FA+
Shop
Asus L402WA-EH21
7 years ago
Alright, I'm putting this here for searchability everywhere on the internet. Seriously, the amount of crap you are about to read is me losing my mind getting a cheep laptop to run.
Computer in Question - http://a.co/iSvFP6I
And the review I submitted to Amazon... ITS THREE PAGES!
- - - - -
This review is specifically for the 14" L402-WA-EH21.
First off, a little bit of background: I am a computer person. I build, rebuild, and maintain computers both in professional and personal life.
The Good Things-
This computer is light weight, easy to use, feels good to type on, and starts fairly quick. Everything about this PC is built specifically to be lightweight and slim. It is specifically built to do web browsing, emailing, instant messaging, and lightweight document creation. Think of it like a Chromebook but running windows. Youtube videos run smooth, network (while n compatible, ac-based) is wifi is zippy but wired is faster, and the screen is bright and vivid (with the right settings). If you are student that needs a budget document creation tool, this will do it. If you need a computer to quickly look up information, close and toss around the living room, or send emails to grandma; this machine will do it.
It also has a 2.5" harddrive bay in a cover under the bottom of the laptop (not advertised but it's there). I have installed (and highly recommend) a 250gb ssd for the additional storage space (and if you are going to be doing any type of heavy document creation, you will need the space). It works fine without reducing battery life.
At the moment, the longest I have used it was 3 hours before plugging it in, but that was because I was leaving for several hours. probably would have made 4 before having to plug it in.
The Not-So-Good Things-
The L402WA-EH21 has no documentation online, has no specs listed through the ASUS website, and apparently doesn't exist other than it is listed on Amazon for sale. The closest model is the E402WA on the ASUS site and comes in two different versions (i think the E is Intel based, the L is AMD based). Given that you are considering purchasing this laptop, all the documentation that you will have will come in the box; a basic start up manual, a warranty card, a small bag of screws (for the harddrive expansion bay), and a power supply.
The Bad Things-
I received this laptop and plugged it in and fired it up. Standard Windows set up and logged into the desktop. Always first thing to do is to check that Windows activated itself properly. It did not. Alright, so I thought there might be a problem with the OS that was installed on it, so I restored the system using the builtin restoration partition (takes about 45 minutes). I redid the Windows set up, and waited. Same information was stored in the restoration partition as was in the original install. Windows wouldn't activate.
Alright, being a computer guy, I dug out the tools and scanned the keys that were installed from Asus. The version of Windows installed was 10Home, the key installed through BiOS/UEIF was a 10RTMCore, and had an origin key of 10RTMCloud. All three of these keys are for different versions, none of which are interchangeable with each-other.
If you research the OS that is suppose to be installed on this computer (Windows 10S) you will find that it is identical and interchangeable with W 10Pro. Being a computer guy, I wiped the boot drive and installed Windows 10Pro from a flash drive (takes about 45 mins), did the Windows set up, had the OS pull the key from BiOS ... Windows not active...!
At this point I was at a loss as what to do. I did a few activation tricks and called Microsoft Activation to see if i could manually activate Windows 10Pro. Talking to a Third Tier Tech (first two were impatient and useless, about 45 minutes being bounced around), the Tech checked the three keys that I had. The W 10H key was already registered and in use (so dead), and the W 10RTMCore and 10RTMCloud had not called home properly. YES! Two keys were available, one of them was no longer viable. Here's the nail in the coffin, I asked the Tech where I could get a ISO (the installer disk) for Windows 10 S (10RTMCloud). His exact answer "Unfortunately, there is no way for you to get ahold of a 10S ISO image. They are distributed directly to manufacturers only." ... Great... Just great...
So... After all of that I had a brand new key, a new laptop, and no way to put the OS on it that it was suppose to be installed! Mind you, this is five hours into taking it out of the box. I finally was just about to throw it back in and ship it back when I decided to dig around in Google.
So... after about an hour, I found a fix. It's complicated, it's doable if you are moderately computer savvy, and have about two hours of time; no software needed to be stolen or borrowed from illegitimate sources or anything.
1. Get a Windows 10Pro image set and ready on a flashdrive and bootable.
2. Install 10 Pro onto the laptop WITHOUT changing any partition information (simply delete the OS partition and stall Windows 10Pro in its place) and bypass the key entry section during install.
