I Need to Reformat a Aspire One Netbook A.S.A.P.!

August 6th, 2016

Here is the gist of it… I need to probably open my niece netbook an take out the drive an format ot an install Windows 7 starter on it.
She appears to be having a issue where as when you turn on the netbook it keeps saying “Shutting Down“, don’t know what that issue is related to, so I plan to just do the whole system over.
Can’t even enter Safe ModeF8” to analyze the problem.
First I have to take out her hard drive being she does not a CD drive on her netbook, jack the drive to my computer, then install Windows 7 on it, thou it came Windows 8 ready… I hope that’s not a issue?
So I would like to know where can I get a active version Windows 7 starter?
Also… could I possibly make a image backup of her windows installation drive with a disk imaging program an store it on a USB drive so she could restore the clean installation image from the USB flash drive?

Answer #1
Windows seven Starter… I’d put nice linux distro to it. Use a usb key to install the OS, don’t remove the HDD! If you can find drivers and don’t like linux, go for xp.
Answer #2
You SHOULD NOT remove the HDD at all!
An OS reinstall can be done with a flash drive (There’s plenty of guides on Google)
but there’s no need to do a clean install here. The vast majority of laptops/netbooks come with a recovery partition by default, Which can be accessed by pressing a specific key at boot up (Just refer to the on-screen text when you turn it on) it’s usually F11. But before you go this route, You should backup any important data using minixp (included with hiren’s boot cd v12 or older)
Here’s a link:
http://www.hirensbootcd.org/hbcd-v120/
Use this tool to put it on your flash drive:
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/
Do not skimp on this, Otherwise, She’ll be seriously smiling off!
Ask her specifically what she needs, Or even ask her to come over to make her selection.
Or you could just copy+paste everything if in doubt. Keep the data into an external HDD.
In the event a recovery partition is not available (which is unlikely, but possible) then
you would have to settle with the “home premium” version as it’s very difficult to find the starter one online. But honestly, For a netbook, XP or Linuxmint XFCE would be better suited.
Edit: Forgot to mention, Better set the SATA controller to operate in IDE/Compatibility
mode from BIOS, Otherwise, MiniXP might not be able to detect the HDD!
Answer #3

Jack_Torrance wrote: Select all

Windows seven Starter… I’d put nice linux distro to it. Use a usb key to install the OS, don’t remove the HDD! If you can find drivers and don’t like linux, go for xp.
Yeah Linux is always a option, being it runs smoother on low performance computers, but I don’t think she would understand the layout of Linux, being she is not that computer savy an is just used to the Microsoft platform.
Xp is a great option, but it not that secure.
You SHOULD NOT remove the HDD at all!
An OS reinstall can be done with a flash drive (There's plenty of guides on Google)
but there's no need to do a clean install here. The vast majority of laptops/netbooks come with a recovery partition by default, Which can be accessed by pressing a specific key at boot up (Just refer to the on-screen text when you turn it on) it's usually F11. But before you go this route, You should backup any important data using minixp (included with hiren's boot cd v12 or older)
Here's a link:
http://www.hirensbootcd.org/hbcd-v120/
Use this tool to put it on your flash drive:
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/
Do not skimp on this, Otherwise, She'll be seriously smiling off!
Ask her specifically what she needs, Or even ask her to come over to make her selection.
Or you could just copy+paste everything if in doubt. Keep the data into an external HDD.
In the event a recovery partition is not available (which is unlikely, but possible) then
you would have to settle with the "home premium" version as it's very difficult to find the starter one online. But honestly, For a netbook, XP or Linuxmint XFCE would be better suited.
Edit: Forgot to mention, Better set the SATA controller to operate in IDE/Compatibility
mode from BIOS, Otherwise, MiniXP might not be able to detect the HDD!

Will try what you’ve written above, problem is… when I turn on her netbook I get no option screen, it just shows the Shutting Down window?
Would try to access the backup on it, if only I could get to a menu window of some sort?
Answer #4
Xp is a great option, but it not that secure.
What are you talking about? XP is not any less secure than Win7 (And the OS itself
has very little to do with security – Unless you use Linux) As long as you use a good AV/FW+Common sense you’ll get by just fine. Also, Better avoid using IE (Internet Explorer)
Will try what you've written above, problem is... when I turn on her netbook I get no option screen, it just shows the Shutting Down window?
Press F2 constantly after you turn it on, This will get you into the BIOS!
Would try to access the backup on it
I did some research and according to the service manual, All aspire one models come
with a recovery disc by default (which can be used via an external DVD burner)
So if you want it to run Win7 starter, Your gonna have to get one (Or you could
settle with the home premium version, or XP) and as said before, DO BACKUP any important
data before doing this!
Answer #5
here’s your link for windows 7 starterhttp://thepiratebay.sx/torrent/6309050/Microsoft.Windows.7.Starter.Edition.N.With.SP1-CRBS
you can use hard drive clone to make and save image of existing hard drive, available here in our forums.
also install from windows7 usb to dvd available in our forums.
did you try cleaning your fans and checking the heatsink, and removing battery and holding the power button down for 20 seconds to clear memory.
anyway good luck hope this helps
Answer #6
Xp is a great option, but it not that secure.
What are you talking about? XP is not any less secure than Win7 (And the OS itself
has very little to do with security - Unless you use Linux) As long as you use a good AV/FW+Common sense you'll get by just fine. Also, Better avoid using IE (Internet Explorer)

