Windows Vista Installation Super Guide, Part 3: Clean Install Windows Vista. As should be obvious, to get the best results from Windows Vista, you should simply buy a new PC. However, for a number of reasons, that's not always an option.
New PCs, of course, are expensive. Maybe you purchased a Windows XP- based PC within the past year and would like to install Vista on it, but realize that upgrading isn't the best option.
Or maybe you're just an average PC enthusiast who regularly upgrades their hardware and would never consider purchasing a mainstream machine from a tier- one vendor. Regardless of the reason, many Windows Vista users will find themselves having to clean install the OS. This is your guide.
To be clear, a clean install is a process by which you install Windows Vista, and only Windows Vista, on a new or existing PC. That PC could have a totally clean (i. It doesn't matter: During a clean install, you will wipe out the contents of that hard drive, if there are any, in order to create a new and pristine installation of Windows Vista. When the clean install process is complete, the PC will boot only into Windows Vista, and will not offer choices for multi- booting into other operating systems. While a clean install is the most desirable Windows Vista installation option short of buying a new PC, there are potential downsides to this process. You will need to backup whatever data might be on the PC ahead of time with the understanding that if you miss something, it's likely gone for good.
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And you will have to ensure that you have drivers for all of the hardware devices on the system, though Vista and Windows Update do a better job than ever of automatically finding the drivers you need. For information about this valuable tool, please see part 2 of this ongoing series.)For the purposes of this guide, I will generally assume that the PC to which you are installing Vista has just a single hard drive and that you intend to configure that drive as a single partition that occupies all of the space on the drive. However, I do provide some notes for those who wish to create additional partitions or use additional hard drives.
As is always the case, if you run into any clean install issues that are not covered by this guide, drop me a note, as I'd like to keep it as up- to- date and comprehensive as is possible. Pre- installation check- list. OK, let's get started.
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Here's what you should do before even attempting to clean- install Windows Vista. Make sure you've got a new or used PC that meets Microsoft's minimum hardware requirements for Vista (or, better yet, my own recommendations as outlined in part 1 of this series). You will need a retail version of the Windows Vista . However, you should read How to Clean Install Windows Vista with Upgrade Media if you'd like to perform a clean install with Upgrade media.) 3.
If there is a version of Windows XP already installed on the PC, run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor to check on hardware compatibility issues. If the tool discovers any potential problems, visit the Web sites for the manufacturers of the affected devices and see whether there are any updated drivers available.
If you do run into problems while installing Vista, one tack to take is to remove any unnecessary hardware devices from the PC and then try reinstalling: Oftentimes, Setup can fail because of an errant hardware device. If you do end up removing any devices before installing Vista, be sure to reinstall them into the PC one at a time so you can be sure what works and what doesn't.
Ensure your PC can boot from the DVD drive. Some PCs require you to manually select the boot order from within the BIOS or offer a way to temporarily set the boot device each time the system boots. Because each PC is different, I can't offer too much in the way of specifics here, but consult the on- screen text when your PC boots and your PC's documentation for details about booting from the installation DVD. Note: By default, Windows Vista only supports installation from DVD media (or from a network share in the case of a managed corporate environment), so that's the only option we'll discuss here. Note, however, that retail versions of Windows Vista include information for ordering CD- based install discs from Microsoft. In this day and age, however, it's hard to imagine any individuals who want to clean install Vista but don't have a DVD drive. If you are going to wipe out an existing Windows installation, be sure to back up all of your important data first.
Microsoft provides a handy tool called Windows Easy Transfer, which works only with Windows XP and Vista, to facilitate this process. I will cover that software tool, along with the optional Windows Easy Transfer Cable, in part 7 of this series.
If you are running an older Windows version, you probably shouldn't be trying to install Vista on that machine. That said, you can always manually try to backup everything important. Just understand that many key data files, like your email and Internet Explorer (IE) Favorites, are often stored in hidden locations, so be careful if you choose this path. We're ready. Let's clean install Windows Vista. Step- by- step: Running Setup interactively.
