How can I install Windows 7 RC on a netbook without a DVD Drive

Supertaff · 22 May 2009 at 11:31

All,

I get my new Asus 1000HE today which has XP pre-installed.

I want to run this with Windows 7, but being tight fisted I haven't bought an external DVD drive for it.

I was wondering if there is anyway to install Windows 7 in another manner. I can link this netbook to my home network which has got the Windows 7 iso on it.

Is there a way to do it over a network, or as I've got a 16GB USB Pen drive, can I install it from that?

Cheers for any help.

Taff

peterattheboro · 22 May 2009 at 11:35

Yes, you can install it from a USB Pen Drive. I know cos i've done it

L33 · 22 May 2009 at 11:38

Supertaff said:
I've got a 16GB USB Pen drive, can I install it from that?

Yes. Create an active partition on the USB drive (use diskpart or similar) and simply copy the entire contents of the Win 7 DVD/ISO to the USB drive.

To make an active partition in diskpart...

list disk (make a note of your USB drives number, replace X with it below)
select disk X
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
active
format fs=fat32 quick
assign

Matteysan · 22 May 2009 at 12:01

I followed this guide

http://kmwoley.com/blog/?p=345

Works perfectly fine & now have a USB Stick for just windows installs much nicer than having a dvd!

datawrite · 22 May 2009 at 22:55

TeckNet VS408 USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA Cable for 2.5-Inch/ 3.5-Inch / 5.25-Inch Drive With Power Adapter

That is what i used. Plugged my existing DVD Drive into it and away i went!

Dogoid · 23 May 2009 at 02:07

mount iso on the netbook using iso buster or daemon tools over the network and install.

it will cache all the files it needs and then install and reboot.

make sure its wired , it will take an age if wireless. wireless g anyway

Supertaff · 23 May 2009 at 10:49

Just wanted to thank everyone for their replies. I followed the instructions in the post by L33 and it worked perfectly.

Thanks again for the support from the O/C forum

Taff