heres the low down,

i bought an acer aspire m1100 which came with windows vista and i transfered it over to windows xp.
i then got a virus which malfunctioned my computer so i re installed windows xp just to get the files back.

i know for a fact all my data is on the partition labeled PQSERVICE the only problem is being able to make it accesible.

can anyone please help!!!!!
HELP!!!

This post has been edited by josh_williams86: Oct 15 2009, 08:55 PM

Hi josh_williams86

This freeware here may help, I'm currently investigating the full functions of it myself.
Though feel free to take care and ask around before leaping in, someone around here has to know something.
Let us know how you go.

Regards,
Jkc73

This post has been edited by Jkc73: Oct 16 2009, 12:35 AM

yes, please help becuase i have gigs worth of data that i do not want to re install. i already have the re installation up and running with some re downloaded things but there are some things that i dont even remember i had on my hard drive.

please get back to me

much appreciation

i still cant manage to find a way to make pqservice partition accessible.

someone please help me im freaking out. i dont want to re install/download everything.

thanks!

Hi josh_williams86,
Sorry to hear of the problem with your machine.
Here's some thoughts that may help:

The Acer PQService partition is generally a "hidden" partition that is part of the Acer Recovery System that is used solely for recovery purposes in the event of major system problems that cannot be overcome in a cost effective or timely way, by the usual means. It does not contain user created personal data files, (photos, music, documents, spreadsheets etc)

It contains sufficient data to restore your computer back to the exact state in was in when it left the factory...... This procedure is often called a "Factory Restore".
It is destructive in that it will "wipe" whatever was on your c: drive and replace it with an exact "factory" image of your drive.
The data that this partition contains is used solely to "wipe" and then reinstall Windows and any applications and settings that were included when you received the computer from the factory.

There is generally no user created personal data on this partition, none of your documents, photos, music, spreadsheets etc...so if your machine is working OK then you don't immediately need the PQService partition.
The PQService partition will contain between 4 and 9 GB of data used solely for the Restore (the exact size depends on the precise model number and Acer System concerned.)

In view of the actions you have taken....... Replacing Vista with XP and then reinstalling Windows, its pretty certain that you have lost all your personal data files...... If you have a complete backup of these files stored on external media then you will bless the day you instigated a regular back up routine, if you haven't, then although its "shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted" it would be wise to start one immediately.

A professional Data Recovery Service may be able to extract your old files from the disc, but it will be difficult and costly and is only worthwhile if your data files are important and valuable to you...... As an indication if you want to consider a professional Data Recovery Service then you should budget on somewhere around
£500 - £1000 (GBP) or $1000 - $1500 (USD) You may get a way with paying less than this ( hopefully) or maybe even a bit more.

If your machine is running fast and sweet and with no problems then it's recommended you take the opportunity now to make a disc image using disc imaging software like Acronis, Paragon, Ghost, Drive Image XML etc etc, and keep it safe on removable media, verify the accuracy of the image and make a bootable start up disc.
This will then, at least, be a substitute for the PQService facility, should catastrophic failure happen in the future.

Let me know if you need any more information on this
Regards
paws

ok heres the full lowdown..i dont think i explained it very well.

when i transfered over to windows xp i didnt have any files on the computer. i switched it over to xp after setting up the computer

so i had xp for awhile. what happend was my computer got a virus and crashed i couldnt boot it up besides with a disc so i just went ahead and re installed windows because i figured i would be able to access all my old files. the partition pqservice actually using up 40gb. which is why i assumed all my files were on it.

please get back to me after you read this.

Hi, The Recovery Partition PQ Service is never more than 9GB (as installed at the factory.)
If you have 40GB in your PQService partition then you must have :

1 Altered the partition size
2 Placed ordinary data files in the Recovery Partition ( which is a "bad" move)
or
carried out multiple back ups and kept them on your PQService partition.
Question
Can you "see" the PQ partition using any of the Windows tools or Third Party applications?
If the Recovery partition is still available to you and has not been destroyed by the Reinstall of Windows then you should be able to access it immediately after powering up the computer by pressing and holding the ALT key whilst at the same time pressing F10 The key combination is ALT+F10
If the PQService is still "alive" then the abouv Key combination will take you directly to the Acer Recovery System that will allow you to restore your System to Factory...NOTE this will not include your user created data files so tread very carefully at this stage
If you find that you have an option to recover from Hard drive back up then the situation looks more promising but I strongly suggest you withdraw before taking any actions at all whilst in the Acer Recovery System....just report back here so we can advise further.
When you respond let us know the following:

1 Can you see the PQS Recovery Partition even though you can't access it?
2 Have you used any Partition Management Tools to alter/delete/create partitions on your machine?
3 Have you tried to access the machine and see if you can find the PQService partition using a Linux disc ( Linux Puppy, Ubuntu, Slax, Knoppix etc?
4 Does Alt+F10 on restart get you into the Acer Recovery System?


I do not hold out much hope that you will be able to recover your data without the assistance of a Data Recovery Facility.....do you have a back up of your important stuff kept safe on removable media that you could use, even if this is kept some way away from you?
Regards
paws

This post has been edited by paws: Oct 18 2009, 01:31 AM

yes i can see the pqservice partition only when i boot up witht the windows cd. and it asks me to choose a partition to install it on
other that when i boot with the disc. i cannot see the pqservice

Ok
Try the Alt +F10 immediately on starting up and see if you can get into the Acer Restore system.... if you can, don't do anything there..just creep away ....and report back here!
Regards
paws

no this did not bring up the acer recovery

Hi,
OK, Its bad news that you can't access the PQS via Alt+F10......this means that the Acer Recovery System has been damaged or destroyed, by the switch from Vista to Windows and the reinstall of Windows and so we must consider alternative approaches.....
.
1 If you know how to use Linux live distro dics to access your hard drive ( Linux Puppy, Ubuntu etc.) Then this would be the next step, if the Linux can see and access the PQS then you can copy stuff off to a USB hard drive or flash drive (Puppy and Ubuntu include USB support)

2 If you are not happy working in a Linux environment then try UBCD for Windows...you will need to make the disc, but full details are available online.
Otherwise its off to the Data Recovery People (But see alternative below)..but always get a quote first!

3 My own take on this issue (from several thousands of miles away, and not having your machine in my workshop) is that your reinstall OF Windows has lost your data and it will be fairly expensive to get it back!

4 A lot of computer technicians have fairly advanced skills in this area....so if you have a competent computer technician in your area then it could be a good move to consult her/him (and don't forget to agree a fee in advance!) They should be able to tell you pretty quickly if the data is recoverable relatively easily or if the services of a Professional Data Recovery Laboratory will be needed.

Regards
paws