Clean source for clean vista installation

Is there a way to use the OEM serial that was given with the computer to an edition of Vista for clean install?

I have the retail dvd, plus the OEM SP1 dvd, both of which do not work. The first one fails on activation and the second one fails on serial check.

What do you think I should have? The OEM dvd without the SP1? Or is there a way to extract the Vista from the Sony recovery partition?

 

You have to make sure you install the same version as on your OEM key. e.g. if your have oem key is for home premium you have to install the same version.

Have you got a Vista DVD source downloaded from the digitalriver link? That source contains all versions and if during setup you enter your serial key the correct version is installed for you. Otherwise you have to select the version you want to install and enter the key later.

When did you enter the key, during or after installation?

 

I think you need to use that so-called ABR software. Here.

 

ABR did not work for me - I mean the key it extracted did not work to get disks off the Windows Storefront (I have a 64-bit disk, but I have not tried to load it yet on the FZ due to Sony's lack of 64-bit driver support - the kry on the bottom of the Dell 1720 I had did indeed install the 64-bit version). Also, the Digital River Vista links no longer work. It is extremely hard to get Vista disk or downloads right now w/o buying another Vista license - which stinks, IMO. Why we can't get disks for a OS that we bought from an OEM makes no sense to me.

 

This is because people will start misusing the clean vista dvd. BTW vista license that came with your laptop is sold to the OEM, not to you.

 

Yes, just install your Vista DVD and enter the OEM serial number during installation. Install SP1 and activate it. It will tell you that the OEM serial # you have can not be used for online activation. No biggie. Just call the toll free number. The automated answering machine will ask for your Installation ID. The Installation ID is the 54 digit number displayed on the screen when you activate Vista. In my experience, it is best to spell it out with your voice rather than entering it with the keypad. After you spell out all 54 digits (6 digits at a time), the machine will tell you the Confirmation ID. You then type the Confirmation ID to the computer. You are done.

I have just did this a few minutes ago. The whole process is about 3 or 4 minutes. You do not need to talk to any human being and being treated like a criminal or anything. It's all automated.


NOTE: If you don't have Windows Vista Retail DVD but you still want to do clean install, you can order Windows Vista DVD directly from Microsoft Windows Marketplace for just $13. This disc does not contain serial number so you must have serial number on the back of your laptop to install. The original front page of online order for this disc has been removed by Microsoft, but you can still order directly to the specific DVD by following these links

32 bit:
Vista Home Basic
http://store.digitalriver.com/store...059300/quantity.1/ThemeID.636200/Currency.USD

Vista Home Premium
http://store.digitalriver.com/store...059600/quantity.1/ThemeID.636200/Currency.USD

Vista Business
http://store.digitalriver.com/store...059000/quantity.1/ThemeID.636200/Currency.USD

Vista Ultimate
http://store.digitalriver.com/store...059800/quantity.1/ThemeID.636200/Currency.USD


64 bit:

Vista Ultimate
http://store.digitalriver.com/store...059900/quantity.1/ThemeID.636200/Currency.USD


Please note that Microsoft actually do not make different discs for different version of Vista. All 32 bit discs are identical and all 64 discs are identical. The only difference is the label. Everything inside is identical. The difference is purely cosmetic on the label of the disc.

 

Thank you for the replies.

I did as Hendra referred and it went quite nicely.

Then I followed the instructions for a clean install by Mujja.

Everything seems OK now. I just can not get the recovery disks to work, to extract some applications from it. Otherwise, it looks like a perfect clean install.

 

the recovery disks don't work at all or you can't get the apps you want off of it? They (the recovery disks) do not provide the option of just installing various apps it seems (or at least I could not find that option). I did a semi-clean install per NinjaNoodles thread and save the "vaio recovery" folder off my FZ. When I reinstalled it and launched from that folder, then I had the option to reinstall separate apps. I am doing a clean install this weekend and I am saving that folder again!

 

that was my bad... I should've saved the neccesary folders before the format...

 

did you wipe the recovery partition?

 

no it is still there.

do you think there is a method to extract it from there?

 

if you did a clean install, did you load some of the Sony items back? Specifically when you click Help & Support in the Start menu, do you get the Vaio help window which has a "Backup & Recovery" icon? From there you can get to the recovery partition.

 

i loaded a lot but that icon is not there...

what should i load...

one more weird question, whenever i boot from standby, the touchpad goes bezerk and reverts itself (when i move right, the pointer moves left)

plus, i just realized that the system keys stop working whenever i boot from standby as well

 

Hendra, thanks a million for the clean Vista 32 and 64 DVD links. I just received mine. The cost is now $15.99 and the delivery time is about 4 weeks.

 

Another way is also to copy the tokens.dat and one more file from the original vista into the installed one.

It will auto-activate it.