Buying New Sager Laptop Without Windows Installed?

[paulyjames]

XOTIC PC | Sager NP2740 (Clevo W740SU) - New 14" Sager Notebook


This is the laptop im going to buy. I'm going to upgrade the wireless card for 35 more dollars to


Sager - Intel® Dual Band AC 7260 802.11 A/AC/B/G/N 2.4/5.0GHz + Bluetooth™ 4.0 (SKU - WIFI98) ( + 35 )



Also, i will be buying a samsung ssd drive 250gb and not have the 5400 rpm hard drive and that will cost me 110 more.



I use windows 7 64 bit home premium on my current laptop and im fine with it.




I did not know until recently sager laptops do not have windows installed and i need to buy it myself. I bought many desktop/laptops from dell and asus and always windows is installed. So i see here are the options

No Operating System [Drivers & Utility Software Only (Windows 7 & 8.1)]
~Windows 8.1 - 64-Bit (64-Bit CD Included) + MS Office 2013 Trial ( + 80 )
~Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit (64&32-Bit CD Included (Supports up to 16GB of RAM)) + MS Office 2013 Trial ( + 95 )
~Windows 8.1 Professional - 64-Bit (64-Bit CD Included) + MS Office 2013 Trial ( + 135 )
~Windows 7 Professional Premium 64-Bit (64&32-Bit CD Included) + MS Office 2013 Trial ( + 145 )
~Windows 7 Ultimate Premium 64-Bit (64&32-Bit CD Included) + MS Office 2013 Trial ( + 195 )


I was told if i didn't buy any of these, then i can't use the computer because theres no windows. So i figure i just buy windows 7 home premium for 95 more dollars. However, is it true if i buy it from them, that means it will be bloated with bloatware etc? I do know buying from them will be good b/c they will install windows 7 so i don't have to bother with it. However, i was told if i buy windows 7 myself on ebay, it will not only cost less... but i wouldn't have any bloatware... is this true? Because every computer i ever bought had bloatware and i dont really know how to get rid of all of it.


I assume its the first link that i want? Thus buying on ebay cost around 30 dollars less as oppose to me having xoticpc doing it and most importantly i wont have bloatware?


Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit SP1 Full Prem DVD COA Keycode New | eBay


Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 Full 32 64 Bit x32 X64 Version DVD COA 882224883412 | eBay

The other thing is someone pointed out to me that the sager np2740 doesn't have a dvd drive so that means i would either need an external hard drive which i don't have, or download the windows 7 iso file online, then put it on a usb drive and then install it that way. Can someone tell me if they done this before and is it very easy? I'm extremely bad with computers and stuff like this so if its very hard, then i wouldn't want to do this. Im a bit confused so one goes to that windows website and download it... but u have to supply the activation code from the windows 7 that i buy from ebay in order to download it? Or its free but you get to use it for 30 days and after that, then you have to activate the code from windows cd to it?


The thing is if thats the case, then isn't the windows cd/dvd useless then if you dont have hard drive? Thus if someone were to sell me the code such as here is the 16 or 32 digit windows 7 64 bit home premium code, then thats all i need?

 

[paulyjames]

Also how long is this entire process of downloading the iso file and then putting it on the usb drive then installing windows? Well i want to know about the downloading the isofile and the transferring to usb as installing windows should take just as long as how i normally reinstall windows with my previous laptops?


Also how big is the windows 7 iso file? Reason is b/c i only have a 4gb flash drive. Someone said its 3.1gb so that should be fine? They said what i do is download windows 7 iso file, then put usb into sager laptop then install windows. After i do that, then i go and download the sager drivers etc and then install it into sager laptop. Is that correct? The thing is they said i need to delete the windows 7 iso file b/c i would need space on the usb flash drive as i already would have used 3.1gb. Is that correct?

 

[paulyjames]

Also one other question. I have 2 other computers. One's a desktop and one's a laptop. Desktop is a dell one and laptop is asus. Would i be able to use the dell or asus windows 7 installation cd on the sager if i don't buy the windows 7 from either xoticpc or ebay? I don't believe i have the reinstallation cd anymore from dell, not sure if they gave me one or not but i would have to look for it. But i still have the asus windows 7 reinstallaton cd as they gave me that when i bought it and i done many reinstalls previously.


I assume that wouldn't work b/c its basically one cd per computer? Or is it one cd per ACTIVE COMPUTER? Wouldn't it be bad idea if i use the asus installation cd on the sager though if i could because its an asus and thats a sager? Also wouldn't it also be bad b/c when i reinstall my asus laptop, the cd comes with bloatware and thus its pretty slow and thus it would make the sager slow?

 

[gregrocker]

You could also consider first trying the Windows 10 Technical Preview which I installed on my PC and found so stable I have not gone back to Windows 7. It is basically Windows 8 with a real Start Menu, faster, better Explorer for copying and file management. What's amazing is it is this stable considering it's the earliest beta.

