Installing new Operating system in Acer Netbook

[dfisher052]

I have an Acer Aspire One D150-1669 Netbook. It has Windows XP. Has anyone had any luck installing Windows 7 on one. I know that some of the later versions had a Lite version of 7 installed, but I've never seen any source for getting a copy. I contacted Acer, but they were no help at all. As XP is no longer supported I'd like to upgrade it as I use it when I go on trips. Much handier than my regular laptop. I have a copy of 7-64 but I have a feeling that the Acer does not have the power to take that install. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Vidd]

Windows 7 can be installed on older computers as long as it meets the minimum system requirements.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/system-requirements

As long as Windows 7 compatible drivers can be found, the install should happen without any major problems. Go to the Windows XP Device Manager and get a listing of all the components, then search the internet for the proper drivers. Make sure to get 64 bit drivers if you are installing Windows 7 64bit.

To be safe, image the XP hard drive before you install Windows 7. That way you can easily restore the computer in case the Windows 7 install goes bad or you don't like Windows 7.

[dfisher052]

Vidd...thanks for the reply. I just had another thought. What about Chromebook. Is there such a thing as an install disk for that and I wonder if the Netbook would be sufficient for that? Right now it only has 1 GB of ram, but that could be upgraded.

[redwudz]

The main issue is drivers for video, audio, wifi, usb, etc. W7 is fairly competent with it's internal drivers, but it could be an issue. Especially with Chrome

Also I'm guessing your netbook doesn't have a DVD drive as my Asus netbook doesn't.
That makes it a bit more complicated as you would need to do the install over USB.

I would definitely agree to image your hard drive before attempting any upgrade to the OS.
That might help restore the original OS in case of problems.

The possibility of permanent damage to my Asus netbook has kept me from trying to upgrade from XP to W7.
And I couldn't find anyone else that had done successfully it at that time.

You might do a net search for some instructions or a forum that discusses upgrades for your netbook.

[Hoser Rob]

There is no iso image for chrome OS like there is for windows. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's daunting. See here:

http://www.itworld.com/answers/topic/operating-systems/question/can-chrome-os-be-insta...windows-laptop

which says you need a 64 bit system, and I don't think your netbook cpu is 64 bit. It seems to be an atom 280. This, of course, you could have found out in system information ...

So you'd need windows 7 starter edition, 32 bit, if you wanted to install win7.

Or you could try Lubuntu ... the LXDE desktop version of ubuntu linux. Chrome OS is linux based, but ubuntu has excellent tech support and hardware recognition. On a 1Gb single core netbook LXDE is the only ubuntu version I'd recommend.

[dfisher052]

The Acer is a 32 bit system with 1 GB of ram and a dual core processor. The ram can be upgraded to 2 GB (max). I think the Netbooks that have Windows 7 is called the Starter version, but I've never seen it advertised anywhere. It has no DVD drive, but does have 3 USB ports.
Thanks for the info. I'm going to weigh my options and see what might work, and try and check out some forums. If I get this working I'll check back in and let you know how it went and what worked (if it does).

[racer-x]

I have the same Acer Netbook and I'm running Linux Mint on it. http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2627

It runs very well, much better than XP. I highly recommend you give it a try. I installed it via a bootable USB thumbdrive.

[Vidd]

I just had another thought. What about Chromebook.

I have read on Chromebook forums that Windows can't be properly installed on Chromebooks due to lack of driver support, especially for the keyboard, trackpad, and audio. The devices are not recognized and Windows usability is very limited. Also, some Chromebooks use the Exynos processor which is not suported by Windows. (Models that have Intel chips should be recognized by Windows).

[dfisher052]

racer-x...Not being familiar with Linux how are you able to do internet & email. When traveling I have to be able to have access to the internet. I'm sure that it's possible, but I've always found Linux to be rather confusing. Right now I use Chrome for internet & my email I access through my Comcast account when on the road. Would all that still work?

[lingyi]

The Acer is a 32 bit system with 1 GB of ram and a dual core processor. The ram can be upgraded to 2 GB (max). I think the Netbooks that have Windows 7 is called the Starter version, but I've never seen it advertised anywhere. It has no DVD drive, but does have 3 USB ports.
Thanks for the info. I'm going to weigh my options and see what might work, and try and check out some forums. If I get this working I'll check back in and let you know how it went and what worked (if it does).

