[Solved] NLS Data missing ... Acer Aspire 5742 374G32Mnkk ... Windows 7 Home Prem OA

[Ray1000]

With the HD in the SATA enclosure and plugged into the desktop USB the box eventually opens to view files after a short while of loading.

 

In "Computer" instead of just one icon popping up there are two ... ACER H: and System Reserved G:

 

Right click and format on the ACER H: has no effect ... I haven't yet tried it on System Reserved G:

 

The laptop HD in the enclosure does not show up in the normal Disc management where my two separate Hard Drives are C: and D: even when choosing the external storage option.

 

Ray

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Ray, I think possibly your desktop hasn't allocated a drive letter to the laptop drive held in the USB caddy, maybe because it is seeing those two "H" and "G" for whatever reason and has confused the system on the desktop.

It may not matter as far as installing the new downloaded windows onto the laptop, because the laptop drive must be put back in the laptop first anyway.

 

I see the download you have chosen says X86. This is the 32 bit operating system, are you sure the original one on the laptop was also 32 bit? if so then OK to continue.

 

If having problems trying to burn a correct ISO boot disk onto a DVD with whatever burning software you have, try downloading to your desktop the Infra Recorder I linked to earlier.

Once installed and opened, the option you need to choose is "Write Image" which if the layout hasn't changed since I got it, is the bottom left icon.

That will burn the Windows file as the correct ISO image file. Don't worry that the wording says CD, it will burn to a DVD disk (You do need one as a CD is too small) I recently used it to burn a Linux mint ISO onto a DVD disk so I know it works.

 

Once you have the disk burned do remove it from the drive as soon as it says it has finished, otherwise it may try to start installing onto your desktop, which we don't want.

 

Put the hard drive back into the laptop, start the laptop in order to get the CD/DVD drive tray open, drop the Windows ISO boot disk into the tray and then follow the instructions and tutorial from Ken.

 

Nev.

[Ray1000]

Thank you Nev,

 

I have just loaded in back into the desktop and looked round how I might solve the drive letter problem.

 

I still haven't tried right click G: format in "My Computer" only tried this on ACER H: ... I'll try it next.

 

Regarding the 32/64 Presumably a 2010 Acer laptop on Windows 7 is more likely to be 64 so I will have the wrong one ... I should be able to find out on Google

 

Thanks also for confirming the burning method ... I had downloaded your Infra Recorder suggestion earlier and fortunately chose the right option.

 

Ray

 

Edit: Tried right click G: format in "My Computer" nothing happens ... I watched the CPU performance to confirm ... there was no change.

 

and ... it is 64 bit so I need to download the Windows 7 again

Edited March 15, 2013 by Ray1000

[Ray1000]

Hi Nev,

 

I tried the USB HD enclosure on a modern laptop ... Windows 7 ... and it worked straightaway ... it is doing a long format as we speak.

 

Will download the 64bit version of Windows 7 in the meantime ... and let you know how I go on.

 

Ray

[Plastic Nev]

OK thanks for the update Ray and glad I thought to ask about the difference between 64 bit and 32 bit, getting that right will save a lot of trouble no doubt.

Although the format will no doubt have been finished by now, for future reference, a fresh new install of most operating systems automatically reformats the drive they are going on to first before starting the install.

Though Linux based systems do ask if you want to reformat first, especially if another OS is detected.

 

Nev.

[Ray1000]

Thanks Nev,

 

With regard to prior formatting I was only doing it because the HD wouldn't respond to the Windows 7 disc when in the faulty laptop ... it wouldn't boot up ... It might still not!

 

The modern laptop seemed to be formatting but it wasn't.:(

 

To get round it I chose the 100MB partition instead, and successfully formatted that on the quick setting ... then formatted the remainder on quick setting leaving the HD empty:D

 

It is now doing a long format in the hope it will boot up with the 64 bit Windows disc when back in the Acer laptop.

