(WIN-7) downgrade from ultimate to starter

[dumble]

Hello,

I have a acer aspire 2920z. This is i think a 2year old laptop. It came with vista. On the acer support website you will only find vista drivers. But i installed win7 ultimate and it works fine (it installs all drivers automatically)

I want to downgrade from ultimate to starter for improving speed and diskspace. I dont really care about AERO. But i have some questions.

This features i will need:
- Be able to join a homegroup. (The desktop computer at home is installed with windows7 ultimate + homegroup)
- Be able to send network print-operations to the desktop computer at home.
- Connect laptop to the television using a VGA cable (to watch movies)
- Connect laptop to wireless network connections (home & public)
- Play & burn DVD´s on the laptop
- Remote desktop connection (i sometimes use the remote desktop connection to connect with the desktop computer at home to import ed2k links in eMule)

I do not use/need windows media player/center

Can i downgrade to starter?

[JayCub]

What it Doesn't Have

Windows 7 Starter is a significantly stripped-down version of Windows 7. Here's some of what it's missing, courtesy of a Microsoft blog posting:

• Aero Glass, meaning you can only use the "Windows Basic" or other opaque themes. It also means you do not get Taskbar Previews or Aero Peek.
• Personalization features for changing desktop backgrounds, window colors, or sound schemes.
• The ability to switch between users without having to log off.
• Multi-monitor support.
• DVD playback.
• Windows Media Center for watching recorded TV or other media.
• Remote Media Streaming for streaming your music, videos, and recorded TV from your home computer.
• Domain support for business customers.
• XP Mode for those that want the ability to run older Windows XP programs on Windows 7.
• About.com covers windows starter version quite well Source

I would search here dumble..or microsoft blog posting

[dumble]

OK thanks, i see two things that worry me.
- it lacks dvd playback. Does this mean that if i put a dvd in the laptop it will not reconise it?? Also if i install kmplayer (this player uses its own codecs) for example, i will not be able to play the DVD with kmplayer?
- it lacks multi monitor support. So i can not connect my laptop to the television with a VGA cable?

And what about WIN-7 home basic? Can I install that version?

[JayCub]

Given the choice dumble win 7 home basic will suit your needs better..Even the Ultimate version you can turn off all the features you don't require.. i would use Black Vipers guide as i found the forum a great source when using windows xp..

[hellnoire]

Black Viper's guide would be better, and certainly more legal then downgrading to Starter...

[Kees]

Still, I can understand Dumbie's point. Many of the missing features can de supplanted from elsewhere. Personally, I don't need Aero, nor desktop customization, nor Media PLayer (not really at least), I seldom switch user etc. Perhaps the Starter version is being undervalued. More is not always better.

[hellnoire]

Notice the last portion of my post though,

certainly more legal then downgrading to Starter

If you're not running a Netbook, you're legally not allowed to be using Starter, at least in North America. I understand the point fine... it's the legality problem that I'm pointing out.

[dumble]

did some more research, and found out that there is not really a point in downgrading.

ofcourse there is the legal issue, but the by downgrading i will not save space (or very little), i will not gain speed (maybe even lose speed, because AERO uses the GPU instead of the CPU. So by installing starter or home basic, the desktop will be loaded by the CPU)

So YES, i can downgrade and still be able to the things i do. BUT there is no point to it..

I AM going to get a CLEAN install. But I will just install ultimate again, and after the install disable some features and services using blackvipers website (thanks for that tip!)

[Student26]

did some more research, and found out that there is not really a point in downgrading.

ofcourse there is the legal issue, but the by downgrading i will not save space (or very little), i will not gain speed (maybe even lose speed, because AERO uses the GPU instead of the CPU. So by installing starter or home basic, the desktop will be loaded by the CPU)

So YES, i can downgrade and still be able to the things i do. BUT there is no point to it..

I AM going to get a CLEAN install. But I will just install ultimate again, and after the install disable some features and services using blackvipers website (thanks for that tip!)

I agree with the decision. No real point in downgrading. Ultimate has way more options and those you don't want can be easily turned off. Personally i have the majority of the aero features turned off. A quick way is to type "systempropertiesperformance" into the run command. (without the quotes) Toggling to highest performance will get rid of the aero features.

[hellnoire]

did some more research, and found out that there is not really a point in downgrading.

ofcourse there is the legal issue, but the by downgrading i will not save space (or very little), i will not gain speed (maybe even lose speed, because AERO uses the GPU instead of the CPU. So by installing starter or home basic, the desktop will be loaded by the CPU)

So YES, i can downgrade and still be able to the things i do. BUT there is no point to it..

I AM going to get a CLEAN install. But I will just install ultimate again, and after the install disable some features and services using blackvipers website (thanks for that tip!)

Very wise my good sir... and legal too