changed to english windows

cracicot
cracicot Member Posts: 4 New User
in 2015 Archives

OK, bought this Aspire E1-572G while in Spain.  Came with Windows 8 Spanish and my Spanish wife helped me change the language pack to English, which is fine but not 100%.

 

Now, there were some serious problems after doing that free upgrade to windows 8.1 and wanted to go back to Windows 8 and go to English at the same time....but I did it the wrong way.

 

I borrowed a DVD from a friend and wiped out the disk with diskpart and installed Windows 8 but I have an OEM windows Product Key and it wont work, obviously.  I called MS and they told me to call Acer and ask for a restore disk in English and I wanted to do that but now I am having a hard time finding the darn receipt.  I cut out the info and codes from the laptop box but still trying to find that receipt so I can contact Acer.  I cant even contact support without it.  

 

So,  is there anything I can do to get that restore disk, since I did not get one with the laptop?  I know the restore would have been on a partition, but it was blown away AND it was also Spanish.  I dont feel right having to buy another DVD at $120 from MS, but I would not have a problem spending $10-20 for an English restore disk from Acer.

Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,889 Trailblazer

    You can click on the Acer Store button to get the media at nominal cost. Choose your country. Then select erecovery. Have your SNID ready.

     

    Here's the US site. http://store.acer.com/store/aceramer/en_US/eRecovery

     

    Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • cracicot
    cracicot Member Posts: 4 New User

    Thanks Jack, that is ok for a second solution, but contacting ACER and not having to pay for an iso would be preferrable, unless your solution is the only solution for me in this situation.

     

    Not only that, when I clicked on your link and put in my SNID, I get: "No RCD available for the entered Serial Number."

     

    So unless someone at Acer helps me with this, I don't think I will find the proper solution.

     

     

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,889 Trailblazer

    Sorry, I showed the US acer store as an example only. I think you should click on the Spanish acer store to accept your SNID.

     

    If you google "Windows 8 iso free download", you can download an official generic Windows installation iso for any language from a number of sites. As long as you have the product key on the bottom of the machine (proof that you purchased the machine with an official copy of Win8 preinstalled), you can re-install the system. However, since it's a generic version, many of your Acer-specific devices may not work correctly, as expected, or at all until you download and install the appropriate device drivers from the Acer support site. Furthermore, the iso is a huge download of the order 4-5GB. And once installed, there may also be further registration steps required by Microsoft to complicate matters. A do-able task but very tedious. That's why you might want to consider purchasing the Acer media specific to your machine to avoid this hassle.

     

    Jack E/NJ    

    Jack E/NJ

  • cracicot
    cracicot Member Posts: 4 New User

    Funny, I have bought 2 laptops in the past few years and both have that official sticker on the bottom of the laptop with the windows product key.  I find it strange that this laptop did not come with it.  It has a holographic sticker that says Windows 8 on the bottom but that is all.

     

    That being said, I used the key finder utility on the laptop to find the product key before I attempted this for obvious reasons.  It gave me an OEM Product Key, which MSoft says does not help me install a generic version.  Downloading something that large is nothing since I have fiber, and I am a network admin, so this is child's play in most instances.  But I can't do anything with this product key unless I get the media from Acer.  

     

    I paid for this laptop if something goes wrong with the HD and I lose everything, I would normally contact Acer to get a media disk because the restore partition might be lost and there is no DVD that came with the laptop.

     

    I go to the spanish site and cannot find the erecovery link anywhere.  This is quite frustrating.  I just need the official Acer media as I have the product key and actual laptop.  I can produce the proof of purchase from my debit card purchase at Corte Ingles in Palma de Mallorca

     

    Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

     

    Thanks

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,889 Trailblazer

    At the bottom of the Spanish page, you'll note the digital river Ireland is the distributor for you particular product. While your key is for the Spanish version, I'd email them enquiriesemea@digitalriver.com  to see if they can give you a workaround for the English version.

     

    Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • PenguinJim
    PenguinJim Member Posts: 72 Enthusiast WiFi Icon

    Windows 8 includes full multiple language support, unlike previous Windows versions that only included the support in "Pro" versions (e.g. Windows 7 Pro).

     

    So the "normal" Windows 8 (or 8.1), be it Spanish or English, will be absolutely fine, as it's simple to go into the Control Panel and change the language to your favorite. Just go Control Panel -> Language -> Advanced.

     

    You are free to download Windows 8 ISOs from Microsoft directly, with a choice of USB drive media or optical disc media. See here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

     

    During the 8.1 installation (recommended to do 8.1 immediately rather than doing 8 and then waiting for hours while 8.1 downloads and installs), you can use a Microsoft temporary key from here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx

     

    Then when the installation is complete, use your real Windows 8 key on the desktop once everything is installed. Either an 8 or 8.1 key will work here. You say " I just need the official Acer media as I have the product key" - if that's a Windows 8 or 8.1 key, you're all set.

  • cracicot
    cracicot Member Posts: 4 New User

    Thanks,

     

    Again, the problem I have is an OEM product key, so downloading a MS Win 8 version seems useless unless I can d/l an OEM version from MS.  Is that even possible?  If so, then I just have to d/l the OEM version from MS and I am set with my OEM product key and i'm happy.

     

     

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,889 Trailblazer

    As mentioned previously, many of your Acer-specific devices may not work correctly, as expected, or at all with the generic version until you download and install the appropriate device drivers from the Acer support site. If for some reason you cannot get the Acer-specific OEM media from the distributor Digital River Ireland to avoid this hassle, you may have no choice.

     

    Jack E/NJ 

    Jack E/NJ

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