Removing Linux and Grub/Installing Windows 7 on Netbook

[REEDandRAYact]

I have a Samsung N120 Netbook that came with Windows XP. I tried to run Linux Mint as a 2nd operating system, but I kept getting errors and I became frustrated with it. Ever since then I have only used XP, but every time the computer starts up it goes into Grub and I have to choose to enter XP. Basically what I am looking to do is remove all traces of Mint and Grub and I suppose XP for that matter and upgrade to Windows 7. What is the best way to do that considering I have a netbook which does not have a CD/DVD drive? Sorry if this has been posted already and thank you in advance.

 

[Lemur]

You can boot off a usb and repartition/merge on your hd. I don't know what resources you have. You can do a remote install over a network.

Install Windows 7 from a USB Memory Stick | Remote Administration For Windows

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello REEDandRAYact, welcome to Seven Forums!





Have a look at the 2 tutorials at the links below.


USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

 

[REEDandRAYact]

.e

Thank you so much for the quick replies. I didn't have a chance to work on this since I posted, but now I am getting started. I purchased a 4GB USB flash drive to put the files on and I purchased Windows 7 from the Microsoft site with the student discount. I was given an ISO.exe file and a .exe file from which I was told I could download one or the other or both. I downloaded both.

Now I am working on backing up my computer and I am trying to create the bootable USB. I downloaded the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, but when I try to browse for the needed ISO file nothing shows up. I'm thinking that is because the file I was given is ISO.exe, but I'm not sure and since I know little about this I don't want to do anything without double checking. Do I need to change that file and, if so, how do I go about doing that?

 

[karlsnooks]

RandR

I think we have a tutorial on this but putting an iso on a ufd is very simple.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/32055-bootable-iso-create-installation-files.html


If this doesn't work for you, let me know and I'll give you my procedure.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello.





You will have better success using ImgBurn to burn the ISO once created, burn at 4x speed and select the verify box, at the link below.


ImgBurn - ISO Burning Software

 

[REEDandRAYact]

So my netbook backup is finishing up and I have the Windows 7 USB ready to go. I do have a question though. This guide
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html
seems to contain exactly what I am trying to do since I would like to remove all traces of my failed Linux experiment and start new with Windows 7. However, that guide seems to only explain how to go about this if you have a full installer DVD or a system repair CD, neither of which I have (my netbook doesn't even have a CD/DVD drive). Can I do the exact same thing as the full installer DVD with the USB I have created? Thank you all so much I'd be nowhere without these replies.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Howdy.





Yes you can, use Method One after you boot the USB stick.

 

[gregrocker]

You definintely need to wipe the HD with at least one set of zeroes to overwrite GRUB corruption.

After booting the USB stick installer, press Shift F10 at first screen to open a Command Line to run the DISKPART commands given in tutorial. Or select Repair My Computer on the second screen to access Command Line on Recovery Tools list.

 

[REEDandRAYact]

I'm up and running with Windows 7. Thank you all. These last questions may be really stupid, but I just wanted to see if anyone has any ideas.

When I first got Windows 7 going one of the first things I did was to go to the Samsung site for my netbook and download the Synaptics (touchpad) driver. It got me going with two finger scrolling and what not, but then I was cleaning off my desktop and I think I may have accidentally deleted it. The next time I started up my computer it asked me if I wanted to run a Synaptics .exe file and this now happens each time I start up my computer even though I re-downloaded the driver. Also two finger scrolling does not work until I run this .exe file each time. Is there any way to stop from having to run that each time I start up?

Also my volume used and brightness used to be controlled by fn+arrow keys. This no longer seems to work. Is there a simple way to fix that?

Thanks again everyone.

 

[karlsnooks]

Reed and Ray,
Congratulations on getting up and running.
Since I have no experience with your netbook, my first suggestion is to go to their website and see what they have to say.

If and only if that fails, then:
The easy solution is to roll back to an old restore point, which you should have if you didn't delete them.

If and only if that fails, then we'll go thru more complex gyrations.


Here's the link to restore:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

For the future, here's the link to create a restore point:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/697-system-restore-point-create.html

 

[gregrocker]

I agree with Karl that your best approach to the touchpad installer startup loop is to System Restore to before you installed it the first time, then reinstall.

I personally uncheck touchpad in msconfig>startup because I find the scrollbar too distracting to enjoy even the tap click function. It's likely the installer .exe is lodged in msconfig>Startup now, too, so you can check there first or just SysRestore to do it over again.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Here's link to a little guide that may be helpful.



Troubleshooting with MSCONFIG

 

[REEDandRAYact]

So after installing and re-installing and trying the restore program I finally realized that I just needed to unblock the two .exe files that kept coming up. I also found the software to make my keyboard volume and brightness controls on the Samsung site like you guys suggested. Finally up and running and loving the new OS without any annoyances. Thanks.

 

[karlsnooks]

Reed and Ray,
glad to hear that all is well and that we could have been of assistance.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Glad to see you got everything sorted, thanks for the update.