Guide for the Common Man: Windows 7 Dual Boot

OK, I thought i'd take a moment and share my accomplishment and teach others at the same time.

A little background.
I am decent when it comes to all things "Tech".
I can build a PC if I had to, but typically I don't have a lot of time to sit down and fiddle with things, so I call my cousin the IT professional (who is about as reliable and on time as your local High School sluts period). All things considered, I consider myself a smart man. While I won't be building a Linux operated server, I can slap together a computer.
I've come up with a rating system I'll use here in this guide. it will be laid out as follows:
1. Mechanical ingenuity - If a task requires some turning of a wrench or screw, I'll rate it as follows: 1 Screwdriver = easy or no mechanical know how required... on up to 5 screwdrivers = you better know how cold fusion works and be able to demonstrate it with a can of tomatoes and a lithium ion battery!
2. Computer knowledge - how "computer savvy" you must be, rated as follows: 1 Core = Geek Squad employee (beyond easy) and on up to 5 Cores = University Technical Science or Computer Theory Instructor.
and finally:
3. Google Kung Fu Search Prowess - Being as how I mentioned I am a common man, I use Google to search for my answers. This is what level of G-Fu you need in order to find the answers. from 1 - White Belt, to 5, Sensei!

When applicable, I will also link to sites that gave me the info I needed.

Today's Guide:
Taking a brand new MSi Wind U100 (Netbook) and dual booting Windows XP and Windows 7 Ultimate (Build 7000 Beta)

So I acquired the MSi Netbook because I wanted the ultra portability, as well as a back up computer for both work and home. In my office it is not uncommon for my store to be so packed that a Salesman would not have a desk to work at. Having the privileged right of "the boss" I don't have to move, but I often do so that my employees can close the sale and complete the paperwork in peace. This new toy enables me to access what I need, wherever. Plus, at home, my lovely bride is a facebook/mafiawars/tribal wars junkie and I often have no access to a computer (largely because she breaks them faster than I can fix them, or more accurately, faster than my "prompt" cousin finds the time to come visit and repair my shit).
So... I get the Netbook and do a little cleanup and configuring... it's broken down as follows:
1. First boot - everything works fine, not too much BS software pre-installed to remove, just a couple of minor things.
2. I get XP running how I like it... with my Yahoo widgets and Firefox with Adblock+, AVG, etc... nothing technical or mechanical yet, provided you are at least a level 2 computer savvy person. Meaning the average Geek Squad employee would probably screw this part up. Took me about three or four times of forcing the Windows updates to pull to officially get everything up and running fully updates. For reference - Start/Control panel, Security Center, check for the latest updates... blah, blah, blah.

Everything is working wonderfully, but I noticed that this machine "Auto Partitioned" the hard drive into two sectors (actually three, but more on that later). the "C" drive was roughly 40 Gig and the "D" drive was roughly 70 Gig.... strange, but whatever. Guess it would be nice to store important shit on Drive "D" and not risk corruption of data.

Moving on, about this time I begin to research my little acquired package...

I find this link:
http://www.electricvagabond.com/2008...clock-and.html
G-Fu skill = 3
So I read the guide a few times and decide to give it a go.
IMPORTANT... the guy's guide said this:

Pre-update) Before proceeding ensure that you have the latest System Control Manager (SCM) from the MSI support page here. Many users have reported issues such as speedstep not working properly or the unavailability of Eco mode - all fixed by the latest SCM.

this is 100% true, so don't skip it. just do it.
after updating the SCM (which incidentally I removed the old one prior due to the fact that I didn't know what it was and I have an aversion to little tray icons I don't know what they are about. But, anyway, I updated the SCM and moved on to the bios update.

Everything went swimmingly and just as warned, when the update was done, the keyboard and mouse pad locked up, but after holding down the power and rebooting everything was fine.

Now with the new bios, this little beast will overclock with the push of 2 buttons to 2 ghz. You have to enable the setting in the bios, which is easy, and it gives you three choices... 8% 15% or 24%. seeing as how I don't know how bad this will fuck it up, I was a good boy and tried the 8% setting for a day, then went to the 15% setting where i have it set today. I'll reserve the 24% overclock setting for when I upgrade the Ram from 1 Gig to 2.
Note: Computer Skill required for the above = 3, just take your time and read, don't rush it.
Also noteworthy - the MSi Wind has 1 gig of onboard ram so if you want to use another 1 gig stick to boost it, you can... OR you can opt for my plan... Disable the onboard ram (via the bios - its in there) and then install a nice 2 gig stick, like maybe 800 MHz instead of 667 MHz! but this is a conversation for another day, as it requires taking the little monster apart.

