Clean Vista install WITH NO ACTIVATION

Yeah... I thought I saw someone talking about a place where you could download the media of it.... I thought it was from HP directly but I can't find it. Maybe cause I don't have my serial number yet to log onto that part.

 

I believe he's talking about the download links that Microsoft had offered through a third party earlier this year. Digital River or something? (I can't remember the name off hand, but it was something to that effect, I believe.)

Those downloads do work with this guide, but last I heard, they had been shut down. (anyone confirm?)

At this point, I think an Anytime Upgrade disc would be his best bet, and probably the most affordable option as well.

 

Yes, the ability to download the software from Digital River and create your own Anytime Upgrade Disks has long been disabled.

You can't order the Anytime Upgrade Disk anymore (at least from Microsoft) even though you might still see a link to be able to do so. The link or calling Microsoft to order eventually leads to your finding out that the disk is no longer available.

As the guide mentions though there are alternatives such as borrowing a OEM or Retail copy of Vista from a friend and use that copy with your OEM S/N or Vista S/N on the bottom of your notebook to perform the clean install.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=240320 This thread mentions the download links, but according to the first post (which I believe was updated) they're no longer functioning.

But to answer your question, it was confirmed that those downloads work with this guide.

Ah. I need to refresh the page before responding, more often. lol

Thank you for the heads up on the links being dead.

About the Anytime Upgrade disc, someone had mentioned being able to buy it on eBay, and they were right, here you go folks: http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...maxRecordsPerPage=50&SortProperty=MetaEndSort

Some at $7.00, current bid, all the way up to $20.00 buy it now.

Affordable option, compared to what they charge in the stores.

 

So would this work to reinstall 64 bit Ultimate on my system?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Microsoft-Windo...ryZ41882QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

NO! There is a 32-bit version and a 64-bit version. 32-bit and 64-bit do not come on the same disk.

If you read down further in that Ad you will see the following:

"Microsoft Windows Anytime Upgrade DVD-Rom (32-bit)"

If it said 64-bit, then YES.

I am assuming that you ordered 64-bit Ultimate on your new notebook. i.e. you cannot upgrade from say Premium to Ultimate using the Vista or OEM S/N on your notebook.

 

FYI...

Just got in contact with a seller who has the copies of the disks. $10.00 shipped

PM if you want their info, not sure if it is against the rules to put a direct link to them or not.

 

I wouldn't put a link to them. It's not legal to sell and distribute copies of those disks. The seller is taking quite a chance, I wouldn't want to be the one who Microsoft decides to make an example of.

I also have legally made copies of those disks from when you could download them from Digital River but I can't distribute them. I would let someone use them if they were near to me though.

 

Why don't you just buy the discs from HP for $16 dollars? Isn't that much easier? You get one disc with the OS on it, and another with all the bloatware

 

That is what HP has been telling some customers when they order the Recovery Disks but what you receive is not what you think.

You can't install just the OS without installing the data on the Bloatware disk. All the disks must be used together as a set.

Read my post a few posts back about the experience of another (who posted in this forum) who ordered and received those disks.

Have you personally ordered the Recovery Disks and have additional first hand information? I am sure it would be most informative to others if you have.

 

can somebody share the Anytime Files for 64bit with us?

 

So sorry,

I don't mean to appear thick but, does this mean that I cannot install Windows Vista Ultimate on my HP laptop that came with Vista Home Premium??

Apologies again, still reading through the Clean Install thread but needed this question answered.

Thanks.

 

You can, but you will need a seperate Vista Ultimate licence key in order to do so. The license key stuck underneath the laptop & the ones backed up by the abr tool(described in the first post) only activate the version of Vista which came pre-installed with the computer, so in your case you can only install Home Premium using either of the above mentioned keys.

 

I just got a Toshiba A215-S4757 off of EBAY and it didn't come with any software. On the bottom of the laptop it has a Vista Premium OEM key. I borrowed my friends Vista Premium OEM install DVD but the key didn't work. How can I use this key? How can I get Vista Premium installed? Do I have to get a special install from Toshiba?

Thanks

 

Because you're using another company's OEM disc, I'd assume. You need an Anytime Upgrade disc (eBay), or a retail upgrade disc.

An OEM disc usually is made only for the computer it came with.

Besides, you need Vista previously installed (and running) to make the ABR trick work. If you got the computer and it was already wiped, then you're going to have to do a fresh install. (Vista disc, input the key, etc.)

This is for a clean Vista install with no OEM software/bloatware, using the ABR trick. Not for what you want.

You'll need an Anytime Upgrade disc, plus the key underneath, and Vista will install as it normally would. Then, you can run the ABR trick for the future.

 

What do you mean..it did not activate? Did you try calling Microsoft and activating it over the phone? Did they refuse to activate your installation?

The keys provided with the notebook generally do require phone based activation. Alternatively, you could go back to the factory install and then try using ABR tool(linked in the first post of the thread) & then re-install using your friends disc. The abr tool backs up your oem activation and you can save a copy of the abr folder in an external folder & after you have reformatted you can restore the activation on the clean install.

 

Thank for your responses. I got it working. Just used an Anytime Upgrade DVD and used the key from under the laptop. Worked like a charm! Thanks for the help! Much appreciated.

 

Now, before the computer becomes bogged down by use, and while it's fresh in your mind...do the ABR backup.

