Home / ubuntu / Questions / 107821
Accepted
Alex Poulos
Asked: 2012-02-26 20:10:16 +0800 CST

Asus Eee PC doesn't have "OS Installation" or Boot to in BIOS Menu?

  • 772

I'm trying to reformat an Eee PC that only has external USB slots, no disc drive, and I can't find out how to install anything else on it as far as OS' go because it won't load from USB - The BIOS menu doesn't show any way to boot from USB.

Anyone able to help me?

I know this question isn't specifically for installing Ubuntu, but its more than anything a general question to installing another OS so maybe you could still

bios

3 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    First and foremost, you will need to create a bootable USB-drive with a Live installation of Ubuntu (or some other Linux).

    HOWTO: Create a bootable USB-drive in Ubuntu

    Just download the image you want from ubuntu.com, launch 'Startup Disk Creator' (already installed by default) and choose to install the image you just downloaded onto a drive of your choice. This drive can be a CD, a DVD, a USB or an SD card. Be aware that any data stored on the drive you choose will be erased.

    You will have to provide your root password during the installation, in order to give the installer the necessary permissions required to write a boot-loader onto the drive.

    You can also choose to create a persistence file, which will allow you to save settings between sessions.

    Startup Disk Creator

    HOWTO: Create a bootable USB-drive in Windows

    There are a number of tools available in Windows to create bootable media, but my personal favorite is UNetbootin. It's pretty straightforward, and it can even download the appropriate Live CD image for you.

    UNetbootin on Windows

    Once you have successfully created a bootable USB-drive, plug it into the computer you wish to install Ubuntu on and (re-)start it. On the Asus EeePC line of computers, you can enter the boot-menu by pressing the Esc-key when you start the computer. Which exact key is used for this differs between brands.

    That should be all you need to do to create and boot into a Live USB session on a computer without an optical drive.

    • 2

  2. To boot from USB on the Eee, press Esc at the BIOS screen to get the boot prompt.

    If you are having problems using the image on the usb stick, you'll want to check the .iso you downloaded is complete by checking the md5sum (see here https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM).

    • 1

  3. I install OSes on my Eee PC using an external cd/dvd drive (usbconnection).

    I have never installed an OS from a pen drive but here is the process:

    First insert the bootable pen drive to you Eee PC (Essential, make sure you do it before booting, otherwise it won't appear on the bios settings).

    Now enter the Bios setup by pressing Del (or F2 depending on your BIOS)

    Navigate to Boot device priority and make "USB Devices/External Device" your primary boot device.

    Save and Exit.

    Reboot.

    Happy hacking !!

    • 0