Windows 7 Starter Edition was only available to OEM system builders and never released as a standalone product. It's an extremely stripped down version of Windows 7 that was never well received. Here's a comparison of the different Windows 7 verisons http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/windows-7-s...1-6f4fc21c2ac0

If you really want to install Windows 7, you have enough hard drive space, but 2GB of RAM is the low end. You can make you own Lite version of Win 7 by using programs like NLite which allow you strip out unnecessary components and driver before you install, but a lot of overhead will be added back through updates. BTW, the premade "Lite" versions are not supported by Microsoft and highly questionably legal as they usually bypass the MS authentication process.

Linux as suggested seems to be best way to breathe new life into your netbook. I recommend giving ZorinOS a try. It's the closest thing I've come to a Windows like experience with Linux. You can install it on a flash drive and run it Live directly from the drive as a test. It can even be installed non-destructive on your hard drive allowing dual boot into ZorinOS and Windows. I've been playing around it with for a year or so and it's fine until you have to install new hardware or software, then you're back to the same Linux command prompt which I've never gotten used to.

If you're really intent on sticking with WinXP. There is an updates workaround that's supposed to be good until 2016. The workaround is because a large base of Point Of Sale systems are based on embedded WinXP and Microsoft is providing updates for these systems. A workaround getting these updates to work on regular WinXP installs, but it's uncertain when MS will close that door.

Personally, I've given up on netbooks and notebooks and gone to Android tablets for portability and an Asus T-100 (Win 8 transforming tablet) for when I need more functionality and compatibility.

[lingyi]

If your primary needs are primarily web browsing and checking email, you might try installing Android. www.android-x86 has the latest Android builds and they're all Live so you can run it from a flash drive to test.

I've played around with it on my Asus EEEs and Dell notebooks and while they perform pretty well, the urge to touch the screen is annoying. No matter how fast your mouse cursor moves, it's not as quick as touching the screen directly. ;-p

[racer-x]

racer-x...Not being familiar with Linux how are you able to do internet & email. When traveling I have to be able to have access to the internet. I'm sure that it's possible, but I've always found Linux to be rather confusing. Right now I use Chrome for internet & my email I access through my Comcast account when on the road. Would all that still work?

Linux Mint is very similar to windows interface. You can install Chrome. Firefox already comes pre-installed. I use Chrome on my Linux laptop, but still using Firefox on my Netbook. WiFi access works very well on the road. If you mostly need internet and email, Linux is a no-brainer.......

You can also install Linux Mint on a USB thumbdrive and run it live to test it out. Make sure to get the 32-bit version.

[fritzi93]

I have two of the later ones (one for the wife, one for me) with Win7 Starter and 1 GB RAM. It's borderline for Win7, IMO. And yes, Windows Update doesn't help. I think I should have just disabled updates.

It's easy enough to image the drive to a thumb drive. One of the netbooks has a WD drive, and I used the WD free version of Acronis for that. The other one has a Hitachi drive and in that case I used Macrium. Install the soft and make an image to thumb drive, then put a bootable version on another. You boot the backup software from a thumb drive, then swap thumb drives and point to the image to restore.

I've been thinking myself about trying a Linux variant on mine, just haven't got around to it.

[racer-x]

I highly recommend linux on a Netbook. In fact, I run Linux on everything but my editing desktop.

Here is a screengrab:

[ahhaa]

I strongly back racer-x on at least trying linux; Ubuntu, Mint (and most all other flavors of linux) have an easy test mode that makes no changes to your computer but allows you to know that wireless, your printer, camera, etc will work fine before any installation, and then you even have the easy option of dual-boot XP/linux.

This method used to be called LiveCD, but it also works fine from a flash drive or external USB hard drive.

Linux is confusing because there are so many flavors, but you should think of this something like people customizing their windows desktop.

At heart, what you get is a 2014 operating system with core programs like Firefox or Chrome for browsing, Mozilla Thunderbird to pick up email and do calendar appointments, LibreOffice which ranges from Windows-compatible database to powerpoint to pdf as well as paperpushing, VLC which plays just about everything, and the list goes on...

Here are some instructions for using a flash drive, they are from Ubuntu but work just as well with Mint:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick

[dfisher052]

I have downloaded Linux Mint which is an ISO. Now my question is how do I burn it to a USB stick. I have 2 burners and they both will only recognize a DVD drive, not a USB port. Seeing as the Acer has no DVD drive only USB I can't figure out how the get the Linux on the USB. I want to load the Linux on the USB so I can boot from it and not commit yet to a full install on the Acer until I'm sure that it will be able to do what I want from it.

[Clockwork]

Use UNetbootin to create a bootable USB device from an ISO.