Thanks to Microsoft's componentization changes to the OS, the Windows Vista Setup process is much simpler than that of Windows XP and requires less user interaction. More important, perhaps, that interaction all comes right at the beginning of Setup and right at the end, so you no longer need to sit there and babysit interactive installs as you did with previous Windows versions. Note that the Windows Vista Setup process typically takes 2.
This is significantly faster than XP Setup. And unlike with Windows XP, the Vista Setup process is pretty much identical for all retail versions of the OS. In this example, I will install Windows Vista Home Premium, but these steps will work with Vista Home Basic, Business, and Ultimate as well.
Insert the Windows Vista Install DVD and reboot the computer. If you see a message about hitting a key to boot the DVD, do so. Otherwise, the PC will simply launch into Setup and display a black text- based screen with the message .
Choose your language, time and currency formats, and keyboard or input method. For most people, the default values will already be correct, but make any needed changes and click Next to continue. Install or repair Windows Vista. In this phase of Setup, you can choose between installing the OS (. We will examine repairing Vista in a future part of this series. For now, click . Type your product key for activation .. My advice here is simple, but perhaps unexpected: Do not type in your product key and do not let Windows automatically activation the install.
Here's why: In the event that something goes wrong down the road, you might not want to automatically tie the only product key you received with this particular PC. Instead, you can enter this information later. So leave the product key field blank and uncheck the item titled . Click No to continue. In general, you should of course choose the version you did purchase, but note that you can install any Vista version listed and experiment with it for a limited time before product activation kicks in and requires you to activate. Your product key will only activate the version of Vista you purchased. So you can't, for example, purchase Vista Home Premium and then install and activate Vista Ultimate: Installation will work fine, but activation will fail, and eventually you won't be able to use the system.
Now, select the appropriate product version (Vista Home Premium, listed as Windows Vista HOMEPREMIUM), check the item title . Be careful here: There are two versions of both Vista Home Basic and Vista Business listed; the versions with N at the end of their name are designed for the European Union only and do not include Windows Media Player 1. You almost certainly do not want to install these versions of Windows Vista by mistake. Agree to licensing. In this phase of Setup, you must agree to the Windows Vista End User License Agreement (EULA). If you would like to view this document before purchasing the product, you can download a PDF version from the Microsoft Web site.
There are separate versions for Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate and Vista Business. Check the item titled . Choose an installation type. Here, you can choose between an Upgrade install and a . Or at least you could choose if you hadn't booted the system from the Setup DVD: Now, only the second option is available.
And that's fine, because that's the one we want. Where do you want to install Windows? Here, you will see a graphical representation of your PC's hard drive (s), giving you the option to select a partition to which to install Windows Vista. On a brand new, one- drive system, you will likely see one partition lists, as shown in the screen shot to the left. However, this phase of Setup includes a number of useful utilities, hidden under the . I will describe this process soon in part 4 of this series).
Let's examine some of the interesting options available under . This will refresh the graphical view of the partitions and disks available to you during Vista Setup. Load Driver. If you are using some kind of advanced disk controller and, as a result, some disks are not showing up in Setup, you can use this option to load drivers now, with the hope that the disks will become available to you.
For example, some RAID arrays are not immediately recognizable to Vista Setup. Click Drive options (advanced), however, and a number of new options appear (Figure): Delete. If you are working with a hard disk that has multiple partitions and would like to delete one or more of them, perhaps to later create a single partition (using New, discussed below), you can use the Delete option (Figure). Delete removes the partition and marks the space occupied by that partition as free and empty.
Windows 1. 0 vs Windows 7 – Should you upgrade? Should you ditch Windows 7 for Windows 1. Windows 1. 0 is a big improvement over Windows 8, but what if you’re still using Windows 7? Microsoft may be offering a free upgrade to Windows 1. You don't have much time left to decide: the free upgrade ends on July 2.
