Need professional help in reinstalling netbook OS

caleb_chiang SG

My friend have a netbook operating on a SSD which recently show OS not found and unable to start up.

I tried booting up using a usb flashdrive with win98 system files but apparantly, could not find the hdd and the bootdisc had taken up the C:\ instead.

I would like some help on this matter as I am thinking that the ssd might need to be re partition and reformat.

XP setup also apparantly cannot start up in win98 dos mode.

Anyone can tell me what to do?

furb SG

I would like to be a bastard like others and say "Apparently if you ever did a search using google, you will find answers" sort of crap but lets not beat around the bush.

This link contains a step by step instruction on how to install windows xp using a USB thumb drive. Follow it and you should have no problem getting XP up running again on the netbook.

http://www.eeeguides.com/2007/11/installing-windows-xp-from-usb-thumb.html

Guide should be easy to understand but kinda tedious with all the things you have to do.

caleb_chiang SG

I did try... apparantly, there is an error in formatting the flash drive after it reached 100 percent... sianz....

furb SG

I did try... apparantly, there is an error in formatting the flash drive after it reached 100 percent... sianz....

Have you tried formatting your USB flash drive with this tool first in FAT16 before proceeding with the guide? How big is your usb flash disk btw?

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64963-order,4-page,1-c,peripherals/description.html

If it still doesn't work, how about another different usb flash drive?

Btw, USB hard drive doesn't work.

Well, the guide worked for me without any problem.

Edited: Oh yea, you need a USB flash drive 2GB or lesser to make this work. You get format error if you try to format USB flash drive bigger than 2GB

caleb_chiang SG

Used my 16gb thumbdrive... will try again using my 2gb one then

caleb_chiang SG

Erm... succeed in making the disc using the 2gb thumbdrive.... but then...

when try to install xp, windows cannot access the disk wor...

so means the ssd spoil?

furb SG

Hmmm... Can you get into the BIOS and check is the SSD detected by the motherboard?

When you mean by windows cannot access the disk, do you mean you can't even get into the partition selection screen or after you select the partition?

Either way, do check the BIOS first. Chances are your SSD might be spoiled since I just noticed that you've mentioned "OS cannot be found" in your first post which is impossible since you do have a Windows XP loaded in your netbook regardless is it corrupted or not. Normally when Windows is corrupted, it will say "xxx.dll cannot be found" or something.

Well, lets hope I'm wrong in my deduction and your net book is still under warranty.

caleb_chiang SG

Well... The SSD can be detected

can get to the installation screen but the problem is that cannot select the SSD cos it say that window cannot access the disk wor...

Hmm... anyway, how much is a 8gbSSD nowadays?

furb SG

From what I found on the net, a SSD cost about $300+ to $1000+ depending on the size (1.8" or 2.5") and the storage space (XX GB). I'm not sure are there any shops still selling 8GB, the lowest I can find is 32GB. All this is based on one of the price lists from Sim Lim Square I found online. If you're interested - http://pricewatch.vr-zone.com/previewpricelist.php

I say its not really worth it considering your netbook cost about $800.

Anyway, before assuming your SSD is dead, have you tried reformating your SSD? I suggest you use the DBAN to totally erase all the contents inside your SSD, leaving no trace of data and try installing Windows XP again. It comes with a USB flash drive version. No harm trying it anyway. http://www.dban.org/

Oh, one more thing, mind telling me what is the brand of the netbook?