Windows 7 Starter comes with hidden wireless connection sharing

Ah, the blessings of market fragmentation. If you thought that, in its efforts to differentiate the Starter Edition from its beefier Windows 7 offerings, Microsoft chopped off the ability to share wireless connections between compatible devices, we've got good news: it didn't. Turns out that ad-hoc networking is very much a part of Windows 7 Cheap Edition, and the only thing missing from it is the dialog you see above. Thrifty Edition owners will have to find the application themselves -- through the shockingly difficult process of a Start Menu search -- but once they do it'll behave exactly as if they'd bought the Extra Awesome variety. Great job, Microsoft -- you keep hiding features and we'll keep installing Chrome OS on our netbooks, deal?

[NewL Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:19AM]

Even Windows 7 starter is enough to make Chrome OS look like the anemic useless POS that it is...

[Bender the great Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:24AM]

@NewL even Engadget has it's fair share of muppets who fail to see that Chrome isn't aiming to be the next Windows and has entirely different priorities....

[eka Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:57AM]

@NewL Very true

[Marko Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:34AM]

@NewL - How very true. Keeping a ghost image of W7 for my eee was the best decision ever - Best 5 mins spent at a computer for a long time was watching chromeos removed and W7 restored!!!

[jhoeforth Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:51AM]

@NewL

Haha!

[One Love Posted Dec 7th 2009 10:29AM]

It was sarcasm, foos!

[zomg0t Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:25AM]

You mad bro?

[skaterdude Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:27AM]

ok, yea..dont tell us how to do it engadget. way to leave us in the dark! dickheads.

[zomg0t Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:28AM]

@skaterdude
They did tell you: first you download Chrome OS...

[Bender the great Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:30AM]

@skaterdude you could read the fucking source and via links to find out.. Dickhead

[skaterdude Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:44AM]

@Bender the great damn thats funny. i just clicked all the links and didnt explain anything.

[Bender the great Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:47AM]

@skaterdude Congrats on being a major fail!

From the PCWorld Link...
""You're licensed to use ad hoc networking ... you're [just] not licensed to use the shortcut in this dialog [in Windows 7 Home Premium]," Rivera wrote in this blog. "To access the wizard that this link normally points to, simply Start Menu search for 'adhoc'."

And from the withinwinows link...

"On Windows 7 Starter Edition, the “Set up a wireless ad hoc network” link in the dialog above is missing. That’s the licensed “feature” you’re missing out on. I repeat: You’re licensed to use ad-hoc networking. You’re not licensed to use the shortcut in this dialog. To access the wizard that this link normally points to, simply Start Menu search for ‘adhoc’. It’s a lot of work, I know."

Congrats on your major fail!

[MJGAMER 1991 XBL Posted Dec 7th 2009 2:38PM]

@skaterdude Why would you possibly have Windows 7 Starter and be on a tech forum...

Starter >= FAIL

[Pradster Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:40AM]

So you can now access a feature, though you were told that it was not there. And now you are ready to jump ship to a over gimped OS, because the original OS gave you one more functionality. I like your logic!

In other news I am buying a bicycle coz my car comes with a stereo whereas the sales dude told me it would not be there!

[mocax Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:42AM]

by "starter" edition, i think they meant "newbie", "noob", "freshie" etc edition.

for people who just want to click on big pretty icons on the desktop...

[zomg0t Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:45AM]

The EU made them do it, lol

[DBailey635 Posted Dec 7th 2009 10:20AM]

@zomg0t I think the Starter edition was originally made for developing nations, or cheepo netbook manufacturers who want to short-change their customers.

[r3loaded Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:42AM]

Who cares, no one uses Starter anyway.

[F orrest Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:46PM]

@r3loaded

Actually, I'm still using Starter on my netbook, and I don't have any problems with it.

Sure, it took about 5 minutes to find the hack to let me change the background image, but other than that I've not found anything I wanted to do that I couldn't, given the hardware limitations.

If Windows 7 Starter knocks 30-40 dollars off of the retail price of a Netbook, it's a great deal for the functionality.

[lucidexperiences Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:55AM]

"Great job, Microsoft -- you keep hiding features and we'll keep installing Chrome OS on our netbooks, deal?"

I even logged in which i never do, to tell you that I'm going to print it and put it on my wall - phrase of the day.

[NemesisPrime Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:18AM]

Yeah because connection sharing works like a dream on Chrome OS.

Oh what?

[montrealcalling Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:41AM]

@NemesisPrime Chrome OS isn't even at alpha stage.

[avis Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:43AM]

That;s why it's called starter edition..you need to start finding application first..

