Acer :: How To Restore Machine From PQSERVICE
Nov 7, 2008
I've recently offered to help out a friend who's Acer aspire has stopped working.
It won't book into windows, but she is keen to keep her old files.
I installed a 2nd version of windows onto the machine to basically back up the whole disk using acronis true image. I've now got that image storage remotley on my own machine.
I think she bought the computer 2nd hand and never got a burned copy of the recovery disks and for some reason the Alt-F10 thing doesn't work to get into the recovery stuff (I've checked in the Bios for D2D)
I've managed to make the PQService partition visible and was wondering what was the best way to restore the machine to factory defaults. I created a CD from the STCDBOOT.ISO file, which allows me to book into the recovery manager, but all it does is prompts for the first disk/system disk.
I'm guessing that all the data required is held in the PQService partition, but I'm not sure how to create the backup DVD's that should have been done when the machine was first used.
I would image that the data is held in the 92EPIXIE.nnn files in the D2D/images directory of the PQService.
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Oct 29, 2008
Having already done a clean install of Vista Ultimate, and thoroughly configuring my system away from the Acer factory default, and having burned both Acer and my own recovery disks (the latter using Complete PC Backup right after the clean install), do I really need the PQSERVICE partition anymore?
If not, I'll make sure to delete it next time I clean install - when I get my new T8300 in a few weeks.
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Jul 14, 2009
My problems lies with the PQSERVICE partition. It is still there and I can see it with Ubuntu. When I attempt start up, I get the message c:ootcd and an error status message. I also have recovery cds that I have tried to to use but I am not able to boot up from them or get any sort of indication that they work , only a blinking cursor then back to the c:ootcd error. My question is if I just completely delete and reformat my entire hard drive, pay that "lovely" $20 fee for new recovery cds from Acer as I'm out of warranty, would it work?
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Oct 31, 2008
Im interested in an alternate use of PQSERVICE and the ALT-F11 D2D Trigger. I would like to put something else other than recovery software on the PQSERVICE partition, specifically a secondary OS. One that can be launched secretly by holding the D2D key combo on startup.
As far as i know, the only limitations are that PQSERVICE has to be named that, be the first partition on disk, be smaller than 5 gigs, be of partition type, be FAT32, and has to have Acer's special mbr.
So, knowing those facts, how can i get something else other than the winPE recovery software to boot when holding down alt-f11? What file does the BIOS D2D functionality look for, is it just NTLDR?
If this is the case, i should just be able to install windows on that partition, restore acer's mbr, reset the partition type to 12, and have it work as long as i keep the other parameters the same. Hypothetically, windows would boot
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Aug 13, 2009
Does deleting the recovery partition and the original OS void your warranty? Only software support?
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Sep 17, 2008
I recently bought an Acer 5610z from a family member that didn't need it anymore and it didn't come with any documentation or software save for the Vista OEM DVD. I proceeded to immediately wipe the HD and make a new install with Vista on a 20 GB partition and my remaining space reserved for programs and the like.
About 2 days later I realized I was missing space on my HD and realized there was a hidden partition for recovery called PQSERVICE. This is my first notebook and I had no idea how hard it is to find drivers and was having a hard time finding all the drivers and programs I needed (even from the manufacturer most of the drivers/utilities are for win XP).
I didn't make the recovery DVD's so I thought it might be possible to find the utilities or drivers on the hidden partition. I've unhidden it but I'm at a loss as to where to find them or if any drivers or utilities are even on it.
At this point do I even need the partition or can I delete it? I'd love to find someone with a copy of the DVD's at factory default settings but...
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Sep 21, 2008
I have a clean HDD(without pqservice) and pqservice backup in acronis on usb HDD. i try to restore pqservice with acronis boot disc, everyting goes fine, then i restore mdr with the same acronis image of pqservice. everyting work fine, with acronis disc director i can see, that i have hidden pqservice as primary, next comes NTFS partition as primary, active. but alt+f10 does not want to work... d2d in bios is enabled. how can i restore everything in order to use normal factory defaults using alt+f10?
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Oct 20, 2008
started with USB thumb drives not showing in MY Computer but visible every where else, getting a drive letter etc. After abunch of investigation I finally seemed to isolate the problem to some Apple Itunes related software. I used MSCONFIG to shut off the apple updater and some other Apple Ipod related startup software. THe USB problem went away.
