What state is windows on netbooks sold

[izit]

Hi, I'm thinking about getting a netbook, probably a 'Manufacturer refurbished' of ebay, but I just wondered if anyone could tell me how the OS is most often
sold as? with it having no dvd drive.

Would it have a hard drive partion for backup and cd-key sticker I assume?

Would it be easy to reinstall from a USB so I can have a clean netbook without the bloatware?

Thanks

 

[d_brennen]

Netbooks nowadays come with Windows 7 Starter, which is an inexplicably gimped version. Why can't you change the desktop background?! WHY?

Note - I haven't tried this myself with 7, It works fine with Vista so it should work. The below is perfectly legal, as it isn't installing a version you haven't purchased and you will be using the product key from the COA.

Anyway, making a USB installer for Windows 7 is a piece of cake. You will need a blank 4GB USB drive, an ISO of Windows 7 (not sure but I'd go with Ultimate just to be sure) and the USB Installation Tool from Microsoft's site.

It's becoming more and more common to find that netbooks don't come with any installation media

Windows 7 Ultimate ISO can be had from here

Get the x86 version

Once you create your ISO follow the instructions to remove the version coding (ei.cfg)

Then you will need to format and copy the ISO to your USB drive. The tool can be had here from here

It would be an idea not to do the above on the netbook, extracting the ISO alone would be painfully slow

Or, just wait a bit and pony up £350 for one of these

 

[d_brennen]

Just thought of this thread, I did a Windows 7 netbook reinstall today so I can confirm the above works a charm.

Ripped the files from the Win 7 Home Premium 32bit DVD to a folder

Deleted the ei.cfg file

Created ISO with IMGburn

Used MS USB Tool to make a 4GB pen drive bootable with the modified ISO

Booted netbook from USB

Chose Windows 7 Starter from menu

Installed normally

Hope this helps someone