what in the world did i do..? can't access anything control pane

[rong]

Can't help with the problem, but I believe you have windows in a recovery partition on your harddrive, so if you can find out how to activate it you should be able to do a repair.

I'll look again, if i do find it - how or what command do i use to repair the problem...? and - does doing so wipe out everything i've installed in this friggin thing...?

A repair should leave all your programs intact, usually you can make a CD to access the hidden partition, but as you don't have a CD drive this would be a waste of time. There must be an different way of doing it, but I wouldn't know what

[jason.b.c]

*bump*

[AlanHo]

Acer Netbook manual

I briefly owned an Acer netbook but have swapped it for another model.

Mine was loaded with Linux and had a hidden recovery partition on the hard drive. The user manual does not tell you how to access the recovery partition - but there was a leaflet in my box that gave full instructions - a good job because I had problems with system crashes and had to reinstall the OS. Unfortunately I cannot recall how I accessed the hidden partition. I do recall that it was easy to do.

I suggest you phone Acer Support for some advice.

PS:

My replacement netbook - a Samsung - also lacks an optical drive. To access the "Recovery Solution" you press the F4 key when the Samsung logo appears on boot-up. I vaguely recall using a similar method on my previous Acer - but whether it was F4 or anothe key I cannot be sure.

[-pops-]

I always keep a set of backups for my machines.

Not any help to you at the moment but something to bear in mind when you get going again.

[Dencandy]

I suggest you phone Acer Support for some advice.

You must be feeling very annoyed, jason b c - and I don't blame you. To get a manual you have to go to a third party and pay for it. Obviously Acer don't gave a damn about their customers, once they've parted with their money. I've just spent quite a while searching for Acer Netbook manuals and user groups. Nothing, apart from the link I gave you earlier.

I can only suggest you follow AlanHo's advice above or try searching their website ACER EURO.

[AlanHo]

Here is a pdf version of the ACER recovery management system. Hope it helps. It seems to be for a laptop with an optical drive - but there may be clues here that apply to your's.

THis may help

If Alt F10 during boot up does not work - try this.

Go to Start .

All programs .

Click on Acer Empower technologies .

click on Restore systems to default.

Click OK.

the system shuts down Automatically & erases & put everything back including PC desktop Software.