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    Clean install W7 on Sony Netbook ?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by firolius, Jan 3, 2011.

  1. firolius

    firolius Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi guys, girls,

    Quick Q for you specialists :

    I have a Sony Netbook (10") with Win7 starter. The thing is now full of crap since i unfortunately gave it to one of my kids :) And i want to make a clean install...

    I have the Microsoft sticker at the back of the netbook...but have no disk since there is no disk reader in the thing anyways. But...i think (maybe that is where i'm wrong) there is a way when you boot the netbook, to press a few keys and have windows install launch like it existed on other OEM PC's i had in the past (Asus etc)... right? wrong? how? :))

    thanks a lot for your help!!
     
  2. Ruckus

    Ruckus Notebook Deity

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    Try looking to see if you can install from a thumbdrive. There should be some online kits that allow you to remove unnecessary junk from the installer to reduce it's size also and slipstream the latest updates etc.

    Good luck.

    http://lifehacker.com/5423747/windo...l-lets-you-install-windows-from-a-thumb-drive

    Just an example.

    But personally I think netbooks may be great for Linux as Linux seems to be smaller install than Windows and you're probably not going to be doing photoshop or gaming on your netbook. So for example Ubuntu out of the box should have everything you need, Open Office, Firefox.
     
  3. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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  4. firolius

    firolius Notebook Enthusiast

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    ok guys, but all of this is external right?
    I have an asus gaming PC, when i had/wanted to re-install W7, i "just" had to press a key (dont remember which one, F12??) when booting to launch the w7 re-install :(
     
  5. J&SinKTO

    J&SinKTO Notebook Deity

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    Hit F10 while it is booting - that will take you to the Sony recovery utility and restores the netbook to the factory state.
    It will require updates (MS) after that depending on how old it is.
    Will also load all the software that came with (including any bloatware). Did not see an option on my netbook when did executed to just re-install the OS.
     
  6. firolius

    firolius Notebook Enthusiast

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    great! that is what i was looking for! :) thanks!
     
  7. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    yes this is all external. i never used system-restore functionalities sorry. i always use clean installs. my approach works for systems that don't have cd drives (and is the best way for those that have cd drives, too, btw, if you ever have to clean install).

    glad you could do a restore. i always forget that they exist :)