[aeth Posted Dec 7th 2009 8:42AM]

I can run Windows 7 Ultimate on my netbook just fine, but I don't; I run a full featured Linux operating system because you know, I can do useful stuff on it.

[F orrest Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:50PM]

@aeth

I can run Windows 7 starter on my netbook, and I do - because you know, I can do useful stuff with it.

Like view, edit, and create Word and Excel documents, view AutoCAD drawings, play Baldur's Gate 2, surf, etc. I can be productive for work when I need to be, and have fun when I don't want to pull out my behemoth desktop replacement traveling companion.

I see the missing requirement of knowing dozens of command line switches as an ancillary benefit.

[aeth Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:16PM]

@F orrest
Whatever works. I run Win7 Ultimate on my full size mostly for gaming but I find that WINE under Debian on my netbook runs most of the programs I need to on Windows.

[joshl Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:02AM]

Umm. I'm using Windows 7 Home Premium. I have this option.

http://web1.twitpic.com/img/47925134-dbf2824399015314af6c54e30567b6d6.4b1d0af3-full.png

Looking at my 7 Ultimate, it's there too.

[John H Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:23AM]

@joshl

What's your point? No one said it wasn't there in Home Premium. This article deals with Starter....

[jmcburna Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:25AM]

@joshl

You fail. Read the article.

[jmcburna Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:23AM]

Way to stick it to "the Mahmmmhrmm" Haha. Who needs television when you have businesses like MS to laugh at. If the lay were readers of Engadget, we'd have better consumers and not so laughable companies out there trying to get the 1-UP. I mean really Microsoft? Remember that while you keep pushing PCs to dumbasses, remember it's by default that you have your OS on nearly eeeeveryone of them. In case you don't know market research: Have you seen the alternative OS's over the last decade? You'll be looking at (not out) your "Windows" as the world comes to an end in 2012, while I will be enjoying my fresh install of Chrome OS as well and finding the closest safe spot. Oh and by the way; Microsoft also turned on "killer zombie" mode in all editions of Windows 7. No you just have to stare at the screen for 24hours straight to find them. And they WON'T come out until you've stared for that time. I hear it works.

[N900 Posted Dec 7th 2009 11:18AM]

@jmcburna Psychos Anonymous is the next room over, dude.

[DougieBear Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:32AM]

If you're going to be cheap at least put some effort in and do it right.

[4004 Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:45AM]

Do you still buy OSes? Laws are strict and we are ferared,yeah? Better use linux...
And Chrome what???OS? But this is a browser!

[Infinity Posted Dec 7th 2009 10:21AM]

C'mon Engadget, do you really have to be this obnoxious? Give us the story and keep your fanboyism to yourselves. At least keep a little bit semblance of journalism/professionalism. Whatever, just take one. Downright childish this article.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 7th 2009 10:46AM]

Microsoft = Idiots.. always have been always will be

[Professor Kaos Posted Dec 7th 2009 10:55AM]

Hasn't the ability to ad-hoc ALWAYS been available?

[pyehac Posted Dec 7th 2009 11:25AM]

After my short stint with '7 starter, I'm not about to reinstall starter just to see the features.

[dablackreaper Posted Dec 7th 2009 11:53AM]

man..did u really have to put in those last two lines??

[F orrest Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:53PM]

@dablackreaper

Of course they did. Nevermind that when I tried Chrome OS on my netbook it didn't even recognize my wireless adapter, rendering the entire expedition pointless.

But yeah, I guess some of our friendly neighborhood Engadget authors would rather stare at a pre-alpha build of a Browser than a functional OS. So long as they can be snarky I guess that'll be enough to get them through the rough spots.

[Damionix Posted Dec 7th 2009 12:04PM]

Who the Hell is this "Vladislav Savov" ?
Your Last 2 comments were JUST STUPID. Plain stupid even for an editor or whatever you are. That makes no sense. You can't even compare XP home and Chrome OS. The Chrome OS is nothing but a Browser with access to applications stored on Google's Servers. Next time use reasoning and know that you are talking to Educated people who actually take time to read and research. Idiot!

/end Rant

[MrDiSante Posted Dec 7th 2009 1:02PM]

@Damionix
Vladislav, ty dolboeb kakoj-to.

[AssassinX Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:41PM]

"Great job, Microsoft -- you keep hiding features and we'll keep installing Chrome OS on our netbooks, deal? "

What a lame statement. It's equivalent of buying the base model car and complaining it doesn't have a power moonroof and scolding the manufacturer for predatory behavior because they left it available only to higher trim models.

[F orrest Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:56PM]

@(Unverified)

Actually it's more like trading down to a Yugo with three wheels because the manufacturer hid the switch to your power moon roof under some Saran wrap.