I decided to then do a little cleanup and get rid of some software installs, I remove Apple Mobile Device support and Apple updater as well as US service. This seemed to go well but I got a software may not work right with out a reboot so I did. On reboot I again got a software needs a reboot I did it again. Now the wierdness starts, my USB problem is gone but I now have a visible F: drive called PQSERVICE, checking with disk managment in system tools I see all my partitions but in Disk MAnagement none of them show a drive letter but all are visible in My Computer and in programs with their correct drive letters. THe machine boots fine and all files are there. I used PTEDIT and see the PQSERVICE partion has a type of 12 which from what I can find should be hidden. My Alt F10 seems to take me to the partition even though it is visble, I did not choose to restore as I really want to figure this out before I re-format this laptop. My concern is why can't I hide PQSERVICE and why are there no drive letters showing in Disk Management? I know most people want to make PQSERVICE visible but I want it to go back to the way it was. Also the PQSERVICE shows a EISA Configuration Healthy in disk Management and therefore I can't do anything to it.
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Jan 19, 2008
I have an Acer Travelmate 6460 with Windows XP on it. I want to format my harddisk and put a Vista Business on it (no OEM).
With that format I mean complete one, including the PQService partition from Acer.
Basically I want to have an 'Acer clean' laptop in the end (I only want the drivers for the hardware, and the downloads to make the soft keys working).
Now first of all i can not delete the PQService partition (not in Windows, not in the Vista installation program after booting from dvd). That made me curious and searched the internet.
Now I've read that it is possible that after deleting the PQservice partition, you loose the MBR and can not boot anymore. I don't want to take that risk because I do not want to loose many time during working hours.
I'm a software developer, knows a fair bit of hardware but I really like some advice of some 'manual' of what to do to accomplish what I want. (If that is possible).
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Jun 15, 2008
This guide is made based on an Acer Aspire 5315, but will probably work on other machines with a hidden eisa rescue partition.
This is for everyone who has got problems unhiding and accessing the hidden rescue partition, and have tried all the methods with d2d disabling and changing partition type, perhaps with partedit32 or ptedit32, only to find out that nothing has happened after rebooting.
Download and install "Diskpart" from Microsoft, a small but powerful textbased utility, the link below is a direct download:
[url]
Here's the step by step to succeed...
Press "win + r" to bring up the run window
Type: "cmd", to bring up the command window
Type: "diskpart", a new command window pops up with a "Diskpart >" prompt
Type: "rescan", a configuration check runs
Type: "list disk", a list of the availible disks appears
Type: "select disk 0", if your hidden partition resides on that disk of course
Type: "list partition", to find out with partition is your hidden one (probably about 10 gb and without name).......................
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Jul 29, 2009
my Acer Extensa 4420. A few days ago while on my laptop the BSOD suddenly popped up and my laptop shut down. A restarted it and while it did log in, I got notices saying a lot of stuff was corrupt. I ran chkdsk to see if i could diagnose the issue, and it stated the system volume was corrupt. As time went by using windows became erratic. I decided to try to restore my acer back to factory settings using the eRecovery program. This program would stop working every time right before the process began. Eventually windows stopped booting up at all. leaving my at a boot screen the endlessly looped. I installed Ubuntu shortly after, and managed to get my PQSERVICE partition recognized by the GRUB bootloader and Ubuntu itself (as a mounted drive). The problem is that whenever I do boot to the PQSERVICE partition and look through the options in the recovery center, there is no restore to factory default settings.
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Nov 30, 2007
managed to overwrite the PQService on my Acer Aspire E380. Acer very promptly sent me recovery DVDs for my model, one System DVD and one Recovery DVD. Some of what I've read here confuses me a bit, however, and makes me afraid to use these discs if I should ever need to.
To sum up my question as succinctly as I can: if PQService has been deleted/overwritten, will system/recovery DVDs issued by Acer itself (sent from the company) still function, or will they do me no good? I'm asking you guys because, frankly, my experiences with Acer's support have been less than stellar.
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Apr 14, 2009
I recently bought Acer Aspire 6920g laptop. Everything worked fine but the preinstalled system was a 32bit Vista Home. I decided to install 64 system so I installed Vista Business 64bit which I got from msdnaa. I installed all drivers, empowering technology etc but when I try to install erecovery, the installer starts and displays this message:
Erecovery can not be installed - 6. Software Disc.
That doesnt tell me much. I downloaded older version of erecovery(Acer eRecovery ManagementV2.0.2021) and tried to install it. I got this error:
Old NAPP version, eRecovery cannot be installed in this machine.
