Re-installation of Vista Question

Hi all, my cousin's laptop recently got infected with a virus, so I was thinking of re-installing Windows Vista on it rather than spend countless hours trying to remove it (for the 2nd time) and not be sure if it's gone for good.

While I could use the backup partition to do this with, my last attempt on a different machine had a bad experience with that (a bad HP restoration image). So I was thinking, can I simply use my own Vista installation disc, but with the product key that's printed on the under-side of the laptop?

Thanks in advance.

 

should work. but first check out c:\swsetup and copy that out. there are all sort of drivers in (in c:\swsetup\drivers.. you only need those actually most likely). so you have at least all network drivers and such just in case).

oh, and, instead of the solution with the key, you could use ABR ( ABR Activation Backup and Restore to get the activation out, and after installation back in. if that doesn't work, you then might still enter the key. but it might need a phone call to activate.

I'd try with ABR, it's the most flawless solution. put that on a stick, run it on his system + copy out the c:\swsetup\drivers, install, put the stick in and run the ABR restore.

 

I second ABR.

:yes:

 

where did you get ur vista disk from?

 

I bought it from Best Buy, full Ultimate edition. I know from the installation that I can choose the Home Premium option which should match his product key.

 

Thanks for the suggestion on the ABR. I'll start it up tonight when I get home.

 

Ya, full reinstall should work. Just pop it in, run the install, and enter your key when asked.

 

A late, and strong, third for ABR!! I have used it many times and it is flawless. I just wish they would re-code it for Windows 7. The main thing I wanted to add, though, is to suggest that you run an anti-virus scan the backup of SWSetup and ABR in another computer before you restore them to the rebuilt system.

 

Thanks jellygeo! Didn't think of scanning those files on a clean machine.