My Notebook never got drivers for Windows 7. The drivers were always kept at Vista. I installed Wisdows 7 as an upgrade. The drivers at their site are still pretty well the same ones and only go as high as for Vista OS.I don't know the answer to your problem but I do know that special keyboard functions are features of the keyboard, and not Windows. That is, Acer uses special drivers for the keyboard to program the keyboard's function keys. If you upgraded to Windows 7 and did not install Acer's keyboard drivers, then it is not likely any of the Function keys behave "normally", unless they have been programed in the BIOS by Acer. And it would appear that is not the case.
So, you might look on Acer's website for your notebook for current Windows 7 drivers.
That's my point. So you need to reinstall them - even if you are reinstalling Vista drivers (which often, but not always work with Windows 7). Nevertheless, as I noted above, unique Function key assignments are NOT a Windows feature. So by installing a new OS over the old (even as an update) it is likely the Function key assignments were reverted back to Windows defaults, and you lost the Acer assignments. To fix that, you need to reinstall the drivers from Acer.My Notebook never got drivers for Windows 7.
I understood what you said the first time. You were right to steer me in the "clean install" method. All I was doing was exploring the options of the recovery partition. I do know that if I want to get back to Vista I would just run the recovery discs, but I've already upgraded to Windows 7 so that is where I'm going to stay. I was just trying to figure out if some of the old recovery options were still valid/Alt?F10 and Acer recovery. Obviously now I know they aren't and if I crash and burn my best way back is via the "clean install with the Win 7" using Custom install and activating at the end.The last bit of what you say kinda sounds like the machine does not support Windows 7... although usually if a machine will support Vista it will support 7. What's the Acer model so I can look or investigate for myself, please.
Another point is, if you migrated to 7 from Vista via an "Upgrade" path, you would likely do better to install 7 as a clean install by selecting "Custom Install", instead.
As long as the machine will or does indeed support 7
Regards,
Drew
No typo Dave. Got it figured now. As I said to Drew, just a matter of exploring these recovery options. I still have the recovery discs for Vista. I just wasn't sure what Acer's eRecovery was going to do when I used it so I thought I'd ask before jumping in. Acer seems to give you more recovery options than you know what to do with. I've been told to do a "clean install" with the Win 7 upgrade disc and to use custom install and activate when I'm finished, so it seems all is good. Thanks."I was checking to see if I could recover the laptop to Windows 7 by using Alt/F10." - Is this a typo? There is no way you can "recover" to Windows 7 by using the Acer recovery option. It came with Vista, and that is what the recovery option was designed to return your computer to.
But, if your intention is to try and return to Vista (?), check in the bios and ensure that the D2D recovery is on.
Also, if not already done, after checking as above, try the Alt+F10 function on boot up.
Sorry, my profound apologies. Wasn't meant to come across as "cutting you up"... I just felt a wee bit frustrated cus I wasn't precisely certain what you were asking so was hard for me to know exactly what to answer (but, guess it was the right info, after all, thankfully). I admit I did joke around following the other person's comment... sorry if it seemed that was @ your expense... certainly I only mean to help not offend. Forgive me, for putting my foot in my mouth. Glad I was able to help & I'll be more mindful of silliness that might be taken personally... honestly was not the intent.
Oooops<---- That's me looking embarassed
Drew