I have an acer netbook (i think it's the aspire 751) that's a few years old now and is starting to feel like it needs a fresh install etc. It didn't come with install media and it'd need to be an install from usb.
Is reinstalling the OS the simplest solution or are there other (not too time consuming) options to roll back to a clean xp install?
Any suggestions for stopping performance slow downs would probably be very useful too! PortableApps that don't install services or start unnecessary tasks perhaps?
Thanks in advance for your intelligent thoughts!
via monkey mobile
I took my brand new netbook and put Ubuntu on it dual boot. Best decision I ever made. Try it in dual boot to see if you like it (the install package creates the partition and you get to keep the Windows partition for the time being). If you do like (and I suspect you will) then dump the Windows altogether and you've solved your problem. it will run faster under Ubuntu than under Windows for almost everything imo.
A similar option would be to go the Ubuntu route but to try Lubuntu. Ubuntu comes in several 'flavours'. While they all do basically the same thing, give you a great free OS, Lubuntu is very light weight and flies on older slower hardware.
Or stick with windows, Linux is still not easy to get running despite what the fans say. (I have pent up rage from the last time I tried installing Ubuntu that's looking for an fight :boxing: )
You can build your own windows install using nLite http://www.nliteos.com/ to ditch a lot of the windows stuff you don't use, then using WinSetupFromUSB http://thecybergal.blogspot.com/2010/07/make-usb-windows-installer-with.html to put the windows install package onto a usb memory device or sd card, then install windows from your memory device instead of the cd.
For portable apps I've used http://www.liberkey.com/en.html for the last three years and I can't understand why everyone isn't using it.
It must have been a while ago that you tried Ubuntu? Now compared to Windows Ubuntu is a dream to install and use. Everything just works straight out of the box. I think the days of hacking about in the terminal console trying to get sound cards to work is long gone...
Performance wise, Ubuntu eats XP for breakfast - especially on older hardware.
Its really very easy to install, you shouldn't have to go anywhere near the dreaded Linux console unless you want do something mad.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
Ubuntu is easier than it's ever been. But it's still not Windows easy if you want to do anything more than browse the web or play the odd video. I love how for getting Latex or programming languages its a doddle compared to windows and if you do that sort of thing I would say there's no point using windows at all. Rsync and SSH etc also dead simple and recently used that to back up stuff in the lab, I'd hate to think about doing the same in windows. Though these are all things that aren't a standard user type job.
An average user doesn't get the gains of programming languages and dependencies all taking care of themselves in the background. They only get the headache of having to google that one obscure problem or bit task that they could do in windows but can't work out in Linux...and if you already own windows you can't even justify it as financially motivated (another way it can ease the stress).
So I would stick with windows. To answer your question the easiest way is to format. If you have all your programs and drivers ready and data backed up it's only a maximum of 2 hours to get back to brand new and up and running (As little as 45mins for Win 7 due to more drivers bundled and less restarts - but I doubt you have a spare key lying around).
(Just to clarify I love Linux, I can't see it taking over the home market for quite a while though)
Quote from: smilodon;334881It must have been a while ago that you tried Ubuntu? Now compared to Windows Ubuntu is a dream to install and use. Everything just works straight out of the box. I think the days of hacking about in the terminal console trying to get sound cards to work is long gone...
Six weeks ago and I only wanted to run one application, it took several installs to get the basic install up and running somewhat correctly. Installing the one app I wanted invoved much googling
Thanks for the replies.
I would, but can't, try Linux as it needs certain applications (ms office and some specific work vpn stuff). I need to put xp in it, but need to do so without an install cd/dvd ...will check out jamin's site as soon as I have time to re-fix it in case it all goes wrong!
via monkey mobile
Ive got a older Acer Aspire one Pro, which i decided to slap windows 7 on, runs it fine...
Ubuntu and the other easy linux OS's is great on the little netbook, tho dropped it as i lacked certain VPN software to work in linux