Question:
Got TM 8204: Clean Install Info, Drivers, NTFS, etc
I just got my 8204 and I would like to do a clean install of Win XP Pro and switch the file system to NTFS.
When I did a clean install on my 5720 (sending it back), it did not give me an option to format the HDD in FAT32, so will there be an option for a NTFS format on the Acer?
Acer did not include a driver CD with the notebook nor do they have anything posted online for the 8204 yet. Can I use most of the drivers from the 8100? Where can I get the chipset driver for the 8204? Which drivers are required for the comp to work properly?
I will post a review later this week, but I already miss my Sager 5720...
Thanks for the help!
Answer:
Re: Got TM 8204: Clean Install Info, Drivers, NTFS, etc
The drivers are available on the Euro FTP site pinned to the top of this forum, but be warned that most of the drivers there are older than what's on my machine at least. I haven't seen the actual revisions that came on my machine for DL anywhere.
Changing to NTFS is a simple as opening a command prompt (Start > Run > cmd), then entering:
convert c: /fs:ntfs
It will then convert the drive to NTFS upon the next reboot.
Why do you want a "clean" install? The only thing on your system is drivers and a few Acer utilities. If the Acer utilities don't turn you on, you could always just uninstall them. That said, if you are going to start over I'd at least recommend using the Acer ePower Management utility - it gives you far more fine grained control than the standard Power applet in control panel.
Answer:
Re: Got TM 8204: Clean Install Info, Drivers, NTFS, etc
is it really that easy to convert to NTFS? Don't u have to reformat?
Answer:
Re: Got TM 8204: Clean Install Info, Drivers, NTFS, etc
Convert does reformat - that's its purpose.
- Ed
Answer:
Re: Got TM 8204: Clean Install Info, Drivers, NTFS, etc
Convert does reformat - that's its purpose.
- Ed
Not true: Microsoft Support: FAT32 to NTFS
Answer:
Re: Got TM 8204: Clean Install Info, Drivers, NTFS, etc
No need to reformat, it just changes the filing system. I like formating with NTFS when installing the OS at the first time (just for piece of mind), but you wont have to.
Answer:
Re: Got TM 8204: Clean Install Info, Drivers, NTFS, etc
Remember that converting to NTFS will mess up the backup routine that Acer have on these machines (from what I hear) so you will need Ghost or some other way to recover the machine back to "base" state.
Answer:
Re: Got TM 8204: Clean Install Info, Drivers, NTFS, etc
I attempted it after recieving mine and disliking the fact that they partitioned the drive in FAT32... but i didn't succeed...fully. I found that very little is actually supported with drivers even on acer's site(which might be different now). So long story short: I made the erecovery disc, bought my own XP, installed it(converted to NTFS and formatted), found nothing was supported, popped the Erecovery disc back in and booted from it, re-installed the Acer-windows, it didn't make any of the silly partitions so when it was all back up and running i used partition magic to convert to NTFS.
Everything seems to be working well now so far and i've got my one partition in NTFS, i find the only annoying Acer "feature" is the VCM tool which pops up sometimes. Oh and that NIC card problem that everyones been having but it seems that when you open the Acer Orbicam applet that problem stops so go figure.
I'm super happy with it so far and when all the drivers are supported i might wipe it again and re-install my own OS just to justify purchasing that OS :p
Answer:
Re: Got TM 8204: Clean Install Info, Drivers, NTFS, etc
Convert does reformat - that's its purpose.
- Ed
I don't agree with your train of thought. Reformatting esentially erases everything on your machine. Coverting does that it converts the way the operating system saves data to the hard drive. It leaves everything intake on your machine.
Answer:
Re: Got TM 8204: Clean Install Info, Drivers, NTFS, etc
Fair enough. Convert changes the format while preserving the data. My use of the term "reformatting" was wrong.