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Can't get out of Automatic Startup Repair Loop Windows 8.1 - Acer E1-571

I have an old i5 laptop I'm trying to get working again - essentially, I've accepted that I will have lost all the data so just want to make it a functioning laptop again. It's an Acer E-561 running Windows 8.1.

The trouble is that when I turn it on, the Acer logo appears and the little circle progress/loading icon and it does one of 3 things:

1. It stays with the Acer logo and the loading animation

2. Occasionally, it says at the bottom "Preparing Automatic Startup Repair" and then the screen goes blank and that's it

3. It does as number 2, and then restarts and the whole cycle repeats (although this was the first sign of the laptop going wrong some months ago - it doesn't seem to do this now).

I've tried pressing F11 repeatedly, F8 and also ALT+F10 which I've seen on another forum but it doesn't seem to make any difference. The same thing happens each time.

I also saw that someone suggested trying to download a version of Windows 8 using the product key on the back of the laptop but on the site here http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only?tduid=$f04adc34644faf37b0c432be8f8b52c0$$256380$$2459594$$TnL5HPStwNw-SbsPZsVgm_AO2OhAe4SzPw$$$ , it says to make sure you're downloading to the computer you want to install on (which of course, I'm not because I can't do anything on the Acer laptop!)

Does anyone have any tips/ideas to just somehow clean it or get into some kind of menu so I can reset to factory settings?

Thanks

Answer
Answer

Hi,

Alt + F10 are the correct Keys to press on an Acer for Recovery to factory settings.

If that does not work:

You can contact Acer and order Recovery Media from them for a small cost.

You can download and create your own Windows 8.1 Installation Media to reinstall the Operating System with on any Windows 7 or above machine..

"Create installation media for Windows 8.1"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

A similar Tutorial which may also assist you

"Create Installation Media for Windows 8.1"

http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/create-installation-media-windows-81

In the first screen of this very simple wizard, you need to choose the following:

Language. English – en-us if you're in the United States.

Edition. Windows 8.1 (Core), Windows 8.1 N, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro N, or Windows 8.1 Single Language.

Architecture. 64-bit (x64 ) or 32-bit (x86).

_______________________________________

"How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with a Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2227-create-bootable-usb-dvd-windows-8-iso.html

   Warning

This will not work to install Windows 8 or 8.1 for UEFI. For that, see this tutorial below instead.

UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

_____________________________________

How to clean install:

"How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

_____________________________________

With Windows 8/8.1 The Product Key on preinstalled Operating Systems (HP, Acer, etc) is embedded in the BIOS in the Motherboard, so that the lost and/or worn C.O.A. Sticker problem is no more.

When you reinstall it will pick up the Product Key and activate the system automatically.

If it does not, follow these steps:

"How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 by Phone"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html

"Get help with activation errors"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/activation-errors

"How to activate a Microsoft product by using Microsoft Product Activation Center"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929/en-us

_______________________________________________

This information may interest you if you do wish to keep a record of it:

"Windows 10 Embedded Product Key Tool"

https://neosmart.net/blog/2014/windows-10-embedded-product-key-tool/

"We’re proud to introduce the immediate release of our newest utility for Windows users: the NeoSmart Technologies Embedded Product Key Tool. Designed for users of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10, our embedded product key tool will retrieve and display the Windows setup product key embedded in the BIOS or EFI, allowing you to store it for safe-keeping or use it to reinstall Windows with an official Windows setup image."

Cheers.

___________________________________________________

Bill Smithers - Microsoft MVP July 2013 - Dec 2020

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Last updated September 24, 2020 Views 453 Applies to: