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Well i currently have windows vista business 32 bit on here, But i got a brand new copy of windows vista home premium not opened yet. I need to reformat my computer due to a lot of problems and its about time i did. But im not quite sure how to do it, I built the computer myself and i know a lot, just iv never reformatted, ha weird right.
If someone can give me steps or link me to steps that would be great.
Sorry if this isn't in the right place on the forums didn't know really where to put it.
Oh and i cant reformat with the business version because i dont have the disk, + this computer was built by me so there isnt any factory setting in the hardrive to do it that way.
I would like the way that i don't have to flash my bios, because i lost that CD as well D:
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Total posts: 10 (Showing page 1 of 1)
Shouldn't be difficult
by MarkFlax 
- 4/10/12 10:42 AM
In Reply to: Reformatting Windows Vista by SethE123
but a couple of questions.
As this is a self build, how did you install Vista Business initially?
Why go for Vista Home Premium when you have Vista Business?
As to installing, the current Vista Business will not let a lower version Vista install over it and if you tried, when you insert the Vista HP DVD into the drive and restart to boot from the disk, you will get a message that you can't install Vista HP on the same partition.
I am unsure if that DVD will allow you to delete the existing partition that Vista Business is installed on. If it does you can do that, then a quick format, then install Vista. But again, why downgrade to Vista HP? Why not use the Vista Business DVD to perform a repair install if the existing Vista Business is having problems?
If the Vista HP DVD will not allow you to delete the Vista B partition, then all you can do is wipe the disk clean with DBAN, then use the DVD to reformat the disk.
Why do you think you would need to flash the BIOS?
Vista, any version, is supplied on a DVD not a CD, so may be that is why you can't find it, if you are looking for a CD.
Mark
Yeah i relize its a DVD not a CD
by SethE123 - 4/10/12 11:45 AM
In Reply to: Shouldn't be difficult by MarkFlax
Yes I know its a DVD i just say CD because im use to the old ages when everything was a CD and not a DVD. When i built this computer i didnt want business on here but i just had a copy laying around and threw it on here, didn't have a activation key so its been inactivate for a few years. I also dont have the DVD anymore so there's no way i can use that disk, But i do have Vista HP brand new in the box still which i can use, But i need to know how i should go by reformatting sense there is a different version on the computer now. Because yes it is having a bit of some problem. I don't wanna spend 30 bucks to buy another copy of business when i have HP, It dont matter if it wipes the full Hard Drive iv already took everything important off i just wanna know how to go by doing this.
You may have to try it. HP OEM DVDs are usually locked
by R. Proffitt - 4/10/12 11:52 AM
In Reply to: Yeah i relize its a DVD not a CD by SethE123
The HP Vista DVD is licensed only to the HP machine and it should not work. We can't discuss this at any length so try it and see but it should not work.
Bob
HP as in Home Premium
by SethE123 - 4/10/12 12:13 PM
In Reply to: You may have to try it. HP OEM DVDs are usually locked by R. Proffitt
So Vista Home Premium won work... Not as in HP the company buy HP = Home Premium version.
HP as in Hewlett Packard?
by R. Proffitt - 4/10/12 12:22 PM
In Reply to: HP as in Home Premium by SethE123
Sorry but the acronyms made a mess here. If the DVD is a full retail thing, it's fine. It can install on any machine and the license gives us rights to move it from machine to machine.
OEM versions have less rights. I'll stop here since I'd be repeating the internet.
Bob
Yeah Confused me too
by SethE123 - 4/10/12 12:34 PM
In Reply to: HP as in Hewlett Packard? by R. Proffitt
I originally said home premium in my first post but the guy replying changed it to HP. Its the full retail thing iv had it for a while just never got around to using it, and now my vista is acting up might as well use it to reformat, But as for my original question can anyone give me steps/instructions or link me to some to do this so i don't mess up.
See Kees reply.
by R. Proffitt - 4/10/12 12:37 PM
In Reply to: Yeah Confused me too by SethE123
That will get the OS installed. It might not get everything to work but the OS will be installed.
This brings up a good point. After more than a few decades, why hasn't the Windows industry fixed this? What? -> The need to hunt down drivers?
Bob
How to install.
by Kees_B - 4/10/12 12:32 PM
In Reply to: You may have to try it. HP OEM DVDs are usually locked by R. Proffitt
Just boot from that DVD and answer the questions the right way. If you make a mistake, start over. It's not different from installing Vista as you did the when you built that PC, although you can skip the step to make a new partition on that dis (there already is one).
You will end with that version of Vista installed.
Kees
Thanks a bunch
by SethE123 - 4/10/12 12:36 PM
In Reply to: How to install. by Kees_B
I knew it was easy as people said, i just didn't know if there was going to be a problem going from business to home premium was all.
Total posts: 10 (Showing page 1 of 1)
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