w510 does not boot after 8.1 update "Your PC needs to be repaired"

dust31
dust31 Member Posts: 11 New User

Hi,

 

I had countless issues with this tablet, last was with charging. I did a factory reset then updated windows and firmwares, all looked ok. After applying windows update to 8.1 the tablet boots straight to a blue error screen:

 

Your PC needs to be repaired.
The boot configuration data file doesn't contain valid information for an operating system.
File:\BCD
Error code : 0xc0000098
You 'll need the recovery tools on your installation media. If you don't have any installation media (like a disk or USB device), contact your system administrator or PC manufacturer.



Press the Windows key for UEFI Firmware settings

 

I can only access bios. I have an USB key (8Gb) as well as an external USB hard drive if I can use any to boot on some image file or whatever.
I have no external CD/DVD drive.

 

Any help will be great.

Funny enough the charging issue is gone now.

Answers

  • Sharanji
    Sharanji ACE Posts: 4,328 Pathfinder
    Please power OFF the computer by pressing the power button for 4 to 5 seconds.
    Hold the tablet in landscape orientation. Press and hold the Volume down and Power button at the same time until the Acer logo appears on-screen and release the buttons. Check changing the boot order to hard disk.
     

    On the Iconia Tab W510 models with 32 GB internal storage you need to use the supplied Recovery DVDs to re-install Windows, however you need and external USB dvd drive.

     

    If you have 64 GB internal storage model you may keep the tablet on keyboard dock, press and hold the the left Alt key  and tap the F10 key when the Acer logo appears on the screen (As soon as tablet powers on),  select Troubleshoot in Advance Options to choose Reset,   During the system recovery process, all data stored on your computer will be overwritten. This means all your files, such as email and photos, will be erased.

     

    Click the Kudos kudos-thumbs-up.pngto say “Thanks” for helping! select "Accept Solution" if your issue is resovled.

  • dust31
    dust31 Member Posts: 11 New User

    Thanks for your reply unfortunately that did not work.

    I got the 64GB model originally running windows 8.

    I did get into the bios and changed boot sequence to boot on USB HDD instead of windows boot manager as I only got 3 options:

    Windows Boot manager

    USB HDD:

    USB CDROM:

     

    Then I saved changes and rebooted, pressing alt + F10 does not do anything, the acer screen pops up for a few milliseconds only then I get that blue screen again. I tried holding the keys, pressing quickly etc at least 40 times now, I never got to the advance options.

     

     

    I have now downloaded a windows ISO and copied to an USB key, trying to boot on it  but when getting to boot menu options with F12 I only got 1 option that is windows boot manager (results in blue screen error).

  • padgett
    padgett ACE Posts: 4,532 Pathfinder

    Can't just copy and ISO to a USB key. You need to use a tool like either the Microsoft ISO to USB or if an expert, something like RUFUS.

  • dust31
    dust31 Member Posts: 11 New User

    Figured that out few hours ago, never tried to boot from an usb device before Smiley Happy

     

    After wasting few hours with different tools attempting to repair the boot partition etc I ended up reinstalling windows from an USB key. It installed a default version without all the acer tools and drivers so the touchscreen/docking keyboard weren't working and I had to plug in a keyboard and mouse.
    I downloaded and installed the w510 drivers so far so good.
    During the whole process the charger was working when plugged to the tablet (not workling when plugged to the keyboard) but after final reboot it stopped working again (it all started due to that issue as I could hardly charge the tablet I ended up resetting it).

     

     I spent so much time on it, found a lot of threads on the web about different w510 bugs and there were quite a lot of reports about charging issues.

    Acer never admitted there was an issue always pretending they could not rproduce it but I know some users returned their tablet so they could reproduce the issue on those faulty tablets.

     

    I found someone owning the same model not living far from me, going to meet him this afternoon to test my tablet with his charger.
    When I will be done I will just sell the tablet and never return to acer products due to horriple support I received (talking about the official support) as you get much more help from the community. 

    I purchased that tablet for 599€, can't say it was a budget one so I expected at least decent support and customer care not trying to charge me to repair something I did not break but that is just faulty by nature.

     

  • dust31
    dust31 Member Posts: 11 New User

    Ok so for all of the people getting charging issue the faulty component is the charger itself. Must be cheap quality regarding the amount of threads about charging issues on the web.

    2 bad news:

    1) acer no longer supports it (not for sale, at least not in Europe) so thanks for using such a specific connector and dropping support less than 2 years after purchasing the brand new hardware.

    2) As its not a standard connector it is an expensive one, thanks again.

     

    The cheapest I found was around 30€, ordered and waiting for it. If it works I'm selling my w510.

  • padgett
    padgett ACE Posts: 4,532 Pathfinder

    Never had any trouble with my Acer computers but then I tend to just fix things when they do not work. My W510 has always done exactly what it is supposed to but then when new I bought a second power supply for $19.95 from Amazon since the connecter was specific. Is very similar to the one on my Viewsonic G-Tab and close to the one for an iPad so not that odd.

     

    Acer does seem to shoot themselves in the foot sometimes: My Switch 12 has the same 19v power as my Aspire 1 Netbooks, but a smaller barrel connector the same size as my 12v W3. Both right angle plugs. Had to add big labels and paint different colours.

     

    Since I am using the W3 as a testbed for Windows 10, the power supply hangs with several others.

     

    OHOH I have not had any different experience with any other manufacturers (and have had laptops/noteboks/netbooks/tabs from most though the ventless designs are harder to work on.

  • yuroktold1
    yuroktold1 Member Posts: 56

    Tinkerer

    out of curiosity, after you re-installed from usb did your version of windows got activated? or you had a real product key?

  • dust31
    dust31 Member Posts: 11 New User

    Surprisingly I did not get prompted for a serial while I was told I would during the process and windows seems to be activated.

     

    Only con is that acer recovery management does not appear to work anymore (launching it from the Windows.OLD folder).

  • yuroktold1
    yuroktold1 Member Posts: 56

    Tinkerer

    look in control panel, under 'system'. you may still install OS but then you have x amount of time to plug in the key.

  • dust31
    dust31 Member Posts: 11 New User
    It is activated I just checked.
  • yuroktold1
    yuroktold1 Member Posts: 56

    Tinkerer

    can you tell me whare did you get the install file downloaded from? this is all very unusual since i am guessing you previosly had a eom version installed on the tablet, not a retail. and acer charges money for recovery media.  

  • dust31
    dust31 Member Posts: 11 New User

    I tried so many things that I am not 100% sure tbh but I believe I made the bootable drive that worked with the following tool:

    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

     

    It required an ISO file, I can't find the link I got it from anymore but the file name is

    9200.16384.WIN8_RTM.120725-1247_X86FRE_ENTERPRISE_EVAL_EN-US-HRM_CENA_X86FREE_EN-US_DV5.ISO

     

    If you google the name you will find several results and links.

  • padgett
    padgett ACE Posts: 4,532 Pathfinder

    I believe the W510 has the Windows key in the BIOS and you only need a key to activate the PRO version. There are products that will allow you to retrive the key so you can store a copy.

  • yuroktold1
    yuroktold1 Member Posts: 56

    Tinkerer

    i googled it and this appears to be 90 day trial version. you might want to sell your tablet fast)) 

  • dust31
    dust31 Member Posts: 11 New User

    ISO is for trial but as it is activated there is no expiry date. Tablet will be sold tonight.