Acer Aspire New HDD Problems

Hi new here, I replaced a bad hdd on aspire 4720z .Now can't reinstall vista or 7(not supported) . Ordered restore dvd from acer, this would not work. It would install but would not boot into windows. It seems that I need the 3 partition that were on the old hdd .Any ideas. Thanks in advance

 

You can always use BOX version of Windows CD/DVD (borrow or download -depending on what's legal where you live) and use product key that you legaly own have to activate it.

 

I tried retail and oem still won't install, I think you have to rebrand the hdd with 3 partitions but I can't find the software or download to do this. Thanks

 

You don't have to rebrand anything. You have a new HDD and retail windows CD/DVD- just like everybody else. There's no branding here.
May be a problem with jumper settings or BIOS boot settings?

 

On the old hdd you have 3 partitions I believe a fat16, a ntfs and a fat32 without the fat16 partition windows will not be installed properly. that what i have found out from the internet.I'm not new to computers but this is the first one that i was not able to install windows on. I can install XP but not vista or 7. using the restore cd it will only setup 1 partition fat32. Sata hdd no jumpers, all bios settings are correct.any other ideas thanks

 

FAT32 partition (and FAT16 if such exists) is required as Acer PQRSERVICE or whatever is it called. That could be needed for Acer Recovery but not for clean BOX install.
If you have a clean drive and non-OEM Windows CD/DVD (aka Retail) you don't need anything else.
There's no way Retail Windows requires anything- it just creates what it needs.
What error do you get with Win 7/Vista (whichever you do have a product key for)?

 

retail vista will load but on first boot will get a window saying there is a problem with windows it gives the option to Boot windows normally, last good configuration or safe mode, if you chose bwn it reboots to same screen if you try safe mode it will load files then freeze. with windows 7 it will load files (progress bar at bottom of screen) when finished it goes to black screen with curser and goes no further . Thanks

 

OK, so the problem is unrelated to Acer Recovery or Windows install in general.
It's strictly a windows problem (or not that strictly as it may be hardware related)
When Windows boots in safe mode what's the last file that loads?

 

I have checked all related hardware all is good,used ext.dvd rom used 3 new hdd, still same problem

 

What hardware have you tested? Have you tried memtest86?

 

No, I used windows memory diagnostic test. Just ran memtest86 and found errors thanks hope this solves my problems. Thanks for all your help.

 

No,I used windows memory diagnostic test. Just ran memtest86 had errors , hope this solves my problems. Thanks for all your help.

 

I also experienced this same problem when my 5810T HDD crashed.

After I replaced the hard drive, I thought it would be as simple as plug and play to reinstall everything with the recovery discs I burned when I first got the notebook, to my surprise, it doesn't work that way for Acer systems, I also read an article somewhere that with a new hard drive, you can only use the recovery discs and re-install the system same as the original factory settings if your new hard drive is partitioned or configured the same way as the original hard drive that came with the system.

The recovery discs I created before were good copies and working well, it copies the installation files and goes thru several installation steps, but after the first system restart, there's always a window that pops-up and says "Windows cannot be installed on this computer" and there's nothing else I can do from that point.

Now, my system is running after I did a clean installation of Windows Vista by using a new retail installation disc.

 

I'm not sure that all Acer systems recover in the same way. Certainly, I've restored on to larger disks in the past without having a full install CD, but I can't remember exactly how.

It would be interesting to hear back from oldman whether sorting the memory fixes things.