Alright, let’s tackle this issue with your Acer Aspire 1 A114-31, which is showing a "No Bootable Device Found" error after you formatted the eMMC 32GB drive and encountered problems with the Windows 10 installation. The BIOS limitations and the eMMC not appearing in the boot options are indeed challenging, but I’ll guide you through a systematic approach to diagnose and potentially resolve this as a technician would. Given the complexity, we’ll proceed step-by-step, assuming you have access to another working computer to prepare tools.
- Step 1: Understand the Problem
The Acer Aspire 1 A114-31 uses a 32GB eMMC drive soldered to the motherboard, which is typical for budget laptops like this model. The eMMC is essentially a non-removable storage chip, and its absence from the BIOS and boot menu suggests one of two things:
1. **The eMMC drive is no longer functional** (possibly due to formatting or hardware failure).
2. **The BIOS is not detecting the eMMC** due to a configuration issue or firmware problem.
The "error, some installation files missing" during Windows 10 setup and the USB not showing in the F12 boot menu point to potential issues with the USB bootable media, BIOS settings, or the eMMC itself. The BIOS’s lack of a Legacy boot option (UEFI-only) and limited settings are common in low-end Acer models, so we’ll work within those constraints.
- Step 2: Verify eMMC Detection in BIOS
1. **Access the BIOS**:
- Power off the laptop completely (hold the power button for 5 seconds if needed).
- Power on and immediately press **F2** repeatedly to enter the BIOS setup.
- Navigate to the **Main** or **Information** tab to check if the eMMC (or any storage device) is listed. It might appear as "HDD0" or by its model number (e.g., Hynix or Kingston eMMC).
2. **Observations**:
- If the eMMC is **not listed**, it’s either physically failed or the BIOS is not detecting it due to a configuration or firmware issue.
- If it **is listed**, note its details and proceed to check boot settings.
3. **Reset BIOS to Defaults**:
- In the BIOS, press **F9** to load default settings, then **Enter**.
- Press **F10** to save and exit, then reboot to see if the eMMC reappears or if the "No Bootable Device" error persists.
- If the eMMC still isn’t detected, the issue may be hardware-related or due to the formatting you performed.
- Step 3: Test the eMMC Using a Bootable USB
Since the eMMC was formatted and is no longer visible, we need to check if it’s still functional. You’ll need a properly configured bootable USB with Windows 10 installation media.
1. **Create a New Bootable USB**:
- On another working computer, download the **Windows 10 Media Creation Tool** from Microsoft’s official website (https://www.microsoft.com/software-downl...).
- Use a USB drive (8GB or larger) and follow the tool’s instructions to create a bootable USB. Ensure it’s formatted as **FAT32** with a **GPT partition scheme** for UEFI compatibility, as your BIOS doesn’t support Legacy boot.
- If you use **Rufus** instead, select:
- Partition scheme: **GPT**
- Target system: **UEFI (non-CSM)**
- File system: **FAT32**
- Ensure the correct Windows 10 ISO is selected.
2. **Boot from the USB**:
- Insert the USB into the Acer Aspire.
- Power on and press **F12** to access the boot menu. If the USB doesn’t appear, try the following:
- Re-enter the BIOS (F2), go to the **Boot** tab, and ensure **F12 Boot Menu** is **Enabled**.
- Check if **Secure Boot** is enabled. If it is, try disabling it:
- Go to the **Security** tab, set a **Supervisor Password** if none exists (this unlocks Secure Boot settings).
- Go to the **Boot** tab, set **Secure Boot** to **Disabled**.
- Save with **F10** and reboot.
- If the USB still doesn’t show, try a different USB port or a different USB drive, as some ports may not be boot-capable.
3. **Test the eMMC**:
- If you can boot from the USB to the Windows Setup screen, select **Repair your computer** > **Troubleshoot** > **Command Prompt**.
- In the Command Prompt, type:
```
diskpart
list disk
```
- Check if the 32GB eMMC appears in the disk list (it should be ~29-30GB in size).
- If the eMMC is **not listed**, it’s likely failed or disconnected (though disconnection is unlikely since it’s soldered). Proceed to Step 5.
- If it **is listed**, select it and check its partitions:
```
select disk 0 (or the disk number for the eMMC)
list partition
```
- If no partitions exist (due to your earlier formatting), create a new partition:
```
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick
active
```
- Exit **diskpart** (`exit`) and try running the Windows 10 installation again from the USB.
