How to install Windows 7 on Netbooks
Windows 7 Home, Professional, Ultimate Editions
October 22nd marks another day in the history of Windows Operating Systems. Windows 7, which I honestly haven’t tried yet, is officially released for everyone and available for purchase for as low as $199.99 for Windows 7 Home Premium Edition – the cheapest and most commendable version for your netbooks. Also available are the Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate Editions for $299.99 and $319.99 respectively. The Starter Edition is not on the list, sorry.
Windows 7 offers many improvements such as:
- Faster Performance
- Desktop Enhancements
- H0me Media Streaming
- Windows Search and
- Better Device Management
Microsoft understands the lack of Optical Disc Drive on Netbooks so they provided an option to download the ISO copy of the purchased version, and create a bootable USB flash drive. Tools to achieve this, which is the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool {WUDT}, is also available for download. So basically, all you need to have to be able to install Windows 7 on your netbook is a copy of Windows 7, and the tool.
How to install Windows 7 on netbooks:
- Purchase and download a copy of Windows 7, version of your choosing
- Download the WUDT
- Install the tool on your netbook
- Click the Windows Start button, and click Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool in the All Programs list to open the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool.
- In the Source File box, type the name and path of your Windows 7 ISO file, or click Browse and select the file in the Open dialog box.
- Select USB to create a copy on a USB flash drive or DVD to create a copy on a DVD disk, then click Next.
- If you are copying the file to a USB flash drive, select your USB device in the dropdown list and click Begin copying. If you are copying the file up to a DVD, click Begin burning.
{Microsoft}
System Requirements
- Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Pentium 233-megahertz (MHz) processor or faster (300 MHz is recommended)
- 50MB of free space on your hard drive
- DVD-R drive or 4GB removable USB flash drive
Elantech Touchpad Annoyances [Solved]
One of the good things about the Eee PC 1000HE is having a touchpad which is pretty wide and is multi-touch. It supports two-finger scrolling, two-finger zoom in/out and two-finger rotating among others. When I got my 1000HE two months ago, I immediately noticed two problems with its ‘very sensitive’ touchpad. I didn’t mind the problem since to me, it’s not a big deal. I use a separate mouse most of the times. But when I started to frequently use my netbook anywhere, I also refrained from using a separate mouse.
My current setting for the Elantech Touchpad
One problem is the ‘very sensitive’ rotating and zooming feature of the Elantech touchpad. I noticed that whenever I scroll pages, one tiny movement of the fingers turns the page to zoom in or out instead of move it up or down. It happens mostly when using Firefox and other internet browsers.
Another problem is the very sensitive tapping feature. It happens most of the times that whenever I am typing, the cursor just suddenly moves from place to place. This is because the palm of my hand sometimes slightly touches a little portion of the corner of the touchpad. It messes up my work. This can happen even when I am using an external mouse unless I disable the touchpad.
I thought it’s only me having the problem but I learned that there’s a lot of people complaining about the same problem. And it even seems like I’m actually the least affected.
So while waiting for the update for the driver from Elantech, if there will be, I played with the touchpad settings and came to a simple workaround.
First, since I do not basically need zooming in or out or rotating objects on the netbook, I decided to disable that control. Immediately, my first problem was resolved. I don’t know if it the sensitivity or it just conflicts with the 2-finger scrolling. Anyway, I’m good with the settings. Disabled Zooming and Rotating.
Second, I went to Tapping settings and set the delay to 2 seconds. So whenever I type, the touchpad will be inactive and so far my second problem has not happened again. I am not very sure if this is the best setting because I have not tried other settings yet. But as long as it works for me, I’m good. You may try the same and let me know how it goes.
HowTo Sync Files between a Mini Note and your Home Computer? Use Syncables
Syncables Software
It has happened to me lots of times before, looking for files on my netbook which is actually not in there but on my home computer or the other way around. I’m sure you experienced it too, and one way we do about it is have a portable storage to copy files we need and use it on our netbooks or home desktops. This was actually not a big problem to me, and not even a problem now since I don’t have a desktop anymore. But to many of you, it could be something you really can’t stand when it happens. Syncables might be the answer.
Syncables is a software the lets your files in your desktop exist on your netbook as well. It can keep your files in sync all the time or when you want it. It can pretty much synchronize every files you usually need from documents, pictures, videos and musics. You also don’t need to have same OS running on your netbook and desktop computer because it can sync across Mac – Linux – Windows too.
The software costs $29.99, but you could get it for FREE if you buy a new HP Mini 110.
via Liliputing
128GB SSD Hack for Dell Mini 9
JKK has another crazy presentation for us to see on his collection of hack-videos. The latest I saw was this hack for Dell Mini 9, adding a larger SSD. And when I say larger, it’s larger in capacity and in size, physically. The hack, according to him, is easy. It only involves removing the some screws and scraping out some excessive bumps on metal casing that Dell left inside. So how he did it? Just watch and see for yourself.
HP Mini 1000 ‘Hidden’ 3G module
The HP Mini 1000 is the 2nd netbook from HP which replaces the VIA processor from the previous 2133 and uses Intel Atom. It has SSD storage of 8GB/16GB, and 60GB HDD options. RAM is reduced to 512MB compared to previous 1GB. Lots of differences from the 2133 brother.
Some are now surprised because it seems that HP missed to announce that HP Mini 1000 comes with built in 3G module. And you won’t worry about installing external 3G PCIe card anymore. The only problem is that the 3G module is disabled initially, and software/driver is not by default included in the package. But it’s also not a problem anymore how to enable it. dplxy has some pretty good details on how he enabled the 3G feature on his HP Mini 1000. Head on and check it out.
via liliputing
How To install Ubuntu 8.10 on Eee PC
Ubuntu 8.10 has been released recently, and if you feel you want to install it on your netbook already, Tombuntu has got you a very detailed instructions of how to install Ubuntu 8.10. In his case, an Eee PC 901, But it should basically work on other model as well.
The instruction includes:
- Creating a Live USB to SD/Flash Drive
- Installing Ubuntu
- Upgrading Linux Kernel customized for the Eee PC
- Get the bluetooth and webcam working
This is not a strange scenario for netbooks to have non-working devices after installing Ubuntu, but there are always workarounds available if you just try to search for it.
via liliputing
