How do I reinstall windows vista?

Hi, searched the forum but got even more confused.

I have a vostro 1700, and want to reinstall vista as it keeps crashing. I've backed up my documents on an external hard drive and just want to start the process... thing is my vostro came with vista business installed and I don't have any of the CD's at all. I've just downloaded "Vista Recovery Disc" from the internet (120mb) so maybe I can use that to reinstall?

I have a recovery partition also but I don't know what it does.

How do I reinstall vista step by step without having any of the CD's? Pleaseeee help

 

I thought the recovery partition was covered in the manual, but I don't recall for certain. Anyway, press Ctrl+F11 after rebooting your computer, then follow the instructions. When you are done, your computer will look exactly the way it did when you first turned it on.

 

Simply put, there is no way to reinstall Vista of any edition without the DVD.

The Vista recovery disk merely launches the repair program that can be used to replace lost files that are necessary for Vista to boot, or for doing a System Restore without going into Windows.

The recovery partition is used to restore your laptop to its factory settings. This will delete all your data so backup your hard disk before proceeding.

Your best bet now would be to give us more information about why your computer keeps on crashing so that the kind people here at NBR can assist you further.

Or, if you really want to reinstall Vista, there are 3 ways I can think of to obtain the disk: 1) Borrow the disk from an acquaintance (friend or relative), 2) Buy the disk (but it will be expensive since the disk will come with its own license, and the special install disk that is made for the purpose of reinstallation is no longer being distributed, except maybe by eBay or other such sites) and 3) the illegal way (i won't give any further details ). After obtaining the disk, you can follow the instructions here: Orev's Clean Vista Install Guide

 

Basically, just borrow a friends disk, pop it in, reboot your laptop and follow the on screen instructions. if your know your way round installing programs, you should be fine.

 

You can contact your OEM for a recovery disc.

But I suggest you check the manual to see how to - let me say initiate - the recovery partition that will return your laptop to factory default.

 

Bond, Luke, and Detvel - The Dell recovery partition restores the hard drive to the shipping configuration. It is basically a wipe and reinstall from a Ghost-like image.

To the OP: Ctrl+F11 will restore Vista, just as if you put in the Vista DVD and did it yourself, except you'll have all of the Dell applications and junkware that was present when you received the laptop.

 

Tried the Ctrl + F11 twice but nothing happens and windows loads normally.. is there another way to restore the partition? The problem has stemmed from a virus that my sister put on this laptop from her flash drive... and now the damage is done I need to restore everything

 

You have to press ctrl+f11 immediately after the computer turns on, during the blue screen. The procedure is in your manual on page 149.