Guide to Using Acer eRecovery Management on Windows 7

Acer computers have many valuable tools, including the handy Acer eRecovery Management software. If you've never used it to create backups on your Windows 7 PC, it's high time you learned to leverage it and safeguard your system files.

Let's dive into Acer eRecovery Management on Windows 7 and explore its top features, the most prevalent technical problems, and their fixes. We'll also introduce a worthy alternative, so keep reading.

What Is the Acer eRecovery Management Software?

Acer eRecovery Management is built-in Acer software for backing up and restoring Windows. It lets you burn drivers, apps, and system factory defaults to discs to safeguard them in case of human error (e.g., accidental deletion or drive formatting) or unexpected situations like a system failure. Once you have those backups, you can use the program to restore them.

Is Acer eRecovery Management compatible with your system? How much storage space does it use? Check out its tech specs below.

As you can see, Acer eRecovery Management software requires significant HDD space for system factory defaults and other data backups. However, only Windows users can enjoy it.

Primary Functions of Acer eRecovery Management on Windows 7

Once you launch Acer eRecovery Management on Windows 7, you'll see two backup options. One lets you create a factory default disc to restore your system if it fails or you encounter other technical problems. The other enables you to burn drivers and apps to a disc. That way, you can reinstall them if they start acting up or after reinstalling your OS.

Once you have your backups, you can restore them anytime with Acer eRecovery Management. One feature involves returning your system to factory settings from Acer's hidden recovery partition.

Another lets you restore your OS from the system HDD while retaining data. However, it ignores malware, so you might want to reinstall your OS if malicious software has infected your PC.

The third option reinstalls your drivers and apps, leaving the system and personal data intact.

How to Use Acer eRecovery Management on Windows 7

As you can see in the UI screenshots above, Acer eRecovery Management is a no-frills program. Using it is straightforward, but here's a quick guide anyway.

You can start Acer eRecovery Management in three ways:

1. Go to Start > All Programs > Acer > Acer eRecovery Management.

   

2. Type the software's name in the Start menu's search box and click the result.

   

3. If your Windows 7 refuses to boot, restart your PC and, once you see the Acer logo, long-press the Alt key while repeatedly hitting F10. Release them when the "Windows is loading files" screen appears.

   

From there, you can choose to return your system to factory settings, restore OS from the system HDD and retain your data, or reinstall drivers and apps.

You'll simply have to open the main Acer eRecovery Management window and click Restore > Restore Operating System to Factory Defaults/Restore Operating System and Retain User Data/ Reinstall Drivers or Applications. Then, all you have to do is follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. Keep in mind that your system will need to reboot if you choose either of the "restore operating system" options.

Once you launch the program, you can also create backup discs to protect your system and data. Here's how.

How to Create a Factory Default Disc

Backing up your system's factory defaults requires two or three blank DVDs (Acer eRecovery will estimate the number). Here's how to create them:

1. Go to Backup > Create a Factory Default Disc.

   

2. Insert the first recovery disc, select it in Acer eRecovery, and click Start.

   

3. Once the progress reaches 100%, insert the second recovery disc and click OK.

   

4. Repeat the step above if Acer eRecovery asks for a third disc and hit OK to finish the process.

   

How to Create a Drivers and Applications Disc

Backing up your drivers and apps shouldn't require more than one disc, but you'll see the number before starting. Prepare a blank DVD and follow these steps:

1. Go to Backup > Create a Drivers and Applications Disc.

   

2. Insert and select the disc, click Start, and hit OK once the process is complete.

   

Common Issues and Fixes for Acer eRecovery Management on Windows 7

Acer users sometimes encounter issues with Acer eRecovery Management, but the software usually isn't to blame. Other underlying causes are typically the culprits. Here's how to identify them and resolve the problems.

Issue 1: Acer eRecovery Management Missing

Acer eRecovery Management doesn't vanish on its own. You may have turned off D2D (Disk-to-Disk) Recovery, its function for restoring pre-installed system software from the hidden partition.

You may have simply removed its desktop shortcut, meaning the program is still on your PC. However, you may have accidentally deleted it, which requires reinstallation.

Here's how to identify and resolve the problem:

1. The software's default file path is C:\Program Files\Acer\Acer eRecovery Management. Check if it's still there.
2. If the program is in its default folder, restart your PC and repeatedly press F2 (notebook) or Delete (desktop) to enter the BIOS.
3. Use the → key on your keyboard to switch to the Main tab and the ↓ key to navigate to D2D Recovery. Hit Enter to expand the menu, select Enabled, hit Enter to confirm, and press F10 to save the changes and exit the BIOS.