I checked on my friends 6920g who has fresh preinstalled system and I have the same exact empowering technology and im trying to install the very same eRecovery.
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Jul 16, 2009
Disassembly, Bluetooth Install and other interesting findings:
A view from above find the tabs holding the keyboard in on the top edge above the F keys:
There are 5 of these tabs on the top row of the keyboard. Press in the middle one with a micro flat head, and use another to pry up the back of the keyboard. Press the rest of them in and they will bow the keyboard out. Only pry from the middle, as this will enable the keyboard to slip under the 2 tabs on the sides.
Once the keyboard is popped out, flip up the black tab to release the ribbon cable. Set the keyboard aside.
Remove the screws at the yellow dots, and disconnect the ribbon cables in the red squares. Simply stick your fingernail under the black tab and gently pull up. They are the same style as the keyboard connector.
Flip over the machine, and remove all screws at the yellow dots. The red dots are rubber stoppers that must be pulled out of their holes to expose the screws below. They come out fairly easily using a small micro flat head screwdriver to pry them out. There is double sided tape on the bottom to keep them in place, and it is good for more than one application, so you need not worry about them falling out later.
Take off the hard drive door and the memory cover and set them aside. To remove the hard drive itself, lift up the black plastic tab and gently pull on it. The whole unit will come out.
Remove the battery, and under the battery there are 2 smaller silver screws in plain sight. These must be removed also.
Flip the machine back over, and gently pull the top plastic piece off. This is one of the easiest laptops I've ever disassembled. DO NOT use a screwdriver to pry the pieces apart, you WILL mar the plastic and it will look bad. There is still 1 small pair of wires connecting the top to the motherboard, but there is enough slack to set the top off of the bottom, exposing the motherboard........................
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Jan 1, 2015
My Acer Aspire V3 772G that I purchased about 18 months ago is starting to behave quite strangely.
The machine has started to run more and more slowly. I have up to date Norton anti-virus, plenty of room on the hard drive, defragment the main drive and try to keep all software up to date.
The other, potentially related issue, I have is overheating. When I run certain online games the left side of the laptop get very hot and I have checked the temperature which get to about 100 degrees C and then the machine shuts down without any warning. I am already using a stand with a fan.
The only thing that I can think of that might be causing this is out of date drivers. When I check from the Device manager it says that all the drivers are up to date and this is confirmed when I look on the Acer site. However, when I go to the Intel site it says that there are more up to date drivers for the integrated graphics card. Should I ignore Acer's information and install the new driver?
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Mar 8, 2010
Since 2 years ago, I owned an Acer Aspire 9420. It is a 17" laptop with Intel CPU (Intel C2D T5600). According to Intel website, T5600 processor have Intel Virtualization Technology. However, for unknown reason, there is no option to turn ON Virtualization in the BIOS. Even Acer doesn't provide BIOS update that support this feature. My works involved VMware simulation & this prevent me from running 64 bit guest OS. Since buying another laptop seems not worth at all & Acer Aspire 9420 is a strong laptop to do heavy job, I'm determine, what ever it takes, I will enable Virtualization on this laptop.
For the past 2 years, I have working hard to achieve my objective. I has search & search in the internet and I found a couple of article about hacking the BIOS to enable Virtualization. This is a few forum's threads & articles I found:-
Code:
[url].....................................
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Sep 4, 2014
I lost the restore partition on the original SSD that my Yoga 13 shipped with. Is there a collection of drivers and whatnot that would allow me to restore it to factory defaults on my own with a fresh windows installation? I have the win8 key from the BIOS but don't want to lose out on all the required drivers if I were to just reinstall windows myself.
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Mar 9, 2008
Just to state first and foremost, this is not an issue I have. This is a preventative post for anyone that may ask down the line. (as I've seen it asked on multiple other forums.)
I had this issue with an inspiron 1720 I just got. It had an issue, so I installed vista from a Vista RTM disk. It didn't fix the problem in the end, so I sent it into dell and got fixed, but I wanted to a fresh restore from the restore partition because on restarts, I'd get the blue screen of Death. Fun stuff right?
Well, Unknowingly, when I installed vista off of the cd, that removed the ctrl+F11 option from the dell. This is stated on many forums, and it seems that most answers to this issue is to format and install a fresh install from cd again, or call dell and get recovery disks. I figured "Heck, If I still have the restore partition, there is not reason why I can't get it to restore with some effort."
