ES1-331 Recovery Partition

alanwu07 · January 2016

Have an Aspires ES1-331 and was trying to install Windows 10 but the SSD partition didn't have enough space. I stupidly deleted the recovery partition thinking it was going to be okay, but now it won't boot into Windows.

I created a Windows 8.1 recovery media onto a USB and since these new laptops don't have COA, I did the whole no product key thing. I tried to repair the existing Windows 8.1 partition but since the 9GB in the recovery partition has been deleted and is unallocated, the installation program couldn't repair it. I ended up just installing a new copy of Windows.

My question is, how am I able to activate/authenticate Windows at this point? I can now log into Windows and can go online but I'm I don't have a product key and I'm not sure if Acer Recovery will help. I just want to put things back to factory default, given that I've deleted the recovery partition and the SSD is all 1 main partition now (there's a couple of other small partition that are like 100mb each but I left those alone).

IronFly · January 2016

the product key is in your BIOS, you can retrieve it if needed.

http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/44415-how-install-windows-8-1-8-1-oem-key-4.html

have you tried to create a windows 8.1 media from Microsoft website?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

IronFly · January 2016

you can check if your windows is already activated:

windows logo key + x

click on System

check on Activation

or

windows logo key + x

click on Command prompt (admin)

type

slmgr/xpr

if you need drivers, applications or BIOS update for your laptop:

http://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/drivers/6072;-;Aspire%20ES1-331

if you want the original installation media:

Acer recovery media
if you are in the US you can buy it:
https://store.acer.com/en-us/extended/recovery/

if you are outside the US, you must call/email your regional Acer support service:
http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/

alanwu07 · January 2016

Well it's definitely not activated. I'm wondering how I can activate it, using the Windows license that I got with the laptop. Or, if it's possible to recover using Acer Recovery if my recovery partition has already been deleted. The 32GB SSD that it came with is completely formatted and has 29GB of free space and I installed a fresh non-Acer copy of Windows 8.1 on it.

What are my steps now to get back to factory default (ie: Acer-licensed copy of Windows so that it can be activated, and a functioning recovery partition). After that, I will also need to figure out how I can NOT have the recovery partition but still have a functioning Windows 8.1 that I can boot into, so I have enough space to install Windows 10.

IronFly · January 2016

windows 8.1 product key is embeeded on BIOS, so it depends also on which version you installed.

Pro or Home

Retail vs OEM

you can try a phone activation:

windows logo key + r

type

slui 4

follow on screen instructions

alanwu07 · January 2016

So I've tried to activate windows many times and it doesn't work. Tried online activation and also tried the automatic phone service. Also talked to someone as well. The problem is, this laptop came with Windows 8.1 pre-installed. There is no COA or product key associated with it.

The recovery partition that is created when they manufactured the laptop was mistakenly deleted and I ended up not being able to boot into Windows. I created a bootable USB with a "no product key Windows 8.1 ISO" and went into the partition management and formatted everything on the computer. I then installed Windows 8.1. I've tried talking to Microsoft and Aspire multiple times (at least 4 calls to both) and they said they aren't able to provide me with a product ket OR even a recovery media that would help me reset this laptop to factory defaults without having to buy a brand new copy of Windows.

Is there anything I can do at this point short of buying a new copy?

IronFly · January 2016

the product key is in your BIOS, you can retrieve it if needed.

http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/44415-how-install-windows-8-1-8-1-oem-key-4.html

have you tried to create a windows 8.1 media from Microsoft website?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

alanwu07 · January 2016

I got the product key by using the tool, but using it didn't work because the Windows version is wrong. Turns out that the ones that come with these cheap laptops is called Windows 8.1 with Bing. They don't have the ISO image of that version available publicly but I was able to get a copy by looking around. Installed and used that product key. Worked like a charm! Thanks for the help, you definitely pointed me in the right direction!