Acer reinstall issue

Richard01CZ · 26 Apr 2021

Hello, i have ordered and received USB recovery media from Acer in order to install factory image for my Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 Laptop. When i insert the usb flash disc into the laptop and run it via boot manager i get thrown into the media that is installed on the usb flash disc (so far so good) but it fails at the 2nd step "Check preload image configuration" with an error code 262150 and message "NAPPHDD.exe autocheck fail, please contact the developer." I have previously preinstalled Windows 10 via Microsoft's Media Creation Tool and what i think is causing the error is that the Acer eRecovery is missing and by pressing ALT+F10 when booting only supports that theory because i get thrown into Windows Recovery screen. If I'm doing something wrong please tell me because i have tried everything i could (even changed the USB disc letter that i found in the files of the USB disc).

dalchina · 26 Apr 2021

Normally I would expect people to follow the clean install tutorial here- use the MS media creation tool to create a bootable flash drive for example- then boot the PC from that.

An early part of that procedure is to delete all partitions comprising any existing O/S (data partitions created by the user can remain) and install the O/S to unallocated space on the disk.

Bar the flash disk and time, that's free, and gives you the latest Windows build.
(Flash disks with earlier builds can be created if necessary for a particular reason).

Should additional hardware features on the device require specific software from the manufacturer e.g. back lighting, special keys... that can then be downloaded.

Is there any reason you've not chosen to do that?

And is that what you meant you did here?

I have previously preinstalled Windows 10 via Microsoft's Media Creation Tool

Richard01CZ · 26 Apr 2021

I cleanely installed windows 10 with the MS media creation tool amd used rufus to make a bootable usb and installed it loke that. All drivers can be downloaded but some don't install properly or don't work as intended, that's why i got the recovery media from Acer. I want to install the stock factory image that the laptop came with on order to fully restore functionality.

dalchina · 26 Apr 2021

Thank you for your reply.

Best take that up with Acer. It's their product.

with the MS media creation tool amd used rufus to make a bootable usb

Are you aware the MS media creation tool can create a flash drive directly?

You only need something like Rufus if you have an iso of an older build for example.

All drivers can be downloaded but some don't install properly or don't work as intended,

You shouldn't need to download lots of drivers - if any- after a clean install.

Why did you think you had to?

Note: more problems are created by people trying to update drivers unnecessarily than leaving things alone that are working.

Richard01CZ · 26 Apr 2021

I believe that i have 1909 or 1903 version of windows 10 wo i used rufus to make a bootable usb.

There are drivers that need to be installed for the display driver to work correctly and wifi driver.

All i want to do is to have the laptop with the same firmware that i bought it. The original got overwritten with Microsoft's tool. I have the recovery usb but i am not able to install it but all the files and isos are there includong acer modifications for windows 10 distribution.

SIW2 · 26 Apr 2021

You could boot up some winpe/winre then use dism to apply the base wim file from the recovery media. It is more likely to be a series of split wims, for example this is the hp recovery media for 11th gen machines:

Richard01CZ · 26 Apr 2021

I do not think that's possible because i don't know how to use any of the stuff you just said (WinPE/WinRE), i never even heared of it. Anyway i have attached a txt file when i run tree command in that usb, a crashlog and a screenshot of some isos and the wim file screenshot.

dalchina · 26 Apr 2021

All i want to do is to have the laptop with the same (firmware) software that i bought it.

- Once you have got ACER to explain how to do that, you will have to take special action to block Windows updates to then stay on an obsolete build - so you don't get upgrades.

I don't understand why your PC presents you with such difficulty though. You should ask ACER that.

Good luck.

Richard01CZ · 26 Apr 2021

It all started when i upgraded to Windows 10 Pro, the system got all glitchy, unresponsive and apps had weird name. Something like AppName or AppxName, something like that. i know that Appx is some file used to install UWP apps. I will install it but won't upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, i will stay on Home edition. I want to install the manufacturer firmware to have the recovery partition too because when i want to factory reset i have something to go off and just be able to use the laptop instantly, i don't even have an audio driver installed writing this.

idgat · 26 Apr 2021

Had plenty of experience with Acer devices, been able to resolve all issues with the following steps ....

Clean install Windows 10 with Windows MCE

Run Windows updates (software and hardware) to exhaustion (i.e. none left)

Check for missing drivers ..... Control Panel > Device Manger

Access device support from Acer site, download identifiable missing drivers

Remaining drivers - download, install and run Snappy Driver Installer ORIGIN (make sure it's the ORIGIN version) - SDIO

Install ONLY !!! the required drivers (not any others, just because they're listed ... with installing drivers, it's always the case If it ain't broke, don't try and fix it). Required = missing or not working properly.

Uninstall SDIO (use Geek Uninstaller).