Re-installing windows on a netbook

[Claire S]

Hi
I have been given a netbook for Christmas, it doesnt have a cd/dvd drive, so how do I do a fresh reinstall of windows? Its a medion Akoya e1210 netbook.
Thanks
Claire

[DratUK]

External DVD/CD Drive is the first thing that springs to mind.

[pumpman]

easiest thing is grab a usb stick

download this http://lubi.sourceforge.net/unetbootin.html

copy windows install onto stick

set to boot from usb

your best getting the drivers to hand as well
oh and your xp serial nos

you will need to have a copy of windows on disc on hand on another pc to make this up of course

need any more help just shout

[Flibb]

if you can grab a cdrom/dvd from a desktop then these are great
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-2-0-TO-SAT...1%7C240%3A1318

[Claire S]

Thanks for the tips, I didnt know you could boot from USB. Is there a reason they dont install vista? I have got used to using that now

[strike-down]

yep, netbooks dont have the hardware for vista

[TheAnimus]

MS jumped on the netbook band wagon by offering cheap copies of XP for anything that has a small screen, low resolution, max dual core cpu, and limited ram or something.

Vista can be installed on most of the netbooks with little issue.

Windows 7 was demonstrated running on a netbook to help drive away the bull**** image that vista is slow/sluggish.

[directhex]

MS jumped on the netbook band wagon by offering cheap copies of XP for anything that has a small screen, low resolution, max dual core cpu, and limited ram or something.

Vista can be installed on most of the netbooks with little issue.

Windows 7 was demonstrated running on a netbook to help drive away the bull**** image that vista is slow/sluggish.

Disk space is the major one though - most early netbooks (and most current cheap ones) use an 8 GiB SSD, which is too small for Vista

FYI, the maximum specs permitted by Microsoft for discounted netbook licenses are:
* 10.2" screen
* 1 GiB RAM
* 160 GB disk
* 1.6 GHz CPU

[Claire S]

Well, I managed to reinstall Windows using a borrowed USB drive, all done except for being unable to get the wireless working properley. The wireless seems to be working OK in device manager but fails to find my router. Should I start a thread in hardware? Ive been trying all night to get this working.

[GoNz0]

try a manual windows update, it may find a more compatible driver for it, that or start a new thread

[Claire S]

Tried that, windows seems to think all is fine but it doesnt find any networks. DLd the driver from the Medion site, still no joy. Will try a new thread

[Agent]

Do you have any 3rd party drive / wireless stuff installed?

I've seen problems happen often after the wireless driver CD has been run. What normally happens is the manufactures own wireless software gets installed and stops the default windows one from working (Some disable the Wireless Zero Config service for windows :\).