Thanks for all the input...
I want to share my "unique" experience on this matter for the benefit of the forum members.
Finally, I was able to access Bios and set DVD as boot priority then rescue CD loaded fine.
As it turned, most (if not all) of my issues were related to not able to access the Bios at startup.
I have both Compaq and Acer laptop.
Compaq displays bios access option EVERYTIME at startup, so press esc then I am in Bios. Also, Compaq seem to know there's a CD in Cd player so it boots from it thus not requiring Bios change.
Now, Acer is whole another story. It want me to determine whether boot from Cd or HD. So I have to enter the Bios.
This is where the fun begins.
Sometimes Acer screen is shown (like Compaq) and F2 will enter the Bios. BUT..BUT.. often Acer screen is NEVER shown and laptop goes directly to Windows (since there' only blank screen till windows logo, there isn't much I can do thus frustration). Then I never have a chance to press F2 and enter the Bios.
For some unknown reason, when I remove the battery the Acer screen is shown just on Ac power. BUT..BUT.. sometimes it doesn't matter with or without battery installed. (I found this out thru hours of playing). In short, there's no logical reasons as to why Acer screen is shown or not shown at startup.
Even worse...after I finally enter the Bios and set CD\DVD as priority boot, laptop still boots directly with Windows. This really is STRANGE !!!!!
But so some odd reason, (at this time) I was able to access Bios and I am running a complete recovery. But next time who knows !!!
So as you can see, my issue was just accessing the Bios. But so often comments and instructions are made from as though Bios are accessed with no problem (it's given fact)..thus chasing after wrong direction. Just access the Bios with F2 (esc) then do such and such. That's fine but what if one cannot get into bios ?? This question rarely gets addressed.
I tried to contact Acer support, but absolutely worthless. 99% of the time they don't even know the question being asked. They seem like a pretty girl with a big smile and short skirt holding the door open at the hotel, but have no clue where anythings are and how hotel is operated. You get the point.
Back to Acer. Now I know, there are tremendous difference between computer makers and it's not always Vista's fault.
I still cannot control when Acer screen is shown, but at least I know what's going on.
Thanks Dennis for stressing the checkout the rescue CD. As I said, often certain operations fail or misunderstood because of a simple unrelated logical step which were not covered in the instruction. But the school of hard knocks can shed much better light.
Thanks again.