For aspire s7-392 is the windows 8 pro product key in UEFI.

madcowtricks
madcowtricks Member Posts: 5 New User

And if it is, does that mean I have to use windows 8 pro installation media for the product key to be recognized?  Is there a way to use my serial number to get the product key from acer?  I'm trying to recover from a window 10 upgrade gone horrible wrong.

Answers

  • RevoMaxx
    RevoMaxx ACE Posts: 458 Pioneer

    If your system came from Acer with 8 Pro then yes your system would have the Key in your computer.... 

     

    Have you tried to do a Restore, Turn on your computer and Press Alt+F10 and it should put your system back to the way it was from Acer...

     

    You could also use Recovery drive that was made if you made one before... Also you could make one right now if you still have the Acer software that came with your computer.... you would need a 16gb or more Thumb drive to do so. Also you can if it wasn't over 30 days go back from within Win10 If it was longer then 30days then yes a different way would be as stated above....

     

    Then a last way is you could go to the Acer store at the top of the page and then Click on eRecovery and with your SNID or Serial you could get the Recovery from them that would also put you back as it was from Acer...

     

    Hope something helps

    James

     

    Edit: Here is a Screen shot of one of my Acers that has only had 10 for the 4th time for less then a month... I keep going back for no reason other then to keep it within 30 days. I have a Recovery Flash dirive if I miss the 30 day mark lol.. You would get there by going to the Notification area by the clock, Then all settings, then Update and Security, then recovery. Should give you that option...

    Screenshot (23).png

  • RevoMaxx
    RevoMaxx ACE Posts: 458 Pioneer

    Also if you still have the Acer Software installed...

     

    Right click on the Windows Inon (Start button) then Search, Then type in Acer Recovery managemnet. In there you will be able to setup a Factory Restore USB Drive. you can also make a DVD of the Apps and software from Acer

     

    The Options are at the bottom of the Acer recovery Management page. 

    Create Factory Default Backup

    Create Drivers and Applications Backup

     

    James

     

    Again for the Factory Default Backup you would need a USB drive of 16gb.

  • madcowtricks
    madcowtricks Member Posts: 5 New User

    Thanks James.  

    Yes the system is from Acer with 8 pro and the free upgrade to 8.1 pro. the MS create media tool doesn't have the option for 8.0 media just 8.1.  I'm thinking that's why it asks for a key.  The key I grabbed with Belarc, before I started this odyssey, apparently is only the key that was used for the upgrade, at least that's the message I get when I use it.  

     

    I've tried Refresh, Recover and Restore options.  They spin for awhile, look like they are doing something, because I'm getting the percent done status, and then when it goes to reboot, it says the default boot device is missing or boot failed?  Then to insult me more, it says to insert recovery media and start over.  I am using UEFI so I know there shouldn't be a MBR.  

     

    The acer store is a solution, but as I've only been bashing on this for 2 days, it still seems a high price to pay for information that should be readily available in 2016.  Maybe in a few more days, when it starts to look hopeless and I can't think of a way to justify such an expensive paper weight to my wife.

     

    I'm thinking about using one of the generic product keys, to get through the install and then worry about a real key once I have more than just a command window to work with on this problem.  Ideas on that?

    Mark

  • RevoMaxx
    RevoMaxx ACE Posts: 458 Pioneer

    Problem is that Most Product Key grabbers isn't giving you the right Key...

     

    I am not sure, I know that to get to 10 one would upgrade to 8.1 and then 10. Or if they had a retail product code for 8 they could do a Upgrade to 10 at one time I am not sure it is that way still.... however to go back if you did the go back option. It will take you to 8.1... If you like that it will let you stay with that. If you wanted to go back to 8 then you could do it like it was in 10 to 8.1. I am not sure however that ways an option for the Pro or just the normal 8.... As noone of my systems had the 8 Pro system...