[dfisher052]

Sorry...I didn't mean 2 burners. I meant 2 burner software, Roxio and Burnaware Free. They only recognize CD/DVD drives, not USB.

[Clockwork]

UNetbootin

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

[dfisher052]

I did get unetbootin and AVG came up with it as Malware.

[Clockwork]

If it's from the link I posted, it's certainly NOT malware.

Also, I'd seriously consider ditching AVG...but that's a separate discussion.

[dfisher052]

Clockwork... I just downloaded from your post (sourceforge) and am now installing on a USB stick...Thanks.

[roma_turok]

I did get unetbootin and AVG came up with it as Malware.

Sometimes antivirus software wrongly identified files as virus, need temporarily disable antivirus to run file
You can also try Universal USB Installer: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/
does same thing as unetbootin

[dfisher052]

Clockwork...Installed Linux Mint on USB stick & booted Acer Netbook in Linux. Love it! Going to play with it for a while and see if it does all that I want, but so far so good. Thank you very much for your help!

[dfisher052]

Also meant to thank other posters who helped me with this project. This site is the best with some great people helping others.

[Clockwork]

Clockwork...Installed Linux Mint on USB stick & booted Acer Netbook in Linux. Love it! Going to play with it for a while and see if it does all that I want, but so far so good. Thank you very much for your help!

Yeah...I installed Ubuntu on my Acer netbook only hours after getting it home from the shop. Switched to Linux Mint briefly, then to Ubuntu Studio which it currently runs.

[dfisher052]

Which brings up the question, why the switch and most important, where do you find software that can be used on a linux system, such as malware and virus protection.

[Hoser Rob]

Which brings up the question, why the switch and most important, where do you find software that can be used on a linux system, such as malware and virus protection.

You don't particularly need antivirus programs in linux. I have one installed (clamtk) but it's just for on demand scanning. It's really intended for scanning email on servers. There are no known linux viruses outside computer science labs. I know guys who have been using linux at home and work for 20 years and they don't use AV programs.

You can still get hacked in any OS. Use good browser settings/plugins.

You don't really even need a firewall like you absolutely must in windows. Linux doesn't leave ports open to the net like windows does. But a firewall is still advisable in linux anyway.

The best way to find software is in the official repositories of the linux distro you use. It's been beta tested. Installing and updating software in linux is different from windows and it's better.

Beware of blogs. Some are very good. Many aren't. Just because someone decided he should write a linux blog does not mean he actually knows what the hell he's doing. A lot of the info and how tos are attractively packaged but are out of date or just plain bad advice. And they never seem to tell you how to undo the changes you've made. Not all are bad but if you're new to linux you can't tell the difference.

Many of these blogs suggest you install stuff from sources (called ppa's) they link to. I never do this unless I can't do what I want to do any other way, and I know damn well it's a good source. These ppa's are not tested and are not trusted. You can mess up your install with bad ones, and some of them even introduce malware.

Linux is the safest OS there is, and it's quite reliable. But you can make it unstable with bad software choices.

Join the Mint support forum if that's what you want to install. It's a good system but the tech support isn't very good. I've used mint but had to use the Ubuntu support forum to solve problems ... mint is based on ubuntu and their support is the best in the business.

[MJA]

racer-x...Not being familiar with Linux how are you able to do internet & email. When traveling I have to be able to have access to the internet. I'm sure that it's possible, but I've always found Linux to be rather confusing. Right now I use Chrome for internet & my email I access through my Comcast account when on the road. Would all that still work?

Linux Mint is very similar to windows interface. You can install Chrome. Firefox already comes pre-installed. I use Chrome on my Linux laptop, but still using Firefox on my Netbook. WiFi access works very well on the road. If you mostly need internet and email, Linux is a no-brainer.......

You can also install Linux Mint on a USB thumbdrive and run it live to test it out. Make sure to get the 32-bit version.

1+ for mint(17?) . I installed it on a POS HP single celeron with 2GB memory and an old 5400 slow A$$ hardrive. runs 100 times better than Vista (came with it)

They only issue I have is the stupid flash

[dfisher052]

Hoser Rob & MJA. Thanks for the replys and the advise. I'm currently trying out Linux on the Netbook and so far everything is working out great. I haven't installed it, I'm operating it off of the USB thumbdrive, which seems to work out fine. Right now I think I will just use XP for my off line stuff and then boot to Linux off the thumbdrive when I want to go internet. If worse comes to worse and XP becomes corrupted I'll reformate the HD and install Linux. Actually, if I do install linux, can it be dual booted? On startup select which operating system I want?