 

Ray

[Plastic Nev]

OK Ray, let us know how you get on. If not able to boot from the Windows ISO disk when in the laptop, there is a choice of problems it could be after that, but let's not jump the gun just yet.

 

Nev.

[Ray1000]

You can jump the gun now Nev ... It won't boot up :( ... it says ...

 

"BOOTMGR is missing ... press Con Alt Del to restart"

 

I have the boot order set to CDROM and tried several other discs when the Windows 7 64bit failed ... including my XP Pro.

 

Just going to have a look on Google.

 

Ray

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Ray, is it recognising there is a disk in the CD/DVD drive?

it could be a faulty drive if it isn't.

 

 

Nev.

[Ray1000]

It is a good point Nev considering none of the various discs have done anything ... but ... the DVD drive certainly runs at the right time and sounds just as you would expect ... and you can find it still spinning as you eject the disc.

 

Recap ...

 

2010 Acer Aspire 5742 Laptop

Windows 7 Home Prem OA

Original Fault ... Won’t start ...Message ... NLS Data missing

F2 Bios works as normal

No “Repair your Computer" option

Recovery partition not accessible.

Would not respond to Seatools for DOS

Would not respond to Ubuntu disc

Connected laptop HD to another computer via SATA/USB … Formatted Laptop HD

Burned new Windows 7 disc

Replaced HD in faulty laptop

Won’t boot up from Windows 7 disc

Current Message … "BOOTMGR is missing ... press Con Alt Del to restart"

 

Ray

[KenB]

BOOTMGR is missing ... press Con Alt Del to restart

I don't think the DVD Drive is working properly.

 

With the DVD Drive set as the first boot device the system will look there for an operating system to boot from.

It would not respond to Ubuntu / XP Pro / new Win 7 ISO

If it doesn't see an OS to boot from it then moves to the next in the Boot Order.

 

If there are no Boot Manager files on the hard drive - it cannot boot up.

Hence the message.

 

I was going to suggest trying a CD instead of a DVD ........... but UBuntu and XP will be a CD.

( There are 2 independent lasers in the DVD drive )

 

Check the cables connected to the DVD Drive at the drive itself and at the motherboard end.

It would be handy if you could take the drive out and connect it to another system to see if disks are recognised.

[Ray1000]

Thank you Ken,

 

I'll have at look at your suggestions and let you know how I go on.

 

Is it fair to assume that of all the discs I have ... an original Windows XP might be the one to succeed ... or is it the case there is something on the first partition tying the HD to Windows 7?

 

Ray

[KenB]

Is it fair to assume that of all the discs I have ... an original Windows XP might be the one to succeed

They should all install - assuming there are no problems.

 

I would go with Win 7 from choice.

[Ray1000]

... it could be a faulty CD/DVD drive.

 

I don't think the DVD Drive is working properly ... Check the cables connected to the DVD Drive

 

Well ... stripped the laptop ... the DVD plugs into a loosely located socket ... the vague fixing of the socket is to allow for misalignment as the DVD case approaches ... gave the connections a clean by sliding them together 20-30 times then modified the setup slightly by fitting a sponge spring under the socket - effectively pressing the connections together.

 

Rebuilt the laptop - inserted a new Windows XP OS disc and ........ it booted up!

 

It didn't last long ... "Windows has found a fault and is shutting down" ... presumably because it was XP, and not Windows 7

 

Put the the downloaded Windows 7 disc in and away it went ... right to the end.

 

Thank you very much for your help.

 

They'll be one or two more questions no doubt ... starting with ... could you check if Partition 1 in Windows 7 should have 1.5GB in use and Partition 2, 76MB Just to make sure it is as it should be.

 

Ray

[Ray1000]

Haven't yet managed to get it connected to the internet .... "Windows did not detect a properly installed network adapter"

 

INTEL ® Core i3CPU M370@2.40GHz

 

Ray

Edited March 18, 2013 by Ray1000

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

Almost there :)

could you check if Partition 1 in Windows 7 should have 1.5GB in use and Partition 2, 76MB Just to make sure it is as it should be.

