Acer Iconia 8.1 ", w3-810, 32-bit win 8/8.1 tablet

davidhk129
davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

I am awaiting my new win 8 tablet.

I have had 10 years experience with Windows. I have  a Win 7 and a Win 8.1 laptops.

I have an Android tablet, but I never have a Windows tablet.

 

I'd like to ask ..............

1. Since the tablet does not have a dvd/dw disk drive, would you recommend an external dvd/dw dsik drive ?

Don't give me the expensive ones. I am on tight budget.

 

2. Assuming the tablet has micro usb port, what adaptor do I need in order to do sysytem image backup to an external hard drive ? I have a 1TB WD ext. hhd.

 

Thank you.

Best Answer

  • robw3
    robw3 Member Posts: 40 Troubleshooter
    Answer ✓

    In answer to 1, I have found that I haven't needed an external CD/DVD, but it will depend what you want to load.  So far I've been able to either download directly or just copy the info off the CD/DVD to a flash drive and use that instead (with a male micro USB to female full sized USB adapter -- which is handy for a lot of things).

     

    In answer to 2,  I have used a HDD with the USB port adapter (less power required than a CD/DVD so it will work), but I'm not sure it's really recommended to do this if you're going to use it a lot due to the power required to drive the HDD.  A powered USB hub might be a good option for this too.

Answers

  • robw3
    robw3 Member Posts: 40 Troubleshooter
    Answer ✓

    In answer to 1, I have found that I haven't needed an external CD/DVD, but it will depend what you want to load.  So far I've been able to either download directly or just copy the info off the CD/DVD to a flash drive and use that instead (with a male micro USB to female full sized USB adapter -- which is handy for a lot of things).

     

    In answer to 2,  I have used a HDD with the USB port adapter (less power required than a CD/DVD so it will work), but I'm not sure it's really recommended to do this if you're going to use it a lot due to the power required to drive the HDD.  A powered USB hub might be a good option for this too.

  • davidhk129
    davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

    You said .....with a male micro USB to female full sized USB adapter -- 

     

    I bought this one from ebay. Is it the right kind ?

     

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Micro-USB-Dual-OTG-Hub-Cable-Power-For-Acer-Iconia-A1-W3-A510-A510-A700-Tablet-/201040287272?ssPageName=ADME:LSmiley SurprisedC:CA:3160

     

     

    Thank you.

     

  • Leonid
    Leonid Member Posts: 121 Troubleshooter

    hI david, that looks right.I like the ASUS External 8x DVD /RW Writer / Burner  Slim Drive. I have used it half a dozen times.

     

     

    BEFORE you try to make the system image backup, PLEASE read messages on that subject here. You could brick your tablet. There are issues.

  • davidhk129
    davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

    ............Before you try to make the system image backup, PLEASE read messages on that subject here. You could brick your tablet. There are issues.................

     

     

    In my Win 8.1 Pro laptop, system image backup saved my bacon more than once.

    What alternative is there if I need to restore my tablet but don;t want to restore to factory settings ?

     

     

    I somehow cannot find threads regarding this subject. Can you please give me a link to them ?

     

    Thank you.

  • robw3
    robw3 Member Posts: 40 Troubleshooter

    Should work. One thing to note (it's at the bottom of the page) is that it won't provide power to your W3 even when it's plugged in.  It doesn't seem to know if it powers a HDD or not (says it doesn't, then says it does ;-)).

     

    FWIW adapter I use is this one: http://www.amazon.ca/Asuxtek-Micro-USB-Host-Cable/dp/B00K8R22CO/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=A3UG7UU2R892Q8

    I like the design because it lays on my case which provides support if I have an internet stick or something heavier attached to it.

     

    EDIT: post edited to reflect info at the bottom of the original webpage link that i hadn't noticed.

  • davidhk129
    davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

    I don't use Amazon because it does not accept paypal. i'm in Canada . We cannot get paypal debit card.

     

     

    P.S. I cannot find the Edit button. How did you do your editing ?

  • davidhk129
    davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

     How do I give kuodos.

    I clicked at the icon and I don't see any action. ???

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer

    Edit is under options menu, but it's possible you have to have some number of posts before it's enabled. Kudos should work by clicking the link. It looks like it's a server side function so you shouldn't have to have Java enabled or anything on your side. It should change the number of kudos displayed without any other visible change.

     

    Here is an example of the cable. And here is an example of an external DVD with it's own power supply. I did the initial recovery backup on my W700 to a USB thumb drive (8GB) I then use a different, larger thumb drive (128GB) for periodic backups.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • davidhk129
    davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

    Thank you.

    I clicked at the "hand" instead of the words. Silly me.

     

    As to Edit, I had checked that before I posted. No Edit option for a newbie.

  • Leonid
    Leonid Member Posts: 121 Troubleshooter

    Hi Billsey, David had asked about a backup image of his HD. Have you done this? My impression was that one image of the HD is not usable for restoring. Am I wrong?

  • davidhk129
    davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

    ...........My impression was that one image of the HD is not usable for restoring.

     

    Why is that  not usable ?

    It works on my 2 laptops. I did that several times to save my system.

    What is the difference between tablet and laptop running the same OS ?

     

    Thank you.

  • davidhk129
    davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

    Hey, I have Edit option now.

    I take it Edit option available to "member" status. I was on "vistor" status before.

  • Leonid
    Leonid Member Posts: 121 Troubleshooter

    David- My understanding is the issue is finding a software that is WIN 8.0 or 8.1 32 bit that supports secure boot. When I searched for one, I was not able to find one.

  • davidhk129
    davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

    A software to do what ?

    You mean to do system image backup ?

     

    Both win 8 and win 8.1 has its own built-in system image backup application. Don't need a 3rd party software.

    In  Win 8.1 , you can find it under File History.

    All one needs is an external hard drive > plug it in > open File History > select system image backp > wait for the system to find the ext. hdd > and way you go.

     

    I do system image backup once a week on both my win 7 and win 8.1.

  • Leonid
    Leonid Member Posts: 121 Troubleshooter

    You are talking about a bootable Image? Do your other devices have 4 partitions like in the Acer? and are they using Secure boot?

     

  • davidhk129
    davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

    Not that I know of.

     

    By the way, my Win 7 Home Premium is an Acer Aspire 17" laptop.

    And my Win 8.1 Pro is installed in a 6 years old Dell Inspiron laptop.

  • Leonid
    Leonid Member Posts: 121 Troubleshooter

    Well let us know how it goes. I would make sure you have your restore disc.

  • davidhk129
    davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

    Finally the Micro USB Dual OTG Hub Cable + Power For Acer Iconia A1 W3 A510 A510 A700 Tablet I ordered throgh eBay has arrived.

     

    I am now doing the system image backp on my tablet.

     

    For the benefit of others who might want to know how......

    Plug in the tablet to DC outlet > plug in the external hard drive > connect the tablet to the ext. hard drive using the micro sb hb > open Win 8.1 tablet, go to File History > select System Image Backp > wait for the system looking for the ext hard drive >  follow the prompts from then on.

     

    Note : I use the same ext. hard drive to do system image backup for 3 compters. Each one has a different compter name. That is imortant. There will be 3 system image backp files corresponding to each computer name.

    The files will be used if I need to do a system restore.

  • davidhk129
    davidhk129 Member Posts: 43 New User

    Adding .............

    Tablet just finished system image backp. It was successful.

This discussion has been closed.