Should I favour one over the other? I just bought a Samsung NF208 with 2gb RAM and dual core Atom processor - the system comes sans OS, and is capable of running either.I have a feeling XP might run smoother and be more reliable, but maybe I'm underrating Win 7. Which will work more fluidly on my new netbook?PS I'll be using Word, Skype, VLC/GOM media player and maybe photoshop.

Go for Windows 7.

Support for XP will soon stop.

But hasn't XP been tweaked into a lean mean fighting machine by now? Streamlined to perfection?

I guess we're all a bit wary of newer versions since Vista left such a bad taste in everyone's mouth. I already have Win 7 running on my main notebook - I just figured XP would be less processor intense and hence better suited to netbooks - mai chai?

Reading this thread on an Aussie tech forum, it seems like the OS of choice is Win 7 - at least for netbooks with the 'grunt' to run it, like mine.

I just bought a Samsung NF208 with 2gb RAM

Should be able to handle Win7 just fine. I don't know about running Photoshop though.

Firstly I would look at seeing what drivers for the netbook are available for what OS and make sure all hardware of the netbook will be supported.

Personally I love win7 and every PC/laptop/netbook in my house is using it.

Edited July 28, 201115 yr by Spoonman

Well, I've more or less decided to go with Win 7. Should support everything my new netbook has.

Now I just have to learn how to install it from my 4gb USB stick or external HDD. I just turned it on for the hell of it and it gives you 3 dif versions of DOS to choose from. Guy in the shop said he'd install W7 if I left it with him for an hour and a half, but I told him I'd give it a crack first and if I got stumped would bring it back (within 3 days - his caveat)

I think it's just a matter of compressing the install disc onto the USB stick using winflash or something, then booting from USB with an option in the BIOS...

But hasn't XP been tweaked into a lean mean fighting machine by now? Streamlined to perfection?

I guess we're all a bit wary of newer versions since Vista left such a bad taste in everyone's mouth. I already have Win 7 running on my main notebook - I just figured XP would be less processor intense and hence better suited to netbooks - mai chai?

Windows 7 has been optimized to a mean fighting machine.

Although with Windows 7 you to have about 1-2 GB of RAM to be mean whereas Windows XP works with 256-512MB. So in that regard some claim Windows XP is leaner.

As far as performance Windows 7 is noticeably much better. It's also much more secure than Windows XP.

Edited July 28, 201115 yr by BB1950

OK, well with 2GB ram pre installed on my new netbook, Win7 will be the mean machine of choice.

I have a Win 7 install disk, and this site says all you have to do is copy the contents to a USB stick and it will install as normal when you boot up the netbook with that plugged in. But my 4gb USB stick only shows 3.71gb free when totally formatted blank to FAT32.

Right-clicking and checking the size of my install disk, everything comes to 4.33gb - it won't fit!

Unless I can leave some stuff off...

I think there's a program that can trim the fat off for an install somewhere...

How To: Install Windows 7 Or Windows 8 From USB Drive

Microsoft actually has a tool to allow you to set up a USB stick to install win7 from, I linked it in your other thread (or was it this one and the mods cleaned it ??).

@Supernova - Windows...8?

@Spoon - I don't remember seeing it, but I can scan back and have a look. Why would mods remove it?

@SNova - following those instructions, I've already started a similar process, except I formatted to FAT32 instead of NTFS - does it matter?

Microsoft actually has a tool to allow you to set up a USB stick to install win7 from, I linked it in your other thread (or was it this one and the mods cleaned it ??).

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

Note: Windows 7 ISO image is required. If you have the Windows 7 DVD, you can create an ISO image of it by using ISO Recorder.

Edited July 28, 201115 yr by Supernova

@SNova - following those instructions, I've already started a similar process, except I formatted to FAT32 instead of NTFS - does it matter?

Shouldn't matter as long as the install.wim file doesn't exceed 4GB.

Microsoft actually has a tool to allow you to set up a USB stick to install win7 from, I linked it in your other thread (or was it this one and the mods cleaned it ??).

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

Note: Requires Windows 7 ISO image. If you have the Windows 7 DVD, you can create an ISO image of it by using ISO Recorder.

Thanks for linking that, amusingly the netbook does not have an optical drive so to do so would require a computer that does or an external optical, if an external is on hand then just instal from disc.

As others have already mentioned, Windows 7 works quite well on netbooks. I have a MSI Wind (a few years old now) with 2GB memory and 1GHz Atom processor and it runs quite nicely with Win7. I originally tried XP then went to Win7 and the performance just 'felt' better. Very stable system.

