Clean Vista install WITH NO ACTIVATION

You can't output to a microphone, that's an input device. Maybe if you describe what you're trying to do, someone can help.

 

What I'm trying to do is get my microphone to output my voice. (Through my speakers.) So that I can be able to broadcast both my music AND voice in Shoutcast Radio using record with "What You Hear".

EDIT: Heh I just noticed I'm in the wrong thread, should have posted in the "Installing Windows XP on the Intel based dvx500t Series" Thread.

 

i did a clean install of vista, its working now thanks, the activation was all machine, i thought I would have to convince a person lol. anyway, I still have that recovery partition. Can I make a recovery cd from it or is it useless now?

 

Hi, nothing to add here but thanks. I got a new machine yesterday and did the clean install and I can't believe how much better Vista works this way (my 2nd Vista laptop). I appreciate your work and contribution to the community.

 

Glad you got it working. You must make the recovery disc BEFORE you clean install, because the tools you need to do it are in the default install. If you haven't done that, it might be worth it to leave it there for now unless you really need the space.

If you did make the discs already, you can delete the partition then expand the C: partition to use that space as well, instead of making another drive letter which can be a pain to deal with sometimes. You can do all of that in Vista's partition manager.

 

thanks for the info, my windows wasn't booting so I had to format and install, I didn't make a recovery disc, but hp will send me a free replacement though (although I have to wait longer because I just found out that it is out of stock). As soon as I recieve the cd, I'll format the partition and extend my current one I guess

 

Does anyone know where the WAU file is located on a tx2000? I tried looking where the guide said but there's no sonysys folder. And once I set the folders to display hidden files, I lose the "windows" folder after C:

I did system restore twice already, it's really frustrating. Anyone know why?

 

Never mind! I got it working!

I went the long route and downloaded it manually from the site you listed. It took a long time but everything is running smoothly. Thanks Orev!

 

Your laptop is not a Sony, hence why you don't have the "sonysys" folder! That section talks about places you might have the folder. Unfortunately, HP doesn't provide it.

 

Please help a computer noob,

Could I ask what is the different between activate Windows Vista on-line and going through the procedures from Orev. I went through the guide with no success. Therefore, I just activated through on-line without any problem.

However, I have a problem with fingerprint driver installation when I install the driver from SWSETUP that I made a back-up. Is there something that I am missing?

Thank you in advance,
computer noob

 

not a lot of diff. The key on the bottom of the laptop is diff from the key used to preinstall vista. That is the oem bulk key they use to install on all their pc's. So with orev' tool, you never have to use your actual laptop key, or activate.

 

Worked like a charm, and can also confirm works on vista x64 also. Thanks a million!

 

Thank you!! It only took me day and a half but I got it running.

 

Finally found my Upgrade disk and this worked like a charm.

 

Posted in the Lenovo forum see: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3088643#post3088643
All I am trying to do is a clean install of a legit copy of Vista and could use some help.

TIA

"What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." But it might result in the death of my notebook!

 

I hope that someone could help me...I know this is likely an incredibly remedial question, but I still can't figure it out, and really don't want to screw anything up...

Trying to do a Vista Home Premium clean-install on a new dv2700 CTO. Since I can't find any WAU folder, and it didn't come with the disk, I'm trying the "Download from Windows Marketplace" route listed on orev's original post. Downloaded all 3 files and their sizes matched perfectly with what was listed. Then downloaded the Iso Recorder program. Have a blank DVD.

Now don't know exactly what to do. I put all 3 files in a folder on my desktop (named it "Vista Clean") and ran the X13-49120.exe file. This added a file folder called "Vista" into the Vista Clean folder. Don't know if I was supposed to do that or not but I did.

So - I'm sorry for the noob ignorance, but I don't understand: "Once you install it, right-click on the ISO file and select "Copy image to CD" (You'll need a DVD for this, not a CD)." Which is the ISO file? Do I have to make an ISO file or did I download it? Hoping that someone can explain, or point me to a retard-proof set of instructions

 

The first step of extracting is very much correct. You would have to make an ISO file using a software like vlite or others. Check the first post for the procedure. Besides which version are you trying to use, 32 bit or 64 bit? Tell me if you have any problems.

 

Guys,

I surf web and found that Upgrade 64bit with Ultimate version only $15 bucks !!!

http://www.articleinspector.com/articles/1183/1/Is-it-time-for-Windows-Vista-64-bit/Page1.html

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia/default.mspx

Quote "With Windows Vista, Microsoft made a new start: instead of the separated versions, Microsoft hangs up all Vista versions such as Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate and Vista 64-bit together in one DVD.

