I believe the SWM file names are specific for this model. All of the SWM files have to be merged to create the all important WIM file. In the D2D\Images directory, there are 130 files that started with the name, POP010BY0OX01C21, and had the extension of SWM. In that directory the were 2 sub directories called Images and Patch. On this Gateway laptop, there was no big WIM file. The may be some small WIM files to make other things, like WinPE discs. On Dell computers, the restore partition contains FACTORY.WIM. The big WIM file contains the entire factory set up in compressed form. The Restore Partitions on some other brands will contained a large WIM file. With Partition Magic, I arbitrarily assign the restore partition drive letter P: and the main partition the drive letter Q: Once the partitions have drive letters, you can examine their contents with Windows Explorer. None of the partitions have drive letters, and therefore they are invisible to Windows. This takes up the rest of the disc drive. Last is the main (primary) partition, no label. Next is a small partition labeled "System Reserved", only 100 MB. The first is the restore partition, labeled "PQService", 13 GB. All 3 are primary (not extended) partitions. Partition Magic shows the drive is partitioned into 3. I use Partition Magic to view and alter disc partitions. This way I have the power of Window and other tools. I remove the disc drive from the laptop and connect it to a desktop computer as a secondary drive. Unfortunately it did not work on this laptop. Normally on the Gateway laptop, Recovery Mode is entered at startup by pressing Alt-F10. There was already factory installed Win 7 Home Premium plus software and personal data of the original owner. These instructions should work for either brand.
Acer e15 ptedit32 recovery how to#
This is a tutorial on how to deal with SWM files, WIM files, and the IMAGEX command. How to restore to factory, a Gateway or Acer laptop when Alt-F10 will not work.