Cynthiadvt,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

You will need to purchase an External USB cd/dvd to install any disc. What is the problem you are having downloading if you are connected to the internet?

I don't think you will like Vista very much on the mini ... Vista is a real resource hog and doesn't play nicely with netbooks.  If you want to switch to windows, I'd suggest XP. 

McCaffee and Office 2007 are Microsoft products that don't run on Ubuntu.  (Actually is possible to install Office 2007 through the program called wine, you may want to consult www.codeweavers.com for an easy to use version).  You do not need McCaffe on Ubuntu, though, because Ubuntu is not succeptitle to viruses like windows is.  So, don't worry about haing antivirus software installed. 

Additionally, you will find that openoffice installed on Ubuntu can read/write to Microsoft office document formats (except the pptx and docx files form MS's new version);  so, it is quite possible that OpenOffice will satisfy your requirements.

I bought an Mini 9n Netbook with Ubuntu Linux to get away from Vista.  I suffered with Vista on my Latitude D600 for over a year.  I really hate Vista.  Vista convinced me to switch to a new Mac for Christmas.  But my old D600 laptop still lives with Ubuntu 8.04 Linux.  It works so well, it convinced me to buy a smaller lighter Mini 9n for traveling to check my email and surf the web.  I am very happy with the Mini 9n.

Ok, if you really really want Vista on your mini notebook, first you will have to meet Vistas minimum system requirements:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/get/system-requirements.aspx

The minimum 20GB hard disk could be a problem.  That means you'll need a 32gb SSD.  Not sure if it works with the optional 16GB SSD you can upgrade to with XP though.  Vista Home Basic might work, but I wouldn't try anything more hardware intensive than that.

Hey, if you don't like Ubuntu Linux, maybe you could try changing your desktop theme to look like Vista.  

http://gnomestyle.blogspot.com/2007/05/make-ubuntu-look-like-vista.html

At least that way it would have a more familiar look and feel.  I haven't tried this yet, but I wanted to pass it on.  Even though it looks like Vista, you probably won't be able to run any Microsoft software like Microsoft Office.

Point of Order!

Do you really need MS Word 2007?  Open Office is probably better then MS Word.

McAfee?  Why are you worried about McAfee?  If you really need an AV there is Avast, Clam AV, AVG Free...

You will probably have a better time running Windows XP on your Mini then you will running Vista.  Not to say that it cannot be done.

Cynthiadvt, Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum. You will need to purchase an External USB cd/dvd to install any disc. What is the problem you are having downloading if you are connected to the internet?

[quote user="DELL-Jesse L"] Cynthiadvt, Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum. You will need to purchase an External USB cd/dvd to install any disc. What is the problem you are having downloading if you are connected to the internet?

 

[/quote]

I did that and it won't work either although it is supposed to be compatable with Linux system - it's a LaCie - I also hate ubuntu and want to change to windows - can anyone help me please!