how easy it is to change linux to windows os?

[ezinya]

pls help. i have no idea about linux os and i want to change to windows. the netbook is 10'' acer aspireone.

[Joey]

I assume the Netbook came with Linux? Check on the Acer website to see if they have Windows Drivers for your Netbook model. If they do then you can install Windows. If they don't then some things will not work like there will be no sound and the video will be slow. The Internet will probably not work either.

Assuming Acer has Windows drivers on their website for your specific Netbook model, here is how to install Windows on your Netbook...

1. You will need to purchase or borrow from a friend an External CD/DVD Drive that connects via USB (Here is an example of one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002782LTG)

2. When you saw the drivers for your specific Netbook on the Acer site what Windows version were they for? XP, Vista or Win 7? You need to get a copy of whatever Windows the driver supports

3. Insert the CD or DVD into the external Drive and plug it in to your Netbook when it is turned off. Now turn on the External Drive 1st, then turn on your Netbook. It will be just like a normal desktop install from there

[ezinya]

may be u can search better cos i didnt see my model in their list of products. the netbook is acer aspireone; model no. ZG5.

[davo]

hi, i found this doing a quick search for you.

http://www.notebook-driver.com/acer/acer-aspire-one-netbook-windows-xp-drivers/

perhaps joey can look at this and confirm them for you,as im not sure if you want xp,vista or win7 on your netbook?

[ezinya]

another problem with it, is it cant connect to my wireless broadband. the card is workin cos it was able to connect to open source BT, but BT wont allow access to internet.

[davo]

hi again i assume you are still running linux?
i to had many questions regarding format and wanted all the info i could get before i did the deed.
fortunatly joey convinced me to do it,and was the best thing i could have ever done.
ok this is probably the best advice i can give.
do you have a linux disc? if not,download and burn to an ISO. this will be incase you want to return to linux as a last resort.
step 1, decide which windows oporating system you wish to install.
step 2, download the drivers for the particular OS you want.
step 3, ether burn them to disc or send to a USB memory stick.
             dont forget to also get your WLAN and LAN drivers.they are for internet.(but not for wireless broadband).
your wireless broadband (if its 'say' telstra,bigpond,cricket,three,vodafone,or whichever company your with)stick is a USB,it should come with its own program,drivers included.
infact if a friend will let you try the broadband stick on there windows os you will know for sure.
step 4, back up all your data(files,vids,music),to ether an external hard drive or USB memory stick.
step 5, install the windows disc.the format is simple,all you need to do is boot from disc (settings in BIOS)enter,F10,enter. disc will now load,then press F8 i agree,delete the harddrive 'd' button. then it will prompt you to press 'L',then prompt you to press enter.
now you will return to the screen where your used space was,only difference is you have an erased harddrive.
alocat you free space to the amount of megabites offered. choose NTFS'quick' file format.
press enter.
it will take roughly 30 to 40 minutes,you will be offered to enter your name,date,time,location.
dont forget if it tells you to eject your disc,do it before reboot or you may find your self doing the same procedure again.
it will load again (about 20minutes).might have to reinsert disc again also,depending what OS you have chosen.
after all is complete you will boot and be in windows.
eject disc,now restart your laptop and go to your BIOS,change back to boot from harddrive.press enter,F10,enter.
you will now automaticly boot straight to windows.
step 6, install your drivers,each driver will probably prompt another reboot.i recommend doing so (this way, if you have a conflict issue you will know which driver to roll back).
once sucessfull create a restore point,get windows updates,antivirus,your favorite programs etc...
if you have a driver problem,a good program to use is called DriverMax,choose the free program(you will need to register a username).this will scan you computer,tell you what drivers are missing and give you 2 free drivers per day,if you pay you will have unlimited.
you can also now run linux as a duel boot also if you want.
or if you dont want windows any more you have that linux disc.
if you dont want to pay for window disc and have a friend with XP home disc, i have a spare product key you can have.
i hope this answers your concerns

[ezinya]

tanx 4 ur concern. wen i finish geting d drivers i will like u give me d product key.

[davo]

ok,let me know when you have formated and ill send it in a personal message to you, then you can try and activate windows with it.