   

4. Your PC will automatically restart. Check if Acer eRecovery Management has returned to your programs list.
5. If it isn't there, use its access keys (Alt + F10 while restarting your PC) to see if the software will grace you with its presence.
6. If nothing happens, go to the Control Panel and click Uninstall a program under Programs.

   

7. If the software was part of the Acer ePower Management bundle, click Acer ePower Management and hit Uninstall. Otherwise, select Acer eRecovery Management and click Uninstall.

   

8. Visit the Acer Support website to download Acer eRecovery Management for your device and system. You can also download Acer eRecovery Management for Windows 7 from Softpedia.
9. Unzip the file, install the software, and restart your PC.

Acer eRecovery Management will be back, enabling you to create and restore backups.

Issue 2: Acer eRecovery Management Restoring Too Long

If Acer eRecovery Management takes forever to restore your system (maybe over a day, perhaps even hanging on a specific percentage), your hard drive may have bad sectors or a corrupted file system. However, the fix is straightforward, requiring a single command in the CMD (Command Prompt).

Here's what to do:

1. Find the Command Prompt in the Start menu's search box, right-click it, and click Run as administrator.
2. Run this command: chkdsk c: /f /r /x . The f parameter instructs the utility to fix errors or bugs, the r initiates the repair, and the x dismounts the hard drive to scan it and eliminate potential problems. However, the CMD will inform you that another process currently uses the HDD and ask if you wish to schedule the task for the next restart. Type "y" to confirm and hit Enter.

   

3. Restart your PC. The CHKDSK utility will automatically check and fix your HDD if necessary.

You can now use Acer eRecovery Management again.

Issue 3: Acer eRecovery Management Access Keys Not Working

Acer eRecovery Management's access keys (Alt + F10) enable you to restore your system when it refuses to boot. What if they don't work?

The D2D Recovery in the BIOS could again be to blame. Another cause could be a damaged or replaced Acer MBR (Master Boot Record).

However, Acer's recovery partition might be gone (e.g., if you've replaced your hard disk), preventing Acer eRecovery Management from starting. You may have also repartitioned or formatted your HDD, damaging the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) partition.

The method for fixing this issue depends on the cause. Here's what to do first:

1. Restart your PC and repeatedly press F2 (notebook) or Delete (desktop) to enter the BIOS.
2. Go to Main > D2D Recovery using the → and ↓ keys. Hit Enter to expand the menu, select Enabled, hit Enter to confirm, and press F10 to save the changes and exit the BIOS.

   

Your PC will automatically restart. Check if the access keys work. Otherwise, try the following fix:

1. Restart your PC and repeatedly press F8 once the Acer logo appears (before the Windows logo) to access Advanced Boot Options.
2. Use the arrow keys to select Repair Your Computer and hit Enter.

   

3. Provide your username and password and click Command Prompt.

   

4. Run the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

   a. bootrec.exe – launching the utility for fixing the MBR code, partitioning the boot sector code, and updating the BCD (Boot Configuration Data)

   b. FixMbr – writing the MBR to the system partition, ensuring it's compatible with Windows 7.

   c. FixBoot – rewriting the boot sector

   

5. Other commands in the screenshot are helpful when booting from an installation disc, so ignore them. Type exit and restart your PC.

Check if the access keys work. Acer's hidden recovery partition might be damaged or missing if they don't work. Your only options are to restore your OS from a system image (if you've previously created it) or reinstall Windows 7 from the original installation disc. However, the latter will delete your data, so retrieve it with data recovery software beforehand.

Here's how to restore your OS from a system image:

1. Restart your PC, press F8 repeatedly once the Acer logo appears, and go to Advanced Boot Options > Repair Your Computer > System Image Recovery.

   

2. Choose the first option if you have a system image on your PC and click Next.

   

3. Click the second option to use a system image from a DVD or external drive and hit Next.

   

4. Connect your system Image name (if you've selected the second option) and click Next.

   

5. Disk formatting and repartitioning are mandatory, but you can exclude specific drives (optional) and install drivers if your system image backup doesn't contain them. Click Next once you choose the configurations.

   

6. Check the summary and click Finish.

   

If you don't have a system image, follow these steps to reinstall your OS from the original Windows 7 installation disc:

1. Insert the Windows 7 installation disc.
2. Restart your PC and repeatedly press F2 (notebook) or Delete (desktop) while it boots to enter the BIOS.

