News MS offers Win 7 USB installer

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/bits/2009/10/23/ms-offers-win-7-usb-installer/1

Microsoft has, for the first time, released a version of its Windows operating system which can be easily installed from a USB drive - perfect for netbooks.

 

Haven't we all been doing this for years anyway? :/

 

Sounds like a good idea to me. I've not around to getting an optical drive yet and don't want to feel pressured into getting one straight away (I'm fussy) so installing via USB is the route to go down.

The reason for starter not being available could be because it is only available to OEMs.

Maybe, but it's not exactly rocket science. There are plenty of guides around the net!

 

Makes sense.

Nice to know they're doing this. M$ are trying to make sure they do everything right this time around, which is really nice.

 

I installed W7 from one of my USB's, its simple really, and much faster to install!. just make sure that you format the USB to NTFS first!.

 

This is a step forward! Big props on this MS.

 

Finally! Hallelujah!

 

i wish all windows 7 are 64bit, with a netbook edition or starter edition 32bit only.

still, good move MS.

 

do they send USB stick with windows 7 on it or do you have to download it and do everything yourself?

 

All yourself.

 

Win 7, USB and Virtual DVD

Dear All,

REF: Win 7 on USB stick.
Great idea.

Up to now I have been doing the following :

Using a virtual DVD drive software to install:

1. Windows 7 (current freebie)
and
2. Ubuntu.

Simple , free and effective.

This is done on my Gigabyte T1028X swivel, touch screen netbook.

So I can Triple multi-boot :

a) XP (comes on the T1028X)
b) Ubuntu 9.01
c) Windows 7

Roll on USB install systems.

Regards,
ScottyJavea

 

I had a look at this earlier, but, as you go through the purchase process, when you come to filling in your details you can only select a US State and Zip code. I had a look on the uk site and they do an ultimate upgrade edition aswell, only i think it's an iso download, and it costs £199 as opposed to $219, which i think is around £135. Shame really as i would have bought it there and then, if it wasn't for that.

 

Ehrm... installing Win7 from a USB stick is news as old as the first "publicly" available build.
EVERY version of it...

 

Yeah, but this is *official*. This is M$ playing nice. Just be grateful

 

As a user of numerous LiveUSB distros, I think this is a step in the right direction for the Windows faithful. At last they can experience something that us linux users have been experiencing for years. CDs/DVDs are simply not as portable as a USB stick.

I think things in the 'convenience dept' will really begin to pick up for Windows users when Microsoft releases a version of Windows that loads from USB stick and runs 100% into RAM, like many linux distros have also been doing for years (eg. Puppy, DSL, TCL, etc.). You just cannot get a more responsive OS than one that runs entirely in RAM.

Having your OS on your key ring is also very convenient - just as long as you don't lose it.

 

But they said it'll be possible with Win7 A LONG TIME AGO and everybody knew it!
Hell, there even were races on the internet who could push it below 8 minutes!

 

Having had some experience with digital river and all the different download versions (upgrade, oem, retail, x32, x64) i gave up on my friends pc in the end and downloaded a crack. Which works flawlessly.

Seriously, Microsoft should just put the .isos on their website like ubuntu etc. People will still need a licence key (or, give up trying to get the 'right' version working and use a crack despite having bought the licence) to use it, it just makes it so much easier.

 

They do that... it's called TechNet.

 

I downloaded it and copied it to a USB. Booted it up, started installation and went off for a cup of tea, expecting it to take some time. It didn't.