[ezinya]

what do u mean by formating. do i just download any acer aspireone netbbok with the same spec like mine, cos i cant still find my model no. zg5?

[davo]

hi,formating is putting the windows disc in and installing the oporating system.
joey replied how to do this with an external disc drive connected to your notebook.
the link i offered in my post above should be the drivers for your Aspire One if you install windows XP.
scroll down that page and download all the drivers(left side of screen).
you may not have to install all the drivers,but its good to have them just incase.
for instance theres a touchpad driver(thats your mouse pad driver) you prob wont need that because windows drivers that come with the instalation disc should have them,or they will be in the original chipset drivers(i think).
theres also 2 different webcam drivers(do you know what your webcam is called?)
these are all given as extras and can be rolled back if you make a mastake.

what you will need to install is your,card reader,realtek audio,intel LAN,WLAN,intel VGA graphics DRIVERS.
after that you can go to 'right click' my computer,properties,hardware 'tab' and open divice manager.this is where your drivers are,the ones with a yellow question mark next to them are the ones missing.
if any problems occur you can also right click,properties on the driver icons and choose to rollback or uninstall. the program i mentioned in previous post will tell you exactly what drivers are missing and need upgrading.
to get into your bios and boot from CD/DVD disc drive should be:'quote from the drives site'
1. press f2
2. when in bios system, u tab the config i think
3. change the value from AHCI to IDE

then, save it, after this, u will be format.

if not, it always giving u a erorr reading like ur hardisk is not conected.

OK,once you tell me it worked and your now using windows instead of linux,
i will give you the spare product key i have to activate windows XP home edition.
this key will NOT work for xp pro,vista or windows 7.

read all the advice carefuly because when you are formatting you will not be able to use your notebook untill you have finished the procedure.
Good Luck

 

[ezinya]

its so weird i cant connect to the downloading site for the drivers. each time i clik on any link, like  Intel LAN Driver v5.698.701.2008, it will tell me internet explorer couldn't connect to ud-pc.com. dont know why.

[davo]

hi i just tried to download them,your right the links seem to be broken.
the last comments on the page were 2days ago and looks like it was working then.
im unsure why tho,and they may fix that soon(hopefully).
the realtek sound and intel graphics drivers still work.
its ok because i know the names of the drivers and hopefully can find them on a different site for you.
ill search as soon as i get a chance.
have you got your windows disc,data backed up,cd/dvd drive to install from?

[davo]

hey i just found these
tested download
acer aspireone drivers
click the xp/vista drivers TAB

http://www.aspireoneuser.com/downloads/

if your installing xp,dont click the win7 folder

[ezinya]

can this software 'Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 3-ZWTiSO' be good for my os?. saw it on net. 

[davo]

hello,
microsoft windows xp service pack 3, is the latest and last upgrade of the xp editions.
this is a good OS to learn on,i prefer it to vista.
it is very easy to navigate/find folders,alter registry,and so on.
i was informed by microsoft that it will become obsolete after April 2014.
if you are wanting XP,this is it.
it comes in home and pro edition,the spare key i have is for home edition.
are you purchasing it or downloading it free?
if you download it be careful of where you get it from,sometimes these free ones are recognised as a trojan/virus.
if you have a friend with a windows disc,you wont have to purchase one yourself.

[davo]

hi again,
i just did a google search on the windows os you asked about.
there is free links to the code you stated after xp.
looking on the sites they seem to be cracks(non genuine copys)
that will probably run off a product key genorator.
if you decide to use these as your OS,then you do it at your own risk and i take no responsibility if the anti virus you choose to install quarantines your operating system,
or if microsoft flag you as non genuine/pirate.or even if the OS has any faults or errors.
i recommend using genuine software if you dont want to repeat the procedures again and again until you find one that works,which will also cost a lot of your time.
the key i offer is genuine but may not necessarily work on your netbook,but will give it to you out of generosity.

[ezinya]

the xp cost £80 and it will cost me £50 for someone to do 4 me. non of my friends got it. i think i will go 4 d lesser one. thanks so much for ur help.