Windows Vista Clean Install
Posted By Brent Trahan On 2.19.07 @ 6:00 pm In All, Installation, Vista, Windows | 2 Comments
Introduction
This guide walks you through the process of performing a clean install of Windows Vista.
System Requirements
The computer you’re installing Windows Vista on needs to meet some minimum hardware requirements to run Vista properly.
Home Basic
- Processor: 1GHz (32 or 64 bit)
- System Memory (RAM): 512MB
- Hard Drive: 20GB with 15GB available for Vista
- Video Card: 32MB Memory and DirectX 9 Support
- DVD-ROM Drive
Home Premium, Business, Ultimate
- Processor: 1GHz (32 or 64 bit)
- System Memory (RAM): 1GB
- Hard Drive: 40GB with 15GB available for Vista
- Video Card: 128MB Memory, DirectX 9 Support with: WDDM Driver, Pixel Shader 2.0, 32bits per pixel
- DVD-ROM Drive
Please Note: The requirements above are bare minimum. If you only meet the requirements above don’t expect a speed demon.
Keep in mind: Windows Vista was designed to run on a dual core or better processor on a system with lots of memory. I recommend at least 2GB or RAM. If you want to experience the pretty side of Vista you need a high end video card also.
Let’s Install Windows Vista
Install Windows
- Insert your Windows Vista DVD and restart your computer.
- You might have to press a key on your keyboard to boot to the DVD when asked. Some manufacturers like Dell and HP have your press F9 or F10 and select a device to boot from.
- You’ll know when your computer is booting from the Windows Vista DVD when you see the screen captured in the screen shot below.
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- Set up your language preferences and click Next.
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- Click Install Now.
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- Type your product key that came with your copy of Vista. I don’t suggest selecting to automatically activate Windows. It’s a good idea to use the computer for a while before activating the license. You don’t want to activate a license on a machine Windows Vista doesn’t work on. Press Next when you’re ready to move on to the next step.
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Hint: You don’t need to enter a product key to install Vista. You can legally install and use any version of Vista without a product key. [6] Click here to find out how.
- Accept the license agreement and lick Next.
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- Click the Custom (advanced) installation option.
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If you want to upgrade your older copy of Windows to Vista you need to start the install from the older version of Windows. If you need help with this check out my [9] Windows Vista Upgrade Install guide.
- Select the hard drive or partition you want to install Windows Vista on.
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You can delete, format, create, and extend partitions or hard drives by clicking Drive options (advanced).
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- Now the installation of Windows Vista begins. Below are screen shots of what you’ll see during the install.
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Set Up Windows
Windows Vista is now installed. Now it’s time to set it up.
- Give Vista a username, password, optional password hint, and picture for your first user account.
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- Give your PC a name and choose a background.
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- Select to use recommended settings.
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- Set your time and date settings then click Next.
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- Select the place you’ll use your computer the most.
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- Click Start to boot Windows Vista for the first time.
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- Before Windows Vista boots for the first time it must perform a performance check to see what features to turn on or off.
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Now your computer should be running Windows Vista.
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URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install1.png
[2] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install2.png
[3] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install3.png
[4] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install4.png
[5] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install5.png
[6] Click here: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/install-windows-vista-without-a-product-key/
[7] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install6.png
[8] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install7.png
[9] Windows Vista Upgrade Install guide: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista-upgrade-install/
[10] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install8.png
[11] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install9.png
[12] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install10.png
[13] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install11.png
[14] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install12.png
[15] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install13.png
[16] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install14.png
[17] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install15.png
[18] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install16.png
[19] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install17.png
[20] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install18.png
[21] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install19.png
[22] Image: http://www.maximumpcguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/vista_clean_install20.png
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