Might just go with Xp… but don’t want her finding out any of her programs that she wants to run are no longer Xp compatible.
But will consider Xp, being as you just stated the above
Will try what you've written above, problem is... when I turn on her netbook I get no option screen, it just shows the Shutting Down window?
Press F2 constantly after you turn it on, This will get you into the BIOS![/quote]
Tried F2… but like I mentioned, as soon as I click the power on button it instantly displays the Shutting Down window.
Seems like there is no room for a moment of pressing any sort of command key to access the BIOS of any other area of the computer being as it only registers the Shut Down window upon clicking the startup button.
Would try to access the backup on it
I did some research and according to the service manual, All aspire one models come
with a recovery disc by default (which can be used via an external DVD burner)
So if you want it to run Win7 starter, Your gonna have to get one (Or you could
settle with the home premium version, or XP) and as said before, DO BACKUP any important
data before doing this![/quote]
I do have a copy of Windows 7 Starter, but it’s on a disk, being her netbook has no CD-Drive I am unable to use the disk, that’s why I was thinking about taking out the drive an plugging it in externally to my PC an installing that way.
But will use the hirensbootcd method to backup stuff before I proceed further.
here's your link for windows 7 starterhttp://thepiratebay.sx/torrent/6309050/Microsoft.Windows.7.Starter.Edition.N.With.SP1-CRBS
you can use hard drive clone to make and save image of existing hard drive, available here in our forums.
also install from windows7 usb to dvd available in our forums.
did you try cleaning your fans and checking the heatsink, and removing battery and holding the power button down for 20 seconds to clear memory.
anyway good luck hope this helps

Any good threads for installing Windows 7 Starter/ Xp would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx for the link to Windows 7 Starter will give it a look see
Will try removing battery and holding the power button down for 20 seconds to clear memory.

Hopefully that has some try of reward
Thanx
Answer #7
Tried F2... but like I mentioned, as soon as I click the power on button it instantly displays the Shutting Down window.
Could you make a video of it? (Maybe with your smartphone?)
It’d help me understand the situation better!
I do have a copy of Windows 7 Starter, but it's on a disk, being her netbook has no CD-Drive I am unable to use the disk, that's why I was thinking about taking out the drive an plugging it in externally to my PC an installing that way.
ALL netbooks lack an optical drive, It’s pretty much standard as they’re made to be
extra light. Set that aside, Whichever OS you end up installing (Whether by disc or flash drive) Do it WITHOUT removing the HDD, Otherwise it’d be a waste of your time. Windows gets a lock on the hardware when you install it, So your idea is a bad one (It’d just BSOD in a loop after you’ll re-attach it to the netbook) and for the record, External burners are pretty cheap!
Edit: This Win7 starter disc you got, Is it an actual installation disc or a recovery one?
Answer #8
Tried F2... but like I mentioned, as soon as I click the power on button it instantly displays the Shutting Down window.
Could you make a video of it? (Maybe with your smartphone?)
It'd help me understand the situation better!
I do have a copy of Windows 7 Starter, but it's on a disk, being her netbook has no CD-Drive I am unable to use the disk, that's why I was thinking about taking out the drive an plugging it in externally to my PC an installing that way.
ALL netbooks lack an optical drive, It's pretty much standard as they're made to be
extra light. Set that aside, Whichever OS you end up installing (Whether by disc or flash drive) Do it WITHOUT removing the HDD, Otherwise it'd be a waste of your time. Windows gets a lock on the hardware when you install it, So your idea is a bad one (It'd just BSOD in a loop after you'll re-attach it to the netbook) and for the record, External burners are pretty cheap!
Edit: This Win7 starter disc you got, Is it an actual installation disc or a recovery one?

***FTW*** removing battery and holding the power button down for 20 seconds to clear memory.
Actually this solved the problem, I removed the battery, put it back in, then I held down on the power button for like a 1 pr so.
Now I am able to access her desktop, no format required
I guess I will do some looking around on her netbook being I am inside now, not really a fan of Windows 8 but I will do some browsing being I am inside now.
Thanx “”, for your helpfull comment
I guess I will mark the accessing aspire one netbook aspect of this topic as solved, but she did say she was having problems viewing the pictures saved with her web CAM due to her documents\picture folders?
I’ve never had a netbook nor a web CAM to work with, so I guess I will be winging it… as far as fixing it, I think there is some type of corruption in her documents, maybe someone that uses Windows 8 can point out a way to take a screenshot with Win 8 so I could post the screeny here.
I appear to be getting some kind of error message when individually click on the pictures/music/videos/documents folders located in the Libraries TAB, an it won’t let me access any of the folders?
I just might do what you said Roberto an restore the whole system with the default backup.
She said she did not have that much material stored on her netbook so there is not really anything worth saving, except some pictures an stuff, but I will do some browsing through it an see what I can backup to flash before restoring. Will tell her to invest a detachable CD drive for future reference
Edit: This Win7 starter disc you got, Is it an actual installation disc or a recovery one?
The answer is: It’s a AIO Windows 7 package that I downloaded from W-BB awhile back, it’s a install CD not a recovery CD.
Thanx Roberto… an all, awaiting further commands.
Answer #9
to restore to the factory default image, power off and then power on while booting up press and hold the alt key and f10 key. this should bring up the factory restore process and restore your windows 8 operating system. glad i could help out earlier, good luck
Answer #10
to take a screenshot in windows 8, use keyboard combination of windows key and print scrn key. and this will capture the current screenshot and save it to your pictures library.