Reinstalling OS

santucci218 · #1 04-14-2008, 05:44 AM

My computer isnt running as well as it should lately. Its about 6 or so months old and i bought it myself. Anyways, i planned on reinstalling vista on my computer. I have the OS disc that came with the computer, but how do i do it? When i put the disk in the computer it asks if i want to install or not, but how do i delete the vista thats already on here?

mothmonsterman · #2 04-14-2008, 05:53 AM

are you booting to the CD?

Typically it'll ask if you want to "install" before it asks you to delete.

Follow the install and sooner or later it will ask you if you want
manage partitions: in this case delete the old ones and then set up new ones, one should eb fine for what you do.

Or i;ve noticed some newer installers (especially microsofts failed attempt to make everything idiot proof "Vista"). It doesn;t give you the option, but it should ask you if you want to repair or do a fresh install.
Choose the fresh install and when it asks if you want to keep your old files and programs say "no".

That's about the bilk of it let me know if you have any questions, hard to make this as clear as i'd like to.

And might i suggest switching to Windows XP or Ubuntu Linux, Vista is just terrible i don't even let computers with it near my network.

santucci218 · #3 04-14-2008, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mothmonsterman

are you booting to the CD?

Typically it'll ask if you want to "install" before it asks you to delete.

Follow the install and sooner or later it will ask you if you want
manage partitions: in this case delete the old ones and then set up new ones, one should eb fine for what you do.

Or i;ve noticed some newer installers (especially microsofts failed attempt to make everything idiot proof "Vista"). It doesn;t give you the option, but it should ask you if you want to repair or do a fresh install.
Choose the fresh install and when it asks if you want to keep your old files and programs say "no".

That's about the bilk of it let me know if you have any questions, hard to make this as clear as i'd like to.

And might i suggest switching to Windows XP or Ubuntu Linux, Vista is just terrible i don't even let computers with it near my network.

until 2008 comes out, ill just tough it out with vista. Its not the best, but i know how to use it pretty well for the most part and nothing on it really holds me back from the simple stuff i do.

Anyways, im going to try and install this, so if you dont hear back from me then realize that i messed up and no longer have an os!

mothmonsterman · #4 04-14-2008, 06:01 AM

Just follow the directions, you'll be fine.

-Chose to fresh install,
-Format if it asks you
-don't keep the fies from the old config

peterbright · #5 04-14-2008, 06:10 AM

Back up your data before you do it!

mothmonsterman · #6 04-14-2008, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterbright

Back up your data before you do it!

Well aren't I a good IT Director... forgot the most important thing

.

I was also going to suggest he make two partitions
one at about 4-10 gigs to hold windows and the rest just an empty one to hold all his files so he doesn't have to worry about the computer messing up again and losing all his porn.

DigMe · #7 04-14-2008, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mothmonsterman

And might i suggest switching to Windows XP or Ubuntu Linux, Vista is just terrible i don't even let computers with it near my network.

Runs great for me.

And I did previously run Ubuntu on my old machine.

Personally I'm enjoying Vista but it does require good hardware to run smoothly.

bc

SuperDuck · #8 04-14-2008, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigMe

Runs great for me.

And I did previously run Ubuntu on my old machine.

Personally I'm enjoying Vista but it does require good hardware to run smoothly.

bc

What he said.

When you reinstall your OS it will make you format your hard drive before installation. Make sure everything is backed up.

crispygoat · #9 04-14-2008, 08:08 AM

I would also recommend Ubuntu, honestly. And since you said, "it really holds me back from the simple stuff i do. " it'd be another big plus for Ubuntu. Once you get the stuff you want running, you're fine for quite some time without reinstalling the OS, and everything is stable. Something won't crash on you on a random day for no reason.

theshadow2001 · #10 04-14-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crispygoat

And since you said, "it really holds me back from the simple stuff i do. " .

He said "nothing on it holds him back from the simple stuff he does."

santucci218 · #11 04-14-2008, 08:31 AM

well im back from that adventure. i put in the disc, it loaded all the new windows fines, than it went to expand them and froze at 82%. Thankfully, it restored my old settings just fine so im back where i started i suppose...this is a problem.

The problem i have been having with my computer is that people go on it when im not around. Somehow my family managed to muff it up enough as to where i can no longer click anything on the toolbar. to change screens i have th use alt tab.

Anyways, why do you think it froze? did i do something wrong? i followed all the steps..

crispygoat · #12 04-14-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshadow2001

He said "nothing on it holds him back from the simple stuff he does."

He does have to reinstall the OS. So if nothing holds him back form the simple stuff he does, then Ubuntu wouldn't hold him back either, PLUS he wouldn't have to reinstall the OS every now and then.

As for why Vista crashed, I can't help, try googling it ?

mothmonsterman · #13 04-14-2008, 08:42 AM

are you running the disk while on your computer or are you booting to it?
Sometimes installations just screw up mind you.

Passwords and permissions are your friend

santucci218 · #14 04-14-2008, 08:43 AM

i started the disk when my computer was on. It then started to install and restarted once, than expanded the files and froze.

theshadow2001 · #15 04-14-2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crispygoat

He does have to reinstall the OS. So if nothing holds him back form the simple stuff he does, then Ubuntu wouldn't hold him back either, PLUS he wouldn't have to reinstall the OS every now and then.

As for why Vista crashed, I can't help, try googling it ?

I don't care to be honest. You just left some key words out of your quote is all.

santucci218 · #16 04-14-2008, 08:45 AM

also, more information on linus would be great. if i put that on my computer, can i take vista off? can i transfer all my files to linus? pros and cons?

mothmonsterman · #17 04-14-2008, 08:46 AM

Put the disk in, turn the computer off, then start it back up.
when it says "press any key to boot from CD" (or something like that) roll your face on the keyboard.
and start the install from there, might help by not having the other crap in your computer mudding it up.

mothmonsterman · #18 04-14-2008, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

also, more information on linus would be great. if i put that on my computer, can i take vista off? can i transfer all my files to linus? pros and cons?

Ubuntu linux is a user friendly linux distro which i'm using right now, and doesn't really hold me back cept for a few windows applications i can't run with Wine (wine is a program that pretty much acts as an emulator to run windows programs but that's a little advanced).
as for browsing the internet and the like it works great. and it's very intuitive, though setting up things like plugins and things that require the use of the terminal (kinda like DOS command prompt in windows) can have quite a large learning curve.

http://www.ubuntu.com

santucci218 · #19 04-14-2008, 08:54 AM

trying to reinstall vista again, if i have problems, ill get linux.

wish me luck!

*rolls face on keyboard*

mothmonsterman · #20 04-14-2008, 08:56 AM

write down each step it has you do it will help to see where you're going wrong.