Restored vista, applied the patch then set it to install over the vista C partition - not formatting, but deleting the existing data (or did you install in to a different directory?).

Same result Piece of crap, need to spend ages restoring Vista again now from the DVD's to try to a different directory......

Hi hopon

Well, we keep trying!

As I said, I had success both ways so next time put the patch on C dive within Vista, format D drive and install xp on D ------ see what happens

Just as an alternative suggestion: I have been running beta copies of Win 7 and so far it has looked good to me. On version 7068 now (32 bit) and its valid until march next year. It is as fast, if not faster than XP with plenty of usable features - very Vista like but much, much better than Vista ever could be. I'm sure its going to be a winner. I now prefer using it to XP, although XP is still very handy for some things Win 7 has problems with.

You can download it through this forum via rapidshare - its got to be worth a try what with all the grief you are getting. I'm sure it would install Ok - maybe a floppy for the sata drivers but they may already be installed.


cheers

Though about trying Win 7 but I want to use it in my office though so the time limit could be a factor. I could go up to vista business on here I suppose so at least it will connect to my domain. Otherwise it looks like it will be going back to Comet. Shame as the spec for the money is very good.

Would look nice next to the telly as a media player otherwise..... hmmmm

If you can up the iso you've had success with though, just as a last chance I would really appreciate it.

Ok im gonna need some help here too... I tried downgrading like all of you... got a bluescreen right away while loading windows install... figured out that i need drivers... got the sata_ide pack posted above... burned a moddified iso... worked for the setup... it let me format and pick partitions... coppied files.... rebooted... Installing windows... setup goes on... i set the admin pass... FINAL REBOOT... im all excited... and then BOOM

BSOD again...

what did i do wrong.... something is not right... maybe its cuz windows tries to load some other driver that i should remove first... i dont know... everything seems right... im using Win xp pro sp2 MSDN edition... fully legit copy from school with no sp2 on it.

Hi to Hopkins001

Read my post on page 2 and make sure you do as follows FIRST!

Go to the Acer site and download the AcerAppFix (also listed as Acer Preload Security Patch for Windows XP) from the utilities section - link below

://support.acer-euro.com/drivers/utilities.html

This must be installed via the existing Vista Operating system before you make any attempt to install XP.

Thanks for your reply... really appreciated... i solved my problem last night after burning a 3rd iso... I re-added the drivers... i used the sata driver from the package mentioned above and i extracted the whole realtek package in there too.
I think that's what solved it. I couldn't apply the patch since the vista system was long gone from the partition... i wiped the whole thing down before i even got to setup xp... i know that was dumb but u know,.. like mitnik once said... there is no patch for stupidity... rofl....

Anyways thanks for your help... after 3h of trying i got it fully working with all the drivers and updates...

What worked for me is a clean xp copy with drivers added:

- sata_ide pack from above rs link
- along with WDM_R231 from realtek hd

wouldnt work without that realtek... gave me another bsod after a final reboot into the system...

THX again