Your guide to installing Vista
You’ve come across this site and read a few things about Vista and you’re thinking to yourself “I’d like to get Vista for myself but it must be hard to install”. Stop RIGHT THERE, it couldn’t be easier, well, it COULD but this is as easy as it gets when it comes to operating system installs.
The Vista DVD is basically a “live version” of Vista that runs directly off the DVD until Vista is installed. When you boot from the DVD you actually ARE running Vista, albeit a specialized installer version.
Before installing Vista, it has been said in the past (and it still stands true) that we recommend running the Vista Upgrade Advisor before actually installing Vista. If there are too many issues to contend with, it may be wiser not to install it.
Gone are the text based partitioning tools, horrible looking text based installer screen, everything is now GUI based and it even comes with its own partition tool which will allow you to (among other things) create a new partition if you don’t want to wipe your existing XP install.
It’s always best to perform a clean install when upgrading an operating system, this way all the files, programs and settings are fresh and besides, a pure “upgrade” install will leave traces of XP and its settings behind which can lead to system stability problems. Therefore this guide will assume you are booting from a full version Vista DVD (OEM or Retail) and are performing a clean install.
First, turn on your computer and put the Vista DVD in your DVD drive (Vista does not come on a CD). The very first thing it asks you is to select a language, time and currency formats and keyboard or input methods (meaning US, UK or other keyboards). Click next. All that needs to be done with the next screen is to click “Install Now”.
You can either enter your product key on the next screen or skip this step, if you skip it, Vista can be activated later or it will install a time limited trial version. Click next after you have (or have agreed to continue without) entering your product key.
Select the version of Vista that should be installed. Note, install the version that you purchased, installing any other version will not allow the use of the product key on the box which would require you to purchase a new one for the version installed (and we don’t want that to happen, now do we?).
This almost goes without saying, agree to the license terms, if you don’t, it will not be possible to install Vista (but that doesn’t mean it should not be read).
The next screen will show “Upgrade has been disabled”, this is normal as it is not possible to perform an upgrade install while running the live version of Vista. If you wish to upgrade you must perform that action from within XP, this is NOT recommended. Click the “Custom Advanced” Install.
Here is where it will be possible to select which hard drive or partition Vista should be installed on. Since Vista has its own partition tool, you will be able to create a new partition should you wish to keep your existing installation of XP. Don’t worry; the partition tool will guide you step by step, it’s almost impossible to make an error.
After the partition select and create step click next, Vista will begin unpacking the files to the hard drive. I say “unpacking” instead of “install” because it’s not really installing anything, it is just uncompressing the live files to your hard drive which it will boot from to continue the installation. The next step is VERY IMPORTANT.
Vista is now pretty much functioning in automatic mode and will require no further user intervention until it reboots. DO NOTHING. You may get an option on the boot screen that says “Press [keys] to boot from CD”, DO NOT DO THIS. You want Vista to boot from the files it has just unpacked on the hard drive, let the countdown finish and allow it to boot from the hard drive.
After it has booted, it will say “Please wait while windows prepares to start for the first time”, at this stage it is important that the computer remain on even under threat of life and limb, make ABSOLUTELY sure the computer remains ON. DO NOT attempt to turn it off or disconnect power in ANY way. (Bad things will happen if you do, VERY bad things).
Vista will now complete the installation and reboot again. It is now installed. The next screen that comes up will be “Create a User Account”, this will be an Administrator account, the first account will always be an Administrator. Enter a user name and password then click next.
Give your PC a name and click next. For the sake of keeping things simple, just use “Recommended Settings” but more savvy users should select “Ask me Later” and customize them.
Select your time zone settings, the network location and you will get a big huge “Thank You” from the good folks at Microsoft (it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside). All you need to do now is click Start. Enter your password, hit enter and the Vista desktop will be up and running for the very first time.
Home users should read our post on Free Security Software for Vista, because it is a very important first step to secure your operating system (even one as new as Vista) before actually going online (though you must download the programs).
If you didn’t get everything you needed here, here is an excellent step by step guide (with pictures) on installing Vista. Or you could just take the easier route and buy a computer with Vista preinstalled. Around here, we’re just a bunch of do-it-yourselfers and besides it saves some money by doing so. Provided you don’t need $600 of upgrades to your existing computer and if you do then its probably just smarter to buy a new one.
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