Vista install with Boot.sdi Boot.wim

Im trying to install a clean version of vista on my toshiba laptop without all the bloatware. I ran the vista installation disk that came with my dell (yes, i now realise that was a mistake ).

It gets 3/4 of the way through installation then doesn't go any further, if I restart it will get up to the vista loading screen and stay there.


Ive managed to get boot.sdi and boot.wim off the hard drive, and I've been reading up on creating a custom vista dvd which will allow me to install a clean version of vista.

Could anybody offer some advice into creating a custom vista installation dvd.

Thanks.

 

just try reinstalling using the DVD again.. making your custom vista installation dvd is just too much trouble...

and seeing that you probably need files from the DVD and if the DVD is indeed corrupt, it's pointless

get another Vista DVD from a pal, use the CD-Key from the bottom of your laptop...

 

Ive tried installing twice and it hanged 3/4 of the way through both times.

The DVD isn't corrupt its just not got the correct drivers for my laptop as its a Dell OEM DVD, and I've tried to get hold of an installation dvd that will work but I cant find manage to find one.

 

It sounds like you don't have an installation disc, but rather you have a restore disc. Restore discs are designed to be used with a particular make and model computer; a restore disc is basically an image of the drive in the original shipping configuration. You can use an OEM operating system disc on pretty much any computer you want, but if it is looking for a BIOS reading (like the Dell OEM discs do), then it will ask for a key instead of skipping that step. The Dell OEM operating system installation disc doesn't have drivers on it.

 

Since it's a _Dell recovery disc, it will not install onto a non-Dell system; basically, because of the way that big OEMs like _Dell license Windows from Microsoft, they lock each copy they preinstall to the hardware on which it's installed, generally by having the installer go looking for a particular code in the BIOS before it will complete the installation.

Here, what's probably happening is the _Dell installer is looking for a _Dell BIOS code, and when it fails to find it, it stops the installation (it may also simply be hanging because the Toshiba BIOS cannot make heads or tails of the data lookup request, and is basically crashing/freezing up as it waits for the BIOS to come back with a reply that it will never get).

 

I was thinking of doing a clean install on my HP , now i am backing up ,
will lending a vista cd from a friend and adding my serial key from the buttom of the laptop work ? ( what about drivers and this things , i know i can get em online , but will they work ? )

 

try windows update.... it should find most of the drivers for you, then go to hp's support website, type in your machine info, and download the rest...

 

What sort of CD is your friend lending to you - a retail version of _Vista, an _HP OEM version, or a non-HP OEM version?