PCFormat Forum Archive

I recently bought a Vaio netbook which came loaded with Win 7 Starter, but through much fiddling and messing about I kinda messed it up, so I installed Vista Pro but Vista and netbook don't really go together, so I want to go back to Win 7 Starter (at least until I save up some pennies for Win 7 Pro)

Anyway, being a netbook, it didn't come with a DVD
Also, me not having a spare DVD writer, I wasn't able to make a restore disk (not sure it would help now anyway)
Finally Sony, being the chops they are want to charge ridiculous amounts of money to reload Win 7 Starter (plus all their bloatware - YUCH!)

So I need to get hold of a Win 7 Starter DVD.

Anyone can help?

Do you have any Windows 7 DVDs at all?

Only pre Release Candidate ones

We have Upgrade DVD's at work...Could I use that to create a USB install image? or does it have to be an install DVD?

Or know someone that owns a disc?

The other option is to install Linux until you've got the cheddar to upgrade your os.

Hmm, I'm not sure how the upgrade ones will work. I know with Vista you could boot and install from an upgrade disc and then enter your XP key at some stage during the installation, but I'm not sure if Windows 7 has remained the same.

Anywho, I can make you a DVD and send it to you if you wish. PM me an address and let me know if you want it Speed Services or regular postage.

Hman wrote:The other option is to install Linux until you've got the cheddar to upgrade your os.

That is the other option I've been looking at, just want to make sure which distro has the most support in terms of drivers for my netbook.

Nice to see you back on the forums.

I'd also check the terms of the OEM license agreement out. I'm not sure what the terms of the agreement is with Windows 7, but I vaguely remember from when I built a machine for the ballies and loaded Vista DSP on it (essentially the same as OEM), the license agreement stated that I was obliged to provide both the product key and physical media to the end user. If this is still the case with Windows 7, and if you don't have the physical media, then you have valid grounds to go back to Sony and throw your toys out of the cot.

Ron2K wrote:If this is still the case with Windows 7, and if you don't have the physical media, then you have valid grounds to go back to Sony and throw your toys out of the cot.

Which might well take longer than getting a DVD from someone you know.

Don't you have a Windows XP Pro license lying around? XP Pro plays very nicely with netbooks and has much better functionality than Win 7 starter.

Jonboy wrote:Don't you have a Windows XP Pro license lying around? XP Pro plays very nicely with netbooks and has much better functionality than Win 7 starter.

I only have a XP64 license and Atom N450 is 32bit only as far as I understand

Ron2K wrote:Nice to see you back on the forums.

It's good to be back, at least until they block the site again

Yeah, I'd just go ahead and copy a DVD from someone like Stuart. If you have the product key, you're in the clear, and you're not stealing anything