Restore factory settings for ASUS Eee PC

Solved
laflor -  
 EIKEMPER -
Hello,
I'm looking for help on forums, and with you ;)
I have an Asus Eee PC series 900 (no CD drive, floppy drive, or recovery CD). Just a DVD Asus Eee PC (A209)

Everything was going really well! My son installed "joli os" without asking me. But he forgot the administrator password and now I can only log in as "visitor," and I have no access to any settings on the PC. I don't like it, so I'm asking him to remove it and put my Eee PC back to how it was before (so running XP). He found XP Pro on the internet and put it on a USB flash drive. 17 HOURS later, the Eee PC asks me for the XP Pro product key (I found one online...) the key works and the XP Pro installation continues.... until it tells me that a file is missing, and the computer says: "Windows failed to start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <Windows root>\system\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of the above file."
In short: I had the original version of XP, he formatted the disk, removed XP, installed Joli OS, removed Joli OS, reformatted and reinstalled more or less successfully XP Pro!! Really not cool! The reset to return to factory settings does nothing.
I tried to copy the RECOVERY ghost folder from the DVD and put it on a USB flash drive, but since I'm using a Mac for the copying.... it doesn't work either.

IN SHORT: 1 Asus Eee PC series 900 down and 1 Mac.......... what can I do with this to get the first one working again????

I've tried F9, F8, F10.... the reset under the PC..... nothing works!!! I only get this message!!!!

I just want to get my Eee PC back to how it was before!!!!!

5 réponses

Erwin7020 Posted messages 1436 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   145
 
Hello,
Restoration from the hidden Eeepc partition

When starting the PC, you need to press the F2 key several times very quickly. You will then be in the BIOS; using the arrow keys on the keyboard, navigate to the Boot tab, select Boot Booster, press the
"Enter" key, choose "Disabled" and press F10 to exit the BIOS while saving the parameter changes.

On the subsequent startup, you need to press the F9 key several times very quickly. Then, on the Windows Boot Manager, choose Windows Set Up and press enter; a window "Asus preload wizard" will appear, validate on "Enter" (or Next...), choose the third option, validate (Next...), you will start the restoration.

Make a backup of your data before proceeding with the restoration, because you will erase everything on the hard drive.

restoring your Asus Eeepc
--
the problem is almost always between the chair and the keyboard...
65
andrea
 
Everything goes well until the save with the F10 key, but then I can't press F9! Any other solution please? :(
0
laflor
 
@Andrea If the F9 key doesn't work, try pressing the "escape" key several times, either quickly or slowly, and you should reach a window where you can choose to start from CD, USB, or HDD
if needed, open a new topic, you'll find people to help you!!
good luck!!
0
jean seb
 
comment fait-on si on n’a pas boot booster ??????
0
STAFF37
 
I have the same problem, what should I do?
0
Docteur Gonzo Posted messages 5710 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   639
 
Hello

@STAFF37

It's useless to post on a topic that's already [resolved] !!!
Open your own thread explaining your problem well in the subject message ;)
0
laflor
 
not even :(
8
L'ermite
 
Hello temporary companion in misery!
I've worked a lot on the Eee PC 900 and know quite a bit about it. Mine is dead and I need another motherboard that's impossible to find. I'm ready to help you, but I'm on the other side of the world.
There's no chance of bringing it back to life with the tricks like F9, etc...
But if you have the DVD that came with the machine, I do, then the deal is done. Just connect an external USB DVD drive (around €30) and run the installation that will restore the PC to its factory settings. Then, activate it with the key located under the machine, install the work software, the connection, etc... and especially send the kid for a computer training course and prohibit him from getting within 10 steps of the machine.
At your disposal for any further clarifications.
0
laflor
 
Hello and thank you L'hermite :)

I have the DVD that came with the PC, and a 4GB USB stick. Last night, with a PC (Compaq), here's what I did: I put the DVD in the Compaq and copied all the files to a USB stick, then I put the USB stick in the 900 but I still get the same message :( It's simple, even when I manage to access the safe mode menu and other command prompts... I automatically return to that damn message! I also tried to retrieve the ghost Recovery file from the DVD = same battle, same message! Moreover, the activation key under the 900 is so worn out (well, the sticker) that I can't decipher anything..... it's a hassle! Do you think that if I buy an external DVD drive I could get something out of it? ( Knowing that if I can't access anything at startup, will the drive be recognized? )
In short (as they say) .... what should I do? ( besides crying and assigning my son to do some cleaning as compensation for the time I'm wasting looking for a solution? :) Thanks for your help from the other side of the world ( the Earth is round, where are you? )
0
L'ermite
 