It's better to have it on hand, just in case, because you never know.
Computers are among things that taught me that life is full of curveballs, and if you're lucky, you'll catch it in time, rather than get hit by it when you least expect it..

 

Out of curiosity, why can't you distribute them if they were legally downloaded and copies burned? Maybe I'm missing a step somewhere where a PN has to be entered or something? I honestly don't know.

May be asking to borrow them in the future since I'm also in SJ.

 

Because the place they were downloaded from had an agreement with Microsoft to distribute them. That agreement does not extend to those who copies have been distributed to.

 

If anybody needs a Windows Vista Anytime DVD 64bit. Let me know. I can hook you up.

 

JK003, is this a separate dvd than a 32bit dvd? or do all WAU disks have 64 & 32 bit versions?
if they are different i think i need the 64bit version, and would like to take you up on your offer
thanx

 

Gotcha, that makes sense.

These actual discs, or copies?

 

Luckily I have access to MSDN and was able to get the MSDN Vista w/SP1 and have successfully completed my clean install

 

That's where I was able to download my Vista DVD. Infact, I just got done burning the discs, though I'll probably what until this weekend to do the clean install.

 

Good luck. Was very easy and straight forward. Took about 2-3 hours total including driver installs

 

Alright, so I have everything ready to do but have one minor problem. When I go to make my recovery disks it says put in a blank DVD. So, I go ahead and insert a blank DVD, but it says it isn't blank. I just got these DVD's so they're brand new and never been used. Any idea on how to get around this?

 

What brand of DVD's are you using and what type -R,+R?

I have had the best success with Sony, TDK, Verbatim, Fuji +R DVD's, or CD's. Possibly borrow a couple or three disks of a different brand from a friend and try them.

 

Thanks for the sweet guide, just finished burning my HP recovery Disks and am in the process of aquiring a Vista OEM disk

hopefully everything goes smoothly

 

I'm using some cheap maxell +R's, was hoping those would do the trick but I guess not.

 

It may not be the DVD's but give a different brand a try.

You might want to give this a try also. From Device Manager, delete your Optical Drive then restart your notebook and let it rediscover the drive and reinstall the drivers for it.

I have had your problem a couple of times over the years (not on my HP) and restarting the PC and clearing the cache solved my issue. It seems that after reading a disk the information was stored somewhere (cache?) and when trying to read a new blank disk the PC was seeing what it had read on the previous disk and was saying the new inserted disk was not blank.

 

so if i have Vista premium 32 bit i can't install with this method the 64 - bit?

 

Yes, you can install 64-bit, but you will need to get a different installation disc with 64-bit on it. The discs have either 32-bit or 64-bit, not both.

 

i have no disk's.. but if i use HP recovery manager, will it only install Vista or also all crap/bloatware?

 

The recovery partition will, in fact, reinstall Windows as it was when you first turned on the computer, so yes, all bloatware will be reinstalled.

You really need to do the ABR trick, get a disc that will allow a clean install and install only what you need and want. A longer process and takes time, but it's well worth it.

Before you wipe out the computer, or get rid of anything having to do with the recovery system, you should have the option to make backup discs of the recovery system (should be a link in the start menu) and you should always keep a back up of it, just in case you have a problem with an installation some day.

It's better to have something functional, than nothing at all.

 

because, uuhm i have a HP dv7 so i don't have a WAU folder right?
i know a friend who can put vista ultimate on my premium.. don't ask me how..
but the ABR trick i just don't anderstand it like totaly.

 

Even without a WAU folder, HP should've included a restore partition or disc set. Either way, you should be able to restore back to the factory settings if need be.

But, you are correct. Without a Vista disc, or the WAU folder, you can't perform the clean install.

Oh and if you follow the directions on the guide, step by step, you should be able to perform the process without a problem.

 

you ahve any idea how i can get a vista disc?

 

Store lol...

 

how did you get a vista 64 bit??

 

Silly question but..... I do not have an Office CD yet to install Word, after the clean install, will i still have access to the MS Office 60 day trial? Or should I wait till I get my |Office CD before doing anything?
Thanks.

 

No, the Office trial will be gone. You could always (I think) download a trial, but if you need Word now, I would wait on the clean install until you get your Office disk.

 

anyone knows where i can get the .wim files?

 

You can purchase them from the Microsoft Marketplace according to the instructions.

 

i found a site with the 3 .wim files will post it later

 

oke well i called HP b ecause i have a Corrupt Vista on my laptop so i'm getting a vista CD. the site i saw with the 2.wim files and the one .exe is the following http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/

hope it will work

 

It Won't. Don't waste your time looking for the files. Eventually you get to the links to the files from MyDigitalLife which were dead months ago.

 

So I finally got time to attempt to make another vista disc, and this time I was successful. The other 5+ dvds I made booted fine, worked great but always froze at completing install. So I finally remembered that I used to run into issues installing XP with a sp1 disc and sp2 licenses or a sp2 disc and sp1 license. Thus came the bright idea to slipstream sp1 to the iso and BAM it works. So basically a little thinking before hand and I would have resolved my issue a loooong time ago.

 

Does anyone know the programs that are essential to install after I clean install my dv5t? and install all the drivers in SwSetup?

 

did the clean install last night with no issues,great guide i just took my time to read up and fully understand what i was doing,got lucky my, wife's Toshiba came with a anytime upgrade DVD