Windows Instructions

If your computer does not have the MeeGo OS installed and you want to replace an existing Windows operating system with the MeeGo OS, follow the instructions on this page.
Notes:

• There may be image writer tools for other operating systems available, as well.
• If you are a Linux developer, you may prefer to use these instructions for Linux.

Getting Ready

System Requirements

• CPU: Intel Atom or Intel Core 2 CPU (support for SSSE3)
  Note: MeeGo will not work on non-SSSE3 CPUs
• Platforms with the GMA-500, Nvidia, or ATI Graphics chipset are not supported.
• Tested netbook and nettop platforms

Follow the Processes on This Page Completely and in Order
To make the overall procedure of downloading and installing the image easier to follow, the procedure is broken down into smaller processes, but you must perform all of the processes below completely and in the order they are presented to replace your computer’s current OS with the MeeGo OS.
Notes:

• When you install MeeGo OS, all programs and any other content that exists on the computer you are installing onto will be permanently deleted.
• Before you installing the MeeGo OS on your computer, make sure you test it. Testing instructions are provided below in process D, Testing the MeeGo OS Image on Your Computer Before You Install It.
  Note: Testing does not work on some computers, such as Sony netbooks.
• The computer you are installing the MeeGo OS onto must have a USB port.
• You will need to use a computer to download the image file and save it to a USB drive, even if the device you will be installing the MeeGo OS on is not a computer.

A. Download the Image Writer for Windows Tool

Image Writer for Windows is a Windows program that saves and restores images from removable drives, such as a USB drive, which is what you’ll need to install the MeeGo OS. You can use Image Writer for Windows to write a boot image to a USB drive, which you’ll be able to use to install the MeeGo OS onto your computer or device.

1. Open the website for the Image Writer tool for Windows.
   (Ubuntu version)
2. On the right side of the Image Writer for Windows website is a Downloads area. On the right of the top green button, that reads “win32diskim...3-win32.zip”, click the down arrow.
   
3. If you have WinZip installed, select open with WinZip.
   Note: If you do not have WinZip installed, you will need to install the WinZip program first and then return to step 1 of these instructions.
4. In Windows Explorer, create a folder on your computer where you will extract the WinZip file.
5. Once the WinZip file opens on your computer, select all of the files in the WinZip folder, click Extract, and then browse to select the folder you created to extract the files into.
6. If that folder doesn’t open automatically, navigate to it in Windows Explorer and double-click on the Win32DiskImager.exe file. The Win32 Disk Imager program opens.
   

B. Download the MeeGo Image File for Your Device

1. In a browser window, open the MeeGo Downloads page.
2. Click the Download link to the left of the device type (such as netbook) you want to download the MeeGo OS for.
3. In the screen that appears, select Save File, and click OK.
4. Once the download is complete, right-click the file’s name in the Downloads screen and select Open Containing Folder.
5. In the Download Complete screen, click Close.

C. Save the MeeGo Image File onto a USB Drive

1. In the Win32 Disk Imager window, click the folder button to the right of the Image File Field.
   
2. In the Select a disk image screen browse to select the image file you just saved (browse to the same folder that opened when you clicked Open Containing Folder above in step 4 of process B, just above this process) and click Save.
3. The name of the file you selected appears in the Image File filed of the Win32 Disk Imager window.
   
   Note: The name of the image file you saved may be different from the example Image File name in the screen above.
4. Insert an empty USB drive into a USB port on your computer. The Device field should fill in automatically to reflect the USB drive’s location.
   Note: If the Device field does not fill in automatically, click the refresh button to the right of the Device field and you will see the available drives listed. Select the correct one for your USB drive.
   
5. Click the Write button to save the selected image file onto the USB drive.
6. In the Confirm overwrite screen, click Yes.
   
7. The image file will begin saving to the USB drive. This may take several minutes.
   
8. Once the progress bar reaches 100%, file is saved, and then the progress bar disappears completely. Now you can remove the USB drive from your computer.
   

D. Testing the MeeGo OS Image on Your Computer Before You Install It

Before you install the MeeGo OS on your computer, deleting all existing content on that computer, you should test to make sure MeeGo will work on that computer.
Note: Testing does not work on some computers, such as Sony netbooks.

1. Turn off the computer or device on which you are going to install the MeeGo OS.
2. Insert the USB drive into a USB port on that computer or device.
3. Turn the computer or device on.
4. As soon as you turn on that computer or device, rapidly and repeatedly press the key on your computer's keyboard that allows you to access the “Boot Menu”, a screen that lets you select, using your up and down arrow keys on the computer’s keyboard, which drive you want to boot your computer from.
   Note: The key that allows you to access the boot menu varies by computer. For some it's the F12 key, for others it's Esc, 0, F9, or possibly something else. If none of those work, refer to your computer's documentation.
5. Use your down arrow to select USB and press Enter on your keyboard.
6. In the Welcome to MeeGo! screen, use the down arrow to select Boot MeeGo and press Enter on your keyboard.
7. If the MeeGo Myzone screen appears, MeeGo will work on your system.
   Note: If you remove the USB drive from your computer, MeeGo will not continue working properly until you reinsert the USB drive.

E. Installing the MeeGo OS Image onto Your Computer

1. Turn off the computer or device on which you are going to install the MeeGo OS.
2. Insert the USB drive into a USB port on that computer or device.
3. Turn the computer or device on.
4. As soon as you turn on that computer or device, rapidly and repeatedly press the key on your computer's keyboard that allows you to access the “Boot Menu”, a screen that lets you select, using your up and down arrow keys on the computer’s keyboard, which drive you want to boot your computer from.
   Note: The key that allows you to access the boot menu varies by computer. For some it's the F12 key, for others it's Esc, 0, F9, or possibly something else. If none of those work, refer to your computer's documentation.
5. Use your down arrow to select USB and press Enter on your keyboard.
6. In the Welcome to MeeGo! screen, use the down arrow to select Installation Only and press Enter on your keyboard.
7. In the first screen of the installation wizard, click Next.
8. In the second screen, select the language you want to set as your computer’s language default, then click Next.
9. In the following screen, in the drop-down field at the top of the screen, select Remove all partitions on selected drives and create default layout. Then click Next.
10. In the Writing storage configuration to disk screen, click Write changes to disk. Wait for several minutes while the MeeGo OS installs.
11. In the final screen of the installation wizard, which reads “Congratulations, the installation is complete.” at the top of the screen, click the Close button.
    Note: Do NOT remove the USB drive until the computer’s screen goes black, then remove it immediately.

F. Completing Your MeeGo OS Setup

1. The computer should restart automatically. If it doesn’t, wait a few moments and then press the power button.
2. After a minute or two, the MeeGo background screen will appear, then disappear and there will be a black screen for a few moments before the MeeGo Setup screen appears. Click Forward.
3. In the Keyboard screen, select the language you want to use for the computer’s keyboard. Click Forward.
4. In the Time Zone screen, select a city that is within your time zone. Click Forward.
5. In the Date and Time screen, set the correct date, hour, minute, and second. Click Forward.
6. In the Backtrace Collection screen, select Yes if you wish to automatically report computer crashes to the MeeGo reporting database, and No if you do not wish to report your computer’s crashes. Click Forward.
7. Enter a username, your full name, and then a password you wish to use, which you repeat in the Confirm Password field. Click Finish.
8. Wait a few minutes and MeeGo will launch and be ready for you to use.
   Note: For help using MeeGo, take a look at the MeeGo help file.