Installation media is always a big question: do you want to download the latest OS or would you prefer to have it on disc? Now a third choice could be making its way to the user space: a thumb drive preloaded with everything you need to speed up your computer‘s installation of Microsoft Windows 7.

May Be Used To Address Netbook Upgrades

The approach is being considered, but has not yet been agreed upon by Microsoft, and is meant to make the process of installing the new OS on PC netbook computers easier. As a way to make the devices as compact as possible, these miniature notebooks don’t have a CD or DVD drive built-in. Most netbooks run Windows XP which would require a clean installation if the user decides to move to Windows 7.

It’s not impossible to get a new OS onto a netbook. Microsoft has offered a download option for its operating systems for some time. Likewise, user can connect an external drive or possibly do a network installation. The thumb drive option is interesting nonetheless, and may prove to be a popular and cost effective way to get a new operating system to a computer, regardless of its size.

Using a thumb drive to install an OS isn’t a new idea. Technicians have used this approach since thumb drives became practical size-wise for such a task. In addition, some distributions of Linux also arrive on thumb drives. The approach makes sense, especially if you’re looking for a speedy way to install your OS. (Disc-based OS installation can be maddeningly slow, even on a fast computer!)

Microsoft has not yet committed to a thumb-drive installation and practical questions, such as securing the OS would have to be addressed. Non-writable thumb drives might be a good option to protect the software and make it as widely available (and easily installable) as possible.

Thumb drives can also be made bootable, which could make these miniature marvels a good troubleshooting tool, if you’re having difficulty with your operating system or want to isolate the computer’s OS for some reason. Not all computers support booting from a USB device, and not all USB drives support booting, so those two considerations would have to be addressed.

Overall, it is (at the least) an interesting idea for distributing the OS, and could address the need that some users (like me) have for physical media.

Photo Credit: BushLeague TV, via Flickr

Tags: speed up computer, speed up Windows installation, Windows thumb drive, Windows USB drive