Easiest way to get a Vista disc?

I'm trying to find a way to get copy of Vista to do a clean install on my T61. Since it didn't come with a Vista anytime upgrade disc, it seems I'm on my own to find a version of Vista.

So, is there any way I can download or somehow get a cheap disc? I am a student at a college but it would cost me $90 for a Vista Home Premium cd.

So far my only alternative seems to download it off a torrent, taking a chance with the cracks or whatever people might put on it.

 

Your T-61 did you a favor. Stick with XP.

 

You mean an easy way you can pirate Vista?

 

Well I'm hoping maybe Microsoft would have some place where it would legally let me download it. Maybe have it where I send them my cd key or something.

As for pirating, I know where to go for that, believe me. But it's just slow and I could get my connection cut if I upload to much. Not to mention theres a chance the image might not work right.

 

I agree with Overclocker, Xp rocks. As far as pirating a copy you already know that you are taking your chances with that, plus it's illegal. I think you said you are a student, does your university offer discs for you? $90.00 is a pretty good price for a Vista edition compared to retail Vista boxed OS.

 

If your T61 came with Vista, all you need is the key you have and a Vista Anytime Upgrade disc...

Clicky here, and find the word 'replacement' on that page. A link just after that takes you to a page to get replacement media for Vista...for $7.

 

You can order a Vista Anytime Upgrade disc from CompUSA and some other places for around $5+shipping.

 

comon people give the guy some slack. he just wants the media, he already owns the license.

compusa and microsoft are both great sources.

 

Seriously, what are you guys, Apple's community outreach program?

If a guy asks how to get a Vista disc how is that going to help him? I mean I can understand that you don't like Vista but why fill every single thread with the same hate posts?

 

@ttol - I don't think it's a hate post, just an opinion.

@Tailic. I have a disc at home as my laptop came with an Gateway OEM Vista disc, A Gateway Bloatware disc and an anytime upgrade disc. I only need the OEM Vista disc and the Bloatware disc. so if you want, Pm me your address and I'll send you the anytime upgrade disc for free.

 

Thanks greg, I think I'll just do that. I thought they would have something like this but they do a good job in hiding it.

Right now I'm pretty pissed now that I'll need to wait around for it to come just because OEMs are to cheap to even send an anytime upgrade cd. Even magazines give you dvds/cds where you pay for a $1000+ product they don't bother to send you crap.

 

I believe manufacturers stopped including OS disks due to some sort of issue with Microsoft; they now offer only a restore disk.

 

I too would like to purchase a disc
I live in the uk. have just bought a new laptop with vista. I do not have a vista disc and want to do a clean install.
where can I purchase a vista anytime disc. that doesn't cost a bomb.
I do not want to upgrade, nor pirate. I just want to be able to do a clean install

 

$90 is not too bad. The best I can do is $218.99 off Amazon.com.

 

Word of caution when ordering from the MS site. I ordered one on Oct 4 and didn't receive it until Nov 4. Maybe others have had better experiences than me, but you might try the Compusa route.

 

Just for getting the media, you might be able to borrow the disc from someone else. Again, you already have a license, and as long as you use that license key, this would not be piracy. You can also save yourself dealing with activation in some cases, take a look at the clean install guide in my sig.

Edit: BTW: retail, oem, and anytime upgrade discs are identical, so it does not matter what disc you use.

 

Just get an Anytime Anywhere disc, it was like a godsend I got one for free (32-bit). It takes all CD Keys and installs Upgrade versions as full versions.