So... I am now enjoying my new toy and something dawns on me. I recall reading a thread about Windows 7 Beta, here on CoG. I was jealous that I didn't have this shiny new operating system! Back to exercising my G-Fu!
I find this (basically off the Win 7 Post here at CoG)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...-download.aspx G-Fu = 1
then I see that there is 32 bit and 64 bit... I download both but opt for 32 bit because of this:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...it&btnG=Search
G-fu = 3 and I'm still not sure I can't run 64 bit, but since there were too many arguments against it, I opted for 32 bit.

Next problem... getting it onto my Wind. (No DVD Drive)!!!
So, I could cheat, and buy a 50-60 dollar USB drive and burn my downloaded Win 7 Beta to a DVD...
I (according to my cousin) could share the DVD drive on my computer at home and basically load it wirelessly via the network. No fucking clue on this, so I go back to G-Fu:

I start searching for "making a USB bootable" and so on.. it is taking em all over the web and telling me I have to either create a boot disk and copy select files to my USB drive, or I need some HP software (which I did download from here):
http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197
I start to get frustrated, because this is ridiculous. Why does it have to be this hard to boot from a USB?

Well, thats when, via my G-Fu Prowess, I discover this little gem:
http://edge.technet.com/Media/Instal...g-a-USB-Stick/
this "Dennis" guy is a fucking genius!

so, here is what I learned from Dennis in a nutshell:
Using the following commands (FROM A VISTA computer) you can partition, format, activate, etc the USB and make it work...
So I follow his steps:
went to my babysitters computer (she's got Vista) and did this:
1. Diskpart
2. List Disk
3. Select Disk 1 (Replace 1 with number reflecting your USB Drive)
4. clean
5. create partition primary
6. active
7. format fs=fat32 quick
8. assign

Now, a drive letter reflecting the drive should appear. Copy the bits from the DVD to the USB Stick.

then, using WinRar, I extract the files from the ISO of Windows 7 I downloaded (Comp Prowess = 3)
Copied the files to the USB stick (Comp Prowess = 1)
Plugged the USB into my MSi and turned on the power!!! (CP- 0, just hope and pray)

G-Fu to the rescue:
found this:
http://lifehacker.com/5126781/how-to...th-xp-or-vista
MOST IMPORTANT:
Once the DVD boots up it's a simple matter of following along with the fairly simple installation wizard. When you're choosing installation type, be sure to select Custom (advanced) and choose the partition you set up above. (Be careful here. Choosing the wrong partition could mean wiping your other Windows installation altogether, so make sure you pick the new partition you just created.)

I mentioned earlier about the fact that this little machine was already partitioned three ways. This is where that comes into play... Choose Custom install and R E A D carefully. there is a 40 gig partition - leave it alone, it's your XP partition. There is a 3 or 4 gig partition labeled "factory" or something, which I imagine is a sector for the pre-installed shit, then there is your 60 gig partition just waiting for Win 7!!!

Installation was smooth as silk and MAKE NOTE, you WILL need a land line for the first connection to the internet as the update you download for Win 7 basically has the wireless drivers and what not... after that - it's all good to go!!!!

Enjoy your Win 7 Beta on your Netbook!!
No Device manager issues or anything, the shit just works!

Now, understand... I am a self proclaimed tech "semi- skilled" person. This was accomplished in an afternoon, while playing with the kids, and surfing the net. YOU TOO can accomplish this if you just work on your G-Fu, read, and take your time.

Overall this was the rating I give this little venture:
Comp Prowess = 3 - Anyone with a High School reading level and a little know how should be fine. If you can work your iPhone, you can do this.
G-Fu Prowess = 4 - Brown belt level here, it's more about the patience and reading and knowing when to search again.
Mechanical Prowess = N/A - as long as you can plug something into a wall socket, you'll be just fine.

If you all decide you like this guide, let me know and I'll share the RAM upgrade experience when it arrives in the mail