When I beta tested Win7, I found it was stable enough to keep and then by giving feedback when requested (not often) I got good offers for the final release. It's already said the Win10 will have a nominal cost and may even be pushed through on Windows Updates. MS is moving away from higher priced OS's.

You could also install WIn7 for the 30 day trial period and then decide if you want to buy it then or do an in-place Upgrade to Windows 10 technical preview by running its extracted installation files from Win7 desktop.

Just something to consider to get an even faster OS than Win7 for free for at least the next year or so.

Windows 10 Technical Preview - Clean Install
Windows 10 Technical Preview - Upgrade from Windows 7 or 8

 

[paulyjames]

Hi the thing is i only want to stick with windows 7 home 64 premium. I mainly use this computer for online poker and i was told windows 8 have issues with certain programs relating to it and thus i wouldn't want to use another version of windows. No i wouldn't want to even try windows 10 as there might be an issue.


But would you suggest i pay 95 dollars to have xoticpc install windows 7 for me or should i buy it off ebay and save like 25 dollars or so and do it myself with downloading the windows 7 iso and then putting it on usb drive and installing it myself? I never done this ever and it seems complicated but it shouldn't be?

 

[gregrocker]

If you're set on Windows 7 then don't buy it off eBay as this is a notorious vendor of counterfeit copies. The best prices we see regularly here from a reliable major retailer so you know it's safe, are from Tiger Direct and New Egg.

Doing a google search just now I find an even lower price from a vendor who I have not heard of but has BBB endorsement which you can verify: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium DOWNLOAD ONLY | Discount Mountain Software

You'd burn downloaded ISO to disk or stick using http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html?filter then do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html. You can also use the latest official ISO http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58997.iso to install now and just use key from the vendor.

If you have the builder do it then you can http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219576-clean-up-factory-bloatware.html to regain most performance. You also can use the Product Key which must be provided to you by law to do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

 

[paulyjames]

Hi. But is most of them have very good reviews, isn't it pretty safe though? Example the first link i posted and then the 2nd? But if it works after you install it, then it will work and wouldn't say not work say after some time right?


OKay from that link with discount mountain software, so basically they send me an email code with the activation key and no cd. But if i buy it off ebay.com, i would get physical one or the electronic email?


So it will be pretty simple doing it just buying the windows 7 from discount mountain software then? You make it sound more complicted when you mention do a clean install window but isn't the laptop brand new so there is no need for clean install or it just mean that no matter what even if first time? I have no clue what you mewan with clean up factory bloatware because if i install window 7, isn't there suppose to be NO BLOATWARE AT ALL?

 

[paulyjames]

How long should the entire process take for download iso, then put it on usb hard drive. Then install windows 7 when i get my laptop? The first 2 parts probably shouldn't take more than 30 minutes? Installing windows 7 should probably take another 45 minutes max? Thus if i order directly from xoticpc, would i even need to do any installation or anything?

 

[gregrocker]

I don't know if your builder bundles software into his OS installs.

You can download the ISO which speed depends on your connection. Use tool provided to burn DVD or stick, follow steps For http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html.

I'd compare it to Technical Preview which is free. Just make an extra partition for it when you install.
You have 30 days to install and provide key.

 

[paulyjames]

They told me there will be no bloatware that would be put into the sager laptop if i have them install the windows for $95. Would you say its worth it then to have them do everything as oppose to me buying either from the link you gave me or ebay to save $30 or so?


Ebay one i spoke to few ppl and they said even though many are counterfeit as long as the seller has lots of ppl who bought it and have positive feedback, that should be fine. Would u agree with that though? What i dont get is why most of the sellers say they recommend it to be used or refurbished computer but not a new computer even though they say it would work on any computer that is compatible with windows 7. Do you know why?

 

[paulyjames]

I just took a look at other seller and this one mention

Buy from a direct Microsoft partner..*Genuine Software"

New Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit Full Version w SP1 | eBay

This is pretty much same price compared to if i have xoticpc install it but 3,903 copies have been sold compared to 200 plus with the first seller who sell it for 30 dollars less.


I guess this is b/c lot of these people just wanted to play it safe?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I urge you to stay away from Ebay, even if from a "Microsoft partner". There's just too high a chance that you will get either an outright counterfeit or a license not intended for use by an ordinary civilian on a home PC.

It may install and seem fine in the beginning, only to run into major update issues in a month or two. Then you are stuck in Ebay/refund/credit card hell, which is never pretty.

The ISO for Microsoft Home Premium 64 Bit English is 3.09 GB. On a typical high speed cable connection, it would download in under an hour, but I have no idea about your connection speed.

Discount Mountain is legit as far as I know. I've heard good things about them generally and a respected member here recently bought Office 2010 from them with no issues reported.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I just read the entire thread and here are a few more points:

You say you won't have a DVD drive in the new laptop and have no experience with ISO files and are nervous about that.

