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Windows 7 update 2

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LilBob

Technical User
Jul 25, 2008
201
US
This is probably not the right forum, if not, maybe you can direct me to the right place. I bought my wife an Asus netbook with Windows 7 Starter version. Alas, she does not like that OS but it's too late to return. Now she wants to swap it for my laptop running XP Pro, I guess it's true about teaching old dogs new tricks (don't tell her I said that). I don't mind swapping with her but would prefer a better version. Here are it's specs:

Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz processor w/Hyper-Threading technology
533 MHz FSB speed, 512 KB L2 cache
Intel 945G Express chipset
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM (2 GB max.)
160 GB Serial ATA hard drive
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 graphics chipset

Would it be possible to upgrade @ least to Home Premium?

Thanks for any advice you can give me, Bob
 
This is probably not the right forum, if not, maybe you can direct me to the right place.

While there are many people here that also frequent the other forum, the more proper place for Windows 7 questions is here: forum1726

That said.

Would it be possible to upgrade @ least to Home Premium?

Sure, if you pay Microsoft the right amount of money. There's regular 7 home premium upgrade/full licenses out there, and Microsoft offers step upgrades via their Windows Anytime Upgrade service.

HTH

It is not possible for anyone to acknowledge truth when their salary depends on them not doing it.
 
And if you're concerned about the hardware being enough/compatible, downloading and running the Windows 7 upgrade advisor should help address those.

It is not possible for anyone to acknowledge truth when their salary depends on them not doing it.
 
Since its already running Windows 7 starter. I'd guess hardware is enough and compatible.

I'd say while you probably won't get blazing speeds out of it with a higher OS, it would certainly run a higher version of Windows 7 without issue.

There was a discussion about this in the forum1726 a while back, but I can't seem to find it.



----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.
 
I would spend the extra on a memory upgrade to 2GB, and learn to use the Starter as effectively as you can. The main difficulties are with the 1024x600 screen, and no matter which OS you use, the limitations of a small screen are still going to remain. The best benefit is the long battery use time, I get over 4 hours on a 3 Li-ion battery.

The Windows 7 Starter edition is actually not as lightweight as first seems. I now have mine running XPMode in VirtualPC 2007, dual booting into Linux Mint. To maximize screen real estate, I have put the taskbar along the left side, set to auto-hide.

Its boring desktop was fixed with "Starter Background Changer", a clunky but effective wallpaper/colours/sounds and Screensavers modifier from France, that is accessed by right clicking the desktop and clicking "personalize". Secondly I added "Rainmeter", which offers a whole new semi-transparent dimension to desktop gadgetry. My Packard Bell Red dot se looks as pretty on the inside as it does without.

It runs IE9 beta without any issues, except it is the slowest browser, but is good with Chrome and Firefox. Obviously Graphics are not the hottest, although I have just put a tv show from the BBC iplayer on it full screen and it is running nice and clearly without stuttering. I have MS Security Essentials as anti-malware, leaving the supplied Norton suite well alone.

My best peripheral purchase is a little clear plastic USB laptop cooler fan with blue lights, from Signalex for the princely sum of £1.00 from Poundland.

One word about upgrade licences - you lose your rights to the original installed software.
It also can be the devil's own job to perform an install via a USB device, although the Windows 7 iso on a USB stick I have used to repair boot problems (all of my own making!), seemed to be accepted ok.

One possible way is to install the replacement OS software (i.e. another Windows 7 edition) as a bootable VHD, which can be very quick taking as little as ten minutes to finalize. Windows 7 supports this mode of operation.

"EasyBCD" is one tool that can be used to configure this process.


 
Thanks to all for your input. Glenn, I’ve saved that forum site. I’m sure it will come in handy in the future. I just couldn’t find any forums listed here for Windows 7. I’ve been playing around with it a bit & like how it works, just need to find out more how it does. I’m trying to work out a deal with the bride to see if I can gain any additional perks by swapping with her. I’m not telling her I like it’s small & light weight size which makes it easier to pack along with me when I’m on the road (don’t want to lose any bargaining leverage either).

Phil & Ben, I was aware of those options, but I trust this forum's opinions more than M$’s hype.

Finally, Tim, I plan on upgrading the Ram to 2GB’s after getting more familiar with Starter & then upgrading to Home Premium. Thanks for all the tips to tweak. I’ll keep them handy after I get a bit more confident using Windows 7. From what I’ve read, I should have no problems transferring files from my old XP laptop to this. Plus I have a small 15” LCD monitor I can use when home. I have to leave Florida in 6 weeks to travel to Mass. for business. I’ll probably have to find a warm bag for the notebook as well as warm clothes for me. The weather here in FL has been below normal (other than a day or two) but I know it’s downright frigid in New England.

Thank you all once more, Bob
 
The Links we (Glenn, and Myself) provided are links to the Win 7 forum here on Tek-Tips. Not anywhere else.


Anyway, good luck with the Mrs.




----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.
 
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