Unit Posted 10 September 2009 Share Posted 10 September 2009 I want to format and reinstall vista, however I've not got a disc as it was installed on my laptop when I bought it. I've got the serial number and stuff but I don't where to get the disc from, I'm planning on torrenting it (which as far as i know is legal as i've PAID for the vista). What is it I need? Vista boot disc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicfox Posted 10 September 2009 Share Posted 10 September 2009 If Vista was preinstalled on your machine when you purchased it, did you not make a back-up disc ? If so thats all you need (I THINK). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unit Posted 10 September 2009 Author Share Posted 10 September 2009 If Vista was preinstalled on your machine when you purchased it, did you not make a back-up disc ?If so thats all you need (I THINK). Nope, can I do that still? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicfox Posted 10 September 2009 Share Posted 10 September 2009 Nope, can I do that still? I aint got a clue (sorry). When i got mine, after turning on for the first time, a window popped up and asked me if i wanted to back-up (Recovery Disc) i clicked yes and now have it all on dvd's. check this link.... http://directedge.us/content/abr-activatio...kup-and-restore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox92 Posted 10 September 2009 Share Posted 10 September 2009 Do you have the back up tool on your system? If so, I think you can back up all of the slate to a removable format. Then again, I aint that sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicfox Posted 10 September 2009 Share Posted 10 September 2009 Just been checking out that link myself and found this that might be of help... MAYBE it's already on your hard drive: Your manufacturer MIGHT have copied the contents of the Anytime Upgrade DVD directly onto the hard disk of the computer (sometimes in a hidden folder called "WAU"). The problem is that you cannot directly burn this to a DVD and then boot from it to do a clean install -- you first need to burn the files as a bootable DVD in order to use them. To create a bootable DVD from these files:1.Download, install, and run vLite 2.Select the location with the WAU folder 3.Select your vista version 4.Select the ISO button and make the ISO - you can create an image or directly burn to DVD. Now you should have a bootable Anytime Upgrade DVD you can use for a clean install. Thanks to seven11 for the steps. (Note: You can do a lot of other things with vLite too, but avoid messing with other things in there until you know what you are doing with it). Here are some places you might find the folder on your system: ◦C:\Windows\sonysys\wau (hidden folder) ◦Please let me know where you found it on your system! You can see if it might be on your system by doing the following: ◦Click Start > Windows Anytime Upgrade > Choose your edition ◦Under the upgrade option a message will display whether your laptop is pre-configured for Anytime Upgrade You will not have the "Anytime Upgrade" option if you have Vista Ultimate, but you might still have the folder on your hard drive. Take a look around for it. (Thank to coolguy for these steps) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted 10 September 2009 Share Posted 10 September 2009 I can't imagine wanting to install Vista, never mind re-install it. Surely that would equate to being stabbed twice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unit Posted 10 September 2009 Author Share Posted 10 September 2009 Cheers for the help there, i've changed my mind and am re-installing XP. I imagine the process is almost the same as above, however my dad has lost the Cd key for XP which is brilliant so have to sort that out now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox92 Posted 11 September 2009 Share Posted 11 September 2009 I can't imagine wanting to install Vista, never mind re-install it.Surely that would equate to being stabbed twice? Have you got it because I was looking at buying a Vista motherboard and that or is it just that rubbish because I have never really been on Vista? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unit Posted 11 September 2009 Author Share Posted 11 September 2009 Have you got it because I was looking at buying a Vista motherboard and that or is it just that rubbish because I have never really been on Vista? I don't mind it too much, it's just a lot slower than XP. right i'm going to TRY and format and reinstall now... wish me luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB11 Posted 11 September 2009 Share Posted 11 September 2009 If you have XP on your system (or any system) download and run Jelly Bean Key Finder and it gives you a list of the product keys on your system. Operating System Office Product Key I use it for those two (dunno what other product keys it gives you) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unit Posted 14 September 2009 Author Share Posted 14 September 2009 I don't mind it too much, it's just a lot slower than XP.right i'm going to TRY and format and reinstall now... wish me luck! I posted this 3 days ago... It hasn't gone well! I've managed to get XP onto this laptop but it seems to HATE it. I can't find a driver for the thing that you turn the wireless on/off with and so i'm stuck in a corner with a LAN cable plugged into it! fffffs. Compaq Presario C700 if anybody knows what to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unit Posted 14 September 2009 Author Share Posted 14 September 2009 I posted this 3 days ago...It hasn't gone well! I've managed to get XP onto this laptop but it seems to HATE it. I can't find a driver for the thing that you turn the wireless on/off with and so i'm stuck in a corner with a LAN cable plugged into it! fffffs. Compaq Presario C700 if anybody knows what to do? fook all that. just installed windows 7, took just about half an hour to install (compared to xp...3 hours?) No need for drivers, wicked OS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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