HP netbook with win 7 starter

[mazdapro5]

Hi everyone!

this is my first post here, its so good to have peers i can ask questions to about windows 7, i dont feel alone

i got a new netbook from HP (hence no dvd rom drive), it came with windows 7 starter, i want to get ultimate or home premium the digital version, my questions are:

1. once i install either upgrade, how do i restore to out-of-the-box state incase it screws up in the future?
2. many "installing windows 7 to a netbook" videos show disk part on usb drives and putting it on a usb and booting into it, can i go with "Custom" installation from windows and reach a successful finish without booting into setup from bios?

heres my favorite video to show what Im referring to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98xlSjTyCaQ

 

[jradicle11]

Hello,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

Above is a link on how to install from a USB drive. I had to format my USB drive for it to work.

 

[gregrocker]

An easy way to upgrade between Win7 versions is Anytime Upgrade. You just buy the key, insert it and it unlocks all the features of the higher version without any install, leaving everything else on your netbook in place.

Windows 7 features - Windows Anytime Upgrade - Microsoft Windows

If you're set on clean installing a higher version then you must buy an Upgrade version. You can buy it as a download from the MS store (and elsewhere) then write it to a USB flash stick easily using UltraISO trial version Bootable tab: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

Then you only need to tap the key given on the first bootup screen for Boot Menu and select flash drive, usually listed as a Hard Drive, to get a Custom install with Drive tools to format before install.

The installer is mostly driver-complete, with more arriving via Windows Updates. If you back up the C:windows/system32/drivers along with all of your files, you can find any drivers missing in Device Manager there. Other drivers and favorite apps should be on the Support Downloads page for your model.

 

[mazdapro5]

oh wow i didnt know you can backup your drivers and installing them easily by copying c:\windows\system32\drivers !

 

[RJ12]

+1 for Anytime Upgrade

 

[logicearth]

You don't need to boot to a USB key to install. all you need is access to setup.exe (on the Windows 7 DVD/ISO) from either the hard disk, network drive, or even mount ISO file. As long as you backup the original data (Windows 7 ISO) you'll be fine.

Just head to hp.com, support and drivers, search for your netbook to get all the drivers.

I mostly just extract my Windows 7 ISO files using 7zip on the same HDD and partition I'm installing too. Then I just execute setup.exe and pick Custom install. Done deal