3. Once the computer is set up and running at the desktop, check to see if the key has Activated. IF IT HAS YOU ARE FINISHED. If not, continue.
4. If Windows 10Pro did not activate, you need to find the installer for W 10S. You cannot obtain an ISO, you must use an 'Upgrade' like installer. The webpage to search for is "Test Windows 10 S on existing Windows 10 education devices". Read most of the page so you know what you're getting into, and download the installer.
5. Run the installer. It will do an 'Upgrade' install, move all of the associated profile information to a Windows.old folder on the C drive, and install Windows 10S.
6. Alright, you've done this step before. Go through the Windows 10 set up.
7. Once you get to the desktop, check to see if Windows 10S has been activated. At this point, Windows 10 pulled the key from the BiOS/UEIF and registered properly!
8a. At this point you are ready to run. Go ahead and use the laptop as you want. You will need to run DiskCleanup as administrator to wipe out the Windows 10Pro files that are completely useless and just taking up the tiny storage.
8b.If you plan on installing any software that is not Windows 10S verified (through the Windows Store) to be lightweight, this laptop HAS the ability to be upgraded to pro through the Store. Search for 'Upgrade to Pro'. It will upgrade you straight away without installing anything else. Everything that Windows 10Pro needs is already in 10S, anything that isn't will need to be downloaded and installed (which if you need them, you will know where to find them in Programs & Features through the Control Panel).
Final Thoughts-
Generally, I like this lightweight system. It does exactly what I need it to do; run several messengers, word processing, quick internet searches, basic presentations, and occasionally watching Twitch. If you need a small computer, this will do the trick! If you need something to run Photoshop, you will need something more powerful. If this system had of been manufactured with the proper OS on it at the getgo, it would have gotten a 4/5 Star rating... Seriously.... SIX hours of my life are gone because someone in OSImaging didn't get the memo that the BiOS/UEIF had a Windows 10S and not Windows 10Home, or 10RTMCore... If you manage to get this system with Windows 10S and not have to go through a ton of set up, or have the technical ability to do EVERYTHING I did it will be a good lightweight system. At the moment, I cannot confirm that any of the units available have the proper OS on them. I have posted the above information for anyone that might run into the same problem and really REALLY want to give the system a good shot before throwing it back in the box and sending it back.
Computer in Question - http://a.co/iSvFP6I
And the review I submitted to Amazon... ITS THREE PAGES!
- - - - -
This review is specifically for the 14" L402-WA-EH21.
First off, a little bit of background: I am a computer person. I build, rebuild, and maintain computers both in professional and personal life.
The Good Things-
This computer is light weight, easy to use, feels good to type on, and starts fairly quick. Everything about this PC is built specifically to be lightweight and slim. It is specifically built to do web browsing, emailing, instant messaging, and lightweight document creation. Think of it like a Chromebook but running windows. Youtube videos run smooth, network (while n compatible, ac-based) is wifi is zippy but wired is faster, and the screen is bright and vivid (with the right settings). If you are student that needs a budget document creation tool, this will do it. If you need a computer to quickly look up information, close and toss around the living room, or send emails to grandma; this machine will do it.
It also has a 2.5" harddrive bay in a cover under the bottom of the laptop (not advertised but it's there). I have installed (and highly recommend) a 250gb ssd for the additional storage space (and if you are going to be doing any type of heavy document creation, you will need the space). It works fine without reducing battery life.
At the moment, the longest I have used it was 3 hours before plugging it in, but that was because I was leaving for several hours. probably would have made 4 before having to plug it in.
The Not-So-Good Things-
The L402WA-EH21 has no documentation online, has no specs listed through the ASUS website, and apparently doesn't exist other than it is listed on Amazon for sale. The closest model is the E402WA on the ASUS site and comes in two different versions (i think the E is Intel based, the L is AMD based). Given that you are considering purchasing this laptop, all the documentation that you will have will come in the box; a basic start up manual, a warranty card, a small bag of screws (for the harddrive expansion bay), and a power supply.
The Bad Things-
I received this laptop and plugged it in and fired it up. Standard Windows set up and logged into the desktop. Always first thing to do is to check that Windows activated itself properly. It did not. Alright, so I thought there might be a problem with the OS that was installed on it, so I restored the system using the builtin restoration partition (takes about 45 minutes). I redid the Windows set up, and waited. Same information was stored in the restoration partition as was in the original install. Windows wouldn't activate.