This doesn't sound right.

 

Start > type in ....diskmgmt.msc .....hit ENTER

You should see details of the disk here.

What does it say regarding Disk 0 ?

 

Re internet connection ....

Take a look here for the drivers

click here

[Ray1000]

Hi Ken,

 

Just trying to solve the drivers ... I downloaded a number of what I thought were the main ones but they don't give the "Extract all Files" option on my XP Pro desktop ... wondering if I should borrow the Windows 7 laptop again from next door?

 

Put the zipped folders onto Memory stick but not recognized on laptop.

 

Laptop in the meantime does not start as it should due to missing files ... presumably the ones I'm trying to load.

 

Ray

[Ray1000]

Solved the "Extract Files" problem.

 

In system Recovery Options > load drivers

 

Have a box up on laptop saying "Load Drivers" as part of the recovery system but still trying to get it to recognise anything form the Acer site.

 

"The specified location does not contain information about your hardware" it says when I choose a driver file from the memory stick.

 

Ray

Edited March 19, 2013 by Ray1000

[Ray1000]

Now running ... takes time to do anything but connects to the internet ... is short of various drivers compared to a similar spec machine ... going in search of them on Acer site.

 

Ray

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

Just a thought ..... The OS you installed ....it is Service Pack 1 ?

Start > right click "Computer" > Properties

[Ray1000]

Yes Ken ... Service pack 1,

 

As much as I'm trying to get all the necessary drivers etc onto the computer ... will it inevitably be left slightly different to an out of the box machine ... and would paying the £51 for the recovery discs from Acer be certain to to have it working as good as they intended?

 

Is the slowness in responding related to the lack of proper drivers?

 

Ray

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

I can only compare with the laptop I did recently using the Digital River ISO.

The re-install went fine and the only problem was internet access and this was resolved using a driver from the web-site.

 

When you say there are drivers missing ............ have you checked in Device Manager to see if there are yellow exclamation marks which indicated driver problems ?

 

will it inevitably be left slightly different to an out of the box machine

It should be better as the "out of the box" machine comes with additional bloatware as it is called.

 

would paying the £51 for the recovery discs from Acer be certain to to have it working as good as they intended?

I would be reluctant to pay this.

There is absolutely no guarantee.

 

When you say "takes time to do anything" I assume that opening programs etc is noticeably slow?

Slower than when you had the machine running before the problem ?

 

Take the RAM out.

Put just one module back.

Run the machine.

 

If no better - swap the modules over and run on the other one.

Is there any difference using just one RAM module ?

 

How much RAM do you have ?

[Ray1000]

Thanks Ken,

 

There's 4GB of RAM

 

There are no yellow exclamation marks.

 

I understand what you mean when you say it should be better ... my desktop was built from scratch, so I'm used to not waiting for anything.

 

I never saw this laptop before it was brought round but I do have my neighbours similar Acer Windows 7 and I can see the drivers in Device Manager are more specific, the display adapter for instance ... an Intel R Graphics Media Accelerator ... where this one says Standard VGA Graphics adapter.

 

I'll have a look at your other suggestions later.

 

Ray

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

you never got around to answering this...

Start > type in ....diskmgmt.msc ...hit ENTER

You should see details of the disk here

What does it say regarding Disk 0 ?

 

I am particularly interested in the partition sizes.

Win 7 64 bit needs at least 20GB and if you are adding programs you need more.

So 40GB min say - with at least 15% free space. [ that is 6 GB free on a 40 GB partition ]

[Ray1000]

Here we go Ken ...

 

13GB Healthy Recovery Partition 100% free (the other 7 Laptop is also 100% free on this partition)

100MB System Reserved D: Healthy Primary Partition 76% free (the other 7 Laptop has only 62% of 100MB free on this partition)

284.99GB NTFS C: Healthy System, Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition. 94% free

 

Did 94 Windows updates earlier.

 

Will time it's performance against the other laptop later.

 

Ray