Need some help please.

W

Willis888

New Member
Okay. I originally had Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit installed on my computer. I wasn't given a restore disk when I bought my computer from Best Buy, luckily my brother had an old copy of XP Pro 32bit laying around, or at least I felt lucky when he came up with it after using Linux for a week.

My question is will I be able to switch from XP Pro 32bit back to Vista 64bit? I know jack about compatibility, if it isn't obvious.

I've tried switching back to Linux Ubuntu 64bit but all I was given was error messages.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

Hello Willis,

If your computer came stock with Vista it won't be problem to switch from XP to Vista. Just format your drive during installation to be sure you start with fresh system. Also you will have to get all needed drivers for the 64bit Vista. Download them from manufacturer site.

Cheers...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P7805u FX
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo T9600 2.80GHz 1066MHz FSB
    Motherboard
    Intel PM45
    Memory
    8GB 1066MHz DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS 1GB DDR3
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 17" WUXGA TFT
    Screen Resolution
    1920x 1200
    Hard Drives
    WD 2x500GB
    Case
    notebook
    Other Info
    BT/BD
Will I need to partition my hard drive before running the Vista disk? Right now my 32bit XP is occupying the entire hard drive. Something has to be changed because it wont let me boot from the cd when I restart, and like I said I tried reinstalling 64bit Linux and it wouldn't complete, I used the same Linux disk last time I installed but neither the Vista nor Linux disk are working now.

Do you know if Microsoft sends out Windows disks for those that have lost theirs, or were never given a windows disk to begin with? I have a product key stuck to the side of my tower so it's not like I'd be stealing, I just need a disk.

Thank you for your help Martee. I am aware of the driver issue, I thought ahead and burned them to a disk already.
 

My Computer

System One

This doesn't help now, but when you buy a PC that comes with no disc, the PC can burn you a set.
If it came with no discs you probably have to get them from the OEM, not Microsoft.

If you can borrow a retail disc or possibly a disc of the same OEM
you can reinstall and use your Product Key.

Formatting the disk before installing might be best.

Active@ Kill Disk. Hard Drives Eraser. Free Download.


Ardneh
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Compaq/SR5130NX
    CPU
    AMD AthlonTM 64x2 3800+
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE
As Ardneh mentioned you probably can get the installation disc from Microsoft or from your computer supplier, but I'm not sure. You might borrow the Vista DVD disc from your friend and use your activation key during installation.

As to formatting and partitioning drive, I would suggest to create at least two partitions. The C drive for your operating system, let's say 50GB large and the drive D for your data, music etc. That way, in the future, if you will have to reinstall the Vista your data will be safe. However it's up to you. Always format the drive or the partition before installing the OS.

Check in the BIOS whether your DVD drive is the first one in the booting order, before your hard drive, if not that's the reason you can't boot from the installation discs. simply switch the booting order. Hope it helps.

Cheers...:)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P7805u FX
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo T9600 2.80GHz 1066MHz FSB
    Motherboard
    Intel PM45
    Memory
    8GB 1066MHz DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS 1GB DDR3
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 17" WUXGA TFT
    Screen Resolution
    1920x 1200
    Hard Drives
    WD 2x500GB
    Case
    notebook
    Other Info
    BT/BD
I wouldn't partition the hard drive in 2 for you data and OS. It can be a nightmare trying to preserve that partition from corruption.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio Z46GDU
    CPU
    [email protected] w/6MB L2 cache 1066MHz FSB
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    9300M GS 256MB + Intel Integrated 4500MHD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.1" WXGA True Colour Tough
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    320GB SATA 7200RPM
    Internet Speed
    1MB/s
Frostmourne said:
I wouldn't partition the hard drive in 2 for you data and OS. It can be a nightmare trying to preserve that partition from corruption.
Click to expand...

Well, that's something new. What you mean by that? I always partition my drive and never had any corruption. Many times I restored the C drive without worry about my data to be backing up before I did the recovery. Of course, I have the backup of my data on the external disk, just in case if the whole drive broke down, especially with RAID.
At this moment I run two HDDs in RAID0 and have four primary partitions. Maybe I'm wrong, but I guess, novadays the computer manufacturers sent the machines with one partition to be simple for the computer users, however they set the second one as the recovery partition as well. I didn't hear about any corruption on this second one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P7805u FX
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo T9600 2.80GHz 1066MHz FSB
    Motherboard
    Intel PM45
    Memory
    8GB 1066MHz DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS 1GB DDR3
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 17" WUXGA TFT
    Screen Resolution
    1920x 1200
    Hard Drives
    WD 2x500GB
    Case
    notebook
    Other Info
    BT/BD
Ardneh said:
This doesn't help now, but when you buy a PC that comes with no disc, the PC can burn you a set.
If it came with no discs you probably have to get them from the OEM, not Microsoft.

If you can borrow a retail disc or possibly a disc of the same OEM
you can reinstall and use your Product Key.

Formatting the disk before installing might be best.

Active@ Kill Disk. Hard Drives Eraser. Free Download.


Ardneh
Click to expand...


How come PC's/Laptops dont come with OS disc? this sux
 

My Computer

System One

Manufacturers saving a buck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Compaq/SR5130NX
    CPU
    AMD AthlonTM 64x2 3800+
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE
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