Tip: Use a USB Key to Install Windows 7—Even on a Netbook

Putting the Windows 7 installation on a USB thumb drive has a few advantages—a small USB key is much more convenient for carrying around than a DVD, the OS will actually install much faster, and you can use a USB key to install Windows 7 on systems that do not have a DVD drive, such as a netbook. In fact, you can even install Windows 7 on netbooks that have fairly modest hardware. Dennis Chung, an IT Pro Evangelist at Microsoft recently posted a video demonstrating how easy it is to prepare your thumb drive and use it to install Windows 7. Here’s a quick look at the process:
•First, you’ll need the DiskPart utility on the system you will use to prep the thumb drive. This is a free disk partitioning utility that is likely already installed on your Windows system. If not, you can download DiskPart here.
•Launch the DiskPart utility by typing diskpart at the Start Menu.
•Then run the list disk command to check the status of your drive.
Video
Dennis Chung, an IT Pro Evangelist at Microsoft, demonstrates how easy it is to prepare a USB thumb drive and use it to install Windows 7.

•Now run select disk 1 where the "1" is actually the corresponding number of your USB drive.
•Run clean.
•Once the thumb drive is clean, you can run create partition primary.
•Now make the partition active by entering active
•Then you need to set up the file system as Fat32 by running format fs=fat32 quick (quick, of course, specifies that you want to perform a quick format to speed up the process).
•Entering the assign command gives the USB drive a drive letter, making it easy to access from Windows Explorer
•Then you can copy everything from the Windows 7 installation DVD onto the USB key (a simple drag and drop will do).
•Now you can insert the thumb drive into the system you want to install Windows 7 onto and boot the system. The installation will now proceed as usual—but faster.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-my/magazine/dd535816(en-us).aspx

The world’s first 128GB USB Flash drive.

KINGSTON recently announced the availability of the DataTraveler 200 (DT200), which the Taiwanese computer memory manufacturer claimed is the world’s first 128GB USB Flash drive.
The large capacity along with password protection gives users the flexibility to carry critical data with them at all times in a very small form factor, Kingston said.
“The DT200’s robust storage capability allows consumers store complete libraries of music, photos and videos. It is also a great gadget for business users who carry around large databases or files,” Kingston Flash memory sales director for Asia Pacific region Nathan Su said in a press statement.
The DT200 also has password protection, which helps safeguard data and requires no administrator rights for users.
The DT200 has a capless design to protect the USB connector and is enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost. It is available in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB ­capacities.
The DT200 is backed by a five-year warranty and free tech support.
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www.kingston.com/asia