quick laptop question

by **Class316** on Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:23 pm

I'm getting an Acer Pentium M and it has Windows XP Home installed on it. I should not encounter any obstacles if I format it and install Windows XP Pro on it, right? It should boot up fine, detect the graphics, sound, modems, etc etc. Right?

by **adidas** on Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:02 pm

I don't own a laptop, never have. So keep that in mind.. but I see no reason why you should have any more trouble than you would with a desktop. Just as long as you can boot from your CD/DVD ROM and have your drivers available.

by **ivwshane** on Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:46 am

Yeah you will be fine.
Just make sure you get all the drivers from the acer website before you reinstall.

by **Class316** on Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:05 am

damn. Don't think I have drivers

I"ll have to look on Acer's site.

Won't windows detect everything?

by **Class316** on Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:12 am

I saw this list of stuff:

WinFlash Utility Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Flash BIOS v3A06 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Intel Chipset v6.3.0.1007 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Intel VGA Driver v6.14.10.4332 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Realtek Audio Driver v5.10.0.5148 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Realtek LAN Driver v5.621.304.2005 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
TouchPad Driver v7.12.3 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
BlueTooth Driver and Application v4.0.1.2304 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Foxconn Modem Driver v7.31.0 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
802.11 (Intel) v9.0.1.9 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
802.11 (Atheros) v4.0.0.14001 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Launch Manager v1.01.1e Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Acer eManager v1.0.34.52 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Acer ePower Management v1.5.6.271 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
eNet Management v1.0.0.7 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Acer GridVista v2.29.0728 Aspire 1640 Windows XP

I suppose I would download them after installing XP Pro SP2?

Also, which is for wireless internet access? Is it the BlueTooth Driver and Application v4.0.1.2304

by **ivwshane** on Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:35 am

You will want most of those before the service pack install.

The bluetooth driver is only if you plan on connecting to the internet through your cell phone.

For wireless internet you want one of these (it depends on how your system is configured and it should tell you on a sticker whether its an intel chip or not)
802.11 (Intel) v9.0.1.9 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
802.11 (Atheros) v4.0.0.14001 Aspire 1640 Windows XP

These you could probably install after the service pack:
Launch Manager v1.01.1e Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Acer eManager v1.0.34.52 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Acer ePower Management v1.5.6.271 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
eNet Management v1.0.0.7 Aspire 1640 Windows XP
Acer GridVista v2.29.0728 Aspire 1640 Windows XP

Acer ePower Management software is pretty nice and helps when you need to configure your power settings quickly.

by **Class316** on Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:55 am

ok, let's say I boot from the XP CD, then I format, I install XP SP2, THEN I install the stuff listed, am I right?

by **Silverhaze** on Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:59 am

Im not too hot on laptops but I would assume that XP Pro SP2 would pretty much have most of the drivers you would need. As long as you are able to boot from the CD in the first place then it should go smoothly.

I always think that as long as I can get the thing online after my install then there shouldnt be a problem. I would get hold of the wireless drivers though just in case your lappy doesnt have an ethernet port.

by **Class316** on Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:05 pm

yea since it's Pentium M it would have to be 802.11 (Intel) v9.0.1.9

I actually connected to the wireless Internet right in my bedroom. Kinda cool. Connection was better than dialup too.

So I guess the steps are:

boot up the CD of my *ahem* "special" version of XP pro sp2

format the HD

install XP pro sp2

use windows update

install all the stuff I listed from Acer's site.

install other software I need (DVD player, skype, etc etc)

Sound right?

by **Silverhaze** on Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:25 pm

Yeah that sounds right. As long as you can get the thing online there shouldnt be a problem.

by **ivwshane** on Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:30 am

The order is up to you but for me personally I always install the chipset drivers first simply because not doing so can cause system instability.

by **Class316** on Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:16 am

ivwshane wrote:The order is up to you but for me personally I always install the chipset drivers first simply because not doing so can cause system instability.

So I do that just after installing XP Pro SP2, right?

Or am I supposed to do it before installing XP ??

by **ivwshane** on Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:22 am

After you run through the install install all the drivers.

by **Class316** on Sun Jan 08, 2006 8:10 am

yea thanks I did just that. Installed XP SP2 Pro, installed the drivers, then windows update (amazing how MS didn't fix the disable windows activation check workaround). It all seems smooth.

Also, I installed Acer ePower Management. Do you think the rest of the Acer utilities are worth while?

Another thing, how long is a laptop battery supposed to last after a full charge? This one indicates only 2 hours or so

by **Silverhaze** on Mon Jan 09, 2006 1:00 pm

Batteries can last anything from 2 to 8 hours I thought. Is this thing brand new?

by **ivwshane** on Tue Jan 10, 2006 6:18 am

Class316 wrote:yea thanks I did just that. Installed XP SP2 Pro, installed the drivers, then windows update (amazing how MS didn't fix the disable windows activation check workaround). It all seems smooth.

Also, I installed Acer ePower Management. Do you think the rest of the Acer utilities are worth while?

Another thing, how long is a laptop battery supposed to last after a full charge? This one indicates only 2 hours or so

I haven't touched any other acer utilities so you probably could skip them.

Battery life is dependant on allot of factors. My 3 cell battery only gets an hour and a half but my six sell gets about four hours.

by **Silverhaze** on Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:04 am

Yeah just dont play intensive games on the move

by **Class316** on Tue Jan 10, 2006 3:21 pm

Well I basically unplug the power and it claims an estimated battery life of a little more than 2h. I don't understand this

It is brand new! When I first got it I used it a little bit while on electricity then I shut it down and left the battery to charge.

How do I know if I got a 3 cell battery or 6 cell or otherwise?

by **ivwshane** on Tue Jan 10, 2006 6:31 pm

What acer model is it?

by **were** on Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:57 pm

i get so many laptop troubleshooting its not even funny.. :cry:

by **Class316** on Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:15 pm

ivwshane wrote:What acer model is it?

Acer Aspire 1640

by **Class316** on Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:26 pm

By the way I checked Acer's site and this is what they have for the battery for the Aspire 1640:

Four-cell lithium ion battery: up to 2.0 hours life depending on configuration and usage; 2.5 hours recharge time with power off, 3.5 hours with power on

http://us.acer.com/acerpanam/page9.do?d ... =770120782

Though on mine it says 2h 20 or 2h 30. So my battery is in good shape.

But that battery life kinda sucks. Can't even watch a movie on the go

by **Silverhaze** on Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:53 pm

Hell yeah that sucks!! What are they playing at?!?

I thought a laptop was meant to be used on the move?? That almost defeats the object of getting one.

quick laptop question

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