Installing OS in Netbook

by djchapple Feb 4, 2010 6:58PM PST

I have an Advent 4211B currently running Windows XP Pro and another laptop, an Acer 5920G, running Windows 7. Both are connected wirelessly to a LAN.

The Acer has a DVD rewriter but the Advent does not have a DVD/CD device.

I wish to try Windows 7 on the Advent but I am stumped because there is now where to run the relevant DVD. I have tried putting the DVD into the Acer and I can access the setup.exe file on the Advent.

Can I install the OS using this method or will the Advent loose access to the Acer once the process in under way?

I am awaiting delivery of an external CD/DVD drive for the Advent but as always I am far too impatient to wait.

Discussion is locked

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Just wait. Nothing else works.

by Kees Bakker Feb 4, 2010 7:09PM PST

You know, I assume, you need to pay for a license to activate Windows 7 on the Advent.

And that the version on the Acer most probably is an OEM version. OEM versions are tied to the original hardware and surely not valid on another machine. So you would have to buy a full retail version. On fact, the DVD might even refuse to load, because it recognizes it isn't an Acer machine.

And you know how to go back to XP if you don't like Windows 7 on the Advent?

Kees

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Further clarification

by djchapple Feb 4, 2010 9:17PM PST

Perhaps I did not explain the situation fully.

The Windows 7 OS that I am trying to install on the Advent is a brand new legal version on a DVD. I am only using the Acer as a means of inputting the information into the Advent as the Advent does not have a CD/DVD drive.

So I have a legal licence and COA sticker for the new Advent OS.

My problem is simply this - will I be able to install the OS onto the Advent using a LAN connection and the Acer DVD drive.

I would imagine that once the old XP Pro is disabled I will lose the LAN connection and all input from the Acer DVD drive.

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Clarification.

by Kees Bakker Feb 4, 2010 9:27PM PST

As I said in the subject line of my post above: "ust wait. Nothing else works." That was meant as the answer to your question.

Glad to see you know all about licenses and have a legal version already. My remarks were just meant as a warning, in case you didn't. No offense intended. But it's clear they aren't applicable now.

Kees

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You are correct...

by John.Wilkinson Feb 5, 2010 1:38AM PST

The LAN connection would be lost, preventing you from completing the upgrade/installation of Windows 7 on the Advent. However, as an alternative to Bob's suggestion, you can use the Acer to rip the DVD to an ISO file, then copy the ISO file to a flash drive, connect the flash drive to the Advent, set the Advent's BIOS settings to boot from USB flash drive, and reboot. For those without an external DVD drive, this is the preferred way of installing operating systems onto netbooks.

Hope this helps,
John

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How I did that.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Feb 4, 2010 10:26PM PST

Step by step.

1. Using an external USB DVDRW and another external USB HARD DRIVE I booted up CLONEZILLA to save the installed image so I could go back.

Note. New word you haven't seen? Please research that.

2. Now with it all backed up I could remove the USB hard drive and boot XP on the netbook and see if it could upgrade. This also allows me to boot the DVD and go the clean install route.

3. The install failed so back to CLONEZILLA to restore the machine as I found it.
Bob

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The cheap way...

by R_Head Feb 5, 2010 9:32AM PST

Is to buy an adapter to connect SATA and IDE drives. I bought one at CompUSA for $20. Now you can use any DVD/CD drive on USB and boot from it like R_Profit said.

Pay attention to the POST, it says which key to push to choose the boot drive.

I did the same thing with my wife's EeePC when I loaded Linux.

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Or use a 4GIG USB Drive

by Northlite Feb 5, 2010 3:25PM PST

as explained here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd535816.aspx

There are many other places with ideas too and other programs that even make the job more automated.

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installing OS on netbook

by TaraS_WinTeam Feb 6, 2010 4:40AM PST

Here is the Windows guide for installing Windows 7 on a netbook: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/installing-windows-7-on-a-netbook. A download might be your quickest solution, or patience for the external drive...

Cheers,
Tara

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Solved

by djchapple Feb 6, 2010 11:48PM PST

The CD/DVD external drive arrived whilst I was trying to solve the problem and so the problem was immediately solved.

I no have the Advent up an running successfully with Win &.

Thanks for all your valuable advice

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Success

by djchapple Feb 9, 2010 5:11AM PST

Many thanks to you all for the heap of helpful information.

My external CD/DVD drive arrived from Ebay and now the OS is installed successfully.

David

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Now you know

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Feb 9, 2010 5:20AM PST

Why I like to have the right parts available for each task.

Glad to hear you got it done.
Bob

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