   

3. Use the → key on your keyboard to switch to the Boot tab and the ↑ and ↓ keys to navigate to the CD or DVD option. Move it to the top using the . or . key to enable your PC to boot from the installation disc.

   

4. Save the configuration changes by pressing F10 or navigating to the Exit tab.

   

5. Once your PC restarts, click Install Now.

   

6. Choose the preferred language, time, and keyboard input, click Next, and follow the on-screen instructions.

   

Issue 4: Acer eRecovery Management Hard Drive Configuration Is Not Set

The "Hard drive configuration is not set" message when attempting to create or restore a backup with Acer eRecovery Management could indicate an incorrect SATA controller setting. Other reasons could be a changed system disk layout or a missing recovery partition.

Here's how to fix the problem:

1. Restart your PC and enter the BIOS using F2 (notebook) or Delete (desktop) during startup.
2. Use the → key to switch to the Main tab and the ↓ key to navigate to the SATA Mode. Hit Enter to expand the menu, select ACHI, confirm with Enter, and press F10 to save the changes and exit the BIOS.

   

Check if the error is gone after your PC restarts. Otherwise, try this fix:

1. Find the Command Prompt in the Start menu's search box, right-click it, and click Run as administrator.
2. Run this command: sfc /scannow . The SFC (System File Checker) will scan for errors or corrupted files and fix potential issues.

   

3. Restart your PC once the utility completes the process.

If the problem persists, the system disk layout might differ from its original structure. For instance, you might have added another partition, bumping the recovery partition to another section. However, you can resolve the issue by changing its ID to match the GUID scheme. Here's how:

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Launch the DiskPart utility with this command: diskpart .
3. Run these commands one by one:

   a. select disk 0

   b. list partition

4. Note the number of the first partition with the OEM type and run this command (using the correct number): select partition 1.
5. Run the following command: set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"

   

6. Repeat steps 4–5 to change the second OEM partition's ID and restart your PC.

If this method doesn't resolve the problem, a fresh Windows 7 installation might be your only option. Check the section above for the steps.

Issue 5: Acer eRecovery Management Cannot Be Installed – Bootable File

If you've replaced your hard drive and performed a clean Windows 7 installation, your Acer computer no longer has the original recovery partition. Therefore, installing Acer eRecovery Management won't be possible.

According to Acer Support, another reason is your PC doesn't have the necessary hardware or software to install the program.

Therefore, you can only use Windows tools to create a system backup because Acer eRecovery needs the original partition. Here's what to do:

1. Go to the Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Backup and Restore and click Create a system image.

   

2. Choose where to save the backup and click Next.

   

3. Specify the drives to include in the backup and hit Next.

   

4. Confirm the settings and click Start Backup.

   

5. If you don't have a Windows installation disc, click Yes to create a system repair disc.

   

6. Insert a blank DVD, select it, and click Create disc.

   

You can create a system repair disc by going to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Backup and Restore.

Reliable Alternative to Acer eRecovery Management: Wondershare Recoverit

While Acer eRecovery can be useful, it's not always ideal, as you're running the risk of wiping your essential data when using it. To keep your data secure when restoring Windows, you'll need a solution like Wondershare Recoverit.

The software can also recover data from disk images with the utmost ease.

Unlike Acer eRecovery Management, it can't create backups, but Wondershare also offers a backup solution (Wondershare UBackit). Still, it can retrieve files across 1,000+ formats in 500+ data loss scenarios, including formatting, deletion, malware, hardware or software failure, etc.

It can be a valuable addition to your Acer toolbox if Acer eRecovery Management starts acting up or you can't install it.

Here's a quick look at its intuitive interface and the steps to recover data from an internal or external drive:

1. Click Hard Drives and Locations and choose a storage unit.

   

2. Filter the scan results to find specific files.

   

3. Preview and select the desired items and click Recover.

   

4. Choose the destination drive and folder (not the original location) and hit Recover.

   

These recovery steps differ depending on the data loss situation, so visit the website for more detailed information.

Conclusion

This guide may be overwhelming, so thank you for reading this far. Acer eRecovery Management may be intuitive, but its problems have different causes and solutions. We didn't want to do a half-baked job presenting the fixes.

However, if you can't install the program or resolve an issue, we recommend using Windows tools to create system backups. Also, use data recovery software like Wondershare Recoverit to salvage data before restoring your OS or after unexpected data loss.