have finished. When the Windows started up in Safe mode, reboot Windows again and the Linux installation should find the disk.