- Step 4: Address Windows Installation Errors
The "error, some installation files missing" suggests issues with the USB media or the eMMC’s ability to write data. If the eMMC is detected:
1. **Retry the Installation**:
- Boot from the USB again and attempt a clean Windows 10 installation. Select the eMMC as the target drive and delete all existing partitions during setup to start fresh.
- If the error persists, try a different USB drive or recreate the bootable media, as the USB may be corrupted.
2. **Check eMMC Health**:
- From the Command Prompt in Windows Setup, run:
```
chkdsk X: /f /r /x (replace X with the eMMC’s drive letter, e.g., C:)
```
- This checks for bad sectors or file system errors. If significant errors are found, the eMMC may be failing.
- Step 5: If the eMMC Is Not Detected
If the eMMC isn’t visible in **diskpart** or BIOS, it’s likely failed, as eMMC drives have a limited lifespan and can be damaged by improper formatting or wear. Since it’s soldered to the motherboard, replacement is not straightforward, but here are your options:
1. **Update the BIOS**:
- Visit Acer’s support website (https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/su...) and download the latest BIOS for the Aspire 1 A114-31.
- On another computer, follow Acer’s instructions to create a BIOS update USB (usually requires FAT32 formatting and specific file placement).
- Boot the Acer with the BIOS update USB inserted and follow the prompts (if accessible). A BIOS update might restore eMMC detection if it’s a firmware issue.[](eMMC 32GB deleted from BIOS (UEFI with no legacy boot))
2. **Professional Repair**:
- Since the eMMC is soldered, replacing it requires advanced soldering skills and specialized equipment. Contact Acer Support or a qualified repair shop to assess whether the eMMC or motherboard can be replaced. Note that replacing the motherboard may not be cost-effective for this model.[](https://community.acer.com/en/discussion...)
3. **Alternative Storage**:
- The A114-31 typically lacks an M.2 slot for SSDs, limiting upgrade options. If repair isn’t viable, you could repurpose the laptop by booting from an external USB drive running a lightweight OS like Linux (e.g., Ubuntu), though performance will be slower. To do this:
- Create a bootable USB with Ubuntu using Rufus or the Ubuntu Startup Disk Creator.
- Boot from the USB (F12) and select **Try Ubuntu** or install it to the USB for persistent use.
- Note: This requires disabling Secure Boot and ensuring the USB is bootable in UEFI mode.[](https://community.acer.com/en/discussion...)
- Step 6: Additional Troubleshooting
- **Secure Boot and Supervisor Password**:
- If you haven’t already, set a Supervisor Password in the BIOS to unlock all settings. Disable Secure Boot and test booting from the USB again.
- Re-enable Secure Boot after installation if required for Windows 10.
- **Factory Reset Attempt**:
- Some Acer models have a recovery partition accessible via **Alt + F10** at boot. Since you formatted the eMMC, this is unlikely to work, but try it to rule out any remaining recovery options.[](https://community.acer.
com/en/discussion/697303/acer-aspire-1-a114-31-c70t-no-bootable-device)
- **Check for Loose Connections**:
- Though the eMMC is soldered, power off the laptop, remove the back cover (carefully, following iFixit guides for the A114-31), and ensure no loose connectors or damage to the motherboard is visible.[](https://thetechylife.com/how-fix-acer-no...)
- Step 7: If All Else Fails
If the eMMC remains undetectable and BIOS updates don’t help, the drive has likely failed. Given the low cost of the A114-31, replacing the motherboard or eMMC may cost more than the laptop’s value. Consider:
- **Contacting Acer Support**: They can confirm if a repair is feasible or provide a recovery USB for a fee.[](https://community.acer.com/en/discussion...)
- **Using the Laptop as a USB-Booted Device**: Install a lightweight Linux distro on a USB drive for continued use.
- **Replacement Device**: If repair costs are prohibitive, a new budget laptop may be more practical.
- Technician’s Notes
- The eMMC’s failure after formatting suggests it may have been damaged by excessive write cycles or an improper format (e.g., using **diskpart clean** without proper repartitioning). eMMC drives are less durable than SSDs, and the A114-31’s lack of an M.2 slot limits upgrade options.[](https://community.acer.com/en/discussion...)
- The BIOS’s UEFI-only mode and lack of Legacy support are standard for this model, restricting boot flexibility. Ensuring the USB is GPT/FAT32 and Secure Boot is disabled should allow booting external media.
- Always back up data before attempting repairs, though in this case, the eMMC wipe likely erased all data.
If you need specific guidance on any step (e.g., BIOS update process or Linux installation), let me know your current progress, and I’ll provide detailed instructions! If the eMMC is confirmed dead, I can also help explore Linux-based solutions to repurpose the device.
3 
2 
19 