Alright, being a computer guy, I dug out the tools and scanned the keys that were installed from Asus. The version of Windows installed was 10Home, the key installed through BiOS/UEIF was a 10RTMCore, and had an origin key of 10RTMCloud. All three of these keys are for different versions, none of which are interchangeable with each-other.
If you research the OS that is suppose to be installed on this computer (Windows 10S) you will find that it is identical and interchangeable with W 10Pro. Being a computer guy, I wiped the boot drive and installed Windows 10Pro from a flash drive (takes about 45 mins), did the Windows set up, had the OS pull the key from BiOS ... Windows not active...!
At this point I was at a loss as what to do. I did a few activation tricks and called Microsoft Activation to see if i could manually activate Windows 10Pro. Talking to a Third Tier Tech (first two were impatient and useless, about 45 minutes being bounced around), the Tech checked the three keys that I had. The W 10H key was already registered and in use (so dead), and the W 10RTMCore and 10RTMCloud had not called home properly. YES! Two keys were available, one of them was no longer viable. Here's the nail in the coffin, I asked the Tech where I could get a ISO (the installer disk) for Windows 10 S (10RTMCloud). His exact answer "Unfortunately, there is no way for you to get ahold of a 10S ISO image. They are distributed directly to manufacturers only." ... Great... Just great...
So... After all of that I had a brand new key, a new laptop, and no way to put the OS on it that it was suppose to be installed! Mind you, this is five hours into taking it out of the box. I finally was just about to throw it back in and ship it back when I decided to dig around in Google.
So... after about an hour, I found a fix. It's complicated, it's doable if you are moderately computer savvy, and have about two hours of time; no software needed to be stolen or borrowed from illegitimate sources or anything.
1. Get a Windows 10Pro image set and ready on a flashdrive and bootable.
2. Install 10 Pro onto the laptop WITHOUT changing any partition information (simply delete the OS partition and stall Windows 10Pro in its place) and bypass the key entry section during install.
3. Once the computer is set up and running at the desktop, check to see if the key has Activated. IF IT HAS YOU ARE FINISHED. If not, continue.
4. If Windows 10Pro did not activate, you need to find the installer for W 10S. You cannot obtain an ISO, you must use an 'Upgrade' like installer. The webpage to search for is "Test Windows 10 S on existing Windows 10 education devices". Read most of the page so you know what you're getting into, and download the installer.
5. Run the installer. It will do an 'Upgrade' install, move all of the associated profile information to a Windows.old folder on the C drive, and install Windows 10S.
6. Alright, you've done this step before. Go through the Windows 10 set up.
7. Once you get to the desktop, check to see if Windows 10S has been activated. At this point, Windows 10 pulled the key from the BiOS/UEIF and registered properly!
8a. At this point you are ready to run. Go ahead and use the laptop as you want. You will need to run DiskCleanup as administrator to wipe out the Windows 10Pro files that are completely useless and just taking up the tiny storage.
8b.If you plan on installing any software that is not Windows 10S verified (through the Windows Store) to be lightweight, this laptop HAS the ability to be upgraded to pro through the Store. Search for 'Upgrade to Pro'. It will upgrade you straight away without installing anything else. Everything that Windows 10Pro needs is already in 10S, anything that isn't will need to be downloaded and installed (which if you need them, you will know where to find them in Programs & Features through the Control Panel).
Final Thoughts-
Generally, I like this lightweight system. It does exactly what I need it to do; run several messengers, word processing, quick internet searches, basic presentations, and occasionally watching Twitch. If you need a small computer, this will do the trick! If you need something to run Photoshop, you will need something more powerful. If this system had of been manufactured with the proper OS on it at the getgo, it would have gotten a 4/5 Star rating... Seriously.... SIX hours of my life are gone because someone in OSImaging didn't get the memo that the BiOS/UEIF had a Windows 10S and not Windows 10Home, or 10RTMCore... If you manage to get this system with Windows 10S and not have to go through a ton of set up, or have the technical ability to do EVERYTHING I did it will be a good lightweight system. At the moment, I cannot confirm that any of the units available have the proper OS on them. I have posted the above information for anyone that might run into the same problem and really REALLY want to give the system a good shot before throwing it back in the box and sending it back.
Mouse420
~mouse420
Very nice! Sounds like a pain in the butt though with windows key not activating properly..