@Tywais - good to hear more pro w7 stuff since that's the OS I'm going with.

@Spoon - I decided to follow the instructions on that other page to the letter, so started over using NTFS. I'd forgotten how much longer it takes to format that way than FAT32 - ie for this 4gb drive it's like 10-15 mins Vs 5 seconds with FAT32

@Tywais - good to hear more pro w7 stuff since that's the OS I'm going with.

@Spoon - I decided to follow the instructions on that other page to the letter, so started over using NTFS. I'd forgotten how much longer it takes to format that way than FAT32 - ie for this 4gb drive it's like 10-15 mins Vs 5 seconds with FAT32

Seems a long winded way of doing things.

You just need the Windows 7 USB Tool and the Windows 7 image. You can download it directly from Microsoft's distributor.

Which version of Windows 7 will you utilise?

I have Win 7 Home Premium - but when I try and copy the contents onto a formatted, bootable 4gb USB stick it says there's not enough room. 673mb short.

Do 7/11 sell USB sticks? Or maybe there's another way...

Can I boot/install Win 7 from my iPhone? That's got more than 4gb free.

kidding, I guess.

Maybe I'll just have to wait 'til tomorrow and go grab a bigger USB stick from Banana IT or something.

You just need the Windows 7 USB Tool and the Windows 7 image. You can download it directly from Microsoft's distributor.

If you already have the Windows 7 DVD, you can create an image from that instead.

Use ISO Recorder to create the image. It's the only software capable of creating an ISO image from CD/DVD whilst preserving the original MSDN/Technet checksums. I've tested and verified this myself.

I have Win 7 Home Premium - but when I try and copy the contents onto a formatted, bootable 4gb USB stick it says there's not enough room. 673mb short.

Do 7/11 sell USB sticks? Or maybe there's another way...

Direct from Microsoft's distributor;

Windows 7 Home Premium x86 (32-bit)

Drama over.

Cranky carrot, where are you in Thailand, if in Pattaya I can assist you if you like.

Edited July 28, 201115 yr by Spoonman

I had samsung netbook with Intel atom processor and 2 GB Ram.It had original licensed Win XP ran perfect, when I installed Win 7 so i could have Dual boot The Win 7 was not good,. freezing etc and of course it was not a licensed Win 7 , always dodgy using such, Beware what you use

Well, there's always XP I suppose.

@Spoon - Pattaya's one of the only major cities in Thailand I've yet to check out.

I'm in Phuket.

7/11, Family Mart, that purple place called Supercheap and Homepro Villa are all well stocked for anyone who needs a mouse at 10:20 at night, but none has a single USB stick

The ISO linked to above seems to be just 2.2gb though -- DL'ing now. All I'd need to solve this prob is either a bigger USB stick (which I can get tomorrow) or a smaller ISO, which seems to be what I'm DL'ing now. Either way, it should all be up and running by tomorrow.

You know how it is when you get a new toy though - I was just keen to get it all going tonight. Nevermind, I can wait til tomorrow if need be

Well, there's always XP I suppose.

@Spoon - Pattaya's one of the only major cities in Thailand I've yet to check out.

I'm in Phuket.

7/11, Family Mart, that purple place called Supercheap and Homepro Villa are all well stocked for anyone who needs a mouse at 10:20 at night, but none has a single USB stick

The ISO linked to above seems to be just 2.2gb though -- DL'ing now. All I'd need to solve this prob is either a bigger USB stick (which I can get tomorrow) or a smaller ISO, which seems to be what I'm DL'ing now. Either way, it should all be up and running by tomorrow.

You know how it is when you get a new toy though - I was just keen to get it all going tonight. Nevermind, I can wait til tomorrow if need be

Use it in conjunction with the Windows 7 USB Tool. Any problems, look here

Keep in mind, you'll still need to install Service Pack 1... Good luck with that. It's a shame 'digital river' don't host Windows 7 with SP1 integrated images.

Once I have an OS on the netbook and have that hooked up to the net, isn't it just a simple matter of hitting the upgrade button?

If I left Win 7 without SP1, would that be such an issue? I assume there'd be a few security holes addressed in the patch.

Keep in mind, you'll still need to install Service Pack 1... Good luck with that. It's a shame 'digital river' don't host Windows 7 with SP1 integrated images.

Actually they do. My mistake.

Windows 7 Home Premium x86 SP1