Creating a Vista sp1 dvd

Hey i am going to attempt to do a clean install of vista on my new laptop but to do it i need a Standalone Vista Dvd with SP1 unfortunately it did not come with a vista DVD but was preinstalled on teh computer... i know i could call them up and for a small fee they would send me the dvd's but is there any other way to make your own possibly as i would rather not wait a week for a dvd that i could just make myself.

 

If you didn't get a vista dvd, you should have one of the following:

- restore partition
- ability to create restore discs
- restore discs already created

 

but will the restore discs work the same as a original vista dvd?

 

Depending on the laptop make - yes, or yes to about 90%.

For Sony the Recovery DVD contains an optimized Windows Vista version, all drivers and the few "add ons" as well as a bit of "bloat".

The bit of bloatware may be your greatest concern - but you can tidy that up.

 

You could use a friend's DVD to install it (using your own key, which is at the bottom of your notebook). Or, you can download a Vista SP1 ISO from the Internet, and again, use your own key to install it. Both the ways are legal AFAIK.

These ISOs, however, have some form of trojan or virus or rootkit installed in them more often than not, so I'd be very careful about the source. Check your PM.

 

There has been a lot of debate about it - dowloading the ISO for an OS of any site (except if it were Microssoft) is illegal, also if you use your own key.

The SP1 installer can be dowloaded legally from Microsoft.

Also - I believe some people had problem with OEM keys on retail versions - so, even thought it would be legal to lend a DVD from a friend, provided you use your own key, you may end up with installation problems.

Also - recovery discs are generally model specific - most people own a recovery copy, not a full retail version...