Microsoft has shown off Ink in a couple of ways: you can write onto Sticky Notes and have them turn into calendar reminders automatically, and you can also draw from one point to another in the Maps app and have a route calculated for you. It's simple stuff right now, but with the API out in the wild, developers will be able to do a host of more complex things with it. The final big changes come to the Edge browser, which now has extentions in the same way Firefox and Chrome do. This means the browser will be more customisable as ever and might tempt some users back thanks to its speedy performance.
Edge is also getting Windows Hello support, which means newer devices with fingerprint scanners and facial recognition hardware will be able to log you into a website without having to use a password. This requires the website to enable it, of course. Related: Best Amazon UK Black Friday deals. Once the Windows 1. Anniversary update is released, we'll update this comparison with hands- on impressions of the new features. If you're still not sure, feel free to ask us more questions in the comments and we'll do our best to answer. Watch – A quick guide to what's new in Windows 1.
Windows 1. 0 vs Windows 7 – Performance. Related: Best Amazon UK deals.
One of the least talked about improvements of Windows 8, and subsequently Windows 1. Chief among these is boot- up time, which is markedly quicker, while better hardware acceleration and a host of other tweaks mean general navigation feels nippier, too. Power management has also been improved, so mobile device battery life tends to be a little longer. Gaming performance is much more evenly matched, but with Windows 1. Direct. X 1. 2, which unlocks more performance from your existing hardware (game dependent) and is the future for Windows gaming – read our Direct. X 1. 2 vs Direct.
X 1. 1 comparison for more on that. It may seem like trivial stuff, but if there’s one single thing that's generally at the heart of the upgrades we make to our computers, it’s performance. So the fact that Windows 1. Windows 1. 0 vs Windows 7 – Design. Windows 8 marked a stark departure from the styling of Windows 7, with flat windows and bold colours taking over from 3. D- looking icons and round- edged and transparent windows.
Windows 1. 0 continues this change, with the flat and bold styling now taking over desktop icons and other core system features, though there’s still some way to go, with plenty of features such as the Control Panel and Computer Management interfaces using old icons. Related: Windows 1.
Windows 8. Windows 7's design is cohesive Overall, we’re still unconvinced that the new styling is actually better than the old. It’s arguably more . We really like the look of the final version.
Related: Windows 1. Early versions of Windows 1. The latest version of Windows 1. There are some practical benefits to the new design direction too, such as windows being smaller due to the lack of borders.
Windows are also more customisable and some elements are clearer, thanks to the lack of translucent backgrounds. All told, while we're not bowled over by the new look, it's a marked improvement over Windows 8 and definitely does have that more modern feel than Windows 7. Windows 1. 0 vs Windows 7 – Search and Start Menu. Tap on the Windows 7 Start Menu and you can quickly access the reasonably powerful search function that will quite rapidly look up matching programs and documents as you type. It also provides quick access to core features and your chosen programs. It's simple but effective.
Related: Windows 1. Windows 7 search is effective but simple. However, Windows 1. Click on the now separate search box and it will also now include Windows Store apps and web search, with results shown in a much more organised fashion. Also, even just clicking on the search box will have it show preview information such as the latest headlines, updates from your favourite sports teams and the weather, if you choose to turn these features on.
What’s more, it includes Cortana, the digital personal assistant. This adds two key features.
Firstly, it monitors things like your email, calendar and search to provide useful information, such as when you need to leave for your next appointment. Windows 1. 0 greatly enhances the features of search. You can also use it to add appointments or make notes. If you have a microphone on your machine, you can also speak your commands to Cortana and it does a fine job of interpreting natural language to get you the answer you need. Sadly, the interface doesn’t return the answer to you right there in the search bar, but rather opens the web browser. It’s still pretty cool to not have to type anything, though.
All this is combined with a Start Menu that now includes the Live Tiles from the Start Screen of Windows 8. Certain key features such as File Explorer and Settings are more clearly shown too, while pointless clutter like the Default Programs button have been removed. The only downsides are that the link to the Control Panel has now been removed, with Microsoft instead wanting you to push users to the PC Settings interface (even though it doesn't include all the same features). We're also not fans of the 'All Programs' interface.