Some other people I've seen have just had viral attacks, or just want to sell their laptop and need a fresh install. This is for those people that need it. The answer to the question of what if Control and F11 don't work.
So, Here I am with the fix. There is one required bit of software that's required, and that is simply a dos boot cd. You can find many iso's for dos on the net. All you have to do is burn a copy and boot from it. [EDIT] IMPORTANT: I was wrong about dos. As stated below ( http://www.notebookforums.com/post3049150.html ) you have to do it from a 32 bit environment. You can get through one in the XP repair console (on the install cd) or through one of the options in vista's setup.[/EDIT]
Ok, so this is going to be dumbed down a bit, and I'll explain what the dos commands do. First off, after booting into dos, you need to change to the restore partition. This isn't hard at all, all you do is type "D:" and press enter. After this, you need to find the restore file. This is a file with the extension of *.wim. This is an image of windows from dell factory.
Generally this file is found in d:dellimage and is called Factory.wim. Just to double check, I'm going to tell you to change the directory. Type in "cd dellimage" and press enter. In dos, CD means Change Directory (or enter a folder). Now, to list all of the files in the directory type in "dir" and press enter...............
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Oct 12, 2008
so one of my hdds died on me so I decided to use the one that I was using as an external hdd.
I reformated that HDD, took out the broken HDD and replaced it with the new one.
I popped in the Recovery disc and everything started and was going smoothly until it hit 18% and it gives me this "Restore Failed - reason 0xd000001e"
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Sep 18, 2009
Got a bricked 4720Z Aspire Laptop
Original Vista Home P (stands for poop)!
It did the 8th crash in one year and erecovery worked seven times. . . until now!
NOW it would not boot so I tried erecovery from the onboard partition and it said . . .Type mismatch . . . and OK. . . did duh OK (which is agreeing with an oxymoron with vista and ok in duh same sentence)and got . . . Please wait a moment. . . . . for an hour same moment screen
So I tried to Recover from Restore DVD and got . . .
stinking Blinking cursor on duh black screen thing . . . for and hour but I decided not to play Frisbee golf or discus throwing
So being such a lover of Vista I tried again . I put the RESTORE DVD that have always worked before (7 times before) into the optic drive,
Heard the DVD drive spin up and get duh . . .
I stated erecovery BUT
I get
ERROR in GetmapCDDriveL 0. . .
Choice is OK
So I tic OK and get. .
Acer eRecovery Management . . . Restore blah . . .
OK
Instead of working I get . . .
Type Mismatch and
OK
Do the oxymoron choice . . .
Than get the . . . please wait a moment . . . screen for an hour again. . .
So what is wrong as the Restore from drive and the restore from DVD do not get restored?
Got a dead window!
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Jan 31, 2009
my Acer Aspire one, Windows XP, 160gb, and want to restore it to factory settings because it won't start up and get to windows.
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Jan 6, 2009
I bought two of these nice big shiny laptops and I as soon as I have started Vista they both want to create restore disks. No prob, I went and bought fresh DVD-R discs!
However, during the process I noticed the time getting longer and longer resulting in over 5hrs to burn a single disc!
I left them overnight as I thought it was a little odd and got the resulting burn error message then all hell broke loose! Both laptops no longer recongised their Blue ray drives! . The only way I could get them to shut down and restart fresh was too pull the power and remove the batteries....
I tried to burn normal files using the same type of discs and they worked fine, so why doesnt the eBackup programme like them?
Their must be a simple solution to this! I can't believe both laptops are faulty with the same issue!
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Apr 23, 2009
Are there steps to be taken before a factory restore - drivers etc?
(Beyond just backing up my data.)
This is an Acer 4530.
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Feb 20, 2009
My Acer 5610 had a "Supervisor Password" entered, I believe by my grandson two years ago. I noticed it once, didn't know how go get in so never did. Recently had a bad day. Used what I had for a restore back a few days, nothing worked.
I have the two Recovery Disk I made the day I bought this. Never used them. I can't get the disk to take hold and restore to Factory. I get a message I'm going to try to attach. It's not clear. What is stumping me is the last entry. "[ /NoExecute=Option]" That is the bottom. On the bar at the bottom is "ENTER=Submit" I've tried every thing I know to do.
I've learned to use the PC on my own as I live many miles from a city. Done fair but now I'm stumped. By the way I'm 75 years of age. My learning term as been more than 7 years.
