Problem with Booting and Closing Down Netbook

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gzt

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#454532 2-Apr-2011 15:01

Ok, we won't get the partition delete options that way.

Did you download W7 as an iso from the microsoft store? If so there is a very simple method we can use to make your usb stick bootable.

Else, we need to use a different method to make the usb drive bootable by using your other computer. What is the operating system on that other computer?

gzt

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#454537 2-Apr-2011 15:35

If you downloaded W7 from the microsoft store as an .ISO, use the Microsoft USB DVD Download Tool to make a bootable usb from that .iso

If you have W7 on DVD, give Win2Flash a go to make a bootable USB from the W7 DVD. I have not used it, but if it works it would be the simplest by far.

eracode

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#454546 2-Apr-2011 16:59

gzt: If you downloaded W7 from the microsoft store as an .ISO, use the Microsoft USB DVD Download Tool to make a bootable usb from that .iso

If you have W7 on DVD, give Win2Flash a go to make a bootable USB from the W7 DVD. I have not used it, but if it works it would be the simplest by far.

W7 was not able to be downloaded, I had to purchase hard copy.

I got the drift of where you were heading and have made what I think is a bootable copy of the DVD onto a USB stick following the instructions at this site:

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/

I pressed F2 as I start the netbook and have checked that first Boot Priority is set to Removeable Drive - I hope that is the correct action?

However what is puzzling me is that in the Boot section of the F2-type screens all three of the boot priority levels have square brackets/parenthses around them and a note on the side of the page says "A device enclosed in parentheses has been disabled in the corresponding type menu".

I assume we are trying now to get the PC to boot off the USD drive - so what about this parentheses thing?

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

eracode

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#454549 2-Apr-2011 17:17

eracode:
gzt: If you downloaded W7 from the microsoft store as an .ISO, use the Microsoft USB DVD Download Tool to make a bootable usb from that .iso

If you have W7 on DVD, give Win2Flash a go to make a bootable USB from the W7 DVD. I have not used it, but if it works it would be the simplest by far.

W7 was not able to be downloaded, I had to purchase hard copy.

I got the drift of where you were heading and have made what I think is a bootable copy of the DVD onto a USB stick following the instructions at this site:

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/

I pressed F2 as I start the netbook and have checked that first Boot Priority is set to Removeable Drive - I hope that is the correct action?

However what is puzzling me is that in the Boot section of the F2-type screens all three of the boot priority levels have square brackets/parenthses around them and a note on the side of the page says "A device enclosed in parentheses has been disabled in the corresponding type menu".

I assume we are trying now to get the PC to boot off the USD drive - so what about this parentheses thing?

EDIT: I have sorted the parentheses thing and have now got the PC to boot off the USB stick. Have deleted all partitions and instal has started. @ gzt: Many thanks for your help so far.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

eracode

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#454570 2-Apr-2011 18:40

@ gzt:

I got it to boot of the USB stick and initially all looks OK but when the install gets to the first re-start, on re-boot the F2-type screen flashes up and the first part of the install process starts again and just re-cycles. It never gets to the point where you have to set regions and time etc.

So it's not completing the install. Welcome your further thoughts but maybe this netbook is headed for the bin which is a pity because it's a neat little machine. Or was.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

gzt

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#454574 2-Apr-2011 18:51

[Posted this before seeing your most recent post]

Well done. Looks like we are nearly at the end of the road, one way or another.

When installing a new os, it is normal that the operating system will not have built in drivers for all the hardware. You might need to obtain one or two drivers from the Asus site.

If you can, avoid installing additional driver packages until you can figure out if those problems are gone.

When you get to installing those additional drivers, follow this procedure:

1. Install driver
2. Restart
3. Check operation
4. Restart
5. Check operation

If there is some kind of bizzare unlikely W7 related driver problem present, that will give you a good chance of detecting the one which is causing you problems.

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gzt

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#454575 2-Apr-2011 18:52

Oh, just saw your most recent post. I'll think about that..

gzt

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#454578 2-Apr-2011 18:58

Ok, so on the first reboot, I think it is supposed to be booting from the HDD and continuing setup - and it is not.

There are a couple of possible explanations. Let's start by assuming something simple - remove the USB media and let it boot from the HDD.

eracode

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#454703 3-Apr-2011 06:38

gzt: Ok, so on the first reboot, I think it is supposed to be booting from the HDD and continuing setup - and it is not.

There are a couple of possible explanations. Let's start by assuming something simple - remove the USB media and let it boot from the HDD.

Yep I did that and once the USB drive was removed the instal went on to (and after quite a few more difficult closes and re-starts), the little netbook is running W7 HP cleanly, thanks to your advice - much appreciated.

I got the difficult closes/restarts because there is still something screwy with the power settings (or something like that). When I turn off using the power button, the machine is either going into hibernation or sleep, because the indicator on the power button starts blinking and the power has not gone off on the corded USB mouse. If I push the power button again, the machine wakes up with the W7 locked screen showing (but it's only one click to get it back to normal). So it's not really turning off. I have checked the "what do you want the buttons to do" settings in control panel and they look fine. "Pushing power button" is set to "turn off PC". Weird.

Compared to the prospect of binning the netbook only a few hours ago, this situation is totally fine and we can live with it, but I would like to fix it so will google a bit for a solution. Unless you have more of your useful advice?

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

gzt

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#454763 3-Apr-2011 11:26

For the power button behaviour, have a look at the power management settings in the bios. Power button behaviour is often defined there at a lower level.

In the o/s, on the Windows 7 menu, next to the 'shutdown' button, there is a [>] pop out menu with options for full shutdown, restart, etc.

Additionally you can shut down from the command prompt, or create small batch files, or create shortcuts with the commandline in them.

shutdown /s - shutdown the machine
shutdown /r - shutdown and restart the machine

There are many more options for that, just use shutdown /? to get a list.

eracode

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#454790 3-Apr-2011 13:17

gzt: For the power button behaviour, have a look at the power management settings in the bios. Power button behaviour is often defined there at a lower level.

In the o/s, on the Windows 7 menu, next to the 'shutdown' button, there is a [>] pop out menu with options for full shutdown, restart, etc.

Additionally you can shut down from the command prompt, or create small batch files, or create shortcuts with the commandline in them.

shutdown /s - shutdown the machine
shutdown /r - shutdown and restart the machine

There are many more options for that, just use shutdown /? to get a list.

The BIOS Setup Utility does not have an option for power management.

I found using the command prompt stuff a little scary yesterday when I was making the ISO copy of the W7 DVD on my own computer - outside my area of knowledge. So rather than tempt fate and go on to "...shut down from the command prompt, or create small batch files, or create shortcuts with the commandline in them..." etc, I think we will just call it quits and leave the machine as it is.

To be honest I am just thankful that it's running in a stable way with a legit version of W7, albeit somewhat quirky re the shut down/start. It's really OK as it is - a 95% solution is a good one. This is only our secondary comp and my wife can now resume doing all the basic things so wants to do on it.

So, once again many thanks for your help which was given all in the GZ spirit which I like and value.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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