Having an external drive is a plus, it can be used for storage and backups. I'm not sure what 8.1 will be on it, Recovery or bootable. Bootable would be cool, but I suspect it's recovery.
Is there a page you can link so I know more about what Acer is sending. I'm surprised that you don't know if Acer is charging you - OEMs usually ask for Credit card or payment before they ship stuff. Tell me how you arranged to get the drive, a phone call, email, chat, or by submitting a form on a web page. Unless one of knows and ells the other, everything is just a guess.
Also, Slartybart (Bill). Can I make a recovery media with a DVD-R disk? I only have 1 USB left and didn't want to use it. I have tons of DVD-R disks.
The problem with creating a DVD set is that it might extend past eh capacity of one disc. When tis happens, you always run the risk of failure. It doesn't matter if it's tape, floppy, diskette, CD, or DVD. Once the set goes beyond 1, the set is at risk. This 'rule' really only applies if you try to put more data on the media than the media can hold and another disc is inserted to continue. In other words , let's say you wanted to put 7 GB on DVD media - DVDs hold less than 5 GB, so you would need two to hold 7 GB. The risk comes into play when the software writing asks for the next disc. That usually goes ok, but it might fail at that point. The worst case is when after a year to two, when you really need the set, disc one reads fine, but disc two is the wrong disc or can't be read. The entire process fails!
So can you - yes, should you - I don't know how Acer creates the media. If their software is careful it writes less than the capacity of the disc. If it's like most, it just keeps writing and asking for more discs.
My advice is to NOT use DVDs for such an important project. Remember, OEMs usually only allow you to make once set.
I think I read that Acer wants a 16GB thumb drive - you have to check that.
You can get one for between 8 and 12 dollars - you don't need USB 3.0 so that keeps the cost down. Some come with backup software, you don't need that either. All you need is a reliable brand (ask the store) for data. No bells, no whistles.
This is now officially your project.
Read the manual, find the links to your machine, start finding answers and providing feedback that will help members help you.
The machine might have an Acer getting started or there might be Acer specific help files. There are probably links in your favorites fro your machine.
These will get you started. Acer AXC-603G-UW12
Models:
Aspire AXC-603G-UW13 | Desktops - Tech Specs & Reviews - Acer
Based on your descriptions , it looks as though you have an Aspire AXC-603
-UR17
See how important the full model number is? This is information you have somewhere, you provided the base model and I had to figure out which one you had. That's not going to fly around here. You have to know enough about your machine or look it up and tell members. You have the machine in front of you, maybe even the box it came in.
I'll go through this only once - keep notes and don't ask other members to look it up for you.
When you work on a thread, and issue - fill in your system specs of the machine you're working on.
Don't make people hunt for information - they'll stop helping you very quickly.
Acer support home:
Service & Support | Acer Official Site
Overview:
Aspire AXC-603-UR17 | Desktops - Tech Specs & Reviews - Acer
Sorry, I give up, you'll have to look on your PC to find the links to the Acer page for your machine.
There is probably a local copy (PDF) of the User Manual - look in the Acer Start menu
the Acer site always beats me - it's hard to navigate and impossible to reference.
I couldn't locate your model on the support pages and search only took me back to the Overview.
The closest I guessed was Aspire XC603G and I can't give you a link because Acer doesn't give me an address.
I'll take a look at the link you provide regarding this disk drive you say you're getting. That might make the entire media creation discussion moot.
Other than that, I'm going to be helping members who are on Win10, Win8, and Win7 solve issues. I think I've given you a lot to chew on. Learn Win8 and then figure out the more technical stuff. You can learn a lot by reading threads, you can ask questions about anything - the forums are not a school, but you can learn a lot by watching.
Post the information about the disk drive, I'll look at it and then I'm done - what you wanted to accomplish was postponed until Win10 goes live.
Bill
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