at the grub rescue prompt what is the output of set and ls? There is a thin but possible chance of recovering from the rescue grub prompt if the problem isn't a hardware or file system problem.

Might help or not

http://forums.solydxk.com/viewtopic.php?p=2115#p2115

I'd repair grub 1st myself. The post is very explanatory I think.

Here is a few

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/univers...easy-as-1-2-3/

http://unetbootin.github.io/

http://www.linuxliveusb.com/

Good luck fellow grandpa.

There is clearly a problem getting past the 'grub-rescue' screen. It is possible a new linux distribution was being installed which was unsuccessful.

Believe it or not, the best bet would be to get a USB pendrive and on a Windows computer install Unetbootin/Yumi etc onto the pendrive. You will be putting a linux operating system onto the USB.

After that, you'll need to set the BIOS on your computer to boot from the USB (not from the normal hard disk). This way, you'll have opened a linux operating system which exists on the USB.

Once that is done, you can use the USB operating system to look into the Acer ZG5 and find out what's wrong with it!
It may be that a simple 'update-grub' command is needed from the Acer ZG5. With your 'live' USB, you can actually do that even though the laptop is not awake.

Of course linux is new and complicated. But it's far more user-friendly than Windows. Others here will agree.

Jeezo, that was a struggle. Finally got it up and running with fresh install of peppermint 6 thanks to you guys suggestions plus a wee bit more googling and bad language.

Suffice to say, I'm definitely not a linux fan as it's not user friendly at all when things go wrong. The programming is in a different (alien) language to me. It's even worse than BASIC that I used to do at college 30 odd years ago with the punched cards. Older guys might remember this :-)

Anyway, thanks again folks, you certainly opened my eyes to linux. I'm keeping all the dowloaded linux programs for when the grand daughter decides to give me another puzzle with her notebook.

yea I do,that and remote terminals is the reason I hated computers for many years.

Me too ... so don't feel bad or upset

have to looked into any of these solutions for the same error yet?

SOL1

SOL2

SOL3

Hi. Sometimes install CD/DVD (not liveCD) have an option to boot installed OS (it show you a menu, and you must select the partition to boot).
I use Debian distro, and install DVD have it.
You can boot your lost OS from a CD/liveCD (or DVD) with the same kernel (i think).
By the way, do you copy iso to flash, or use a program to convert iso to flash boot filesystem? (time ago i read a method to put iso image on booteable flash pendrive). It may be on SuSE or Debian help.