In that case, I would have Xoticpc install Windows 7 Home Premium for 95 bucks.

If you instead bought a Windows 7 Home Premium disc or a download, you'd have to find a way to install it. You could buy an external DVD drive to install from a disc if you bought a disc. Or you could burn a disc from an ISO download.

You could put a downloaded ISO on a bootable USB flash drive, but I'll take your word for it that you don't want to get involved with anything that technical.

An ordinary Windows 7 disc or an ISO download will NOT contain any bloatware. If you bought from Discount Mountain, you wouldn't get bloatware. I'm not sure what Sager might provide. Ask them.

A clean install just means installing Windows for the first time on a drive. That's what you would be doing if you bought from Sager with no operating system. An ordinary Windows 7 installation shouldn't take over a half hour. Then you'd go to Windows Update and download a bunch of stuff, which might take hours.

You refer to an "activation code". That is actually a "Product Key". You don't need it to download the ISO, but you do need to use it to activate Windows or it will become unusable after 30 days.

Xoticpc may provide you with a Windows installation disc in addition to installing it for you, but I certainly wouldn't count on it. Ask them.

Make sure they give you a valid Microsoft Certificate Of Authenticity sticker and a valid Windows 7 Home Premium "Product Key". The product key will entitle you to re-install and activate Windows from an ISO download if you ever have to. The Product Key is what you pay for. Anybody can download the ISO for nothing and install Windows for 30 days, but you need the Product Key to go beyond 30 days.

You probably will not need any drivers from Sager. If they install Windows, they should supply the drivers. If you install Windows, the drivers should be supplied by your Windows disc or by Windows Update.

You can't use the Product Keys from Dell or Acer laptops on your new Sager.

If you have Sager install Windows, you have to decide what you would do if you had to reinstall Windows and did not have your own installation disc. You'd need to get involved with a DVD drive or a USB flash drive and the downloadable ISO file, like it or not. The only other possibility would be to restore an "image" file, but you'd probably find that more complicated than dealing with an ISO.

 

[paulyjames]

Hey all i got the sager laptop and it looks pretty good.


When i first started the laptop, it gave me option for windows update which is recommended, something else or ask me later. I chosed recommended is that fine? I wasn't sure to put that or ask me later as i was kinda worried recommended might make my computer lag a bit.


Also, the computer at the moment seems fast. But how can i tell if i have any bloatware or any processes that i don't want so this laptop doesn't lag later on? I do see theres a few programs there when i click on uninstall programs that are like bison camera and intel pro etc. Am i suppose to leave them there or just remove them.


Do you need me to list all the programs. I want to make sure theres no bloatware on this new sager laptop of mine. Currently using my old asus laptop still at the moment while typing this.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Go to Control Panel and then "programs and features" and post a screen shot or a list of what you see. Maybe we can identify the bloatware.

Some bloatware might be useful--I wouldn't automatically uninstall it if you think it is useful. But there may be replacement programs that do a better job that you can download free of charge.

If you want to look at processes, look at the services tab of msconfig and put a check in "hide all Microsoft services". That will give you a good idea of what you have, although they may not be readily recognizable by name. Type msconfig into the start button search box and follow the link.

There are various ways to configure Windows Update. Mine is set to just notify me, rather than install anything automatically. You should make it a habit to go to Windows Update at least once a month and see what it offers you. I don't accept everything offered, but probably 90%.

 

[gregrocker]

I gave you the steps to Clean Up Factory Bloatware earlier.

Post back a screenshot of all of the programs in Control Panel>Programs and Features.

 

[paulyjames]

So this new laptop of mine has started to have the same beeping problems as my asus laptop. I did not transfer any files from the asus laptop to the sager laptop.


Do you know why this is happening? The beeps are very similar as well.

 

[gregrocker]

What are you doing to these PC's to cause both to have the same beep codes? Have you reseated the RAM, HD or accessed anything else connected to the mobo?

Find out your BIOS by looking at the name on the first screen or tapping the Key for BIOS setup to check there, then determine the Computer POST and beep codes

Report back.

 

[paulyjames]

What are you doing to these PC's to cause both to have the same beep codes? Have you reseated the RAM, HD or accessed anything else connected to the mobo?

Find out your BIOS by looking at the name on the first screen or tapping the Key for BIOS setup to check there, then determine the Computer POST and beep codes

Report back.

I didn't do anything to my new sager laptop. I don't know what caused this. I used the sager laptop and just installed programs as the ones i needed. Didnt even transfer any files from asus to this one and only used a usb flash drive. I have no idea how this is happening.


Now my asus laptop doesnt beep anymore which makes no sense at all.

 

[gregrocker]

Are you following the steps given?

Focus.

Waiting to hear what you find.