Hey all. Got myself a new EEEPC default with Linux (of course) but I'm Linux illiterate and trying to install Windows. I've got everything sorted bar 1 thing. I need to change the default boot drive to my USB thumbdrive but I don't know how. Is there a Linux equivalent of BIOS? If so, where can I find it?

Hi there, I'm new to Linux myself but I think I can help. BIOS is not part of Windows or Linux, it is a separate piece of software on any PC. When you power on the computer, you should see a message like "Press F2 to enter setup".
That's just an example, it might not be F2 that you have to press. After that you should enter a range of options and somewhere you should see "Boot" or "Boot options".
Go in there and change the list to make "USB" your first choice and remember to save your settings.

That should do it, though be aware some older PC's cannot use USB as a boot choice.
Greg

In my EeePC Software User's Manual, on pages 3-4 to 3-6, there are instructions for restoring the Linux operating system image from a USB Flash Disk. This method uses a Windows PC to load the image from the ASUS EeePC Support CD to the USB Flash Drive, then boots the EeePC from the USB Flash Drive.

It says, "9. Restart the system and press <ESC> on bootup and the Please select boot device screen appears. Select USB:XXXXXX (may be labeled as the USB flash brand name) to boot from the USB flash disk drive." I pressed ESC on bootup and the Please Select Boot Device screen did appear.

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On my ASUS EeePC 1000 netbook computer, pressing F2 promptly on bootup brings up the "BIOS Setup Utility", "v02.58 (C) Copyright 1985-2004, American Megatrends, Inc." Tabs across top of screen are: Main, Advanced, Security, Boot, Exit.

Selecting the Boot tab brings up a Boot Settings list:
Boot Device Priority
Hard Disk Drives
Boot Settings Configuration
OnBoard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled]
Boot Booster [Disabled]

Selecting Boot Device Priority brings up a Boot Device Priority list:
1st Boot Device [Removable Dev.]
2nd Boot Device [HDD:SM-ASUS-PHISON]
3rd Boot Device [ATAPI CD-ROM]

"Specifies the boot sequence from the available devices. A device enclosed in parenthesis has been disabled in the corresponding type menu."

Of course, there is no HDD or CD-ROM available on my EeePC. I think HDD:SM-ASUS-PHISON is the Solid State Drive used in lieu of a hard disc drive. And apparently [] are parentheses. You can rotate the three choices using + or -.


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Good luck,

GregJ