Distinguished greetings.
At 3 hours of timezone, but more than 10,000 km, heading to the Great South! Ah you see!
Let's be clear: you have the DVD that came with your machine and a booklet. Mine is on the move with a needy friend like you and I don't know its references, for now. So the matter is already solved, in part.
It's normal that you can't do anything with your key that is not bootable. You therefore need THE DVD. For sure, by plugging it into a USB port, after setting the boot option in the BIOS, it will start and get your PC back on its feet.
If the activation key indicated on a label under the PC is unreadable, then you are in trouble because Bilou is uncompromising and wants money. You will therefore need to find a key elsewhere, on the Internet, but that's never a guaranteed win. So, go with a magnifying glass, without getting angry at that poor child who must be quite unfortunate.
If you can give me your email address or a number for texts, it would be better.
The hermit.
0
laflor
 
Well, not everything is definitely lost, phew!! Sorry, I'm really bad at geography :) and just as bad with time zones ;)
I'm giving you my email, but I don't know if it will be accepted here....;
0
laflor
 
For ASUS 900, I did:
-worked on a HP laptop with Vista, with CD drive, USB ports, internet connection via Freebox: 1 original DVD Rev.1.0 Asus, 1 original XP Home edition CD + the original activation key + 1 4G USB drive.

1/ I listened to the advice from this topic :)
2/ downloaded and installed WinsetupfromUSB version 0.2.3.
3/ inserted the XP CD into the HP drive (but without opening or running the XP program, just to identify the drive names; for me it was H and E)
4/ inserted the USB drive into the USB port of the HP
5/ Followed the instructions given in Erwin's link to the letter:
6/ downloaded and installed WinsetupfromUSB version 0.2.3.
http://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/17946-installer-windows-xp-avec-une-clef-usb
7/ launched Winsetup, in the "browse" window I wrote the name of the drive where the XP CD is located (at first it didn't work because I was only typing the letter! but you need to write the full name; for that, identify the name of the drive where the CD is and copy the letters and numbers that follow, and copy them into the "browse" line of winsetup)
8/ clicked on "refresh" on the "USB disk selection" line, choose "removable" and click on the "RMPrepUSB" tab
follow the instructions from the link above (everything is explained)
9/ the copying started (see the green progress bar at the bottom); for me, it took about 5 minutes)
10/ I put the USB drive into the USB port of the Asus (turned off)
11/ turned on the Asus, and before starting, I tapped the "esc" key ...... a window opens and I chose to boot from "usb_card ...." (3rd line for me)
12/ first installation......and the Asus turned off at the end. I leave the USB key in!! and I turn on the Asus for the second installation.
13/ successful installation of Windows XP!!
14/ entered the activation key requested by Windows in the 5 boxes on the screen. Following that, a message asks me to confirm the activation key by phone (voicemail free call); a voice asks you to type the 5 groups of numbers on the telephone keypad. Validation and the same voice gives you "update identification numbers" (for me, 7 groups of 5 digits and letters) that I enter in the boxes provided on the screen. ok. that's good!!
15/ WINDOWS is operational :) ENJOY !!
16/ All that’s left is to update Windows via a wired connection, update drivers and utilities, download an antivirus.
that's where I am, I now need to connect wirelessly, microphone, sound, and camera but that should be easier now!!

A huge thank you to Erwin and L'ermite, for your patience and kindness :)
hoping this will help those who one day find themselves in the same predicament as us :))
1
letitititi Posted messages 40 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   43
 
Hello,

I have a question please... I would like to reset my Asus Eee PC netbook, however, this netbook has already been formatted by a professional (computer store)
so if I go back to factory settings, will it find the hidden backup?

Thank you.
3
TOF94430 Posted messages 3 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   3
 
Not easy for me either, it was completely stuck. In fact, if you press F2 or F9 at startup, you go to Boot... If you have Boot Booster, you can reset it; otherwise...
I installed UBUNTU 14.4 32 bits and it works again ...
0
letitititi Posted messages 40 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   43
 
ok thanks ...I haven't taken the plunge yet! so I will come back if necessary
no I don't have boot booster
0
Emilie68
 

I'm having a problem; I lost the password and I don't know how to reset it. I have an Inovalley netbook; I received it as a Christmas gift from Peugeot PSA Mulhouse.

0
kkeke
 
Comment faire quand on n'a plus Internet sur un Eee PC, merci, urgent.
0
Paco
 
Thank you!!! Awesome!!!
0
Niicko Posted messages 112 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   11
 
I hope at least you gave him one? :D
2
EIKEMPER
 

For those who have lost the password, go download the Super !!!!! "WinPE" from Sergei, there is a Program to reset the Password. For the rest, I'm still testing. For your information, I'm using "Ventoy" to "Boot" from a USB drive.

See you!

0