Own A Netbook And Want To Run Windows 7? Microsoft Has The Answer
Microsoft is trying to get Windows 7 out to as many users as possible. For Netbook users without a DVD drive, their Microsoft Store has a download and burn solution to a USB drive. The user only needs to change the BIOS to boot from the USB drive in order to install the new operating system.
The Microsoft blog also states:
One question I get quite a bit is from people is about how they can move to Windows 7 without a DVD drive. Some PCs including most netbooks don’t come with one. We have a solution we think will work great for more technical users who want to upgrade their Windows XP machines. When people purchase Windows 7 through our online Microsoft Store, they are given 2 options:
- Have the copy of Windows 7 packaged retail product (boxed product) shipped to them.
- Download a digital copy as an ISO image.
The Microsoft Store will be providing a tool called the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool (rolls right off the tongue doesn’t it?) – or WUDT for short. For netbook users without DVD drives, the WUDT will take an ISO image and create a bootable USB device that can be used to install Windows 7. The WUDT can also create a Windows 7 installation DVD from the ISO file as well.
So there you have it. Another option to get Windows 7 installed on a Netbook with a direct download from Microsoft.
Comments welcome.
6 Comments
Charles Lau
October 26th, 2009
at 9:54am
Windows 7 on a netbook?? Microsoft must be crazy! It’s already quite slow…
Looking at the requirements of Windows 7…
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/system-requirements
Windows 7 requirement is to have at least 1 GB ram, while Netbook usually can only have up to 1GB of ram… It’s probably not going to be fantastic in performance… Would rather they use XP with a lower requirement…
Will Bontrager
October 26th, 2009
at 9:58am
WUDT was that?
Ron Schenone
October 26th, 2009
at 10:54am
Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool
John
October 26th, 2009
at 11:37am
@Charles Lau
You sir are crazy. Most every netbook I know of can be upgraded to 2GB of RAM very easily. And it’s definitely easy enough that anyone who’s going to try this tool will be able to do it.
I have an EEE PC 1000HE that has been upgraded to 2GB and I put Windows 7 on it. It boots and reacts FASTER than the Windows XP that came installed on it.
I’m just going to assume you haven’t tried Windows 7 much, especially on a netbook.
Gordonian
October 26th, 2009
at 12:31pm
Err… I just copied the files from the dvd to my usb stick, and installed from there!
Ron Schenone
October 26th, 2009
at 4:04pm
Gordonian,
I know. I guess this is for those who don’t have that ability.