Miss the Load Fest?

I have gotten about 12 emails since Friday asking if students can still get a serial key for Windows 7. Here are your options:


Engineers 
(or anyone taking a class in the Engineering college)
Hooray, you can still get your key! In fact, you will have access to hundreds of Microsoft titles until you graduate. To take advantage of this, go to:
http://msdn.e-academy.com/cornell_ece

For detailed instructions on how exactly to grab your key, check out this guide I wrote for the Load Fest:
http://h199006.dreamsparkhosting.com/win7.pdf
You can download the .iso file from the MSDNAA site and burn it to a DVD to have your own installation disc.

Non-Engineers
It looks like you are out of luck for the time being, unless you are in a special department with MSDNAA. I am working on getting it enabled for all of the ILR School. The extra keys were a one time deal, so I do not have any more to give out. Maybe if there is enough demand, I will host another Load Fest after Winter break. If you like this idea, comment below so I know that there is a demand.


Sorry, but these are the only 2 options for now. If you got a key at the event but did not install Windows 7 yet, grab a disc from an engineer friend. Have him/her follow the instructions above if he/she is not familiar with MSDNAA.


-Dan

Windows 7 Load Fest- Great Success!

The Cornell Windows 7 Load Fest was held in the 1st floor of Upson Hall from 11am to 2:30pm on Friday, November 20, 2009.  The purpose of the event was twofold: first, to give any student taking a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math class a free key for Windows 7 Professional, and second to help students install Windows 7 on the spot. Engineers can get the key at any time through MSDNAA, but others do not have this access.  Over the course of the event, 466 students registered and about 200 students installed Windows 7 on their laptops. The purpose of registration was to keep track of students and enter them into the raffle, whose winners will be announced later today.

Thanks to the Info Science Student Association (especially Charlie Curwen for his huge help), IEEE, and all of the volunteers who helped pass out keys, check schedules, and install Windows 7 on laptops.

Here are some pictures from the event:

From Windows 7 Load Fest

Students began lining up at 10:30am. Here is a shot from the registration table.

From Windows 7 Load Fest

Once registered, non-engineers showed their schedule to volunteers who granted them a key if they took a required S.T.E.M. course.

From Windows 7 Load Fest

This is just a shot of the sign in tables, filled with students. There was a steady stream all day.

From Windows 7 Load Fest

This is a shot of Upson 111, where the installations occurred. It was packed solid for most of the day.

From Windows 7 Load Fest

A shot of the front of Upson 111, where students could get an installation DVD. We also had usb sticks for netbook installations.

From Windows 7 Load Fest

At 3:00pm, we moved our efforts to the Upson Lounge, where we stayed till 4:30pm, when the event finally ended. We stopped giving out keys around 2:45, but there was a long wait for the discs.

Welcome to the Load Fest!

Welcome to the Cornell Windows 7 Load Fest page. Before you go any further, please register below. This helps us keep track of attendance and enters you into the raffle for prizes.

Register here

Next Step:
Engineers: You can get your key right away, pickup instructions or go here:
http://h199006.dreamsparkhosting.com/win7.pdf

Non-engineers:
See registration table


Enjoy!

Craig Mundie College Tour- "Rethinking Computing"

Craig Mundie, the Chief Research and Strategy Officer of Microsoft, will be visiting Cornell this Monday as part of a select college tour! Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity!

Craig is one of two senior executives who took over from Bill Gates. Next to Gates, he is the highest level executive Microsoft has ever sent to Cornell. He is responsible for the company’s long-term technology strategy.

Craig will talk about how software and information technology can help solve the most pressing global challenges we face today. He will demonstrate a number of current and future-looking technologies that show how computer science is changing scientific exploration and discovery in exciting ways. Craig will discuss the role of new science in solving the global energy crisis, and answer questions from the audience.

Date: Monday, November 2
Time: 4:00 pm
Doors open at 3:45pm; arrive early for best seating!
Location: Phillips 101

For more information about Microsoft and Craig Mundie, visit http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/craig/

Windows 7 Launch Event

Heard of Microsoft's Windows 7? Want to see what the hype is all about? Want to get a $10 gift card to FYE just for trying it out?

