Hey I just bought a new Acer desktop from pagecomputers.com. It only cost 374.23 which was surprising to me. But a few things seems a bit strange to me.

First the restore DVD that contains the operating system is missing?
Second when I turn the comp on I've notice that the 160GB HD is divided in to two. One as NFTS and the other as FAT32? While I know when you add both HD amount it won't equal 160, the combine total was about 140GB. What happen to the other 20GB? I don't think Windows XP home is 20GB.

Does this seems strange to anyone else? I've never saw a HD divided in to two, and as both NFTS and FAT32.

Here's a link tot he specs of the computer over at newegg. This was a bargain buy but something doesn't seem right....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883103032

Why would a HD that is 160GB be divided in to two like this, and in to different formats? (There's a few extra slots for HD add ons) I back up all my data on cdrws, so i dunno what use this suppose to serve. Can I turn this in to one whole HD as NFTS?

Anyone here owns/ use an acer aspire?That is a normal hard drive setup for Acer and not a bad arrangement at all.

The difference in drive space is a COMBINATION of Windows taking up some space AND the way that drive space is calculated by the manufacturers.

Having the drive in two partitions like that is an excellent choice as if when Windows crashes, hopefully all of your important data is stored on the D Drive and will not be obliterated when you format and reinstall. I think you will find that most people who understand computers have a separate partition for the OS and for data.

If you want, you can convert the FAT32 portion to NTFS, but is there any need? Not really.

You should have gotten 5 CD's from Acer with the machine AND you have the ability to create a restore CD set with the software already on the hard drive. You only get ONE chance to make this disc set, so do it early and keep them safe.

I would also contact Acer or the retailer and let them no you did not get the 5 CD Acer restore set.

That is a nice little machine with name brand compnents. I think you will be satisfied.yeah the components and especially the price got my attention!

I don't really have problems with Windows and it doesn't crash crash on me. I usually back up data on a cdrw periodically. It does sound interesting, but I find this set up confusing. Like, which one does my stuff GO in to? I'm not that savy on this and prefer the HD as one whole. It's more familiar to me, like I said before I never saw a HD devided in to two. And to be honest I'm not 100% sure whats FAT32 and NFTS.

Is it possible to not seperate the HD and keep it as One whole? I just want the reg Windows XP with what it comes with, everything else I'll put in myself. For one I'm replacing the Adobe reader with Foxit, works better.

Nope, not a SINGLE CD whatsoever was included. (For a second I was parniod that maybe someone bought it before and return it w/o the cds? I've discovered an angry thread about customers claiming they recieved refurbished items when they claim to have bought factory new. Cause some refurbish items do not include everything.)

Eh.......... only one chance? I didn't have any cdr to use so I closed that option as it was loading the Norton and such. I mean, it would be nice if that was mentioned before I turned it on. I dunno, did I need those items? I'm not a Norton person. I'm e-mailing Acer with little luck, I'll call them. Do you think their would be any problems getting the cds? I did buy them new but not from Acer....Quote

yeah the components and especially the price got my attention!

I don't really have problems with Windows and it doesn't crash crash on me. I usually back up data on a cdrw periodically. It does sound interesting, but I find this set up confusing. Like, which one does my stuff go in to? I'm not that savy on this and prefer the HD as one whole. It's more familiar to me, like I said before I never saw a HD devided in to two. And to be honest I'm not 100% sure whats FAT32 and NFTS.

Is it possible to not seperate the HD and keep it as One whole? I just want the reg Windows XP with what it comes with, everything else I'll put in myself. For one I'm replacing the Adobe reader with Foxit, works better.

Nope, not a single CD whatsoever was included. (For a second I was parniod that maybe someone bought it before and return it w/o the cds? I've discovered an angry thread about customers claiming they recieved refurbished items when they claim to have bought factory new. Cause some refurbish items do not include everything.)

Eh.......... only one chance? I didn't have any cdr to use so I closed that option as it was loading the Norton and such. I mean, it would be nice if that was mentioned before I turned it on. I dunno, did I need those items? I'm not a Norton person. I'm e-mailing Acer with little luck, I'll call them. Do you think their would be any problems getting the cds? I did buy them new but not from Acer....

...

Woke up early. Off to get ready for work in about a 1/2 hour.

Quote

yeah the components and especially the price got my attention!

I don't really have problems with Windows and it doesn't crash crash on me. I usually back up data on a cdrw periodically. It does sound interesting, but I find this set up confusing. Like, which one does my stuff go in to? I'm not that savy on this and prefer the HD as one whole. It's more familiar to me, like I said before I never saw a HD devided in to two. And to be honest I'm not 100% sure whats FAT32 and NFTS.

Is it possible to not seperate the HD and keep it as One whole? I just want the reg Windows XP with what it comes with, everything else I'll put in myself. For one I'm replacing the Adobe reader with Foxit, works better.

Nope, not a single CD whatsoever was included. (For a second I was parniod that maybe someone bought it before and return it w/o the cds? I've discovered an angry thread about customers claiming they recieved refurbished items when they claim to have bought factory new. Cause some refurbish items do not include everything.)

Eh.......... only one chance? I didn't have any cdr to use so I closed that option as it was loading the Norton and such. I mean, it would be nice if that was mentioned before I turned it on. I dunno, did I need those items? I'm not a Norton person. I'm e-mailing Acer with little luck, I'll call them. Do you think their would be any problems getting the cds? I did buy them new but not from Acer....

The contents should all be the same. I believe Acer will help you in this matter, although it may not be free. Some companies do not include CD's anyway, even if totally new (HP, Compaq, etc.)

There is no advantage, and actually there is a disadvantage in having the drive as one big partition. FAT32 and NTFS are just different types of file systems.

If I were you I would load essential programs to C drive and keep the data on D drive for now. When C gets full (if ever) you can install stuff to D. Keep in mind you need to have 15% of the C drive space empty for proper function of Windows.

There should be a program listed for Acer restore disc creation. You only get one chance to make them, but it is not necessarily when you first boot. Look in the programs loaded on the machine.