Microsoft details Windows 7 upgrade path for netbook owners
October 22, 2009 at 8:50 pm
For the many of you with netbooks running Windows XP, some may be feeling envious given all the attention on Microsoft’s new Windows 7. However, Microsoft feels your pain and will shortly be launching an upgrade tool that effectively allows you to create a bootable USB drive.
The process involves moving a downloaded copy of Windows 7 onto a USB stick. You will need to be comfortable going into your BIOS and change your boot priority to make sure the USB drive boots before the netbook’s hard drive. If you do attempt this, make sure you have a USB stick with at least 4GB of storage capacity. The Microsoft Windows 7 for Netbooks page is here.
Via Cnet.
October 22nd, 2009 9:33 PM
You can also use WintoFlash as well….
http://wintoflash.com/home/en/
October 22nd, 2009 10:30 PM
More than envious its going to be a bit tedious to migrate from XP or make options like above for Win 7 thru’ USB. I have an external dvd drive so am thinking of going in for formatting after consulting Samsung folks w.r.t loading a full fledged Win 7 Starter Edition if available on dvd and only if its fool-proof without post op hiccups 🙂
October 23rd, 2009 5:52 AM
Update: Win 7 Starter will be OEM based, so it’ll sold preinstalled on m/c ‘only’. Moreover, these won’t make it on the Starter edition: Multi-monitor support, Multi-touch, Windows Media Centre, DVD playback, even the ability to change your desktop wallpaper.
Am now contemplating getting a Win 7 Home Premium instead of the Starter Edition for my netbook – question is will it work smoothly on 1.6Ghz , 1GB RAM Wintel book ? It probably will cuz Vista Home Premium’s were loaded for same config and sold, so am guessing this one might. Any advice / suggestions ?
October 23rd, 2009 11:06 AM
Most netbooks will run up to 7 Ultimate with no real problems. Speed is good as well.
October 23rd, 2009 1:13 PM
Oh nice. In that case netbook buyers with Win 7 Starter Editions pre-installed have an option to upgrade paying US$ 80 to Win 7 Home Premium Edition. Worth it I think !
October 23rd, 2009 3:20 PM
The Starter Edition is a joke. Nothing but crippleware to get people to HAVE to upgrade. I wouldn’t use SE even if it were free to everyone.
October 23rd, 2009 6:34 PM
Hmm .. I sort of get the gist of it all … a commercial plan (translation: ploy) put in place to keep prices low for sake of the netbook and just good enough to get the user to email, browse, edit documents … basically do all simple tasks.
If this is the case then smartbooks (ARM based netbooks with Win CE) are equally good and would definitely cost lower, not to forget ‘always on’ status and a huge battery life. Even linux netbook would do for these tasks. So its confirmed … I simply stay put with the stable and sleek XP itself OR if I go for Win 7 it’ll be a Home Premium edition.
October 25th, 2009 9:08 PM
I have recently purchased a Samsung N110 with the Win7 Starter Edition, i’m thinking it would probably of ran better with XP.
Microsoft are doing a special deal for students to upgrade to Professional for £30, this would appear to be a no brainer, however i’m unsure if the little N110 will cope with the upgrade… any thoughts?
October 26th, 2009 8:44 AM
Win 7 is light and any of its versions as Stephen said would do ‘speed’ justice as well. You may perhaps wanna upgrade your RAM to 2GB – just to be very sure. An upgrade to Professional for £30 is definitely worth it.
October 26th, 2009 9:32 PM
Win 7 Pro 32-bit Upgrade, with RAM at 2GB – am doing my second Samsung – NC120.
Use Vista-versions of the Samsung utils.
No aero, but not vital. Dual screen with Samsung LCD TV – great.
Make sure you visit vendor and MS Update sites immediately after first full reboot to get latest drivers.
Go to site below for non-techies;
http://windows.microsoft.com/upgrade-windows-xp
MS Easy Transfer utility – not bad, kept my basic settings for apps; but you must re-install the apps to register libraries, objects etc.