Ok I’ve been busy setting myself up with the new laptop. You would think it’s a ready and go out of the package, but if you’re me you gotta reinstall from scratch, then setup Apache, PHP and MySQL for offline testing environment, then install WinDVD, GoogleTalk, Picasa, Firefox, Thunderbird, etc etc.. it goes on forever. So, after a about 4-5hrs I’m now done setting up the bugger. Yeah I know it’s been downgraded from “baby” to “bugger” but it’s still an amazing mean machine and I’m loving it. Everything is great, it’s even a little better (performance-wise and design-wise) than what I expected in the beginning. The only problem I see imediately is that the partitions were setup a little weird, with about 3GB of space wasted in a hidden partition called PQSERVICE. I have yet to find out what it is. If you know about this please fill me in. I’d just delete it and reinstall from scratch again but I’ll give this a few weeks of heavy load work before I do that. Norton just hit me (a second ago) with an unfixable MBR virus warning. The laptop is brand new!! WTF?!! I reformatted it a few hours ago. Anyway, I’ll dig into that later. I’ll post pics later tomorrow. So far so good besides the minor bugs.
Update (9/20/2005): PQSERVICE turns out to be Acer’s recovery partition to reset the laptop to factory state, but since Acer provided recovery CDs with the package, the partition is redundant and can be removed if you need to reclaim the wasted space.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=11584
http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=62900
The only problem left is that Acer’s default recovery image comes with Windows XP formatted in FAT32, which is lame. So if I wanted to have Windows XP with an NTFS partition I need to grab a new copy of Windows, which means more money to the devil’s company! 
Hi my name is JErm and this is my blog. I'm just a simple guy living a simple life on a simple island.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
PQService is a recovery partition. It should be full of utilities, similar to old Norton DOS style stuff… If you don’t need rebuild data, i.e you’ve got your own XP cds etc.. etc. then i’d delete it and recover the wasted space! Not sure why you’re getting the MBR virus warning. Could be a true virus, or simply norton getting pissey because it can’t read the file. If you delete that file btw, you’ll lose access to your recovery partition. I think?!?!
I was thinking the same thing; recovery files or something. Norton can be a huge resource hog for a laptop. You can also try Avast or other ones found at betanews.
Congrats on getting the laptop!
That’s what I thought, but they gave me recovery CDs in the package, so what the hell is the recovery partition for? I should just trash it huh? If I wipe out the entire disk it’ll also get rid of the MBR virus, right? Grrrr… And yeah Norton is a resource hog, but are the other AV warez any good?
I use avast and so far it has found everything that NAV has found. Some people use AVG and love it also. NAV is just bloated with so many things that aren’t needed for a good scan. A good antivirus + spyware cleaner and ad blocker [like spybot and lavasoft adware and an antivirus] would be good for your laptop.
Thanks Bes I just downloaded Avast and will try it at home. I haven’t used Ad-Aware for a long time either, it’s probably a good idea to download that too. Thanks man!
hey try kaspersky…a friend recommend it to me..n my computer is so good..but the problem is u have to update it everyday..there is a way though to automatically update…but i dunno how..so i did it manually n it protects my computer just find..u shud give it a try..or mayB AVG
if u see me online catch me up..i rarely go online now… i’ll give u the website..i m now in the school library so i dun remember the website.. 
Kaspersky is nice I’ve tried it before too, except for the.. you’re right.. UPDATES!!
I’m using avast now, recommended by Bes and it’s working great so far.
I’m hardly online too Jess.. you know what it’s like on dial-up!
Yo I got a acer laptop too. I didn’t get recovery cd’s but I had to burn a backup disk, i dont know if this is good enough so that i can ditch that partition. Me too i have that bloodhound virus that is unremovable. wtf!!! Listen if you learn how to format NTFS let me know. Would it be possible to use a warez cd and the serial number on the back to make a legal install so that we can have ntfs??? let me know…. Ill be checking this page out. Oh yea for virus scanners. Trust me avg and avast especially miss viruses . try nod32, ive noticed this due to this wicked site running on linux http://virusscan.jotti.org/. PEace bro hope we can get this shit fixed
guys, you don’t need to reformat your HD to NTFS, or buy a new copy of XP. just run the CONVERT utility from the command prompt.
example:
c:\>convert d: /FS:NTFS
this will convert your partition from FAT32 to NTFS. When doing the c: drive, you may need to reboot the computer.
Good luck!
I’m in a tough spot with my 3002LCi laptop and looking for rescue. I’m a consultant working an assignment in San Diego and had to have my laptop warranty repaired replacing the logic board. So have to reinstall the operating system My Recovery CD’s are inaccessible back at my home base in Denver. (Stupid me; I have all my other app disks with me.)
I’m looking desperately for anyone who can sell me a Recovery CD to get back up and running.
Rgds.
Steve
(858) 826-9412
Steve, I’m only a few hundred miles away from you man. LOL. Try to download it from Acer’s website, or go back to the service center and ask them to dump it in for you. Good luck!
Got the same issue here with an Acer TravelMate 3260. Wiped it clean (always do with new units).
I’ve spent over 8 hours trying to download the drivers from Acers pages that keep timing out.
Next time you buy a unit, check their suport site first. It’s not a good sign when a computer manufacturer’s site times out ad has broken pages!
I too have a Acer Aspire 3002LCi and I’ve reloaded XP with my own copy. I just need the Multimedia Audio controller, Wireless Network Driver, PCI Modem, Video Controller drivers. I went to the Acer Website and I must be missing the easy driver download page?! If someone can steer me toward these (4) corrrect drivers, I would be greatly appreciative!!!!