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13 Replies Last post: Jun 5, 2007 6:22 AM by Wayfinder

brewer37

127 posts since
Apr 12, 2007

Apr 29, 2007 8:55 PM

Windows Vista

Im planning om purchaseing Windows Vista this weekend and heres my question.
I know it comes with instructions on installing but Im jw beforehand..
when you install Vista do you have to make a clean sweap of your harddrive like reformat your whole drive so when it gets done everything is going to be gone ( pictures music software etc ) or is it just like installing anything else put the cd in and follow the steps install it restart your computer and there ya go you got vista?
if anyone could answer this or give me some complete steps on what to do that would be great
thanxs much-

mphenterprises

9,119 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

1. Apr 29, 2007 9:07 PM

in response to: brewer37

Hi Brewer. Okay, the first thing I would advise you to do is go directly to Microsoft if you haven't already. They have a Vista Upgrade Advisor (or something like that) that will let you know whether or not the hardware and software you have in your computer will allow you to upgrade to Vista seamlessly. Here is the link:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx?wt

I would not take anything out of your computer until you run this application. This will give you a report and tell you what Vista will accept and what needs to be addressed before you install Vista.

This is a major upgrade and I would advise you to backup all of your personal files. Any Operating System upgrade or installation will wipe the existing drive clean. The only exception is if you install the operating system on a separate partition within a drive.

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

brewer37

127 posts since
Apr 12, 2007

2. Apr 29, 2007 9:17 PM

in response to: brewer37

thanxs mphenterprises but i already know that my computer is capable of running vista i think you know better than anyone on this site that i recently had some major upgrades lol.. so let me get this straigh tho this is how i would install vista right??
put the disk in and restart my computer, go to my setup and click boot from disk and then follow the instructions basically like reformation your computer only with the vista disk and not the windows xp disk right??

mphenterprises

9,119 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

3. Apr 29, 2007 9:24 PM

in response to: brewer37

Ay yes. I do know that you have had some issues :lol: But I am glad that everything is coming together. You could do the installation that way. However, here is the exact way Microsoft suggests you install Vista:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918884

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

brewer37

127 posts since
Apr 12, 2007

4. Apr 29, 2007 9:33 PM

in response to: brewer37

ah thank you
if you want to officially be the only person to ever have answered any of my questions you can visit this link lol
http://forums.pcworld.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12171

mphenterprises

9,119 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

5. Apr 29, 2007 9:37 PM

in response to: brewer37

LMBO Sorry my friend, networking is not my strongest area. Have you contacted your local DSL ISP?

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

brewer37

127 posts since
Apr 12, 2007

6. Apr 29, 2007 9:46 PM

in response to: brewer37

well you see my modem works fine and I dont even need wireless until my bro comes home then we need the wireless so we can both be on it so right now i just have my modem going straight to my computer so everything works fine there but when i plug it into my wireless router i just cant pick up anything.. humph i knew i should of got Linksys

homelights

222 posts since
Jan 8, 2007

7. Apr 30, 2007 10:33 AM

in response to: brewer37

I would have suggested a Lynksys for sure.

rkinne01

179 posts since
Nov 29, 2006

8. Jun 3, 2007 2:37 PM

in response to: brewer37

Re: Vista Installation

Brewer, Vista comes in an upgrade version that will allow you to install over your existing OS without losing your data or programs.

Vista also comes in a full version that will reformat your drive and do a fresh install, if you haven't backup your data it will be gone.

In my opinon, you're better off spending the extra cash and getting full version instead of upgrade version. I generally find you'll get better results with a full version with less fuss and problems. If ever there was a problem and you needed to re-install the OS then you'd have to install XP (assuming you're using XP) and the Vista upgrade, so the full version is the way to go.

Also do NOT get Vista Home Basic its VERY peeled back version and doesn't offer much of what makes Vista great. Ultimate is the best version but costs quite a bit, Home Premium will do just fine. If you get Premium and later decide you want the features offered in Ultimate you can use the ANYTIME UPGARDE feature to purchase the additional content.

ajojddy

1 posts since
Jun 3, 2007

9. Jun 3, 2007 10:21 PM

in response to: brewer37

enjoyed reading this ,thanks

Software

rgreen4

4,211 posts since
Oct 22, 2006

10. Jun 4, 2007 7:43 AM

in response to: brewer37

Vista Upgrade

I would agree with rkinne01, but for those who have already purchased the Basic version or have it preinstalled on their machine, you can also use the Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade from Home Basic to Home Premium.

Also you do not need to purchase the full blown package to do a clean install. Check out Paul Thurrot's Super Site for Windows - www.winsupersite.com and use the search box at the top for Vista clean install. In was an article on his site that appeared back in February. I used that method to do a clean install from the free Vista Upgrade from HP on my Media Center PC to get rid of a lot of garbage that I didn't want. I prefer doing a clean install, but the Vista proceedure is decidedly different that XP. You don't even need a previous version CD handy.

spike

1,233 posts since
Aug 21, 2006

11. Jun 4, 2007 1:50 PM

in response to: brewer37

Re: Vista Upgrade

rgreen4 wrote:I would agree with rkinne01, but for those who have already purchased the Basic version or have it preinstalled on their machine, you can also use the Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade from Home Basic to Home Premium.

Also you do not need to purchase the full blown package to do a clean install. Check out Paul Thurrot's Super Site for Windows - www.winsupersite.com and use the search box at the top for Vista clean install. In was an article on his site that appeared back in February. I used that method to do a clean install from the free Vista Upgrade from HP on my Media Center PC to get rid of a lot of garbage that I didn't want. I prefer doing a clean install, but the Vista proceedure is decidedly different that XP. You don't even need a previous version CD handy.

Very nice:D8)

Xenocide21

10 posts since
Jun 4, 2007

12. Jun 4, 2007 5:16 PM

in response to: brewer37

Gaming, and Windows Vista...

I have herd many things about vista, good and bad, and all i want to know is if its even worth it. I am a gamer, thus I always want the best for my gaming experience. though I have herd of compatability issues between vista and some games that I enjoy. For those of you who are vista users, how is its stability as well? thats all i have to comment, thanks.

Wayfinder

85 posts since
Jan 30, 2007

13. Jun 5, 2007 6:22 AM

in response to: brewer37

Re: Gaming, and Windows Vista...

Xenocide21 wrote:I have herd many things about vista, good and bad, and all i want to know is if its even worth it. I am a gamer, thus I always want the best for my gaming experience. though I have herd of compatability issues between vista and some games that I enjoy. For those of you who are vista users, how is its stability as well? thats all i have to comment, thanks.

Xenocide2, considering what you've said above, no, Vista isn't worth it. It is pricey, a real resource hog, and has all sorts of compatibility problems. Not to mention the often-cursed DRM stunts Micro$oft has pulled that's causing users extra hassle and even malfunction of programs. You said it yourself, you've heard of "compatibility issues between Vista and some games that I enjoy". That pretty much sums it up in my book.

The real question to ask here is this: Do your games run just fine under Windows XP?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Especially when the "fix" might very well wind up with it being broke.

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