Windows 7 Launch Event 

Come check out Microsoft's newest operating system and get a $10 gift card to FYE just for the test drive!

What: A presentation on the new features of Windows 7 and a chance to demo the new software.

When: October 22, 2009 at 5:30pm

Where: Statler Hall Room 396

Why: The first 150 students get a free gift card and everyone gets a shot at other great prizes and giveaways!


Engineer? Find out how you get Windows 7 for FREE through MSDNAA

Student? Find out how you can get Windows 7 for only $30! http://win741.com/

See the facebook event page for more details: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157642342479&ref=nf


Presented by:
Microsoft Student Partner Dan Somrack (djs362@cornell.edu)
Windows 7 Campus Reps Vivien Pillet (vivienpillet@gmail.com) and Chris Moe (chrismoe18@gmail.com)
Cornell Computer Reuse Association

Install Windows 7 with a USB flash drive

This guide assumes that there is no access to a DVD drive - like on a netbook! It also assumes an MSDN subscription. If you do not have a subscription, but can get the win 7 iso, the process is the same. If you have the Win 7 DVD, skip the iso steps and copy the pertinent files from the DVD.

Requirements:
*USB Flash Drive (Minimum 3GB)

Prep:

-Download the Windows 7 Ultimate .iso file from MSDN  HERE

-Download Virtual Clone Drive HERE (to open the iso without burning)

Mount Windows 7 iso

To save the trouble of burning the iso, you can simply mount it on a virtual drive.

1. Install Virtual Clone Drive – This is my favorite utility for mounting iso files, but extracting the iso with WinRar should work as well

2. Right click on the downloaded iso file and select “Mount (Virtual Clone Drive)”

3. Now your iso image is virtually mounted as though it was a DVD in your computer

Formatting USB

1. Plug-in your USB flash drive to USB port and move all the contents from USB drive to a safe location on your system.

2. Open Command Prompt with admin rights. Use any of the below methods to open Command Prompt with admin rights.
*Type cmd in Start menu search box and hit Ctrl+ Shift+ Enter.
Or
*Go to Start menu > All programs > Accessories, right click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

3. You need to know about the USB drive a little bit. Type in the following commands in the command prompt:
First type DISKPART and hit enter to see the below message.

Next type LIST DISK command and note down the Disk number (ex: Disk 1) of your USB flash drive. In the below screenshot my Flash Drive Disk no is Disk 1.

4. Next type all the below commands one by one. Here I assume that your disk drive no. is “Disk 1”.If you have Disk 2 as your USB flash drive then use Disk 2. Refer the above step to confirm it.
Below are the commands you need to type and execute one by one, hitting enter after each.
SELECT DISK 1
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1
ACTIVE
FORMAT FS=NTFS
(Format process may take few seconds)
ASSIGN
EXIT
Don’t close the command prompt as we need to execute one more command at the next step. Just minimize it.

Bootable USB Drive

1. Check the drive letter of the mounted iso file. In this guide I will assume that your mount drive letter is “G” and USB drive letter is “H” (open my computer to see the correct lettering).

2. Maximize the minimized Command Prompt in the 4th step. Type the following command, hitting enter after each.
G:
(making sure you are in the root directory, which should read g:\>, type the following:)
CD BOOT
BOOTSECT.EXE /NT60 H:
Where “H” is your USB drive letter. Once you enter the above command you will see the below message.

3. Copy your Windows 7 DVD contents to the USB flash drive.

Your USB drive is ready to boot and install Windows 7. Install as normal, put in your cd key, and install all drivers as necessary after it boots into windows.
The only thing you need to change the boot order at the BIOS to USB from the HDD, just run the boot selection menu at startup.

You are done!

External Links

This guide is a modified version of:

 http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=76690

A guide from Microsoft Technet, with Video:

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

I am What I Learn

I just wanted to share a video I made about Dreamspark and MSDNAA and how it is helping me with my future.