i just got a used sw5-011 with no os

williamsj
williamsj Member Posts: 9

Tinkerer

edited November 2023 in 2018 Archives
i just got a used sw5-011 with no os. When I turn it on all it says is no bootable device. when I tried to use my usb with 8.1 on it the computer didn't even know it was there????

Answers

  • JordanB
    JordanB ACE Posts: 3,729 Pathfinder
    edited January 2018

    Step1:  Go in to your BIOS settings (tap F2 key when you turn on computer) and load the BIOS defaults (F9) and then save/exit (F10)

    Step2:  Go back in to your BIOS settings and enable the F12 boot menu

    Step3:  Boot your Windows 8.1 media by tapping the F12 key at the Acer post logo

    Step4:  When you see the language screen below, press Shift+F10 on your keyboard to get a command prompt







    Step5:  At the command prompt, type

    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk x   (x=your drive where you're going to install Windows)--be careful this will wipe your drive, don't select the wrong disk number
    clean
    exit
    exit

    Step6:  Press and hold  your computer's power button until your computer shuts off.  (Don't forget this important step)

    Step7:  Turn on your computer and install Windows 8.1.  Select Custom Installation.  Click on your drive (it should say unallocated space) and click "Next" and the Windows installer will automatically partition and format your drive and install Windows automatically,

    Step8:  Your drivers are here


    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • williamsj
    williamsj Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    JordanB said:

    Step1:  Go in to your BIOS settings (tap F2 key when you turn on computer) and load the BIOS defaults (F9) and then save/exit (F10)

    Step2:  Go back in to your BIOS settings and enable the F12 boot menu

    Step3:  Boot your Windows 8.1 media by tapping the F12 key at the Acer post logo

    Step4:  When you see the language screen below, press Shift+F10 on your keyboard to get a command prompt







    Step5:  At the command prompt, type

    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk x   (x=your drive where you're going to install Windows)--be careful this will wipe your drive, don't select the wrong disk number
    clean
    exit
    exit

    Step6:  Press and hold  your computer's power button until your computer shuts off.  (Don't forget this important step)

    Step7:  Turn on your computer and install Windows 8.1.  Select Custom Installation.  Click on your drive (it should say unallocated space) and click "Next" and the Windows installer will automatically partition and format your drive and install Windows automatically,

    Step8:  Your drivers are here



    my usb isn't showing up
  • JordanB
    JordanB ACE Posts: 3,729 Pathfinder
    You can try an Internal Battery Reset if your model has a pinhole.  If it doesn't, then you can try disconnecting the battery cable from the internal battery for about an hour.  If that doesn't fix it, you can try creating a new USB Windows 8.1 drive.   And then I'll be out of ideas.  Sorry.

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8

    https://us.answers.acer.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/34843

    Make sure you disconnect the AC charger before you disassemble.








    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    Hi William. You've started multiple threads on this issue. So that we don't re-invent the wheel trying to re-install Win8.1, please continue the discussion on this thread only. Please follow thru with JordanB's suggestions and report results here. Then we can go further if needed. Jack E/NJ PS: Do you know exactly how your Win8.1 installation stick was created?

    Jack E/NJ

  • williamsj
    williamsj Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    Hi William. You've started multiple threads on this issue. So that we don't re-invent the wheel trying to re-install Win8.1, please continue the discussion on this thread only. Please follow thru with JordanB's suggestions and report results here. Then we can go further if needed. Jack E/NJ PS: Do you know exactly how your Win8.1 installation stick was created?
    How do you make a 8.1 because i have made one but the computer does even see the it
  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer
    2 things to try/check as BIOS is a bit picky on USB booting.
    windows 8.1 must be 32 bit/x86 version
    try to create the bootable USB flash drive formatting as FAT32 first and if it's doesn't show up as NTFS also try GPT partitioning or MBR (i can't remember which one worked...it was 3 years ago)

    i suggest you to use Rufus and a windows iso downloaded from Microsoft servers
    https://rufus.akeo.ie/
    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • williamsj
    williamsj Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer


    IronFly said:
    2 things to try/check as BIOS is a bit picky on USB booting.
    windows 8.1 must be 32 bit/x86 version
    try to create the bootable USB flash drive formatting as FAT32 first and if it's doesn't show up as NTFS also try GPT partitioning or MBR (i can't remember which one worked...it was 3 years ago)

    i suggest you to use Rufus and a windows iso downloaded from Microsoft servers
    https://rufus.akeo.ie/

    i have tried that and all it says unknow device
  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer
    no other ideas.
    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,176 Trailblazer
    edited January 2018
    >>>How do you make a 8.1 because i have made one but the computer does even see the it >>>
    >>>I have tried that and all it says unknow device>>>

    William---I asked before how you made the Win8.1 installation stick. Did you partition it with the MBR type or the GUID type? Did you format it to a FAT32 file allocation table or an NT file system. So there are 4 installation stick possibilities. Which possibility did you try to use? Jack E/NJ



    Jack E/NJ