Netbook Format

Ok so a friend brought me his netbook saying it wont boot.
Sure enough it wont.

"No Bootable Device"

HDD in BIOS shows "None"

So I think it's pretty clear the HDD is toast.
Anyway, he wants to fix it if possible, now these Netbooks have no Optical Drive..... so how do you go about putting an operating system on one.

This seems kind of lame I'm asking this but I've never actually looked into these netbooks before.

 

They all have the ability to boot from USB, as far as I can tell; the cheapest 'fix' is just to load a Live Linux distro like Mint from USB.

 

You can either use a USB CD/DVD Drive or you can create a Bootable USB pen drive and install windows via that.


Let me knwo if you need directions on how to accomplish this.

Edit: oh yes, you will need a windows disc that matches the COA on your laptop.

 

I am not sure but i think you have to do it from a flash drive.

Edit. the answer came as i was typing.

 

So this would involve him buying Windows on disc and me transfering it to a flash drive, sounds like fun lol
A very short desciption of whats involved would be apreciated before I decide wether it's worth it or he might as well just buy a new netbook since they are almost as cheap as an OS.... not to mention the new HDD.

Linux is a no go, he'd never go for that, Windows scares him , linux would freak him out completely. I remember when he went from Windows 2000 to XP... xD

 

LOL nice, yeh id agree with you actually, put the cost of a new HDD and buying a new OS to put on there plus the time and effort spent in doing it all, he may as well go for a new netbook ...

 

I bought one of these for a laptop that had no CD drive. Just hooked up any CD drive to it and was able to install WinXP.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276554&csid=_25

 

Well yeah thats a simple solution but once again like an external cd drive it's just piling more money into a problem that really isn't worth the cash.
There's nothing on the HDD he wants so I think all said and done it would be more efficient to buy a new one for $300 than spend $100 on an OS, $85 on a HDD, $30 on a cable or whatever and then have to owe me for the farting around getting the old POS to work when for another $70 or so he could get a brand new one.

Thanks for the help anyway guys

 

I was thinking maybe he could lend a windows disc that matches his COA.

And if you have an old IDE CD Drive (or just borrow one from a PC) you can get a USB adapter for it for under £10. and use that to install.

 

It is also VERY easy to install windows from a flash drive...

Ther is an app that does all the work for you (cant think of the name right now, but will post a link when i do)

But you do need to get over the hurdle of the win disc first

edit: regarding the HDD cost... I don't know where you are, but in UK i can get used but tested and guaranteed SATA 160GB HDD for £20

 

20 quid for an SATA netbook HDD?

Second hand I presume?

My price is based on a brand new 160GB drive and is converted to about 50 pounds, to my knowledge anything PC related in the UK is far more expensive than here in Canada, always was.... unless you mean second hand stuff which isn't really available in my area, not with any warranty anyway.

 

I think you are being taken for a ride in canada

Brand new 250GB SATA HDD Under £30

http://www.digitalpromo.co.uk/wd-wd...0-gb-sataii-mb-cache-5400-rpm-oem-p-5748.html

edit: forgot to say, yes the £20 quid one is used as i said (used = second hand) they get tested and have 3mts guarantee.

 

Wow Q that is very cheap ... I must say that is almost cost price for some distributors in Australia here. I work closely with one and his cost price for one of those is about $55 AUD, which atm is the same as the USD. So you've got a pretty decent price there. However in a retail store, depending on where you go, I'd be suggesting round about the $90 - $110 price. Last time I brought a 2.5" SATA HDD was almost 2 years ago and was a 320gb WD ... cost me about $160 I think.

 

I should point out aswell that that particular store (which is one i use myself) has a service desk, so you can just go in and get it yourself, no waiting for it to be shipped.

It is quite a task finding the place though, it is well hidden in an industrial estate.


edit: and my favourite buy from that shop is the 500GB HDD for about £45 (think ther out of stock at the moment though)

 

Actually I was basing my pricing on about 6 months ago (last time I had to buy one) that same drive is $44.99 which is around the same price, slightly lower I guess depending on ex rate. They've nearly halved in price lol

Even so it's only saving him $40, I still say he's better off buying a new netbook.
I guess I'll leave it upto him.

 

I hope for your sake he goes for the new netbook option. :-D

 

lol me too, although I'll do it for a price
Nah the netbook itself is pretty banged up, one of those that looks like something not worth spending money on lol, lets put it this way, in working order I would pay maybe $50 for it.

I'll see what he says.

 

And ask him not to throw away the reinstall CD/DVD with the box once he's set it up.

 

Thats the stuff

Well either way, good luck!