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Nov 23, 2008
Here is the story: PC started running slow, then started to get system failure BSODs.
Unplug the PC of all external drives and such, let sit for 30 minutes and it would work fine for a few days, then all would repeat.
So, I made a system restore point, and burned a system recovery DVD. I then tried to do a clean install of Vista Home Premium.
Ok, so here's the deal. It was installed onto D drive. Dont know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
But it went through the entire install just fine, the new desk top came up, everything looked great for about a minute. Then it turned itself off and has yet to run.
I kept getting an error message 'boot failed' and tried to roll back to the restore point [no good, it reset] and the recovery would not load either. Having purchased the notebook from BestBuy I was not given any restore or system discs, so I ordered both a system restore disc and a recovery from Acer, direct. They came in the mail Thursday.
I put the system disc in, and it said it was Loading RAMDISK Image, the progress bar went all the way over and then it asked for the recovery disc.
Inserting the recovery disc, the Restore to Factory Default scrren came up, and it warned that "partitioning C drive would erase all files, etc, and did I want to continue?"
After clicking OK, it proceeded to run down to about 30% completed and then I received the following Failure to Boot, Error Oxa0000002
So then I tried the whole procedure over, and its the same. Again, and again.
So then I called Acer tech, and was told I needed the Acer ISO Image, which I downloaded, unpacked, and burned to CD [using another computer obviously] and it will not even run that CD.
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Nov 7, 2009
I am planning to restore my laptop to its factory default because of some problems like the "Windows Update" window is all grayed out. I tried finding solutions in the net but it doesn't solve the problem so maybe system restore may do it but inst going to remove all the programs, like MS Office? Are the files saved in drive D also be removed? My laptop has MS Office already when my mother bought it. I have Acer Aspire 5730z.
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Jan 5, 2009
I actually want to wipe my HDD because I get an error in partition table and I can't use Partition Magic and other tools..
I have created an Acronis Image for my PQService of about 8,5 GB and one for the other Hidden partition 3,5 GB - is this a CompaqSetup Diagnostic partition with ROM BIOS ? or is Acer Arcade-InstantOn ? cause I've seen it's name like CompaqSetup and in some utility program it's says about something with diagnostic.. I'm confused about this... and btw I have already created my Recovery DVD's.
So if I wipe my HDD, after it's all gone I can use my Acer recovery disks and reinstall Vista Ultimate and Restore PQservice and the other partition ? How do I restore my backed up partitions like PQservice and Acer Arcade if I don't have them already when I use Recovery Disks ?
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Feb 15, 2010
My wifes Extensa 5620 got a virus. Office Depot removed it with MalBytes. I'm still leary of something being missed. I would really like to restore it to factory defaults.
When I go into Acer eRecovery Management I see pick the Restore tab at the bottom of the window.
Now I am given the choices to
1.Restore system factory default.
2.(Which is grayed out and option not avaialable) Restore form users backup
3.Recover from CD/DVD
4.Reinstall applaications/drivers.
So I pick 1. Restore system factory default.
Next I am asked for the empowering technology password. Well I don't have it and don't know how to get it. I would choose number 2. if it were an option. If I place the disk I made into the CD/DVD unit will the option become available? I tried option 3. and it said to place the restore disk inthe drive.
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Jan 9, 2010
Preface:
I am stuck being tech support for my brother who is living in Torres Vedras, Portugal right now. He is having some problems with a pretty new Acer Aspire 5810TZ that was given to him around Christmas time. The computer had been used for about a month before he received it and had a few programs installed on it along with the usual bloatware. I cleaned up what I could before he left for Portugal again and installed AVG anti-virus, MS Office '07, and Windows 7.
Now that he is back in Portugal he is having problems with the things he uses most on the computer (Built in microphone not working, built in webcam only working randomly for a short amount of time, and DivX failing any time he tries to watch tv or movies online) I've walked him through updating all the drivers and reinstalling DivX, but nothing seems to fix these problems and Windows 7 is starting to look like more trouble than it is worth to him.
Main Question: Is there any way to restore the computer back to the way it was when first purchased (with Vista or 7, whichever will work) without the use of recovery discs (He does not have any with him over seas) in a way that is simple enough for me to relay to him?
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Dec 12, 2008
I just got an Acer Extensa 5420-5687 and the hard drive is wiped. I have the restore disks but when I try to restore it I get a message that it can not find the storage device.
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