DVD will be shipped to you with the expensive Ultimate version and it will cost around $15. Microsoft has launched a website for that and everyone can visit this page and order Windows Vista 64-bit. You can order your own and almost free Windows Vista 64 bit here. The procurement of a suitable Windows Vista 64-bit version is no longer a problem."

What do you think ? I like to get one for me someday.

Dg

 

The part you quoted indicates that the guy doesn't know what's going on. He talks about "64-bit" as if it is a separate version from Home Premium and Ultimate. It's also no secret that all Vista discs contain all versions of Vista, but you need to have a license for the correct version. You cannot get Ultimate for $15 without getting a license for it, and that's much more expensive. Also, Vista 64-bit does not take "2x" the disk space. It does take more, but not 2x.

Ultimately, you cannot got something for nothing. There is no (legal) way around having to get a license for the version of Vista you have installed.

 

I had to do an urgent Clean Install as a result of BSODs popping up out of nowhere. I was unable to backup the key as I couldn't even get through to the frontpage. I have the key however written on a piece of paper but have lost the ABR folder from my last Clean install just a few weeks back. Orev could you help me out with this please? I would seriously not like to go to Microsoft just to keep it as a backup option for sometime more worse than this!

 

By the way I fed the serial key while the clean install and it seemed to work then. But once I booted to Vista it refuses to accept that key. Also I tried to use the ABR tool but it refuses to restore it quoting a problem with the backup certificate file! Hope that explains my problem.

 

For ABR to work, you need both the key and the activation certificate. It sounds like you have the key, but not the certificate. Do you have the recovery discs anywhere? How about the recovery partition? The first thing would be to try to recover from those, then run ABR to get the backup.

 

No I have none of them. The Recovery Disks ruined themselves while burning. And I was stupid enough to just delete the recover disk. What is in this file anyway?Can't I get a copy of it from someone?

 

Just call microsoft up to activate.. its not that hard as it seems. All you talk to is a machine that asks for numbers. You dial in some numbers and gives you the activation code

Its alot easier than doing a recovery install

 

I can do that for sure flip. But what I don't know is if I can use that key again or not? Key here refers to both, the one below the Notebook and also the one that the Machine gives me.

 

No you cannot use the activation key that you use from microsoft again. It expires after a certain time.

But you can use ABR once youve activated it to backup your activation which is even better

 

Hey all, not sure if the dilemma I'm about to present has been brought up before. There are a lot of pages in this thread! I'm looking to use this method to go from a 32-bit Vista Home Premium to a 64-bit. The quickest option for me is to download and burn the upgrade dvd from MyDigitalLife. However, when I run X13-49121.exe, I get this message:

"Cannot extract Windows Vista Setup to your hard drive. Please ensure that you can create files and folders in the same folder where VistaSetupPrep.exe was downloaded."

I'm not sure why I get this message...I'm running this on my XP 32-bit desktop. Although I get this message, I see all sorts of files extracted into a "Vista" folder. Is there some missing, or do I have all of them here? Perhaps I should try running X13-49121 from my Vista notebook?

 

Did you also download the install.wim and boot.wim files? If so, make sure all of the files are the EXACT same size as what is listed on the main guide.

There's also a message on the 64-bit mydigitallife page that says that file needs to be run from a 64bit system. If that's true, then you can also skip running the file and instead open it with a zip program like "7zip" or "winzip". You'll have to extract all of the files and then move the install.wim and boot.wim files into the "sources" folder.

 

Thanks again for the help orev...I extracted the files from X13 and found there's only one difference between extracting and running the file (with the error messages): Extracting doesn't bring the boot.wim and install.wim files into the new Vista folder, while running does.

However, when I compile the ISO, it ends up being a whopping 7.14 GB. I noticed a comment on one of the MyDigitalLife guides saying it should be around 2.5 GB. Does anyone know what the proper size of the ISO is? This is for x64.

 

Yes it should be about 2.4-2.5 GB in case of 32 BIT.

 

Thank you, but I'm actually doing the 64-bit.

 

Make sure you don't have 2 copies of the install.wim and boot.wim file in the iso file. When you burn the disc, you should have files like setup.exe, autorun.inf in the top folder, with folders like boot, efi, etc... inside it. If you have a "Vista" folder, then you've burned the disc from one folder too high.

 

Vista 64 bit should be about 3.4-3.6 GBs!

 

Thanks guys. I somehow had the Vista folder inside the Vista folder, effectively compiling all of the files twice. Don't know who did that. :rolleyes2:

Would you guys be able to help me with checking my email too? Haha.

Rep for both of you!

