Windows Vista An unexpected asset in Vista

What a pleasant surprise

I am a software freak, I download and try many odd programmes, with the expected result - after a few weeks - major slow-downs!

Last week, when the boot time was approaching 3 minutes I decided to wipe 'C' and re-install Vista. I had done it several times with XP so no worries, I backed everything up to an external HD, and booted off the Vista DVD. To my surprise the options one had with XP, eg Repair, aren't available with Vista so I couldn't format 'C' as I wanted to and then re-install, instead I bit my lip and chose 'Install' expecting loads of work afterwards because of a polluted OS.
Much to my surprise Vista ran through the long install procedure as normal, re-booted, and everything was there untouched. Everything except the MS updates!! All the documents, downloads, etc, were still there, and boot time was back to the normal 55 to 60 secs. All the programmes, in another partition, still booted correctly, even Photoshop which usually insists on being re-installed. All I had to do was re-download all the MS updates! Much easier that installing another OS, and I didn't need any of the back-ups!

A great improvement over XP!

Roger

 

Thanks for that info Roger, good to know. I had read that you could not do a repair install of Vista, but looks like it is the default if you point the install to a current installation of Vista. I’ll do a few trial installs myself in the next few days.

By the way, you can format or delete a partition during the Vista install and so do a true clean install. When it asks where you want to install Windows to there is an advanced option at the lower right. It’s only available when you boot the computer from the DVD and not there if you start an install from inside Windows.
http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/images/Install_RC2_in_VirtualPC2004/TEG-0029.jpg

 

Well Roger I can’t get it to work. When booting the computer from the DVD and choosing to install over an existing Vista it always moves that install into a folder called "˜Windows.old’ and does a complete new install to replace the old. Can you remember how exactly you managed it? The only way I can achieve it is to do the upgrade install, but you can only do this by starting the install from inside a booted Windows.

McT

 

Hi McT,

I can't explain the difference at all. It is maybe because I was using an OEM Vista.
I bought that because I had a French language Acer laptop, and after getting fed up with all the mixed language messages I was getting from using English language programmes, I bought an English OEM Vista, wiped all the rubbish that Acer had loaded, and installed the English Vista Home Premium.
I shall try using a normal, non OEM Vista later on today on my desktop.

Roger

 

Well I tried!
Booting my desktop from the OEM I just got all the usual prompts:
Press any key to boot from the DVD
Windows is loading files.
Then the choices : Install now:
What to know before you install Windows:
Repair your computer:

I can't try booting from my other Vista disc because it's an upgrade and won't boot.

Roger

 

Hi Roger, I just tried it with an Acer Laptop with an Activated Home Basic install and it still gives the warning that it will move the current install to Windows.old. Did you see that message when you did it? My previous attempts were on PCs with just temporary non-activated Home Premium installs.

Did you enter the product key when asked during the setup from the DVD? I’m wondering if it matters that the current install has the same product key as the one you are entering during setup. Did you install that Vista yourself using the same product key? My Acer has a factory install so the OEM disk I’m using obviously has a different product key.

Did you wipe all partitions on the drive when you reinstalled Vista, or did you leave the Acer recovery partition in place at the start of the drive? If you did leave it are you sure you did not do an Acer restore of a user image?

McT.

 

Hi,

I can't recall all the messages I received during the re-install.
I bought my Acer here in France, a French Vista Home Premium installed and activated. I bought an OEM Vista in English to get rid of all the language mix-ups I was getting.
I booted from it, and at the screen choice I just selected 'Install Now' but I can't remember if I had any formatting choices at that point. When the new Vista was installed, updated, and in full working order I wiped the Acer factory recovery partition, and expanded 'C' into the freed space. I have no 'Old Windows' folder.
Update - I have just booted my Acer from the OEM DVD again to see the procedure. At the installation choice screen there is in fact a 'Repair Your Computer' selection as well as 'Install Now' but as I was changing languages I didn't even think of doing that.
If I had used the Acer recovery facility I would still have a French Vista!
Sorry I can't help more, but I am sure that using an OEM OS makes a difference.

Roger

 

Thanks for that Roger. I’m not sure what’s going on and wonder if perhaps it has something to do with the change of versions from French to English. I used an OEM disk on and OEM install and had no joy. Did you enter a product key at the start of the install, or did you leave it blank? If you did put in a key which did you use? The one already on the computer for the factory install, or the one with the new DVD?

The repair option you saw from the Vista DVD is not the same as the XP repair install. It mainly just fixes problems in the boot files, and gives you access to a few other options.

McT.