On Windows 7 it's compact and quick to scan whereas on Windows 1. Overall, though, it's mostly an improvement.
Windows 1. 0 vs Windows 7 – File Management. It may seem totally mundane, but the tools used for finding and managing your files are some of the most oft used and fundamental to a good operating system. Windows 7 has a decent selection and certainly we’re all long used to them. However, they certainly aren’t the most advanced, and in some ways they’re a backwards step from what came before – who remembers the removal of the Up button from the File Explorer?
Related: 7 Best Windows 1. Laptops and Tablets. Windows 7 File Explorer and copy dialogue are relics. This one little feature summed up all that was wrong about the nonsensical path being trodden by Microsoft at the time.
But it wasn’t the only problem with Windows 7 File Explorer. By any standard it was poorly designed, with wasted space and key functions hidden from view. Well, with Windows 1.
Up button is back! And with it are a host of other improvements to File Explorer – many of which, again, first arrived in Windows 8. The top menu is now arranged in a ribbon, so all the common tools are right where they’re easy to click and, perhaps more importantly, easy for novices to find. There’s also a new Share ribbon which makes it much easier to move files between different apps such as Outlook, Dropbox or Skype. It’s still not perfect, but it’s a definite step in the right direction. On top of these improvements to File Explorer there’s also an improved file copying interface. Now copying/moving tasks are grouped into one window for easier management.
Transfer speed is also shown in real time and operations can also be paused, where they could only previously be cancelled. Related: Windows 1. Windows 8. Windows 1. File Explorer and copy dialogue is much more useful. Another neat new addition is Storage Spaces. This is a way to group multiple hard drives together to form a single logical drive.
While hardly revolutionary sounding, what makes it particularly useful is that it supports multiple levels of drive redundancy, to ensure your data is backed up, and unlike a RAID system it's completely hot- swappable and drives can be different sizes. All told, there's a lot that Windows 1. Windows 1. 0 vs Windows 7 – Gaming and Direct.
X 1. 2We touched earlier on how gaming performance hasn’t changed much on Windows 1. In fact, there's a slight drop in performance on average, with Windows 1.
Windows 7, particularly with older games – Crysis 3, for instance – although there are some instances where the roles are reversed. Of course 0. 5% is a ridiculously small amount either way, so much so that it’s not worth worrying about.
Elsewhere, Windows 7 has proven to be a robust and reliable gaming platform, though not one entirely stacked with innovation – it’s a solid base on which a host of gaming tools are built. Windows 1. 0, though, adds a load of new features. Most will, in all likelihood, be of limited interest to most PC gamers – the ability to access your Xbox Live account, stream games from your Xbox to your PC and have multiplayer games work with both PC and Xbox players – though they are, of course, mostly welcome. Related: Best Gaming Laptops. Windows 1. 0 brings access to lots of Xbox features. Probably the neatest feature is built- in game capture. This will constantly record your gaming sessions, allowing you to grab a snapshot of the last 3.
It may not be new technology, but having it baked into the OS is very useful. Also it works with every game ever – at least so Microsoft says – so if you fancy capturing a video of your Monkey Island adventures, it will happily do so. Also, Windows 1. 0 has exclusive access to Direct. X 1. 2, which promises to unlock performance on existing hardware thanks to it allowing programmers to better access the features of specific hardware.
The performance gains are likely to be fairly small, and very much dependent on exact circumstances, but it’ll likely be enough to tip the balance of performance back in Windows 1. Windows 1. 0 vs Windows 7 – Notifications. Windows has long had a notifications area of sorts, in the shape of the System Tray. Here you’ll find popup messages from the likes of Outlook, Dropbox and Spotify – anything that actively runs in the background. However, it’s never really been a proper unified place where messages from other apps can reside, and where you can see a history of updates.
Related: Best Windows Phone Round- up.