 

Anytime! lol

 

Hey folks!
I need a piece of advise! Unfortunately I have heard about this forum and this thread way after I've lost all my partitions on my Aspire notebook, so I couldn't bakup my factory preactivated key and xrm file.
I've burnt 2 factory default recovery dvds wich unfortunately for some odd reason do not work (someone suggested it's because I don't have the partitions it looks for).
Anyway, made a clean install with the key on the bottom, called Microsoft and activated it.
At this point, activation backup and restore program can not find any xrm file on my system (which I believe is normal) so if I need to reinstall, I have to call Microsoft again.
The question is: is there any way of extracting the xrm file from the two recovery dvds burnt with the factory install on and using Acer's eRecovery?
Thanks!

 

Well you would have to first Restore the system using the Recovery CDs and then back up the key. You would then need to do a clean install followed by activating it using the backed up key. Not sure if it is 100% fool proof with Acer though. Hope that helps.

 

As of right now, no, there's no way that you can extract the file from the recovery discs. Most of them are encrypted, or otherwise big binary blobs, so it would be very difficult if not impossible to get to the required information.

 

I just want to say THANK YOU to the original poster. I bought this new HP notebook that obviously came loaded with s**tware and I wanted to get rid of all of it. I followed your guide, to the letter, everything worked as expected (I have still to install the drivers and apps that I want) and I am thankful to you.

Despite having bought the notebook with the recovery discs, I also followed your advice and prior to starting the clean install, I made my own recovery disc set. Weirdly, the original recovery disc set is made of 2 DVDs while the disc set created by the notebook is a 3-DVD set.

 

The HP recovery DVDs are corrupted or something. Anyway, hold on to your own recovery DVDs just in case.

 

Pardon my ignorance, but does this guide apply only to HP/Compaq, or can I use this installation process for any other notebook?

 

The general steps apply to pretty much all computers. The main difference is where/how you will have to get and install the drivers.

 

Thank you.

 

My HP notebook came with 3 discs. Two are DVDs labeled System Recovery DVDs and one is a CD labeled "Application and Driver Recovery CD".

This CD uses only 10MB of space and its directory structure is as follow:

-PATCH
--APPL.ZIP
---CLEANUP
---CLEANUP.EUE
---INSTALL2.EUE
---PREOS
--SWSETUP
---QLBFX
---SBFTD

What are these files for?
Should I use any of them after the clean installation of Vista?

Inside the notebook Hard Disk 1, came that SWSETUP folder, with 4GB of material, so why the need to have this CD with mere 10MB?

Thanks for any explanation.

EDIT: There is a Patch.cmd batch file in the root directory and here's what its header says:

@Echo Off
rem ***************************************************
rem * 1C08 Supplemental Disc V1.3 contains following changes:
rem * - Update MS KB940199 for auto-reinstall USB driver fixing
rem * - Digital Persona Finger Print Reader install fixing
rem * - Slingboxflashtour Installing
rem * - MS07-038 security update KB935807
rem * - UIADUMP execution failed fixing
rem * - QLB Critical Security Update
rem * 2007/12/20
rem ***************************************************

... and then it goes on.

So, this is an update to some of the files that exist in the notebook SWSETUP folder?

It makes not much of a sense since the notebook SWSETUP folder is ONE MONTH more recent than the date of this batch file (2007/12/20).

 

i tried useing the that same driver disk after and it didnt work. it was useless

 

I agree completely. A huge thanks to the original poster.
I can confirm that the process also works for Vista with SP1 slipstreamed into the install DVD.

Ron

 

Successfully went from Vista Home Premium x86 to Vista Home Premium x64 using this guide. However, I'm having a heck of a time getting drivers. Namely for my NVIDIA 8600 GT and to get my volume/eject/etc buttons to function. But as far as the clean install procedure itself, it worked like a charm on my Sony VAIO AR770.

 

Thank you so much for posting this info! I have been holding off wiping my new HP in anticipation of doing the clean install process with SP1 included. How did you get a slipstream disk? Is there a process to create your own, as in the past?
Dave

 

There is no official process to make your own disc with SP1 slipstreamed. This is not just an oversight by Microsoft, but it has to do with the fundamental way that WIM images are stored on the discs.

There is a process out there where you basically install the whole system, then apply sp1, then suck it all back in to a WIM file. IMO, that's very shaky and probably not reliable.

 

That was kind of what I figured. Maybe Ron can tell us how he got a disc with SP1 included. I like my installs to be as clean as possible - I would much rather install Vista clean with SP1 included, than go through the whole process and tack SP1 on after the fact. I'm kinda funny that way...