Reset Asus ZenBook laptop

This page describes how to reset the Asus ZenBook to a clean state.

The default configuration provided by Asus is full of non-useful software, trials and non-required stuff. I advised you to clean your laptop by re-installing a proper windows from scratch.

(i) Everything below has been tested on an Asus ZenBook UX510U

Requirements

Before reseting the PC you must first power it on and use it to:

1. register hardware and software
2. download ISOs and tools

As you result you must connect your PC to Internet first before being able to reset it.

Registration

Hardware registration

1. Register laptop for warranty

 Asus online registration: http://vip.asus.com/onlineregister

Software registration

1. Activate Windows

 Source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/windows-10-activation
 To check activation status in Windows 10
 ** select the Start button
 ** select Settings > Update & security > Activation
 If Windows 10 isn’t activated on your device, see Get help with Windows 10 activation errors for more info. 

Get Windows 10 installation USB drive

Download Windows 10 ISO

1. Get your windows version and key

 The key is not displayed in Windows. You must use a 3rd party tool to retrieve it. I recommend ShowKeyPlus
 ** Download ShowKeyPlus latest release
 ** Run it
 ** Note all information

1. Download Windows ISO

 ** Download the [1] Microsoft Windows 10 download tool]
 ** Select create installation media for another PC
 ** Download the ISO file

Setup bootable key

1. Prepare bootable key

 ** Download the utility to create a USB bootable key RUFUS 
 ** Launch RUFUS
 ** Create a new bootable disk using the following parameters
 *** Partition scheme: GTP partition scheme for UEFI
 *** File system: FAT32 
 *** Select the ISO file 
 *** Click start ... and wait

Prepare for dual boot with Linux

BIOS configuration

To use the dual-boot you must disable some options in your BIOS:

• Disable fast boot

Shrink windows partition

How to split the drive?

• If you can it is best to split 50% windows / 50% linux
• However... on 128 Gb SSD = max 45 to 50 Gb for Linux

Source: http://www.everydaylinuxuser.com/2015/11/how-to-shrink-windows-10-to-make-space.html

TO BE DONE

Download *Ubuntu ISO

Go to Ubuntu website and download the ISO you'd like to use. I'm using Xubuntu

Windows re-installation

(i) In case of dual-boot: re-install windows on big SSD partition (min 70 Gb)

Format other drive in NTFS (should be the default)

Install Linux on other SSD partition