Re-Installing Vista

K

kevlee89

Member
I'm having some issues currently, most notably a display error. I've tried a million different things, and one of the few things left on my list to try is doing a clean re-install of Vista.

I haven't ever really re-installed an OS, and I was wondering if someone could point out to me a guide or something. I only have the full install disk, not an upgrade one. Would I have to delete everything off my HDD?

Anyways, considering that's done, in which order would I install drivers/Windows Updates? Last time I think I royally screwed up. I think drivers for mobo -> Windows Updates -> GFX Drivers? That sound alright?

Thanks for your help!
 
First plan to back ip any important files to either another partition or drive if available or onto removable media. Vista is definitely fussy about one thing namely a fresh or reformatted primary to install onto.

Lately with custom installs on different drives I don't even need the software disk or go to the Asus support site to see chipset and other essentials installed unlike with XP. Vista will automatically list optional as well as preselected updates like those ready to see installation completed as soon as I restart the system here.

One word of advise however is prior to going for the updates when first installing Vista first see video, sound, and other media device softwares installed first. Otherwise you will have fun with the installers since Vista will see newer drivers alone go on without the desk manager or catalyst control center depending on NVidia or ATI there, audio console or even volume control panel for sound cards, etc. there.

Once you have rebooted a few times as usual to see all that installed then prepare for a long list of updates at this time. The beta version of SP3 is already available at the MS download site while the impending SP1 for Vista will be soon with every security fix and other things released since Vista's 1/31/2007 release.
 
PC eye said:
First plan to back ip any important files to either another partition or drive if available or onto removable media. Vista is definitely fussy about one thing namely a fresh or reformatted primary to install onto.

Lately with custom installs on different drives I don't even need the software disk or go to the Asus support site to see chipset and other essentials installed unlike with XP. Vista will automatically list optional as well as preselected updates like those ready to see installation completed as soon as I restart the system here.

One word of advise however is prior to going for the updates when first installing Vista first see video, sound, and other media device softwares installed first. Otherwise you will have fun with the installers since Vista will see newer drivers alone go on without the desk manager or catalyst control center depending on NVidia or ATI there, audio console or even volume control panel for sound cards, etc. there.

Once you have rebooted a few times as usual to see all that installed then prepare for a long list of updates at this time. The beta version of SP3 is already available at the MS download site while the impending SP1 for Vista will be soon with every security fix and other things released since Vista's 1/31/2007 release.
Click to expand...

Hmm, alright, thank you :)

What do you mean by before going for the updates see for video, sound, etc softwares installed first? Do you mean before Windows Updates, install video/sound drivers first? And that would also include mobo drivers?

Also, what is this SP3 business all about? I'm a bit confused as SP1 isn't even out yet?
 
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Once your system is scanned at the update site for hardwares and softwares a list will be seen showing updated drivers for various things like video and sound cards. Those won't install the software however and cause problems when going to use any software disk due to being the latest.

Sorry I couldn't just sit by and accept the limited amount of icons for the admin account. :P

 
hm, that's weird. I just clean installed, and it seems that I lost alot of space. My Windows.old file is around 65gb, but my hard driver is 232gb, but I have only 124gb available. All the other files added up only amount to tops 10gb. So where is the rest?

Also, can I use anything from Windows.old? Like games such as WoW etc etc
 
The only thing you will find in the Windows.old is simply the files you want to copy from it before giving it a final send off! That preserves the three main MS folders rolled up into one bundle. For games and anything else those now have to be installed fresh all over again.

Try going from a desktop that looked like this...



to one with only the basics disregarding the different background to see how a fresh copy of Windows looks



in order to get the general idea of "starting from scratch". The only thing you can do as far as games is copy out any game saves for use when installing one. The new install however will still see the auto saves however while you may be able to load those once you first get through the game up until and after where you left off.
 
ughhhhhhhhhhhh damnit!

I would have hoped that this re-install would have fixed the nvlddmkm.sys error, but no!

I only installed the drivers for the mobo + GFX driver, no security updates or anything, and I still get it during the Windows Experience Index which after a while ends up giving me a BSOD..

damn this display error, damn it!
 
When upgrading from XP or another older version the Vista installer rolls all that stuff up in the Windows.old folder rather then XP's method of wiping those out. The idea there is to see all settings and personal files available afterwards until that folder is simply dumped.

When going to reinstall Vista over itself the second copy will get buggy! I ran into this with DEP problem seen with IE 7. A clean install on a new or reformatted primary seems to be the way Vista wants to own the drive. You no longer see a working repair install option as seen with XP. This is one good reason for a second partition or drive for safe guarding files there with the new version.
 
when i went fomr xp to vista 2 days ago all i did in the partition select table was format earsing everything and had a fresh copy of vista on hard drive. since my cd is OEM might be different than his cd
 
I'm using an oem full version here. The difference between OEM depending on type of OEM that is and retail is mainly in the licensing and no paperback book on that version of Windows in a cardboard box. Windows still installs the same.
 
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