With netbooks everywhere, potential upgraders have found out that their path to Windows 7 bliss is blocked by the lack of an optical drive.

Some people have scoured the Internet looking for workarounds, sometimes at their own peril. Personally, I use a portable hard drive to perform my installs to both the HP Mini 1000, and the HP dv2. Then again, I have access to resources or experts that most are not privy to.

Thankfully for all, Microsoft has just released the USB/DVD Download Tool at the Microsoft Online Store.

Coupled with your copy of Windows 7 and a USB flash drive with a minimum of 4 GB free, this tool will allow you to swiftly upgrade you netbook or slim notebook to Windows 7.

The Microsoft USB/DVD Download Tool is available from the Microsoft Online Store here – ready-to-use executable file.

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