     

    However I have gone back to both 8.1 and 8 from Win 10. 8.1 from the picture that I posted. and 8 was from the Restore Media I have on my USB Drive.... Both ways back is about the same speed (Takes FOREVER) lol

     

    Most my Computers now besides the one I am typing on right now are for testing these days. I am starting to See the Win Update to 10 in my Sleep lol I have done it to many times.

     

    In closing. I am not sure the Win 8 Pro that you could DL would be the same 8 Pro that came with your Acer and the built in Key may not work. And yes if you could only find the Media from MS for 8.1 Pro your 8 built in key I don't think would work. Again it could have something to do with the Type of 8 Pro anyway. LIke same I think for 8.1 Pro if your system had it from Factory. 8.1 Pro from MS may not be the same for it to work. I could be wrong but I think OEM and Retail are Different Demons...

     

    James

     

  • madcowtricks
    madcowtricks Member Posts: 5 New User

    So after two days I'm back up and running 8.1.  But not using UEFI.  here's what I did. Set it to legacy boot.  reboot and hit Control I to drop into the Intel Rapid software.  Delete the raid 0 volume and then make a new raid 0 volume.  drop out, set boot to UEFI and boot from your USB install stick.  It goes along fine until the reboot step where you take out the install media.  With win 10 pro or Win 8.1 pro i got the "default boot device is missing or boot failed" upon reboot.  All the solutions when you google that says boot with Legacy.  So I did, and the step where you pick which volume to install on says you can't put the OS on the partition they set up for the OS.  Because.... it's GPT volume and won't boot.  ARGH!!.  so go back to legacy, I went into the intel sub module to let them clean up the disk.  Start over but this time boot into Legacy.  Then it uses a MBR on the primary disk and boom, its installing and rebooting just like they said.  but it is noticable slower booting.  And people say it's not too bad, but for two years now, I've had blazing reboots.  Its way too slow.  But I'm up.  Thanks for the help James

     

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    Using Legacy is not good, since it can arise some hardware/drivers issue.

     

    when you destroy and create a new Array, your SSD is totally raw space.

     

    the only thing you can check after windows 10-8.1 installation with a missing bootable device, is on BIOS.

    check if the first bootable device is Windows partition manager, if there's something else, your system can't boot under UEFI.

     

    i suggest you to create your bootable media using Rufus and setting UEFI/EFI only partition scheme and FAT32 as format.

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • madcowtricks
    madcowtricks Member Posts: 5 New User

    Fun and games.  Yes "legacy" is not what I wanted.  But in my research I found that to be the solution provided for many inquiries similar to mind.  It's only sortof a hardware/drivers issue. In a nut shell.  Yes the product key is stored in UEFI and 2) Yes you can install with UEFI and not worry about legacy boots.

     

    From what I can tell with UEFI we get very large partitions, and a large number of partitions that you can not get in legacy mode.  Makes sense to want UEFI since disks larger than 2TB are getting cheaper and cheaper.  You also get faster boot, resume and shutdown speeds.  

     

    Now the pundits will say you also get a more secure platform.  Now that part is debatable.  With UEFI you get what they call "secure boot" and in my opinion its more of the trusted computing chip that is being jammed down your throat.  With UEFI they could, if they wanted, restrict you to what OS you can run and what hardware you can install on your own computer. Good if you don't want root kits.  Bad if you want to build your own Linux and the bootloader isn't signed by microsoft.  For now Microsoft is signing them.

     

    So I want UEFI for this ultrabook, because I want the speed, and I don't want it on my big servers.  I care for speed in the first, the second don't boot, or shutdown very often.

     

    I learned all sort of things to make your install of Windows 10 on the 392 customized, but the last thing I tried is what worked.  Upgrade the BIOS.  Mine was running 2.03.  Just upgrading to 2.05 and viola, it booted into Windows 10.  So IronFly you were close, it was in the BIOS.  thanks

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    You welcome. Smiley Happy

    I'm not an Acer employee.